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
- Eight teams were off on Thursday, including HOU, SF, SEA, MIA, NYM, BAL, SD, and PIT. Players from these bullpens should all be available Friday for the most part.
- The White Sox and Cubs are off today before facing off in a two-game set over the weekend.
- The Orioles and Red Sox have a doubleheader scheduled for tomorrow, so some roster manipulation could be in the works for both teams.
- Josh Hader was reinstated from the Family Medical Emergency List. Get him back in your lineup ASAP!
- Drew Steckenrider was optioned to the minors today. After starting the season in Seattle’s closer committee, Steckenrider’s stock fell with his subpar performance. He can be dropped if you were using him for holds.
- Amir Garrett was placed on the COVID-19 IL. He’ll stay there until he clears protocols, which could be days or weeks. Stay tuned.
- Joe Kelly hit the 15-day IL with a strained left hamstring. He’ll be eligible to return on June 10 if he has healed by then.
- Jake McGee is expected to be activated from the IL today for the Giants.
Yesterday’s Performances
- The Reds pummeled the Cubs 20-5 in an early game Thursday. Cubs starter Justin Steele lasted only two innings and watched his ERA climb after giving up seven earned runs. He was followed by a slew of relievers – Scott Effross, Brandon Hughes, Chris Martin, Rowan Wick, and SS Andrelton Simmons – who gave up another 13 runs. None of them escaped the mighty Reds’ offense unscathed. Chicago’s pen could use some rest today, particularly Rowan Wick, who has thrown in back-to-back games.
- Hunter Greene only went five innings for the Reds but earned the win anyway despite letting five Cubs cross home plate. Jeff Hoffman, Joel Kuhnel, and Jared Solomon closed the game out, but none earned a hold or save due to the score. All the Reds’ key relievers should be good to go today.
- Nestor Cortes pitched eight shutout innings for the Yankees, giving their bullpen a much-needed rest. After giving up a lead-off single to Wander Franco, Cortes gave way to Wandy Peralta in the top of the ninth. Peralta finished the game off, though he did give up an earned run in the process. He’s now pitched in three of the last four games, so he may not be available today. The Yankees ended up winning the game 7-2.
- Rays’ starter Ryan Yarbrough matched Cortes until the sixth when he got into trouble. Ryan Thompson replaced him with one run in and two men on base. Thompson allowed two more runners to score, though one of the runs was unearned. Ralph Garza Jr. replaced him to start the seventh, and the Yankees eventually put the game away in the ninth. Garza couldn’t get out of the inning, so the Rays had to turn to sometimes closer Brooks Raley to finish the game. However, Raley wasn’t at his best, giving up a hit, two walks, and an earned run before retiring the Yanks.
- The Nationals put up four runs in the first inning off Rockies’ starter Germán Márquez and made it stick for a 7-3 victory. Marquez settled down and made it through six innings before giving way to Ty Blach, who pitched the seventh, and Jhoulys Chacín, who covered the eighth.
- Patrick Corbin notched his first victory of 2022, giving up three runs before being pulled in the seventh after giving up a base hit to Dee Strange-Gordon. Víctor Arano got out of the inning and earned his third hold the hard way. Nats closer Tanner Rainey came on in the top of the eighth and retired Colorado in order for his first hold of the year. Steve Cishek pitched a scoreless ninth.
- The Tigers beat the Guardians 4-3 on a walk-off single by the legend Miguel Cabrera. Detroit got on the board early against Guardians’ starter Konnor Pilkington, who was recalled on Wednesday. Pilkington only lasted 3.1 innings before giving way to Enyel De Los Santos, who got Cleveland to the sixth. The Guardians had tied the score at that point, and they called upon Eli Morgan to provide some innings. He did so admirably, allowing only one baserunner over three IP. Trevor Stephan took over to start the bottom of the ninth, and with one out, Jonathan Schoop doubled to center and scooted to third on a wild pitch. It was then Miggy’s turn to be the hero.
- On Detroit’s side of the ledger, Tarik Skubal went seven innings and allowed three runs. Jason Foley replaced him in the eighth, and closer Gregory Soto came on in the ninth. Soto earned the win but has now pitched in back-to-back games and may not be available today. Michael Fulmer may have an opportunity to vulture a save tonight.
- Aaron Nola threw a gem against the Braves, taking a shutout into the ninth before a Matt Olson double knocked him out of the game. Corey Knebel allowed Olson to score before retiring the Braves. Philadelphia won 4-1.
- Braves starter Kyle Wright pitched well, holding the Phils to one run until the seventh when he found himself in trouble. With two outs, a Kyle Schwarber walk and a J.T. Realmuto HBP sent him to the showers. Unfortunately for Wright, Will Smith couldn’t bail him out, giving up a 2-run double to Odúbel Herrera. Jesse Chavez gave up another run in the eighth while Dylan Lee pitched a clean ninth.
- The Royals came from behind to edge the Twins 3-2. KC was trailing when Tyler Duffey replaced starter Devin Smeltzer in the top of the eighth. Duffey had a rough go of it, however, giving up three runs, blowing the save, and ultimately taking the loss. Yennier Cano pitched a scoreless ninth to keep the Twins’ hopes alive, but they couldn’t cash in.
- Collin Snider took over for Daniel Lynch in the bottom of the sixth with one man on and closed out the inning. The Royals’ turned to Josh Staumont in the seventh, who pitched a perfect inning and ended up with the win. Joel Payamps came on in the eighth and promptly loaded the bases. KC then turned to Scott Barlow, who brilliantly worked out of the jam, striking out the first two batters he faced. Barlow pitched the ninth as well and walked away with a well-deserved save. As he threw two innings, he may not be available for tonight’s contest.
- The Brewers out-dueled the Cardinals in an NL Central showdown 4-3. Milwaukee got five innings out of Eric Lauer, and the bullpen closed it out with four innings of 1-run ball. Trevor Kelley, Trevor Gott, and Brad Boxberger all earned holds in this one, with only Gott giving up a run. Freshly reinstated, Josh Hader pitched around a single and a walk to earn his 16th save. The Brewers pen has been worked hard this week, so they are no doubt hoping that Brandon Woodruff will go deep into the game tonight.
- Adam Wainwright didn’t fool many Brewers, giving up ten hits and four runs (three earned) through only five innings. Andre Pallante pitched well in relief, giving St. Louis three shutout innings, and Giovanny Gallegos came on in a non-save situation in the ninth. Gallegos hadn’t thrown since Monday, so he’s probably available tonight if needed.
- The Red Sox scored early and often against the White Sox, tallying sixteen runs in a 16-7 blowout. Bosox starter Michael Wacha couldn’t get through five innings to earn the win despite the run support, so it went to John Schreiber, who relieved him in the fifth inning. Four more Boston hurlers closed out the game, including Tyler Danish, Matt Barnes, Hirokazu Sawamura, and Austin Davis. Only Barnes had a rough go of those four, surrendering two runs off of four walks.
- Chisox starter Dallas Keuchel was obliterated by the Red Sox offense, giving up six earned runs in two innings of work. The final blow for Keuchal was the red-hot Trevor Story’s three-run blast in the second inning. Six more pitchers worked for Chicago to cover the final seven innings – one of which was second baseman, Josh Harrison. Tanner Banks had the worst night of the crew as he gave up seven hits and six runs (five earned) in only 1.2 innings. The blowout did allow the White Sox to rest their best arms, so Liam Hendriks, Kendall Graveman, and Aaron Bummer should all be well-rested when the Sox play again tomorrow.
- Hyun Jin Ryu and four relievers combined to hold the Angels to three runs (two earned) in the Blue Jays’ 6-3 victory. Ryu exited the game in the sixth and was followed with an inning each by David Phelps, Yimi García, Adam Cimber, and Jordan Romano. Phelps, Garcia, and Cimber earned holds, but Romano didn’t get the save as he entered with a four-run lead (the run he gave up was unearned). All will likely be available tonight.
- The Halos went old school, trotting out just two pitchers. Shohei Ohtani didn’t have his best stuff and gave up five runs, including HRs to George Springer, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Barria gave up a solo shot to Danny Jansen as well.
- Martín Pérez out-dueled Frankie Montas in the Rangers’ 4-1 victory over the A’s. Perez went seven innings but left with the score tied. Michael Bush pitched a scoreless eighth, which got him the win when Texas scored three in the top of the ninth. Joe Barlow closed the door on the A’s with his eighth save. Barlow has gone back-to-back and may not be able to go again tonight.
- Montas also exited after seven for Oakland, and after a scoreless eighth by Domingo Acevedo, it was Lou Trivino’s turn. He proceeded to cough up the lead on an Adolis García double and then gave way to Sam Moll. Moll gave up the big blow as Nathaniel Lowe torched him for a two-run homer, giving the Rangers a comfortable lead they would not relinquish.
- In Thursday’s final contest, the Dodgers obliterated the Diamondbacks 14-1. Los Angeles threw, in essence, a bullpen game to get the victory, though the nominal starter Mitchell White did go four innings. He was followed by Justin Bruihl, Evan Phillips, and Phil Bickford before utility-man Hanser Alberto finished off the D’backs with a scoreless ninth. Bruihl ended up with the victory.
- Humberto Castellanos did not fool many of the Dodgers’ hitters, surrendering six runs and ten hits before exiting after four innings of work. He was followed by Luis Frias and Caleb Smith, who didn’t fare much better. Finally, outfielder Jake Hager took the hill and was asked to get the final three outs for Arizona. He did, after giving up two more runs. Hager was the fourth position player to take the hill on Thursday on a day full of blowouts.
Bullpen Depth Charts