Bullpen Report: May 4, 2022

The 2022 version of Bullpen Report includes five different sections, as well as the closer chart, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

1. Notable Workloads: Primary closers or valuable members of a closer committee who have been deemed unavailable or likely unavailable for the current day due to recent workload.
2. Injury News 
3. Outlier Saves: Explanation for a non-closer earning a save during the previous day.
4. Committee Clarity: Notes on a closer committee that clarify a pitcher’s standing in the group.
5. Losing A Grip: Struggling closers who could be on the hot seat.

The “RosterResource” link will take you to the corresponding team’s RosterResource depth chart, which will give you a better picture of the full bullpen and results of the previous six days (pitch count, save, hold, win, loss, blown save.)

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.

Notable Workloads

•Liam Hendriks, CHW: Back-to-back days; 10 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Kendall Graveman is a likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday if Hendriks is not available for a third consecutive day.

•Craig Kimbrel, LAD: 26 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Daniel Hudson (20 pitches on Tuesday) and Alex Vesia are likely candidates for a save chance on Wednesday if Kimbrel isn’t available.

•Lou Trivino, OAK: 20 pitches on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Dany Jiménez is a likely candidate for a save chance on Wednesday if Trivino isn’t available after making his first appearance in over two weeks on Tuesday.

 

Injury News

•Ryan Pressly, HOU: Began rehab assignment on Tuesday. | RosterResource

Pressly’s outing lasted only six pitches, but he was effective and seems on track for a quick return.

All six pitches of Ryan Pressly's rehab appearance in Sugar Land. All six pitches were strikes. Fastball velocity appears to be back in the 93-94 range and good shape to the curveball. pic.twitter.com/OzxRNsNYZi

— Eephus Tosser (@EephusTosser) May 4, 2022

It’s possible that Pressly makes one more appearance, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s activated in the next day or two.

 

•Dylan Floro, MIA: Will make at least one more rehab appearance. | RosterResource

After pitching on back-to-back days over the weekend, Floro still isn’t quite ready to return. It’s possible that he makes one last appearance before returning for the Marlins’ weekend series against the Padres.

•Josh Hader, MIL: Day-to-day due to back spasms. | RosterResource

No appearances for Hader since last Wednesday and then it was Devin Williams who got the save on Tuesday. Clearly, something was up. And now we know.

Josh Hader was down tonight because of some mid-back spasms. But he threw a ‘pen this afternoon and it went well, Craig Counsell said. Day to day.

— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) May 4, 2022

•Lou Trivino, OAK: Activated from COVID-19 IL. | RosterResource

It would’ve been completely reasonable for A’s manager Mark Kotsay to ease Trivino back into the closer’s role after he spent the last two weeks on the COVID-19 IL. After all, Dany Jiménez has been terrific in his absence and the 30-year-old Trivino hadn’t pitched in the majors since April 16. But things appeared to be shaping up for Trivino to get a save chance on his first day back with the A’s leading the Rays 5-3 heading into the 9th inning after A.J. Puk’s two scoreless innings and a perfect 8th inning from Jiménez. Kotsay had other plans, though.

With left-handed batters Brandon Lowe and Kevin Kiermaier due up first and third, respectively, Kotsay opted to go with left-handed rookie Kirby Snead. The Rays countered with pinch-hitter Isaac Paredes, who grounded out to start the inning. Following a Manuel Margot single, pinch-hitter Mike Zunino crushed a game-tying homer. Two batters later, Trivino entered the game with a runner on, two outs, and the game tied. So, despite getting passed over for the save chance, he still ended up pitching in a high-leverage situation.

While Trivino did escape the ninth, the top of the 10th was a disaster. Double. Intentional walk. Groundout. Single. Triple. Single. And that’s how Trivino’s return to the bullpen ended. He allowed five runs (four earned) and picked up the loss.

You can take your best guess on which direction Kotsay goes after this one. Does he give Trivino a mulligan since it was his first game back and he was thrown into a tough situation? Do they go back to Jiménez? Committee?

 

Outlier Saves

•Joe Mantiply, ARI | RosterResource

With Ian Kennedy having pitched three of the last four days, including a 19-pitch outing on Monday, it was Mantiply who got the save chance on Tuesday with a 5-4 lead over the Marlins in the ninth. The 31-year-old lefty, who was terrific as a rookie in 2021, picked up his second save with an easy 1-2-3 inning. He now has 10 scoreless innings to begin the year.

•Devin Williams, MIL | RosterResource

Hader was not available on Tuesday due to back spasms, leaving Williams to close out a 6-3 victory over the Reds. The 27-year-old retired the side on 13 pitches to pick up his second save. He has not allowed a run over his last seven appearances.

•Seth Lugo, NYM | RosterResource

After Edwin Díaz picked up a save in Game 1 of Tuesday’s double-header against the Braves, the Mets went with Lugo to close out Game 2. Following eight shutout innings by Carlos Carrasco, Lugo finished off the shutout with a scoreless ninth to pick up his second save.

 

Committee Clarity

•None

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.