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
- CLE, PHI, CIN, and SDP had a scheduled day off Monday, while NYM and STL got a rest due to their game being postponed due to weather concerns.
- CWS, KC, ARI, LAD, STL, NYM all have double headers to play today.
- Tampa Bay Rays recalled RHP Ralph Garza Jr. from Durham Bulls.
- Los Angeles Dodgers selected the contract of RHP Shane Greene from Oklahoma City Dodgers.
Yesterday’s Performances
- Hansel Robles picked up his second save of the season. It was Robles’ first save since April 13th and first time pitching since May 10th. He was somewhat efficient in this appearance, needing just ten pitches while facing four batters. Jake Diekman further buried himself after collecting two outs in the sixth inning, but not before walking the bases loaded and allowing one of his inherited runners to score on a sacrifice fly, giving him a blown save in the record books. Matt Barnes only threw five pitches while Matt Strahm threw 30 as the immediate set up man to Robles, recording the five previous outs, three by way of the strike out. Strahm walked away with the win for his trouble, but probably won’t be available Tuesday or Wednesday, giving way to Robles or Barnes to get Boston’s next opportunity if one presents itself in the next day or so.
- Gregory Soto returned to the ninth inning duties for the Tigers to record his sixth save of the year on Monday. Soto worked around a hit and recorded a strikeouts while throwing 22 pitches in this one. After all the hype over Will Vest’s save this past Friday, Soto has not recorded both of Detroit’s save opportunities since and looks to continues to be the preferred option for the end of games at the moment. With Soto needing over 20 pitches and Michael Fulmer also hitting the 20-pitch mark, it does provide an opportunity for Vest, or most anyone else, to come in Tuesday and steal a save opportunity, just to get people talking.
- Andrew Kittredge took the loss for the Rays after allowing a go-ahead home run to Harold Castro in the top of the ninth inning Monday. Though he only needed nine pitches to get the other three batters he faced out, this was Kittredge’s second straight appearance and third outing in the last four days. With Tampa’s tendency to use multiple bullpen pieces in high leverage situations let us assume someone else will be on the mound come the ninth inning Tuesday.
- Thanks to two extra insurance runs scored by the Yankees in the top of the ninth inning, Aroldis Chapman came in to close things out with a five run lead and without the chance of a save. Perhaps it was the lack of pressure with the added lead or perhaps just a bad pitch, but Chapman found a way to make things feel interesting after giving up a solo shot to the second batter he faces, before making up for it with back-to-back strikeouts and ending any supposed threat the Orioles would be able to to mount. Chapman should be called upon Tuesday if the score is a bit closer at the end of the game, even after throwing 17 pitches in this one. On the other side, Felix Bautista gave up two home runs of his own in the ninth, accounting for those two insurance runs mentioned earlier.
- With closer Jordan Romano being kept out of action due to a non-Covid illness, Adam Cimber was called upon for the save opportunity Monday and he delivered after Ross Stripling started the ninth and allowed a run to score off a walk, a hit, and thanks in part to a Santiago Espinal fielding error. With two runners on base and just one out recorded, Cimber entered the game to record the final two outs with just six pitches, recording his second save of the year, despite the four run victory. Yimi Garcia recorded his seventh hold on the year, pitching earlier in the game, recording two outs in the seventh inning. If Romano has not been cleared Tuesday, expect Cimber back out there after earning more confidence on Monday.
- Josh Hader recorded his 14th save of the year in dominant fashion Monday, throwing 15 pitches while striking out all three Brewers’ batters he faced. Devin Williams hit double digit holds on the year, striking out the side in the 8th inning himself. Combined with starter Freddy Peralta’s 10 strikeout performance, Atlanta recorded 16 of their 27 outs by striking out.
- Joe Barlow picked up his seventh save of the year, pitching around a walk and striking out out while throwing 13 pitches. This marks back-to-back appearances for Barlow, so assuming Matt Bush is rested up from his 27 pitch outing on Sunday, expect him to get the ball if a save opportunity comes up Tuesday.
- Scott Barlow came into the game in the ninth inning with Kansas City down three. Barlow would give the Royals a chance, pitching a clean inning and giving his team’s offense the opportunity to tie the game in the bottom of the inning. Perhaps as a reward for his good work, Barlow was then asked to extend things further, returning to the mound to kick off the extra inning. After recording the first two outs in fairly easy fashion, Barlow would go on to allow a two run home run to Luis Robert. He was would removed after walking the next batter and ultimately take the loss.
- Two runs was more than enough of a lead for Liam Hendriks, who struck out the side to end the extra inning contest Monday. After throwing 12 pitches on Monday and 26 on Wednesday, even workhorse like Hendriks should be expected to get some rest Tuesday with the White Sox double header on the docket. Joe Kelly is one of the more well rested options in the back end of the White Sox bullpen and should be expected to get the call in a tight spot near the end of at least one of the games Tuesday.
- Colorado utilized six different members of their bullpen after starter Antonio Senzatela could only get through the first two inning on Monday. Ultimately it all ended with Daniel Bard in the final inning, who despite recording all three of his outs with a strikeout, allowed the go-ahead home run to Mike Yastrzemski and ultimately took the loss. That’s back-to-back appearances for Bard and back-to-back losses to go along with it. Tyler Kinley, who recorded a hold on Sunday, could move up the pecking order and be given a shot in the final inning Tuesday if needed. Camilo Doval took advantage of Bard’s failure, and took home his sixth save of the year, walking one and striking out one in the process.
- Tyler Duffy picked up his first save of the season for the Twins, further muddying the water in the back end of the Twins’ bullpen. Emilo Pagán had pitched in each of the previous three days so his unavailability wasn’t a surprise, and rookie Jhoan Duran had pitched in back-to-back games over the weekend. Now with two straight days off, expect Duran to be the go-to option on Tuesday if needed.
- Craig Kimbrel picked up his sixth save of the season while he was set up by Daniel Hudson and Caleb Ferguson, who each recorded their sixth hold on the year respectively, who each pitched a scoreless inning to hold their then one run lead over the Diamondbacks. The Dodger’s bats provided a bit more cushion for Kimbrel while doing fantasy managers a solid and keeping the save opportunity in tack. The two extra runs would be welcome as Kimbrel would go on to give up a two run home run of his own.
Photos by Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Doug Carlin (@Bdougals on Twitter)