Bullpen Depth Charts: Relievers To Stream — 5/15

 

Injuries and Transactions

 

• Diego Castillo was reinstated from the IL for the Rays on Friday.
• Cincinnati Reds designated Sal Romano for assignment and replaced him by calling up Art Warren from AAA.

 

• Chicago Cubs activated Dan Winkler from the IL.
• St. Louis Cardinals transferred Jordan Hicks from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.

 

• Toronto Blue Jays signed Carl Edwards Jr. and placed Ryan Borucki on the 10-day injured list retroactive to May 11 with a left forearm flexor strain.
• The Padres placed Drew Pomeranz on the Il with a left shoulder impingement.

 

Yesterday’s Performances

 

• Liam Hendriks collected his eighth save of the year, pitching around a single hit in the seventh inning of the second game of the the White Sox/Royals double header. That’s three straight days for Hendriks, with the White Sox closer throwing a combined 50 pitches across the recent appearances. Look for Aaron Bummer to get the call late in the game Saturday if the situation calls for it.
• Pete Fairbanks took home the win for the Rays thanks to a Brett Phillips walk off single in the 9th inning. One has to assume Diego Castillo will get slotted back into save opportunities for Tampa now that he’s returned from the IL, but it’s still the Rays so best to keep an eye on the situation through the weekend.

 

• Craig Kimbrel recorded his seventh save of the season, striking out the side in the final frame of the Cubs 4-2 victory over the Tigers. This was Kimbrel’s first appearance since May 8th, but that’s mostly due to the multiple off days the Cubs were scheduled this week along with the three straight one-run losses they’ve experienced between Sunday and Wednesday.
• Aroldis Chapman was given an extra day of rest Friday, after he was used in four games between Saturday and Wednesday. Instead, the Yankees went with Jonathan Loaisiga in the ninth inning to close out their one run victory over the Orioles Friday. Loaisiga needed just six pitches to get through his perfect inning of work on his way to recording his second save of the season.

 

• Jake McGee was credited with a blown save Friday, his second of the season, after allowing one of the runners inherited from Kevin Gausman to score, tying the game in the 9th inning, and ultimately sending the game to extra innings. McGee went on to strike out the next three batters he faced, but by then the damage was already done. Tyler Rogers pitched a clean tenth inning for the Giants, collecting two strikeouts of his own.
• Pittsburg closer Richard Rodriguez pitched a clean 10th inning for the Pirates, but it was Luis Oviedo who took home the win in the 11th inning after a Gregory Polanco walk-off sac fly to end the match.

 

• Matt Barnes grabbed his ninth save of the season, striking out the side in the process. Barnes hadn’t seen action since the previous Sunday and only needed 11 pitches to rack up his three strike outs so it should be safe to say he’ll be plenty ready to head back out on Saturday when needed, especially with the impending Monday off day for Boston.
• Hector Neris allowed a hit and collected three strikeouts for the Phillies as he closed out the Phillies win in a non-save opportunity Friday night. Both Neris and Jose Alvarado have now pitched in 3 of the past four days for Philadelphia. Perhaps look for the surging Sam Coonrod to get another look in the final inning Saturday night.

 

• Lou Trivino finished out the Athletics’ five run victory over the Twins, allowing one walk in his scoreless inning of work. Now with two days off after throwing in two straight, expect Jake Diekman to return to the final inning for Oakland on Saturday.
• Will Smith attempted to make up for his disastrous outing Thursday by closing out Atlanta’s three run lead over the Brewers on Friday, allowing one hit and recording one strikeout along the way. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, regardless of the three run differential, Smith did not qualify for the save as he only came into the game to relieve Josh Tomlin who recorded the first out of the inning after allowed two solo home runs.

 

• Colorado turned back to Daniel Bard on Friday night, providing him with an opportunity to convert his fourth save of the season. Bard pitched around one walk in the final inning to preserve the Rockies’ three run lead over the Reds.
• Seattle called upon Kendall Graveman to end the 6th inning, not the 9th. Graveman did as he was asked, and then finished out the seventh inning as well, collecting four outs on the day and allowing one hit. Rafael Montero picked up his 5th save of the season, but only because he was called in to clean up the threat created by JT Chargois, who allowed a two-run home run to Josh Naylor to bring the score within three. Coming in with two outs and the potential tying run at the plate, Montero threw four pitches to Cesar Hernandez before getting him to ground out to end the game.

 

• Mark Melancon recorded his league leading 13th save of the season, though he tried to make things interesting by allowing a Nolan Arenado solo home run with one out to go. The threat was over once Melancon induced a ground out to Yadier Molina to end the game. Though Melancon needed just 11 pitches in this one, he did just throw 37 pitches on Wednesday and with the Padres being one of those teams without an off day until next Thursday, we may see Melancon rested either Saturday or Sunday.
• Kenley Jansen picked up his seventh save of the season, throwing 12 pitches to collect two strikeouts in his perfect inning of work. Victor González recorded one strikeout to end the 8th inning, enough for his tenth hold on the year.

 

Bullpen Depth Charts

 

 

Photo by Kent Kanouse/Flickr | Adapted by Justin Redler (@reldernitsuj on Twitter)