Bullpen Report: May 7, 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.

We will always include a link to the full Closer Depth Chart at the bottom of the Bullpen Report each day. It’s also accessible from the RosterResource drop-down menu and from any RosterResource page. Please let us know what you think.

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: Four of the last five days; 21 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Top setup men Aaron Bummer (three of four days, 13 pitches on Friday) and Kendall Graveman (two of three, 20 pitches on Friday) may not be available on Saturday either, though it figures one of them ought to be able to be ready for a save chance. Matt Foster has also pitched in two of three games. In the unlikely event that all of the White Sox’s top four relievers are unavailable, José Ruiz or Ryan Burr could close.

•Emilio Pagán, MIN: 28 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax and Joe Smith are the top substitute options for Saturday.

•Ryan Helsley, STL: 26 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Co-closer Giovanny Gallegos (who’s earned most of the save chances anyway and got the save on Friday) will be available on Saturday after just six pitches to close Friday’s game.

Injury News

•Mark Melancon, ARI: Activated from the COVID-related IL. | RosterResource

Melancon had been on the COVID-related IL since April 29, and the reason for his placement was never disclosed. The Diamondbacks are glad to have him back, as he allowed just one earned run and one walk in eight innings despite only three strikeouts, picking up four saves in the process. Ian Kennedy and Joe Mantiply filled in nicely but will return to setup roles.

•Josh Hader, MIL: Pitched a scoreless inning on Friday (back spasms). | RosterResource

Everything looked normal for Hader on Friday in making his first appearance since April 27 while dealing with an ailing back. He may still be eased back into action to some extent, which makes Devin Williams a plausible candidate for a save on Saturday.

Outlier Saves

•Rafael Montero, HOU | RosterResource

Ryan Pressly threw 21 pitches in his first game off the IL on Thursday, so he wasn’t available to pitch on Friday. Montero was given the assignment instead and pitched a perfect inning with a strikeout.

Montero has been excellent so far this season, allowing just one run in 12.1 innings with 17 strikeouts. Hector Neris and Ryne Stanek are other options for saves on days Pressly isn’t available.

•Steven Wilson, SDP | RosterResource

Taylor Rogers has taken on a heavy load so far, already earning 11 saves and pitching back-to-back days on Wednesday and Thursday. With Rogers down for the day on Friday, the rookie Wilson was given the save chance. He didn’t make things easy, needing 25 pitches and working around a walk and a hit to ultimately pitch a scoreless inning for his first career save.

It’s been a good beginning to Wilson’s career, with a 3.00 ERA in his first 12 innings with 15 strikeouts.

Committee Clarity

•Brooks Raley, TBR | RosterResource

Another day, another save for Raley, who’s earned saves on back-to-back days and now has three on the season. He’s asserted himself as Kevin Cash’s top lefty option for saves and should continue to pitch in a matchup role (that may often end up in the ninth) or close on days that Andrew Kittredge isn’t available.

Raley’s been brilliant in his first season as a Ray, with ten strikeouts in eight innings and just two earned runs allowed.

Losing A Grip

•None