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
- There was a full slate of 15 games on Wednesday but only a six-game slate on Thursday. So, a majority of the MLB bullpens receive a breather. Only NYM/CIN, SDP/MIN, CHW/KCR, TBR/NYY, SFG/ARI, and TEX/OAK take the field.
- José Alvarado hits the shelf for 15 days and the Phillies recalled Andrew Bellatti. No doubt, this is a massive blow to the hearts of fantasy managers as it’ll be impossible to replace Alvarado’s video game numbers. A 46.2% K-rate and 57.1% groundball rate over 14.1 IP makes for rarified air. Additionally, the obvious candidate for his save chances is former-closer Craig Kimbrel.
- The Tampa Bay Rays purchased the contract of Jake Diekman and designated Chase Anderson. Diekman joins a pen that already has a pair of southpaws but due to a bevy of injuries could use anything. Undoubtedly, the club will work its magic to transform his lackluster performance with the White Sox (11.1 IP, 11:13 K/BB ratio, and 7.94 ERA). However, that does come with a 44.1% groundball rate and 17.2% HC% (58th best in MLB). Just don’t expect him in high-leverage situations right away.
- The Boston Red Sox activated James Paxton and designated Zack Littell to the minors. In Littell’s long relief role, we should see Ryan Brasier nab the bulk work.
- The New York Yankees recalled Deivi García and optioned Greg Weissert. Garcia will fill a much-needed slot as the team’s multi-IP RP role, similar to the one he performed in Triple-A. Eight of his ten appearances in the minors were more than one inning of work.
Yesterday’s Performances
TBR 1 – BAL 2
H: Austin Voth (5), Danny Coulombe (8)
SV: Yennier Cano (3)
- Austin Voth kept one too many pitched over the plate as a one-out double and single put the Rays within striking distance. Still, his appearance was stout enough to earn the hold. Coming in to clean up the mess, Danny Coulombe struck out the side on only eight total pitches (7 strikes, 1 ball). In the ninth inning, Cano extinguished any hopes of tying the game up. You might be asking yourself, where was Felix? He got the night off as he labored through a 29-pitch save the previous night.
- The Rays deployed an opener (Jalen Beeks) for the first two innings before Yonny Chirinos grabbed five innings of bulk work. However, his command led to his demise as problematic walks and timely hitting put a couple of runs on the board in the sixth inning.
NYM 2 – CIN 1
H: Adam Ottavino (3)
SV: David Robertson (7)
- The 1-2 punch of Ottavino and Robertson was on full display in this one. Furthermore, that was all the bullpen arms needed, as the dynamic duo combined for two innings while not allowing a single baserunner.
- After using four arms on Tuesday, they followed by tossing four arms, again. The quartet of lower-leverage RPs scattered four hits over nearly four innings while striking out three. When the dust settled, no Mets were allowed to cross home plate.
HOU 5 – LAA 4
H: Hector Neris (4), Bryan Abreu (5)
SV: Ryan Pressly (6)
- It was smooth sailing for Neris and Abreu, who continue to dominate in high-leverage situations. Neris dropped his ERA to 1.69, and Abreu’s 1.47 is elite. Although, all was nearly wiped away as Ryan Pressly struggled mightily. His ninth inning started with a barrage of hits (single-HR-single-single). And then, as the true All-Star, he collected himself and induced three consecutive outs to end the game. Quite a nail-biting for the Astro faithful.
- After back-to-back outings, Pressly will likely get Thursday off.
- The Angels’ pen was dealing. After an underwhelming performance from the starter, Jimmy Herget, Ryan Tepera, Chris Devenski, and Tucker Davidson combed to finish the night with seven Ks in 5.1 innings of no-run baseball. It was an encouraging night for them as they haven’t been very effective this season.
MIA 5 – ARI 4
W: Dylan Floro (1)
L: Andrew Chafin (1)
SV: A.J. Puk (6)
- Nearly all the scoring took place in the fourth inning. Except, Miami was not in the lead at that time. As the scores kept tight, the Marlins utilized six different RPs in this one. Notably, Tanner Scott came in firing and struck out five batters in 1.2 innings of work. Although, for fantasy purposes, Dylan Floro scooped up the W as he struck out two batters, dropping his ERA to 1.62. Finally, in the ninth inning, Puk shut the doors and struck out two of the four batters faced.
- Miguel Castro didn’t help to make a case as the team’s closer as he coughed up the deciding run late in a tightly contested affair. The loss was charged to Chafin, who allowed the leadoff double-eventually scoring. Instead, we are left wondering who will take this role over and for how long.
TEX 4 – SEA 3
H: Josh Sborz (1), Brock Burke (6), Jonathan Hernández (8)
SV: Will Smith (6)
- In the seventh inning, Sborz was spectacular with two Ks (13 pitches, 10 strikes). But, in the eighth, Brock Burke struggled and a leadoff HBP led to a late Mariners rally. However, Hernández came in, walked Eugenio Suárez, and blew a 98-mph sinker past Cal Raleigh to end a tense moment. Finally, Will Smith dazzled as he struck out Julio Rodríguez and Teoscar Hernández before inducing a ground out to end the ball game.
- Seattle’s bullpen hadn’t pitched much in the previous two games, so they emptied the pen a little. Matt Brash was the first RP out of the pen but had nothing working. After a few lower leverage arms dismantled the Rangers’ offense, Paul Sewald tossed a clean non-save chance appearance.
COL 4 – PIT 3
W: Brad Hand (2)
L: Robert Stephenson (1)
H: Justin Lawrence (5)
SV: Pierce Johnson (6)
- The Rockies’ bullpen has never been a suitable place to chase, and this season isn’t too much different as the RP unit holds the 11th-worst ERA in the bigs. Although, if you can squint past Pierce Johnson’s 4.40 ERA, he does tout six saves and a 22:9 K/BB ratio. That’s viable in today’s closer landscape. Furthermore, the pen also has a few solid arms that made an impact in this game. Brad Hand and Justin Lawrence are doing a solid job of mitigating base runners and piling up the strikeouts.
- For the Pirates, David Bednar and Colin Holderman were terrific, as usual. They did their job and kept goose eggs on the scoreboard, however, the team was already down as Robert Stephenson started with a walk-single-walk-single (run). Although, he settled down and Houdini’d his way out of too much carnage.
BOS 5 – ATL 2
L: A.J. Minter (4)
H: Josh Winckowski (5), Chris Martin (7)
SV: Kenley Jansen (9)
- It was a historic night for Kenley Jansen as he joined the highly touted 400-saves club. Additionally, it’s pretty crazy to think many wrote him off as a closer that might not be able to handle the pitch clock. Well, a 0.77 ERA and 17:3 K/BB ratio say otherwise. Additionally, Winckowski and Chris Martin chucked very clean frames to bridge the game from starter to closer.
- Conversely, it was a full-on bullpen game for Atlanta. In the end, eight arms were hurled at Boston. However, Minter got the quick hook and suffered the loss after exiting with a pair of men on base. One of which scored while Nick Anderson toed the rubber. Lastly, Raisel Iglesias showed more signs of rust as he failed to complete an inning of work. Three hits, including one HR, were the main source of his struggles.
Best of the rest
- It was a night for forget for Blue Jays’ closer Jordan Romano, who convert his 10th save. Instead, three hits plated a run and he suffered his second blown save. Additionally, Yimi García and Erik Swanson notched holds in the loss. Consider Romano’s performance a blip, and he’ll look to right the ship on Friday when the team returns to action.
- In extra innings, Josh Hader failed to keep the inherited ghost runner from scoring. After the leadoff single, he settled down and struck out three. On the other side, a flyout and sac bunt caused Jorge López to get tallied with a blown save. Jhoan Duran followed with two scoreless innings before Griffin Jax finished with the win.
- Newly promoted Deivi García winds up with a save on the back of a three-inning appearance. Furthermore, the bullpen has recently been taxed a bit and doesn’t get a day off tomorrow. The extra innings of RP work were exactly what the team needed.
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