Bullpen Report: May 7, 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

•Will Smith, ATL: Back-to-back days; 13 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

A.J. Minter is a likely candidate for a save chance if Smith isn’t available on Friday.

•Gregory Soto, DET: Back-to-back days; 13 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

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

•Ryan Pressly, HOU: 32 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Ryne Stanek is a likely candidate for a save chance if Pressly isn’t available on Friday.

•Edwin Díaz, NYM: 24 pitches on Thursday. | RosterResource

Trevor May has pitched back-to-back days. Miguel Castro and Jeurys Familia are likely candidates for a save chance if neither Diaz or May is available on Friday.

 

Injury News

•None

 

Outlier Saves

•Adam Ottavino, BOS | RosterResource

Ottavino and closer Matt Barnes had each pitched back-to-back days, so it was uncertain if either would be available on Thursday. But after having used four relievers through eight innings with his team up 12-9 — including potential closing options Matt Andriese and Darwinzon Hernandez — manager Alex Cora opted to go with Ottavino on a third consecutive day to close out the win.

The 35-year-old, making his 15th appearance on the season, pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his first save with the Red Sox. Barnes pitched in 16 of the team’s first 31 games, so his workload had been slightly greater than Ottavino’s.

•Josh Sborz, TEX | RosterResource

With closer Ian Kennedy and top setup man Joely Rodríguez both likely unavailable after pitching back-to-back days, it was Sborz who got the call with the Rangers leading 4-3 versus the Twins in the bottom of the tenth.

The 27-year-old right-hander struck out Willians Astudillo and Josh Donaldson to begin the inning and then got Miguel Sanó to fly out to strand the designated runner on second base and pick up his first career save.

 

Committee Clarity

•None

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.