Bullpen Depth Charts: Relievers To Stream – 8/9

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 an excellent 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

 

• Only ten teams play on Monday (CIN, CLE, MIL, CHC, CHW, MIN, NYY, KCR, MIA, SDP), so there are very few options for streaming.

 

Transaction and Injury Notes

 

• The Reds activated Lucas Sims and placed Brad Brach on the IL. He likely slots in behind Michael Lorenzen and Mychal Givens for save chances.

 

Yesterday’s Performances

 

• JT Chargois picked up the win in relief for the Rays as Matt Wisler and Ryan Sherriff worked the eighth and ninth in a non-save situation. The Rays continue to use just about anyone in their bullpen at any time, so good luck if you’re trying to chase saves here.
• It was a rough series overall for the Orioles bullpen. They allowed seven runs in three innings in this one after allowing another seven runs on Saturday and eight on Friday. They just disrespected poor Paul Fry as he entered the series with a respectable 3.64 ERA in 42 IP and left with a 5.10 ERA after facing eight batters and allowing seven of them to score.

 

• The Mets used Jeurys Familia and Trevor May on Sunday. The latter is on quite a roll having struck out ten and allowed just one hit in his last five innings.
• Philadelphia didn’t need a single pitch from their bullpen on Sunday as Zack Wheeler stole the whole show.

 

• With Diego Castillo having worked two straight nights for the Mariners, Seattle turned to Drew Steckenrider for the six-out save with Paul Sewald recording five outs and earning the win. It seems that both Sewald and Steckenrider are being considered for saves on days when Castillo isn’t available.
• New York was also thin after having used a lot of their bullpen the previous two games of this series. The final two innings fell to Lucas Luetge and Albert Abreu and the former took his second loss of the year. The Yankees seemed to be pretty cautious and held out both Chad Green and Zack Britton for the second straight day after having used them in each of the first two games of the series on Thursday and Friday.

 

• The Red Sox were quite aggressive with their usage of Matt Barnes and called on him again after using him in both games of the doubleheader on Saturday. They also called on Adam Ottavino for multiple innings after having used him on Saturday. Between the two, they allowed three runs in the bottom of the eighth to allow Toronto to come back and win the game. It was a rough series for the Sox bullpen, but it was Toronto’s first divisional series back in the Rogers’ Center. It was just a rough matchup for Barnes and Ottavino and I’d expect them to return to form soon.
• Jordan Romano came on to save his tenth game of the year giving Rafael Dolis the win in relief. Romano didn’t do his trademark squat in this one and it didn’t faze him. In fact, he averaged 99.3 mph on 10 fastballs (season average 97.4).

 

• Ian Krol has allowed just two runs in nine and a third innings of work since having his contract selected by the Tigers in late July. Unfortunately, it comes with a K:BB ratio of 6:4, 10.6 H/9, and a swinging strike rate of 7.6%.
• The best arms in Cleveland’s bullpen were on full display on Sunday. Bryan Shaw got the win in relief, James Karinchak got a hold by working a clean eighth inning, and Emmanuel Clase shut the door in the ninth to snag the win. Karinchak had a rough stretch at the end of July and Clase seems to be the top option for saves for now. Karinchak hasn’t earned a save since July 21st while Clase has notched five saves in that time.

 

• David Bednar continues to be lights out (0.69 ERA since July 1st), but he just isn’t being used in save situations like we were hoping after Pittsburgh’s mass exodus. Keep him on your radar for next year.
• The Pirates sometimes have a way of making mediocre pitchers look untouchable, but I can’t help but feel like Mychal Givens actually was untouchable in this one. He recorded his second save of the year with Michael Lorenzen recording his fourth hold in the eighth. Since Givens’ first appearance with the Reds, he and Lorenzen have combined for 11.2 scoreless innings and have notched three saves. Don’t look now, but the Reds bullpen, which was an absolute dumpster fire in April and May might be…. Dare I say it?….. good.

 

• Washington just needed six outs from Gabe Klobosits in this one. He got them through it and gave them a chance to win, but has a very low chance of ever being fantasy-relevant.
• Atlanta nearly gave up another one. Starter Max Fried left after six and had a comfortable four-run lead going into the late innings. Just a few innings later, they were up by just one with the tying run in scoring position and a very hot Josh Bell coming to the plate. Chris Martin came away with the save, his first of the year, but Atlanta is likely feeling a little nervous after nearly blowing two straight games in the ninth to a Nationals team without Juan Soto.

 

• Rumors of his death were greatly exaggerated. That’s three saves already for Alex Colomé in August after registering two all year coming into the month. Is this man really going to make himself fantasy-relevant again? I’d be pretty cautious, but he’s been good for a long time and he has the potential to put up double-digit saves down the stretch.
• We saw more of newcomers Rafael Montero and Yimi García and both looked good. Montero especially seems to have gotten his groove back after moving to Houston. His fastball went 4/11 on whiffs on Sunday and he’s not allowed an earned run in six innings since joining the Astros.

 

• With their top two arms unavailable, San Francisco turned to Zack Littell for the six-out save, his first of the year. Tony Watson recorded the win in relief. Don’t read too much into this one as Littell won’t be consistently getting save chances for the Giants anytime soon.
• The loss of a guy like Josh Hader doesn’t always show itself in the ninth inning. Because everyone moves back an inning, sometimes it’s the middle innings that start to be problematic. Brad Boxberger took the loss in this one and, while he was second in line for saves earlier in the year, it’s clear that he isn’t now.

 

• Richard Lovelady recorded his first save of his career by sitting down the Cardinals one-two-three in the ninth. Scott Barlow picked up the win in relief. This was a weird situation involving a late Cardinals comeback and a rain delay, so I don’t think Lovelady getting the save was exactly part of the plan for the Royals. It wasn’t too long ago, though, that he was a trendy, fringe top-10 organizational prospect, so maybe the Royals give more chances in the late innings down the stretch and see if there’s still some of that potential there.
• Alex Reyes wasn’t helped by his defense in this one and ended up taking the loss allowing an unearned run. He also worked on both sides of the rain delay, so this was a pretty atypical game for Reyes and the loss can be forgiven for now.

 

• Miami was behind by several runs for the entirety of this game, but ended up using most of their top arms anyway since they needed some maintenance innings. Much to the chagrin of fantasy managers like me who stashed Anthony Bender, Dylan Floro seems to have a pretty firm hold on the closer role for the Marlins for now.
• Colorado had runs to play with and was able to give the back end of their bullpen a rest. None of the pitchers used are fantasy-relevant.

 

• The Rangers were playing from behind and rested their best arms.
• Lou Trivino continued his impressive run and made it 11 straight save conversions with his 18th of the year on Sunday. His 1.88 ERA, 4 wins, and 18 saves on the year should be a reminder to all fantasy managers next year to not panic and overpay for saves during your drafts.

 

• Mike Mayers needed a maintenance inning in this one. Even though he’s the second in line for saves for a decent team, he’s been up and down all year and it’s tough to trust him even in SVHLD leagues.
• The Dodgers had this game well in hand and were able to rest their top guys and give Justin Bruihl his first career MLB appearance. He’s been racking up punchouts in the minors, so it will be interesting to see how he does at the major league level.

 

• Arizona needed just one inning from their bullpen. Taylor Clarke avoided allowing any insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth.
• Emilio Pagán earned hold number 13 and passed the baton to Mark Melancon for save number 33. It was his first save since July 29th and makes him 33/38 in save opportunities on the year. Since he’s worked two in a row, Drew Pomeranz is likely the one San Diego will turn to in a save opportunity on Monday.

 

• The White Sox went up big thanks to a first inning with three home runs and never looked back. Reynaldo López continues to have success as a long man in relief. He’s allowed three runs in 15 IP with 15 strikeouts since returning to the major league club over the All-Star Break.
• The Cubs needed lots of help from their bullpen and they responded by allowing just three hits across seven innings. Unfortunately, that wasn’t nearly enough to dig them out of the five-run hole they found themselves in after the top of the first.