Reliever Ranks – 4/12

Welcome back to the newest 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

 

• Kansas City Royals optioned Jackson Kowar for Joel Payamps.
• Washington Nationals recalled Hunter Harvey, and place Mason Thompson on the 10-day IL.
• PIT@STL was postponed to a later date.

 

Yesterday’s Performances

 

• Cleveland needed two bulk innings from Logan Allen after the starter was pulled early in the fourth inning. Allen earned the win by only allowing one base runner and striking out one. Bryan Shaw and Nick Sandlin collected holds, although, Sandlin was charged with an earned run in 1.2 innings pitched. Finally, Emmanuel Clase came in to get some work in a non-save situation but gave up an HR to Andrew Benintendi.
• On the other side of the diamond, the Royals used seven RP in a little over four innings. Jake Brentz and Josh Staumont struggled as both failed to keep the scoreboard clean and allowed two earned runs each. Dylan Coleman looked very sharp getting a pair of Ks in his only inning of work. Even newly-promoted Joel Payamps coughed up a run.

 

• The Brewers put nada on the board, thanks to an impressive showing from the Orioles’ bullpen. Mike Baumann, Dillon Tate, and Cionel Pérez combined for four innings of scoreless baseball while only allowing four base runners. However, the story of the pen was Jorge López pumping fastballs in the ninth inning. He looked every bit like closer and earned his first save of the season.
• Milwaukee relied heavily on Aaron Ashby to go 3.1 innings after Adrian Houser. No doubt, Ashby will be unavailable tomorrow as he threw 68 pitches and racked up four Ks. Two lesser-known RPs (Jandel Gustave and Hoby Milner) completed the final inning to keep the pen fresh for their next outing.

 

• It took extra innings for Ashton Goudeau to pick up his first save of the season. No, he’s not the new closer, but he was the reliever at the right place and at the right time of the game. Goudeau found himself there because Daniel Bard blew his first save opportunity in the ninth via a Connor Joe HR. This bullpen is always going to be rocky.
• Taylor Hearn only went four innings, so the bullpen unleashed seven RPs for the final five frames. Scott Barlow allowed a late run, and Greg Holland coughed up two in the 10th inning which cost Texas the game. The bullpen came into the night with a bevy of question marks and a night like this doesn’t answer any more questions. Barlow pitched back-to-back nights, so he’s likely unavailable.

 

• Gregory Soto collected his first save in a 3-1 victory for Detroit, while Michael Fulmer was credited the W. Additionally, the team only used Alex Lange for an inning of work where he sat two batted down via strikeouts. All arms should be fresh for another matchup tonight.
• Boston’s Matt Barnes found work but in the sixth inning, rather than his usual ninth from last year. He’s been ailing from a back issue, so it’s worth monitoring his usage as he progresses. The game never quite tilted in the Red Sox favor so they trotted out arms to keep everyone fresh. The notable point, Matt Strahm looked very impressive striking out both batters faced. He has also pitched in three of Boston’s four games.

 

• We have a Brett Phillips on the mound alert. Yes, that means this one got out of hand early. Chris Mazza didn’t look comfortable after Luis Patiño left in the first inning. Mazza gave up eight runs in three innings over seven hits (3 HR). J.P. Feyereisen sat two batters down with Ks over his 1.1 innings of work, but otherwise, this one was out of hand early.
• Oakland grabbed the early lead and never looked back. They turned to Justin Grimm, Zach Jackson, and A.J. Puk to get through this game as quickly as possible. The trio combined for four innings of two-run ball with six Ks.

 

• Bad news for the Mets as Trevor May left his appearance with an apparent injury. With Diaz still unavailable, Seth Lugo was called on for the save opportunity. Unfortunately, he was unable to finish off the Phillies and blew his first save chance. Prior to the Luge debacle, Joely Rodríguez gave up two earned runs via the HR. Keep the faith Mets fan, Diaz returns soon.
• Closing the game out was not Corey Knebel (due to illness) but instead, it was Brad Hand. He beat two of the three batters he faced with strikeouts and commanded the zone well with nine of his 15 pitches being strikes. Seranthony Domínguez also looked in good form as he picked up his first victory of 2022. However, the bullpen arm of the night was multi-inning RP Nick Nelson, who threw four innings of one-run ball after an early exit of Ranger Suárez.

 

• Taylor Rogers locked down his MLB-leading third save of the season. He was perfect on the night with 11 strikes on 11 pitches that helped produce a pair of Ks—quite dominant! Pierce Johnson lost command of the zone for a little and walked a pair of batters, but not before striking out two and preserving the lead.
• On the other side, the Giants’ bullpen usage continues to be a mystery. Camilo Doval was used in the eighth inning but looked solid. Additionally, Zack Littell, Dominic Leone, and Sam Long kept the scoreboard empty but it was not enough. Tyler Rogers, Leone, and Littell pitched back-to-back games, so don’t expect them available for tonight.

 

• Raisel Iglesias pitched in a non-save situation and gave up a run. However, he was likely just getting extra work in. Additionally, Aaron Loup and Ryan Tepera looked sharp with four Ks over two scoreless innings. There were only three base runners allowed in the entire game for the Angels.