Bullpen Report: May 8, 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.)

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.

Notable Workloads

•Emmanuel Clase, CLE: Back-to-back days; 18 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

James Karinchak is a likely candidate for a save chance if Clase isn’t available on Saturday.

•Edwin Díaz, NYM: Back-to-back days; 7 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Trevor May is a likely candidate for a save chance if Diaz isn’t available on Saturday.

•Jake McGee, SFG: 25 pitches on Friday. | RosterResource

Tyler Rogers is a likely candidate for a save chance if McGee isn’t available on Saturday.

 

Injury News

•Rafael Dolis, TOR: Left Friday’s game due to calf tightness. | RosterResource

Pitching with a 7-2 deficit after four consecutive days off, Dolis allowed a single and walk before departing with a calf injury. No word on the severity of his injury.

Right calf tightness for Rafael Dolis per manager Charlie Montoyo

Dolis will get an MRI tomorrow at which point #BlueJays will decide on next steps https://t.co/Nxc664WF7k

— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) May 8, 2021

Jordan Romano, who has four consecutive scoreless outings, becomes the favorite for save chances if Dolis misses any time.

 

Outlier Saves

•Rex Brothers, CHC | RosterResource

After pitching back-to-back days on Saturday and Sunday and again on Tuesday and Wednesday, Craig Kimbrel was given a second consecutive day on Friday.  Therefore, it was Ryan Tepera who got the call in the ninth with the Cubs leading 3-1 over the Pirates. He was one out away from picking up his first save, but an RBI single to cut the lead to 3-2 chased him from the game.

Brothers entered and quickly made things more interesting, allowing a single and hit-by-pitch to load the bases. After falling behind Bryan Reynolds with a 3-1 count, he came back to retire him on a flyout to close things out. It was his first save since 2013 when he was the Rockies’ closer.

•Patrick Sandoval, LAA | RosterResource

Sandoval’s 3 1/3 inning save in Friday’s 9-2 blowout win over the Dodgers is misleading. The 24-year-old lefty actually entered the game in a save situation. Two runners were on base with the Angels ahead 5-1 and the tying run on deck. That’s not a situation for a mop-up reliever.

Of course, he probably wouldn’t have stayed in the game until the end had his team not extended their lead by four runs in the bottom of the sixth. But as bad as the Angels’ bullpen has been, it wouldn’t have been a surprise had he he continued for at least another inning or two. Nor would it be surprising if he has earned a chance at some more high-leverage outings.

 

Committee Clarity

•None

 

Losing A Grip

•None

 

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.