Bullpen Depth Charts: Relievers To Stream — 5/1

Welcome back to Relievers to Stream for Wins and Saves! 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:

• All 30 teams played Friday and are scheduled to play through the weekend. 10 teams have an upcoming day off Monday, including NYY, BOS, DET, CWS, HOU, ATL, MIA, WAS, CIN, ARI. These teams may feel an ability to be a bit more aggressive with their high leverage relievers knowing they have a built-in day off coming up.

• Mark Melancon recorded his league-leading ninth save of the season, pitching a perfect inning Friday against the Giants. Both Melancon and Drew Pomeranz were used on both sides of the Padres’ off day, providing a possible opportunity for Emilio Pagán to steal some late-inning work Saturday.
• Rafael Montero was asked to close out Seattle’s four-run lead over the Angels on Friday. Though the overall lead was protected, Montero gave up a run on two hits in the process.

• César Valdez bounced back after his blown save Thursday to record his sixth save of the season Friday. Valdez worked around two hits to preserve the one-run victory of the Athletics. That makes back-to-back outings for the Baltimore closer, making way for Tanner Scott in the ninth inning if Saturday’s game provides an opportunity.
• Josh Hader picked up his seventh save of the season and his second in as many days. This one was a bit cleaner than Thursday’s outing, as he pitched a perfect inning, striking out the side in just 12 total pitches. With back-to-back outings for Hader, look for Devin Williams to get the ball in the ninth if there’s an opportunity for the Brewers on Saturday.

• Emmanuel Clase recorded his fifth save of the year, though he did so without recording a strikeout. James Karinchak on the other hand recorded two strikeouts in a perfect eighth inning en route to his fourth hold of the season.
• Jordan Romano was used in mop-up duty as the Blue Jays cruised to an 8-run defeat of the Braves, pitching a scoreless ninth inning. Romano is still working his way back after a recent IL stint and may need more time before seeing regular high leverage situations.

• Tejay Antone picked up his first save of the season for the Reds after being asked to clean up the mess left by Lucas Sims and Carson Fulmer before him. Sims came to the mound in the ninth inning after seeing Fulmer allow the only two batters he faced to reach. Sims proceeded to advance the runners by way of a wild pitch and then walked Kris Bryant to load them up. Sims did induce the next two batters to fly out, though the second was of the sacrifice variety, scoring one run. After walking the next two batters and allowing another run to score, Antone was finally called in to replace Sims and he promptly got David Bote to ground out to end the game. This whole ordeal may be more indicative of Sims’ inability to power through save opportunities than it is toward Antone’s future as a late-inning option in Cincinnati.
• Yimi García took his first blown save of the season, as he was ultimately credited with the loss against the Nationals on Friday. After the Marlins were able to score their extra innings runner to take a one-run lead in the 10th inning, Kyle Schwarber did one better with a walk-off home run off Garcia to both lead off and end the inning. On the other side, thanks to Schwarber’s heroics, Brad Hand was spared the loss and instead picked up his second win on the season after scattering a hit and two walks across two full innings of work.

• Sam Coonrod became the third Phillies reliever to record a save this year, walking one and striking out one on his way through an uneventful ninth inning. José Alvarado pitched the same line in the eighth, though his walk was of the intentional variety. It should be noted that Hector Neris has seen time on the mound in each of the past two days, and Alvarado was used with the 3-4-5 batters due up in the 8th inning, so I wouldn’t reach too much into Coonrod’s future right now.
• As I suggested yesterday, Ryan Helsley was used to close out the game for the Cardinals on Friday as both Alex Reyes and Giovanny Gallegos had been used in both of the previous two games. Though Helsley pitched well, allowing one walk and recording one strikeout in his scoreless inning, the Cardinals unfortunately scored an extra insurance run in the top of the inning, putting St. Louis up by four and keeping the save opportunity out of reach for Helsley.