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
- Thursday’s schedule was a light one, with only nine games played. As such, 12 teams were off, including CWS, KC, MIN, HOU, ATL, MIA, CIN, PIT, STL, ARZ, LAD, & SF.
- All 30 teams are in action today with one doubleheader on the slate between PHI & WAS. Both Philadelphia and Washington could dip into their pens significantly today as a result.
- Collin McHugh was activated from the COVID-IL Thursday, giving the Braves one of their top bullpen arms back. Jacob Webb was DFA’d to make room for him on the roster.
- Two lefties were activated from the COVID-IL yesterday, Brett Martin for Texas and Adrian Morejon for San Diego.
- Texas also activated José Leclerc, who hasn’t pitched since 2020 and had Tommy John surgery in early 2021.
Yesterday’s Performances
SD 6 – CHC 4
- Joe Musgrove went to 8-0 after throwing seven innings and giving up only two runs. Luis Garcia came on in the eighth and got his tenth hold even though an error by Eric Hosmer led to the Cubs scoring an unearned run. He was followed in the ninth by Taylor Rogers, who earned his twentieth save despite allowing another Cub to score. Both should be available to pitch again tonight if necessary, as their recent workload has been light.
- Rookie starter Matt Swarmer couldn’t make it out of the fourth inning for the Cubs before David Ross turned to his bullpen. Scott Effross finished the inning and was followed by a string of relievers who only gave up another two runs between them. Among the Cubs to throw were Brandon Hughes, Mychal Givens, David Robertson, and Daniel Norris. Norris has pitched in two straight, so he may not be available this afternoon.
OAK 4 – BOS 3
- Paul Blackburn continued his steller 2022, earning his sixth win after allowing only one run through five and 1/3 innings. A parade of A’s relievers followed and closed out the game, allowing only two more unearned runs to score. A.J. Puk, Zach Jackson, and Sam Moll picked up holds while Dany Jiménez earned his eleventh save. Puk has gone back-to-back and may need Friday off.
- Red Sox starter Rich Hill also pitched into the sixth inning before being pulled with two outs for Hirokazu Sawamura with a man on. A passed ball by Christian Vázquez and an error by Rafael Devers allowed that run to score before the inning concluded. Ryan Brasier, Hansel Robles, and Tyler Danish each pitched a scoreless frame after that, but the Boston offense could not complete a comeback. Sawamura, Brasier, and Danish have all pitched in two straight.
CLE 4 – COL 2
- The Guardians got six strong innings from Triston McKenzie, then turned to the bullpen with a 3-1 lead. Bryan Shaw started the seventh but was pulled after loading the bases before recording an out. Eli Morgan did an excellent job of getting out of the jam, only allowing one of the inherited runners to score. He followed with a 1-2-3 eighth, earning his sixth hold of 2022. Emmanuel Clase came on in the ninth and shut the door on the Rockies for his fourteenth save. Clase and Bryan Shaw have now pitched in three straight and four of five, so both will almost assuredly not be available today.
- Chad Kuhl pitched into the sixth but headed to the showers after allowing the first two batters to reach base. Lucas Gilbreath replaced him and got out of the inning after inducing Austin Hedges to hit into a double play. He remained in for the seventh and gave up an unearned run set up by an error on a pickoff attempt. Robert Stephenson and Jake Bird followed and retired all six batters they faced.
BAL 10 – TOR 2
- Tyler Wells held the Jays in check, allowing only one run over six innings. Nick Vespi, Austin Voth, and Rico Garcia got in some work in a game that wasn’t close. The top arms in the Orioles’ pen got a much-needed day off.
- Kevin Gausman had his worst start as a Blue Jay, giving up seven runs (five earned) in only two and 1/3 innings pitched. It all fell apart for him in the third when the Orioles plated six runs on seven hits and an error by Santiago Espinal. David Phelps had to finish the third for Gausman, but by that time, the Jays were down 7-0. Phelps stayed on for another inning, followed by Jeremy Beasley and Matt Gage, who pitched the final five innings. If there’s a silver lining for Toronto, it’s that their top bullpen arms should be available for their big series with the Yankees starting tonight.
NYY 2 – TB 1
- A bullpen game for both teams turned into a pitcher’s duel capped by an Anthony Rizzo walk-off HR in the bottom of the ninth. Long reliever Clarke Schmidt started for the Yankees and gave them three scoreless frames. Ryan Weber, who was just called up today, followed and gave the Bombers another three and 2/3 innings, giving up only one run on a Francisco Mejía homer. He was followed by Ron Marinaccio and finally Michael King, who picked up the win after a scoreless ninth.
- Jalen Beeks got the call as the starter for the Rays and threw two innings without surrendering a run. Matt Wisler was next and duplicated the feat. Brooks Raley was up next for the Rays, giving them one and 2/3 and earning his ninth hold. Ryan Thompson gave up the first Rays run after replacing Raley. After back-to-back walks, an Anthony Rizzo single tied the score. Thompson didn’t record an out before Kevin Cash turned to Jason Adam, who closed the inning and threw a scoreless seventh. After a clean eighth by Colin Poche, Shawn Armstrong gave up the Rizzo blast that ended a game that featured 11 pitchers.
TEX 3 – DET 1
- Martín Pérez threw another gem for the Rangers, allowing only one run over seven innings. Dennis Santana pitched a clean eighth and got the win after the Rangers rallied in the top of the ninth. Joe Barlow closed the gave with his twelfth save of the year.
- Gregory Soto blew the save and the game in the ninth when Ezequiel Duran tripled off him with the bases loaded. The blown save wasted seven shutout innings by Beau Brieske and a scoreless eighth by Michael Fulmer – who did earn a hold.
PHI 10 – WAS 1
- The Phillies bullpen didn’t have to work very hard Thursday after Zack Wheeler threw seven innings, and the offense scored nine runs early. Michael Kelly and José Alvarado covered the final two innings without any damage.
- Conversely, the Nats pen had to cover a lot of innings as Patrik Corbin couldn’t make it out of the fourth. Most of the damage came in the third inning after an error by César Hernández kept the inning alive. The flood gates opened after that as Philly put up seven runs with two outs. Ouch! After Kyle Schwarber’s second HR in as many innings and a Bryce Harper base hit, Corbin was done. Andres Machado replaced him and was followed by Erasmo Ramírez, Reed Garrett, and Ehire Adrianza. The bullpen only gave up one more run on a Yairo Muñoz dinger, but it hardly mattered.
NYM 5 – MIL 4
- Mets’ starter Tylor Megill had a rough fourth inning and ultimately was removed with the bases loaded due to right shoulder discomfort. Four runs were ultimately charged to him, though only one was on the board at the time of his departure. Chasen Shreve replaced him and allowed all three inherited runners to score. From there, though, the Mets bullpen put up all zeros. Shreve pitched another inning, followed by Seth Lugo, Drew Smith, and Edwin Diaz. Smith ended up with the win as the Mets scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth, and Diaz notched his thirteenth save.
- Aaron Ashby suffered a similar fate for the Brewers as he was pulled in the fifth due to forearm tightness. The Mets had already tied the score earlier in the inning on a Mark Canha HR. Succeeding Ashby were Hoby Milner, Brad Boxberger, and Brent Suter. Suter took the hard-luck loss after a throwing error by Rowdy Tellez led to the eventual go-ahead run to be scored by pinch-runner Starling Marte. Bad defense cost several teams games yesterday.
LAA 4 – SEA 1
- Shohei Ohtani dominated the Mariners for six innings before turning the game over to his bullpen in the seventh. Aaron Loup threw a scoreless seventh, and Ryan Tepera took the eighth, allowing a run to cross off a J.P. Crawford double. Raisel Iglesias was on form in the ninth, striking out the side to earn his thirteenth save.
- George Kirby pitched well for the Mariners but still took the loss after giving up two runs in six innings of work. The game was still close in the seventh when Sergio Romo came on, but a few batters in, Mike Trout hit his second two-run HR of the game to give the Angels a comfortable lead. Ryan Borucki and Matthew Festa pitched the final two and 1/3 innings for the M’s.
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 6/9: Ranking the Top 100 Relievers for Holds
Closing Time 6/14: Ranking the Top 40 Closers
Top 100 Relievers for Save+Hold Leagues: 6/10
Photos by Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Doug Carlin (@Bdougals on Twitter)