Welcome back to our Relievers to Stream for Wins and Saves series! This will bring you up-to-date bullpen depth charts every morning for the day’s games and makes for a great tool for those of you looking to stream saves or wins. This series runs seven days a week, so be sure to check in every morning to get your daily bullpen fix!
Notes
Schedule notes:
- 10 teams were off Thursday: NYY, HOU, LAA, CHC, CIN, MIL, STL, and SFG had scheduled off days, while PHI and NYM were postponed. Look for the majority of these bullpens to be fully rested and ready to go for the weekend.
Injuries and transactions:
- Jordan Romano was placed on the 10-day IL, muddying the waters of the Blue Jays’ late-inning bullpen situation even more. Rafael Dolis should be the favorite to get the first save opportunity as it arises.
- Nomar Mazara was placed on the 10-day IL by the Tigers with Joe Jimenez being called up from the alternate site in the corresponding roster move. Though Jimenez probably won’t factor into the 9th inning right away, he has a shot if he can find his 2019 form.
Yesterday’s performances:
- After Aaron Civale went six full innings, the Cleveland three-headed bullpen monster finished out the game. Nick Wittgren, who hasn’t recorded a save in over a week, pitched a one-hit seventh inning, followed by James Karinchak who did the same in the eighth inning against the heart of the White Sox order. While Karinchak recorded his first save this past Tuesday, it was Emmanuel Clase who finished it out on Thursday to record his third save of the season and looks to continue being the main option in the final inning for the time being in Cleveland.
- Kendall Graveman pitched a perfect seventh inning in the first game of the Mariners’ doubleheader against the Orioles on Thursday, on his way to his second save of the season. Rafael Montero was used in the sixth inning to set up Graveman, further cementing a logical changing of the guard in Seattle.
- With both Graveman and Montero pitching in the first game of the doubleheader, it was Keynan Middleton who was given the save opportunity in the second game. Middleton closed out the one-run lead to collect his second save of the season.
- Craig Stammen was credited with his first save of the season, as he finished off the final three innings in the Padres’ five-run win over the Pirates on Thursday. The only two pitchers in San Diego to collect saves besides Mark Melancon have come from the three-inning variety, with Ryan Weathers picking up one of his back on April 3rd.
- A.J. Minter put himself in line to get his first win of the season, but only at the expense of his first save. Minter was called on to close out what was a one-run lead heading into the ninth and promptly allowed two runs to score off a leadoff walk and two hits and a walk before finally ending the inning with a Brian Anderson strikeout. The Braves came to his rescue after Dansby Swanson walked it off in the bottom of the inning to clinch the win for Minter.
- Those in very deep leagues who still had David Price in their line ups were treated to a nice surprise as recorded his first career save on Thursday, allowing two hits and striking out two for the Dodgers. Dave Roberts obviously didn’t see a need to use any of his typical late-inning options in this one as all three of Kenley Jansen, Corey Knebel, and Blake Treinen were used the day prior. I wouldn’t get used to it.
- Joe Jimenez could only muster one out in his 2021 debut, walking three of the four batters he faced. The note earlier about the possibility of moving later in innings surely took a hit with this performance.
- With Greg Holland still resting from his 32-pitch outing on Tuesday and Josh Staumont going two innings of his own on Wednesday, it was Scott Barlow who got the save opportunities for the Royals on Thursday. Barlow converted his first save of the season, allowing two hits and striking out one.
- Ian Kennedy recorded his third save of the season for the Rangers, closing out the two-run lead in the tenth inning against the Rays on Thursday. Tampa Bay’s Cody Reed was credited with the loss after allowing the would-be winning two-run home run to Adolis Garcia in the top of the inning.
- Both closers for Arizona and Washington saw time on the mound on Thursday, despite the five-run difference in the 9th inning. Brad Hand and Stefan Crichton each had two days of rest and obviously had been slotted to see time regardless of the score. Both pitched scoreless ninth innings and still should be available on Friday if needed.
- Taylor Rogers blew a save chance for the Twins on Thursday. After Hansel Robles left the bases loaded in the eighth inning, Rogers gave up a double to the first batter he faced, allowing all three inherited runners to score, tying the game. Alex Colome pitched a scoreless ninth inning and walked away with his first win of the season after a walk-off sac fly by Max Kepler in the bottom of the inning.
Bullpen Depth Charts
Green = long/bulk reliever expected to pitch after starter
Yellow = closer pitched previous day or twice in three days
Red = closer has pitched back to back days and likely is off
Photo by Kent Kanouse/Flickr | Adapted by Justin Redler (@reldernitsuj on Twitter)
Montero may well lose his closing job, but not sure anything was cemented Thursday – he came in to face the 3-4-5 hitters in the Orioles lineup, his aLI was 1.85 to Graveman’s 1.29, so it was more of a fireman role. Scott Servais said afterward that he was playing matchups.