Bullpen Depth Charts: Relievers To Stream — 7/31

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

 

• 14 teams have a built-in rest day coming up on Monday and so may feel the ability to be more aggressive with their high leverage bullpen options through the weekend: SD, LAD, COL, STL, CIN, CHC, ATL, OAK, HOU, MIN, KC, DET, CWS, BOS
• The Dodgers are likely to go with a bullpen game against the Diamondbacks tonight, as they have yet to announce a starter. Mitchell White should factor in at some point, while the team may also call up an arm or two after the bullpen was taxed yesterday.

 

Transaction and Injury Notes

• Chicago Cubs traded RHP Craig Kimbrel to Chicago White Sox for RHP Codi Heuer and 2B Nick Madrigal.
• Washington Nationals traded RHP Daniel Hudson to San Diego Padres for RHP Mason Thompson.

 

• Pittsburgh Pirates traded RHP Richard Rodríguez to Atlanta Braves for RHP Bryse Wilson and RHP Ricky DeVito.
• Texas Rangers traded RHP Kyle Gibson, RHP Ian Kennedy, RHP Hans Crouse, and cash to Philadelphia Phillies for RHP Spencer Howard, RHP Kevin Gowdy, and RHP Josh Gessner.

 

• Cleveland Indians traded RHP Phil Maton and C Yainer Diaz to Houston Astros for CF Myles Straw.
• Minnesota Twins traded LHP J.A. Happ and cash to St. Louis Cardinals for LHP Evan Sisk and RHP John Gant.

 

• Detroit Tigers traded LHP Daniel Norris to Milwaukee Brewers for RHP Reese Olson.
• Miami Marlins traded RHP John Curtiss to Milwaukee Brewers for C Payton Henry.

 

• Toronto Blue Jays designated RHP Tyler Chatwood for assignment.
• Arizona Diamondbacks traded RHP Joakim Soria to Toronto Blue Jays for two Players To Be Named Later.

 

• Cincinnati Reds activated RHP Michael Lorenzen from the 10-day injured list.
• Minnesota Twins traded RHP Hansel Robles to Boston Red Sox for RHP Alex Scherff.

 

• Los Angeles Angels traded LHP Tony Watson to San Francisco Giants for RHP Jose Marte, LHP Sam Selman and RHP Ivan Armstrong.
• Texas Rangers activated RHP Josh Sborz from the paternity list.

 

• Philadelphia Phillies designated RHP Brandon Kintzler for assignment.
• Boston Red Sox activated RHP Hirokazu Sawamura from the 10-day injured list.

 

• Arizona Diamondbacks selected the contract of RHP Stefan Crichton from Reno Aces.
• Arizona Diamondbacks placed RHP Noé Ramirez on the 10-day injured list.

 

Yesterday’s Performances

• The Cubs traded Craig Kimbrel to the White Sox yesterday, perhaps the last destination we expected for Kimbrel. Kimbrel will probably see occasional save chances but ultimately is likely to slide into a setup role with Liam Hendriks remaining as the primary closer. As for the Cubs, they did receive Codi Heuer as part of the return and he instantly becomes the most interesting arm in that bullpen. He’ll be in the mix for saves along with Rex Brothers and Dan Winkler, at least until Rowan Wick returns.
• Philadelphia is not the greatest fit for Ian Kennedy, but getting out of Texas and on to a winning team should give him a nice boost. Plus he will still be closing out games for his new team which is also a huge bonus. In Texas, some combination of Spencer Patton, Joe Barlow, and perhaps Josh Sborz should figure into the saves mix for the time being.

 

• Even following the trade to land Richard Rodríguez, I’d imagine Will Smith is still the closer in Atlanta with Rodríguez just adding much-needed depth. Hopefully, we see David Bednar closing out games in Pittsburgh, but the Pirates will probably opt for a veteran like Chris Stratton.
• We got a look at the Blue Jays bullpen after the Brad Hand trade and it appears as though Jordan Romano may remain the closer, as Hand worked the eighth and Romano the ninth in a save situation. It’s a bit of a surprise but Romano has the most upside out of anyone in that bullpen so it’s probably the right move.

 

• James Karinchak came on in the eighth inning of last night’s game and failed to record an out, allowing three hits, a walk, and two earned runs while picking up his third loss of the season. It looks like Emmanuel Clase may be in line for more save chances moving forward but the situation is likely to change on a weekly basis.
• New closer Diego Castillo worked a scoreless ninth inning in yesterday’s game, as Paul Sewald and Drew Steckenrider worked the seventh and eighth innings. That’s likely the new late-inning trio for the Mariners, with Castillo getting the majority of the save chances for his new team.

 

• There may be an interesting situation brewing in LA with the Dodgers as Kenley Jansen pitched in the eighth inning of a tie game last night, with Blake Treinen working the ninth. Just something to keep an eye on, as I don’t see Jansen getting removed from the role quite yet despite his recent struggles.
• Nationals reliever Kyle Finnegan picked up his second save in two days yesterday, allowing one hit and striking out none in a scoreless ninth. He’s strengthening his case to be the team’s closer for the rest of the season, especially with Tanner Rainey and Wander Suero not quite right. One of those two may get a chance to close out the Cubs tonight, however, as Finnegan may get the day off after working back-to-back games.

 

• The Orioles continue to utilize a closer by committee approach, which leaves none of their reliever’s fantasy-relevant outside of deeper holds leagues. Cole Sulser picked up the save yesterday, but Dillon Tate had recorded the previous one (he worked the eight yesterday). Over the past 30 days, Sulser and Tate each have one save, the only two saves the team has been able to convert.
• With a bunch of new additions to the Reds bullpen, it still seems like they will stick with a Heath Hembree/Amir Garrett committee in the ninth inning, with Garrett getting the ninth yesterday. Michael Lorenzen returned from the IL and worked the seventh, with newcomer Mychal Givens pitching the eighth. With Lucas Sims and Tejay Antone set to return in the next two weeks, things are sure to get messy as far as late-inning roles go.

 

• With Hansel Robles heading to Boston and Taylor Rogers on the IL, it appeared as though Tyler Duffey may get a chance to close out games in the interim. Duffey however came into the 7th inning of yesterday’s game and proceeded to allow three earned runs. Duffey has not been his normal self this season but is still one of the Twins best options out of the bullpen. I suppose it would make sense for the team to give Alex Colomé another crack at the closer role, but that’s nothing to get excited about.
• The Astros new and improved bullpen took shape yesterday, with Kendall Graveman working 1.1 innings in front of Ryan Pressly, allowing no baserunners and striking out three. Having someone like Graveman working in front of him should actually lead to more save chances for Pressly the rest of the season.

 

• Lou Trivino picked up his 17th save of the season yesterday in the Athletics victory over the Angels, allowing just one hit during the outing. Oakland’s only bullpen addition was Andrew Chafin, so Trivino should be in line to be the team’s closer for the rest of the season barring any major regression.
• Aroldis Chapman secured his 21st save of the season yesterday and continues to look much improved after the All-Star break. In eight innings since the break, Chapman has allowed just one run on two hits, while having a solid 13/5 K/BB ratio.