Welcome back to the latest 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 the All-Star break approaching, upcoming days off are scattered. On Monday(7/4), NYY, LAA, PHI, and PIT have off days and could stretch the bullpens through the weekend.
- All 30 teams are scheduled to play today, weather permitting. There are TWO double-headers, NYY@CLE and TBR@TOR.
- Ryan Tepera is serving a two-game suspension and will be unavailable tonight for the Los Angeles Angels.
- The Chicago White Sox are expected to activate Liam Hendriks on Monday, but until then, Kendall Graveman will continue his role as the team’s high-leverage reliever.
- In Coors, the Rockies are giving former-starter Austin Gomber a chance to win back his spot in the rotation. However, he’s worked out of the pen during his previous two appearances. This indicates a sporting chance for Jhoulys Chacín in a bulk inning role.
Yesterday’s Performances
TBR 2 -TOR 9
- The Blue Jays hung a five-spot in the 3rd inning and another three in the sixth. With the starter knocked out early and a lack of options due to many RPs on the restricted list, lower-leverage arms were inserted in this game.
- Toronto followed suit and found work for Trent Thornton(1.0 IP, 1 K), who’s pitched three of the previous four games. Additionally, in the 7th inning, Sergio Romo hurled 22 pitches in his lone innings of work.
STL 3 – PHI 5
- St Louis dangled starter Miles Mikolas out there a tad too long, but Zack Thompson(1.0 IP, 1 BB) managed to erase his inherited runner. Johan Oviedo and Packy Naughton completed the 8th and 9th inning as the high-leverage RPs got a much-needed night off.
- After Nick Nelson relieved Bailey Falter’s shortened start, José Alvarado finished the 6th inning and picked up the W. However, the bigger story came when Seranthony Domínguez(1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K) appeared in the 8th inning, not the 9th, with a two-run lead. Philly chose to give Domínguez the 3-4-5 hitters, and that put Brad Hand(1.0 IP, 2 K) in line for his third save.
MIA 6 – WAS 3
- In the 6th inning, Dylan Foro(1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER) was a mess, but the Marlins luckily had a five-run lead. Anthony Bass(1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K) and Steven Okert(1.0 IP, 1 K) calmed things down for the next two innings before Tanner Scott(1.0 IP, 1 K) earned his eighth save on the back of a 31% CSW performance.
- Starter Josiah Gray imploded and put the Nationals in a six-run hole early. In the 6th inning, Erasmo Ramírez(1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K) helped erase a bases-loaded situation with help from Keibert Ruiz, who picked off Joey Wendle at first base. Lower-leverage RPs were utilized for the final two innings.
ATL 9 – CIN 1
- Atlanta grabbed two runs in the 1st inning and never looked back. That would have been all it took as starter Max Fried lasted seven innings while only allowing one run. After Atlanta’s six-run outburst, Collin McHugh(1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K) hurled a scoreless 8th inning. In his last two weeks, McHugh touts a beastly 14:1 K/BB ratio during his 8.1 innings of work.
- For Cincy, nothing was working for the bullpen. Joel Kuhnel(1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) and Luis Cessa(1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 2 BB) looked extremely undependable, which is bad news as the better bullpen arms at the moment.
MIL 19 – PIT 2
- It was a Corbin Burnes night, so the bullpen typically gets a night off. Plus, the offense went ham, so we got to see Mike Brosseau on the mound.
- For the Pirates, the pitching allowed 16 hits and five HRs. Let’s move on; none of the high-leverage arms made an appearance anyway.
KCR 3 – DET 1
- Carrying a three-nil score into the 7th inning means the Royals’ bullpen needed to be sharp. Taylor Clarke(1.0 IP, 1 K) threw another scoreless frame while only needing seven pitches. In the 8th inning, Jose Cuas(0.2 IP, 1 BB) walked the first batter before inducing a pair of groundouts. Cuas was replaced by closer Scott Barlow(1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K), who notched his 11th save. However, Barlow was extremely shaky in the 9th as he loaded the bases before Willi Castro made the final out.
- Detroit elected to spare the high-leverage arms and, instead, went with a trio of Jason Foley, Tyler Alexander, and Will Vest. The three combined for four innings of scoreless ball.
TEX 3 – NYM 4
- We haven’t seen closer Joe Barlow all week, and that trend continued tonight. Instead, Brock Burke(2.0 IP, 1 H, 3 K) was electric as 16 of his 25 pitches went for strikes. Furthermore, Garrett Richards(1.0 IP) and Brett Martin(1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K) completed the final six outs as the bullpen was flawless. Martin won’t be available tonight as he’s pitched on back-to-back nights.
- The Mets got a WOW start from David Peterson. Seth Lugo(1.0 IP, 2 K) and Adam Ottavino(1.0 IP, 1 H) earned a hold as both RPs made very quick work of the opposition. Finally, Edwin Díaz(1.0 IP, 2 K) was dominant once again. He nabbed his 17th save of the season and continues to steamroll batters. In June, Díaz struck out 23 of the 40 batters faced and only walked one.
CHC 6 – BOS 5
- Boston’s bullpen implosion came down to Hansel Robles(0.2 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 K). He couldn’t make it out of the 6th inning, and Jake Deikman(0.1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K) was called upon to stop the bleeding. Outside of a walk, Diekman sat Alfonso Rivas down on strikes to end the pain. Lastly, down by one run, the final six outs belonged to Hirokazu Sawamura(2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K).
- Closer David Robertson(1.0 IP) earned his 10th save, but before him, Scott Effross(0.2 IP) and Chris Martin(1.0 IP, 1 H, 3 K) picked up holds. Brandon Hughes(1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K) was given the win but not very good. He was aided immensely by a baserunning mistake from Christian Vázquez at home plate.
ARI 9 – COL 3
- Merrill Kelly chucked seven strong innings of one-run ball. Additionally, the offense did its thing, and the D-backs only needed a pair of RPs in this one. With the game firmly in hand, Arizona turned things over to lower-leverage arms: Sean Poppen and Luke Weaver.
- For Colorado, it’s never a good sign when your starter throws fewer pitches than someone in the pen. Ty Blach(4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 K) helped get the Rockies into the 7th inning, but that’s where things fell apart. Robert Stephenson(1.2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 1 BB) was unable to find the strike zone(31 pitches, 17 strikes, 14 balls), and Carlos Estévez(1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K) threw a wild pitch that allowed Josh Rojas to score. Disaster!
HOU 8 – LAA 1
- Yikes, Michael Lorenzen gave up eight runs(seven earned) in only three innings of work. That would be all the scoring Houston needed, and the Angels gave mop-up duties to Elvis Peguero and Oliver Ortega(2.0 IP, 2 BB, 2 K). After 32 pitches, Ortega will not be available for the already depleted LA bullpen.
- Cristian Javier is feeling it and K’d 14 in his seven innings. This one was over by the 3rd innings, but Houston got work for Bryan Abreu(1.0 IP, 1 H).
BAL 2 – MIN 3
- Cionel Pérez(1.1 IP) was the first person out of the Orioles’ pen. Following him, Félix Bautista(0.2 IP, 2 K) dismantled both batters faced with only ten pitches. Lastly, Jorge López(0.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER) blew his third save as Luis Arraez singled and Byron Buxton went deep in walk-off fashion.
- In the 8th inning, Caleb Thielbar(0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER) allowed a run to score after a leadoff double. He was replaced by Juan Minaya(1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 K) who was credited with the W. Tough no-decision for Joe Ryan, who cruised along through seven innings.
SDP 1 – LAD 5
- Starter Blake Snell was removed after five innings of work. Additionally, he struck out 12 and only allowed one run. And then, the bullpen woes started. Craig Stammen(1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 K) and Tim Hill(1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 K) struggled immensely and were the main factor in the Padres’ loss. Hindsight is 20/20, but perhaps they should have turned the ball over to Luis García since he hadn’t pitched since Tuesday.
- After 7.2 innings with only one mistake HR, Tony Gonsolin notched his 10th win. To preserve the W, LA didn’t get cute. Instead, Evan Phillips(0.1 IP) finished out the 8th inning before Craig Kimbrel(1.0 IP, 1 K) appeared in a non-save opportunity. Furthermore, Kimbrel has pitched on back-to-back nights. Brusdar Graterol would be the likely candidate to vulture a save tonight.
OAK 3 – SEA 1
- Oakland doesn’t win much, but they did last night. Earning holds, Domingo Acevedo(0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K) and Zach Jackson(1.1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K) kept the scoreboard empty for a pair of innings. Finally, Lou Trivino(1.o IP, 1 BB, 1 K) is looking seemingly comfortable back in his closer role. He earned his fifth save, which was his third since June 25th.
- The Mariners’ bullpen was pretty solid in this one. Penn Murphy(1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 K) was the only RP touched up for runs. Furthermore, Erik Swanson(1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 K) and Ken Giles(1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K) were able to minimize damage as they kept the scoreboard empty.
CWS 1 – SFG 0
- First out of the pen for Chicago was Joe Kelly(1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 K). Following Kelly in the 7th inning, Banks(1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 K) earned the win as the White Sox scored in the top of the 9th. Finally, Kendall Graveman(1.0 IP) locked up his fourth save, the third since Liam Hendriks went on the IL.
- The Giants bullpen was fine for the most part. John Brebbia(1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 K), Tyler Rogers(1.0 IP, 1 BB), and Dominic Leone(1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K) barely allowed any base runners and kept things very quiet. However, the 9th inning had issues. Camilo Doval(1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 K) allowed Gavin Sheets to reach first base on an error. Two singles later and Adam Haseley, who pinch-ran for Sheets, came around third base to score. Additionally, Doval labored through 22 pitches and could be unavailable, which would line any save chances up for Jake McGee.
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 6/30: Ranking the Top 100 Relievers for Holds Every Thursday