Bullpen Report: May 6, 2021

The 2021 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.)

Notable Workloads

•Matt Barnes, BOS: Back-to-back days; 3 of last 4 days; 15 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Adam Ottavino has also pitched back-to-back days and three of four. Matt Andriese and Darwinzon Hernandez are likely candidates for a save chance if netiher Barnes or Ottavino is available on Thursday.

•Gregory Soto, DET: 30 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Bryan Garcia and José Cisnero are likely candidates for a save chance if Soto isn’t available on Thursday.

•Ian Kennedy, TEX: Back-to-back days; 4 of last 5 days; 17 pitches on Wednesday. | RosterResource

Joely Rodríguez has also pitched back-to-back days. Josh Sborz is a likely candidate for a save chance if neither Kennedy or Rodriguez is available on Thursday.

 

Injury News

•Pete Fairbanks, TBR: Activated from 10-Day IL; Diego Castillo, TBR: Placed on 10-Day IL (strained groin).  | RosterResource

After a one-month absence due to a strained rotator cuff, Fairbanks returned as Castillo went on the Injured List with a strained groin. Fairbanks gives the Rays another closing option with or without Castillo on the roster, although he still doesn’t have a regular season save in 30 appearances over the past two seasons. The 27-year-old did not pitch in Wednesday’s game.

 

Outlier Saves

•James Karinchak, CLE | RosterResource

With Emmanuel Clase possibly getting a second consecutive day off after working back-to-back days on Sunday and Monday, Karinchak got the call in the ninth to close out a 5-4 win over the Royals. He struck out two of the three batters faced to pick up his third save.

There has been no confirmation on whether Clase was available or not, but having Karinchak, who now has a 0.64 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 14 innings, makes it an easy call if they do want to ease back on his workload. Clase, a 23-year-old rookie, had pitched in 14 of the team’s first 28 games.

•Michael Fulmer, DET | RosterResource

Fulmer was one of the last options remaining for the Tigers with Soto’s pitch count at 30 and the Red Sox mounting a comeback in the bottom of the tenth. With one out, runners on the corners, and a run home to cut the lead to 6-4, Fulmer got the call with three right-handed batters coming to the plate. After a fielding error by Willi Castro allowed a run to score, Fulmer retired the next two hitters to close out the win and pick up his first career save.

While this was clearly an outlier save chance, the 28-year-old Fulmer is an intriguing option for a struggling bullpen that doesn’t have many reliable options outside of Soto. If he’s not needed in the rotation anytime soon, he has a chance to pitch in high-leverage situations and could eventually be in the mix for saves.

•José Alvarado, PHI | RosterResource

Héctor Neris got a second consecutive day off after throwing 40 pitches on Monday while Sam Coonrod, who picked the save on Tuesday, was also likely unavailable. Alvarado was well-rested, however, coming off of a two-game suspension so he was the obvious choice for a save on Wednesday. The 25-year-old lefty pitched a scoreless ninth, closing out a 5-4 win over the Brewers with back-t0-back strikeouts to pick up his second save.

 

Committee Clarity

•Jeffrey Springs, TBR | RosterResource

Seven of the Rays’ nine saves had gone to Castillo, who will spend at least the next eight days on the Injured List. Whether manager Kevin Cash would rely on Fairbanks, his preferred closer during the 2020 playoffs, or utilize a committee became clearer on Wednesday. Leading 3-1 in the seventh, Ryan Thompson recorded the next five outs. Springs followed by retiring all four batters he faced to pick up his second save.

Along with the 28-year-old Springs and Fairbanks, the Rays’ committee could be wide-ranging. Andrew Kittredge has already picked up a save and Thompson is a reliable high-leverage option, while Hunter Strickland has more closing experience than anyone in their bullpen.

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.