Reliever Ranks – 5/24

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

 

• With 12 games scheduled for Monday, six teams got the day off to rest their bullpen arms, including BOS, TBR, CHW, LAA, TEX, and MIA
• TOR, STL, KC, and ARI have a scheduled day off on Wednesday, so they could choose to push their pen on Tuesday, knowing they have the off-day coming up to rest.
• SF, SD, PIT, MIA, NYM, SEA, HOU, and BAL are all scheduled to be off Thursday, while CWS and CHC have a rare Friday off-day scheduled this week.
• COL, LAD, MIL, WAS, ATL, MIN, and DET don’t see a scheduled day off until Monday, June 6th.
• The Milwaukee Brewers placed Josh Hader on the family medical emergency list. He will be away from the team for at least three days but no more than seven. Devin Williams should be expected to to close out any close games in Hader’s absence.

 

 

 

Yesterday’s Performances

 

• David Robertson recorded his first save since returning from the injured list last week, pitching a perfect ninth and collecting two strikeouts on his way to his sixth save of the season. Assuming he’s all ramped up after his missed time, Robertson should still be available Tuesday after this 12-pitch outing, though Mychal Givens has now gone three days without getting the call so expect him to get some late inning action Tuesday.
• Between the nine-run victory and Tyler Anderson’s 8-inning start, the Dodgers’ were able to give their bullpen an added day of rest, with Phil Bickford being the lone member to see time on the mound Monday. Expect Dave Roberts to pick and choose who gets used in the next day or two depending on match ups throughout the later innings, but Craig Kimbrel should be well rested and ready to go for the next save opportunity.
• Jorge López saw another save opportunity for the Orioles, pitching a scoreless final frame to pick up his fifth save of the season. Félix Bautista impressed once again, setting up López by recording the previous four outs and picking up his second hold. Both Bautista and López have been used in the back-to-back days, combining for 41 and 35 pitches respectively, and should both see some rest in the next day or two. Keegan Akin is the best, most well rested arm in the Baltimore bullpen heading into Tuesday, and could pick up a save opportunity if one were to arise, possibly even the rare three inning variety.
• Corey Knebel pitched a clean inning of relief, closing out Philadelphia’s four run victory over Atlanta on Monday. Though he only needed nine pitches to put down the three batters he faced (throwing eight of them for strikes), Knebel threw 23 pitches on Sunday and will probably be given a day of rest on Tuesday, setting up a possible opportunity for Brad Hand to return to the ninth inning, if even just for a day.
• The Twins are currently in the middle of an 18-game stretch without a day off, including a double header next Tuesday, so their bullpen is going to be getting battle tested plenty over that stretch. Monday was no exception, with four members seeing action, all with varying results. First out was griffin Jax who stretched it out over two innings of work, but allowed two earned runs off three hits. Joe Smith could only muster one out in the seventh inning, with Caleb Thielbar cleaning up his mess, collecting the final two outs of the inning off just three pitches. Emilio Pagán finished things off by pitching a scoreless eighth and ninth inning, recording four strikeouts along the way to his first win of the year after the Twins walked things off of Tigers’ reliever Andrew Chafin. Pagan threw 28 pitches in this outing, which should provide him with some rest Tuesday, making way for Jhoan Duran or Tyler Duffey to return to the final inning for Minnesota.
• The Cardinals picked up another victory Monday, this one coming in the form of a 10th inning walk off grand slam off Toronto reliever Ryan Borucki, who failed to record a single out. Interestingly, the Cardinals did utilize their closer Giovanny Gallegos, but opted to bring him in to a tight spot in the eighth inning, with the game tied and Toronto’s 4-5-6 hitters due up. Gallegos made quick work, putting the three hitters down in order, off just 12 pitches. Ryan Helsley followed Gallegos, throwing 22 pitches in a scoreless ninth inning himself to help send the game into extra innings. Génesis Cabrera was the pitcher in the right spot at the right time, pitching a clean 10th inning and putting himself in line to receive the win after Paul Goldschmidt’s 10th inning heroics.
• The Guardians put their closer Emmanuel Clase on the mound to close out their victory over the Astros on Monday, even with a five run lead. Clase, who hadn’t pitched since Friday, made quick work of the three batters he faced, needing just 10 pitches to induce three ground outs from Houston’s 3-4-5 hitters.
• Arizona put their bullpen to work on Monday and they answered the call in spades, pitching a combined five and third scoreless innings with six strikeouts, three walks, and four hits. Every member but one of the bullpen walked away with some statistical hardware, with J.B. Wendelken vulturing the win after being the first man up in the fourth inning. Caleb Smith, Noé Ramirez, Joe Mantiply, and Sean Poppen all took home a hold. Luis Frias finished things off, pitching a scoreless ninth, but unfortunately by then the Diamondbacks had extended their lead to four, putting the save out of reach. this type of work should put the expected late inning options for Arizona back in the fold, so expect Mark Melancon and Ian Kennedy to get the call on Tuesday.
• Paul Sewald picked up just his second save of the season for the Mariners, with Sergio Romo, Matthew Festa, and Diego Castillo each taking home a hold as they collected the previous eight outs in scoreless fashion, leading up to Sewald in the ninth. The Mariners’ bullpen has not been a safe place for saves, but Sewald has been the most consistent option and should still be considered the favorite moving forward.
• Taylor Rogers pitched a scoreless ninth for the Padres, as he tends to do. This outing came about during a tie game however, so no save opportunity this time, and rather he simply provided his offense the opportunity walk it off in the bottom half of the inning. That did not happen, sending the game into extra innings, where Luis Garcia pitched around a hit and a walk to finish off a scoreless top half of the tenth. This time however, the offense obliged and walked it off in the bottom of the tenth, providing Garcia with his third win of the season.
• With Josh Hader being placed on the family medical emergency list, the Brewers caled upon Devin Williams in the ninth inning of their tie game Monday. Williams gave up two hits, but also struck out two, needing a total of 24 pitches to get through his scoreless frame. Williams should still be the favorite to get any save opportunities with Hader being out, but the added pitches on Monday may warrant a day of rest Tuesday.
• David Bednar collected his first win of the season, recording the final four outs in the Pirates’ victory over the Rockies on Monday. After the 29 pitch outing, expect a day or two off forthcoming, giving Chris Stratton the ball in the final inning for the remainder of the series.