Welcome back to the latest edition of our Reliever Ranks series! 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 looking to stream saves or wins. This series runs seven days a week, so check in every morning to get your daily bullpen fix!
Notes
Transaction and Schedule Notes
- All 30 MLB teams were in action on Wednesday.
- After one day, the Arizona Diamondbacks reinstated Scott McGough from the Paternity List. Carlos Vargas was optioned in the corresponding move. Congrats to Scott and his wife on the quick & efficient baby!
- The San Francisco Giants sent Sean Hjelle down to Triple-A to make room for Darin Ruf. I speak for both Hjelle and Mets fans everywhere when I say, “That’s Ruf.”
- The Oakland A’s placed Domingo Acevedo on the 15-day IL, retroactive to Tuesday. RHP Chad Smith was recalled.
- The Angels made a curious move after Tuesday’s game, optioning RHP Andrew Wantz — arguably their best reliever so far this season — to make room for Wednesday’s starter, Griffin Canning. Expect to see Wantz back in Anaheim before too long.
- There are just seven games on Thursday, with 16 teams utilizing the travel day. Most bullpens should be well-rested for the weekend.
Yesterday’s Performances
HOU 7 – PIT 0
- The Astros backed José Urquidy with plenty of offense, including a two-run Alex Bregman bomb off Pittsburgh reliever Dauri Moreta. They collected two more runs off Chase De Jong in the eighth before Jose Hernandez stopped the bleeding.
- Houston’s bullpen held strong behind Urquidy, as Hector Neris, Bryan Abreu and Ronel Blanco each pitched scoreless innings. With the score as it was, there were holds to be had.
SD 2 – NYM 5
SV: Adam Ottavino (1)
H: Brooks Raley (5), Drew Smith (4), David Robertson (1)
- San Diego scored two in the first inning, but Tylor Megill and the Mets shut them down the rest of the way. Brooks Raley was the first to enter in relief after the Mets took the lead in the fifth; he earned a hold for a scoreless two-thirds, as did Drew Smith, who closed out the inning. With two on and two out in a two-run game in the seventh (with Juan Soto coming up), Buck Showalter opted to insert his closer, David Robertson. The decision paid off, as Robertson proceeded to retire Soto and the side in the eighth, to boot. He gave way to Adam Ottavino in the ninth, who lured Manny Machado into a game-ending double-play to pick up his first save of the year.
- The Padres leaned on Brent Honeywell Jr. and Tim Hill to cover the later frames, and neither factored into the decision.
CWS 1 – MIN 3
SV: Jhoan Duran (3)
H: Jorge Alcala (2), Jorge López (3), Griffin Jax (4)
- Though Sonny Gray was pulled after five scoreless innings, the Minnesota bullpen was excellent preserving his one-run lead the rest of the way. The only Sox hitter to scratch across a run was rookie Lenyn Sosa, who homered off Jhoan Duran with two outs in the ninth. Duran recovered to get the next batter and earn his third save, doing so in 15 pitches. After pitching on back-to-back days, both Duran and Griffin Jax may be unavailable against the Yankees on Thursday. Jorge López would presumably fill in if needed.
- The White Sox suffered uneven performances in relief from Keynan Middleton, Jake Diekman, Gregory Santos, and Aaron Bummer, the latter two of which combined to allow two critical insurance runs on three hits in the eighth.
NYY 4 – CLE 3
SV: Clay Holmes (4)
W: Wandy Peralta (1)
BS: Trevor Stephan (1); L: Emmanuel Clase (1)
- Like the Padres, Cleveland was staked to an early lead in this one and couldn’t hold on. The decisive tallies came against Trevor Stephan in the seventh and Emmanuel Clase, who entered a tie game in the ninth. The Guardian closer allowed an unearned run on two singles and a throwing error, which was all the Yankees needed to win it. Nick Sandlin and James Karinchak pitched scoreless frames before him.
- For the Yankees, Wandy Peralta lucked into his first W after pitching a scoreless eighth. He was followed by Clay Holmes, who navigated two walks to pick up save number four. Michael King pitched two perfect middle innings (25 pitches), likely ruling him out for Thursday’s game.
SEA 5 – CHC 2
H: Matt Brash (2)
- The Mariner bats did work against the Cubs’ bullpen — particularly Julian Merryweather, who allowed back-to-back moonshots to Teoscar Hernández and Jarred Kelenic as soon as he entered the game. At least Michael Fulmer was effective, retiring the side in the ninth on just 12 pitches.
- The M’s turned to Matt Brash with two outs in the seventh, and he earned a hold with just seven pitches. Justin Topa breezed through the eighth, and Paul Sewald pitched with a four-run lead in the ninth; four became three on a Cody Bellinger homer, but Sewald hung on to secure the victory.
STL 7 – COL 4
SV: Ryan Helsley (3)
W, BS: Andre Pallante (1, 1)
H: Zack Thompson (1), Drew VerHagen (1), Giovanny Gallegos (1)
L: Justin Lawrence (1)
- The Cardinals took advantage of the porous Colorado ‘pen, scoring runs in the seventh, eighth, and ninth. Three different St. Louis relievers earned holds as a result, including Giovanny Gallegos, who finally picked up his first H with two strikeouts in the eighth. Ryan Helsley followed with a perfect ninth for his third save.
- Both Gallegos and Helsley have now pitched back-to-back days, so it’s unclear who’s first in line should the opportunity arise on Thursday. Jordan Hicks could get a look if both are unavailable, but that’s probably not worth chasing.
MIL 3 – ARI 7
W: Kyle Nelson (2)
H: Andrew Chafin (1)
- The D-backs jumped all over Milwaukee starter Janson Junk and tallied two more against Gus Varland in the seventh to put it out of reach. No high-leverage arms were used by the Brew Crew.
- Drey Jameson was excellent, but limited to 54 pitches; as a result, Kyle Nelson was in the right place at the right time to earn the win. Andrew Chafin was deployed in a sticky spot in the seventh but preserved the lead and earned a hold. Scott McGough, fresh off his one-day paternity absence, pitched a scoreless ninth in a non-save situation.
MIA 3 – PHI 2 (10)
W: A.J. Puk (1)
BS: José Alvarado (1)
L: Gregory Soto (2)
- Edward Cabrera took the mound opposite Zack Wheeler in this one, and he held the Phillies’ bats at bay long enough for Jorge Soler to tie the game with a solo shot off José Alvarado in the eighth. Dylan Floro proceeded to mow down Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Nick Castellanos, but it was A.J. Puk who picked up the win, locking down the ninth and 10th on just 23 pitches (one hit, zero walks, and two Ks). Puk appears to be the man in Miami going forward.
- Outside of the Soler homer, the Philadelphia bullpen was actually pretty solid. Seranthony Domínguez closed out the eighth and Gregory Soto was excellent over the next inning and a third, though he was charged with the loss. It was actually Craig Kimbrel who allowed the free runner to score on a 10th-inning RBI single.
WSH 2 – LAA 3
SV: José Quijada (1)
W: Matt Moore (1)
H: Aaron Loup (2), Ryan Tepera (2)
- MacKenzie Gore didn’t make it through the fourth, but he left with just two runs on the board. It wasn’t until the sixth, off Mason Thompson, that the Halos produced the decisive run. Hunter Harvey, Carl Edwards Jr. and Erasmo Ramírez also saw action.
- Matt Moore was the beneficiary of that sixth-inning run, as he earned one for his one inning of work. Aaron Loup and Ryan Tepera earned their holds with a pair of efficient innings, and did anyone predict José Quijada would be the first Angel to record two saves this season? In fairness, Carlos Estévez had pitched two of the past three days and is probably still the favorite to earn saves going forward.
OAK 8 – BAL 4
W: Chad Smith (1)
BS: Jeurys Familia (1)
L: Keegan Akin (1)
- The A’s led for *almost* all of this game, but Baltimore did manage to briefly tie it in the seventh on a pair of RBI singles off the veteran Jeurys Familia. The A’s backed him up with three more runs in the eighth, and another in the ninth, to close things out.
- Fun fact: though Familia was the pitcher of record when Oakland took the lead, the official scorer decided to give the win to rookie Chad Smith, who pitched the eighth, instead — it was the first win of his career. Isn’t baseball fun?
- Orioles set-up man Cionel Pérez allowed two runs on five hits in parts of two innings. He’ll likely be unavailable for Thursday’s series finale.
BOS 7 – TB 9
SV: Pete Fairbanks (2)
H: Jason Adam (3), Colin Poche (2)
- After taking an 8-3 lead in the fifth, the unbeaten Rays appeared well on their way to another blowout victory. But Boston put up a fight, scoring a run off Jalen Beeks, two more off Ryan Thompson, and a Rafael Devers home run off Colin Poche in the seventh cut the lead back to two. But Jason Adam and Pete Fairbanks were able to take it the rest of the way, with the latter picking up his second save.
- Adam, Poche, and Fairbanks have all pitched two out of three days now, so a potential save chance on Thursday could be purely situational. I’d still lean Fairbanks (he threw just nine pitches on Wednesday), especially as Tampa is gunning for history with win #13.
DET 3 – TOR 4 (10)
W: Jordan Romano (2)
L, BS: Chasen Shreve (1, 1)
H: Jason Foley (2), Alex Lange (1)
- Kevin Gausman was brilliant for eight innings, striking out 11. But he left the game trailing, and it took a ninth-inning rally against the Tigers bullpen (Trey Wingenter and Chasen Shreve) to send the game to extra innings. Tim Mayza retired the side in the ninth, and Jordan Romano bounced back from Sunday’s disastrous outing with a scoreless (albeit eventful) 10th inning to earn the win.
- The Tigers used Alex Lange in the eighth to retire Kevin Kiermaier, George Springer, and Bo Bichette. He did so on just 12 pitches and got an empty hold for his troubles. José Cisnero allowed the game-winning RBI single by Springer in the 10th.
CIN 4 – ATL 5
SV: A.J. Minter (2)
W: Kirby Yates (1)
BS: Ian Gibaut (2); L: Buck Farmer (3)
- In a matchup of duelling flame-throwers, Hunter Greene and Spencer Strider both racked up the strikeouts, but neither factored into the decision. Strider left a tie game in the sixth, and Atlanta turned to Lucas Luetge to cover the next two frames. He allowed a go-ahead RBI single in the seventh but avoided further damage. The Braves tied it in the seventh and took the lead in the eighth, allowing Kirby Yates to step in for the win and A.J. Minter to garner his second save with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
- Ian Gibaut took over for Greene in the seventh and was credited with a blown save. Buck Farmer allowed the go-ahead home run to Eddie Rosario, earning him an impressive third loss on the young season.
KC 10 – TEX 1
- Bobby Witt Jr. and the Royals were all over Nathan Eovaldi from the start, resulting in a blowout. Taylor Hearn took a beating in relief as well, allowing four runs in two innings.
- Jose Cuas, Taylor Clarke, and Ryan Yarbrough followed Brad Keller for Kansas City. Collectively they allowed just four hits and one walk to the Rangers’ offense.
LAD 10 – SF 5
- The Dodgers broke this one open in the sixth when Taylor Rogers entered and promptly walked four consecutive batters. He was replaced by John Brebbia, who allowed a sac fly and a three-run homer to Max Muncy, his second of the night. Ross Stripling (??) covered the final three innings, allowing two more runs, as Gabe Kapler’s innovative approach to managing his rotation continues to amaze us.
- Clayton Kershaw was solid as ever, and he earned the win over six innings. Evan Phillips pitched the eighth with a five-run lead, and struck out the side, looking excellent; it was likely nothing more than a chance to get reps in with the off day tomorrow.
Bullpen Depth Charts
Also, if you’re looking for a detailed list or ranking of RPs, check out Rick Graham’s weekly pieces:
The Hold Up: Ranking the Top 100 Relievers for Holds Every Thursday