Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Rankings – 4/25/23 Depth Chart

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

 

• We had 11 games across Monday’s slate of baseball with 22 teams in action – teams on scheduled day off were SEA, NYM, PHI, WSH, PIT, LAD, CHC, and SDP. These bullpens will be fresh for new series’ starting Tuesday.
• All teams will be featuring today with Miami Marlins starter Bryan Hoeing making his season debut in a tough test against Atlanta. The New York Mets will also be in need of a spot starter against the Nationals. Bulk reliever Jimmy Yacabonis could be in line to pinch another win in relief and is a recommended option.
• It was a rough day for injuries as the following relievers were all sent to the injured list: Adam Cimber (Blue Jays), Matt Bush (Brewers), Adrián Martínez (A’s).
• Veteran late innings man Joe Kelly was activated from the injured list and will immediately be available for the White Sox. Former top prospect Nate Pearson was recalled to Toronto and it remains to be seen what his role will be in the bullpen.

CWS 2 – TOR 5
SV: Jordan Romano (8)

• Jake Diekman struck out one through one and two third innings to keep the White Sox in with a chance in late innings. Lance Lynn gave up the five runs that were enough for the Blue Jays to win this one.
• Jordan Romano reclaimed the top spot as the saves leader in MLB alongside David Bednar and Josh Hader as he made light work of the White Sox in the ninth inning. Zach Pop was excellent in relief of Chris Bassitt, who left the game with back tightness in the seventh inning.

 

DET 4 – MIL 2
SV: Alex Lange (2)

• An impressive outing from closer Alex Lange was enough for the Tigers to preserve a two-run lead in the ninth inning and come away with their eighth win of the season. Lange struck out Rowdy Tellez and Joey Wiemer to close out the game. Opportunities have been slim for Lange and he should not be a priority add for saves. This was only his second save of the season.
• The Brewers used recently added veteran Alex Claudio and low-leverage arm Jake Cousins to eat up the final innings after bulk reliever Bryse Wilson fired two scoreless in relief of starter Colin Rea. Wilson struck out four and only allowed one hit. He remains a good option for wins in relief.

 

OAK 11 – LAA 10 (10)
SV: Jeurys Familia (2)

• Adam Oller will be joined in the bullpen by Shintaro Fujinami after the A’s confirmed the Japanese import will lose his spot in the rotation. Oller took the win yesterday, however, after two brilliant innings in which he allowed just one hit in relief of James Kaprielian and Zach Jackson, who between them gave up a 7-1 lead to allow the Angels to tie the game. With Jackson already used, free-agent pickup Jeurys Familia earned the second save of his season despite giving up a two-run bomb to Brandon Drury.
• Andrew Wantz struck out both hitters he faced in the eighth but came unstuck when he came back out for the ninth. He walked the first two hitters before exiting in favor of Jaime Barría. Barria could not get the job done, however, and was charged with a blown save after he walked in the game-tying run. He then gave up three runs in the 10th, including a two-run double by Ryan Noda to take the loss.

 

BOS 4 – BAL 5
SV: Yennier Cano (1)

• Brennan Bernardino fired two scoreless innings for the Red Sox in a high-leverage situation which is a good sign for the recently acquired lefty. He is unlikely to stick with Red Sox long term.
• Congratulations on your first career save, Yennier Cano. The Cuban, who was acquired via trade from the Twins last season, has emerged as the preferred option behind superstar closer Félix Bautista. He has been lights out for the Orioles, not allowing a base runner through seven innings with nine strikeouts. Cano struck out Kike Hernández and Triston Casas in an impressive showing.

 

TEX 6 – CIN 7

• The Rangers bullpen capitulated in the late innings to let a four-run lead slip – Dane Dunning gave up a single and two walks before being replaced by closer José Leclerc with the bases loaded and two outs. Leclerc then walked the next three batters to allow the Reds to tie the game. He came back out for the ninth only to walk his first hitter. Will Smith came in but immediately gave up a single to TJ Friedl for the walk-off.
• Closer Alexis Díaz earned the win after pitching a clean ninth inning. Diaz moves to 1-1 on the year with a 3.86 ERA, two saves and 14 strikeouts through seven innings.

 

KCR 4 – ARI 5

• Aroldis Chapman gave up the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth after allowing a hit and a walk before first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino bodged a throw to home plate to allow Christian Walker to score. Chapman did his job in inducing a groundball but didn’t get the help he needed from his infield defense.
• Closer Andrew Chafin did a phenomenal job by striking out four across one and two third innings despite giving up a walk and two hits. The veteran was charged with a blown save after entering the game with one out and two runners on in the bottom of the eighth inning, with Kyle Isbel hitting the game-tying single. The closer situation is far from decided in Arizona so that is a situation to watch.

 

Best of the rest

• The Giants will have a fully rested bullpen after Alex Cobb spun a complete game shutout of the Cardinals. Cobb allowed six hits and just one walk while striking out four.
• Another starter smiling from ear-to-ear was Sonny Gray, who dominated his former team the Yankees through seven amazing innings. Gray struck out eight and was supported by Griffin Jax and Jovani Moran to secure a 6-1 win. The Yankees used four relievers after young Jhony Brito struggled mightily and couldn’t get out of the third inning. They will be limited in options for today’s matchup.
• Matt Olson fumbled a routine groundball to rob Spencer Strider of a potential no-hitter in the eighth inning. Strider struck out 13 in a sensational showing. Joe Jiménez handled the ninth inning of a blowout 11-0 victory for Atlanta.
• Despite holding on to a 6-0 lead the Rockies employed closer Pierce Johnson in the eighth inning. He was perfect but this move could indicate that Daniel Bard will be used as the closer moving forward. Time will tell.

 

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

Closing Time: Ranking the Top 30 Closers

Top 100 Relievers for Save+Hold Leagues

 

(Photos by Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Doug Carlin (@Bdougals on Twitter)