Reliever Ranks – 7/22

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

 

• While six games weres played, it only featured eight teams (TEX, MIA, NYY, HOU, DET, OAK, SFG, and LAD).
• Friday’s action includes 14 games, with MIN and DET getting an extra day off.

 

• The Houston Astros placed closer Ryan Pressly on the paternity list and recalled Brandon Bielak as the team’s 27th man, for the doubleheader.
• Also getting placed on the paternity list, Will Vest of the Detroit Tigers will be inactive for a little while. José Cisnero will rejoin the bullpen after being reinstated from the bereavement list. Additionally, Detroit’s doubleheader recalled Garrett Hill as the 27th man.

 

• The New York Yankees activated Domingo Germán, who’ll pitch for the first time this season. Furthermore, they also recalled JP Sears as the 27th man for the doubleheader.
• The Miami Marlins placed Elieser Hernandez on the COVID-19 IL and recalled Tommy Nance. Cody Poteet will move into the bulk RP role, and Nance will become a lower-leverage reliever.

 

• The San Francisco Giants signed Trevor Rosenthal and immediately placed him on the 15-day IL. The IL designation will undoubtedly signal that the signing is a move for the latter than the now. Furthermore, we haven’t seen Rosenthal pitch in the bigs since 2020, and there is no reason to jump out and roster him yet.

 

 

TEX 8 – MIA 0

• Coming out of the break, Jon Gray was stellar for six strong innings of no-run ball. Additionally, with a five-run lead into the seventh inning, the bullpen just needed to keep the basepaths clean. Indeed, they did precisely that. Matt Moore (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K) and Matt Bush (1.0 IP) kept the scoreboard filled with zeros through the eighth inning. By the ninth, the lead was up to eight runs, and in came Dennis Santana (1.0 IP, 2 H) to try and regain his mojo after a disastrous start to July (8.0 IP, 13.50 ERA, 7:6 K:BB ratio). While it was still a shaky outing, he sat Kole Calhoun down on four pitches for the final out.
• Things went sideways in a hurry for Miami as Texas put up multiple runs in the third and fifth inning. Furthermore, what didn’t help the cause was the bullpen allowing runs in the eighth and ninth inning. Zach Pop (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K) looked solid as the first reliever out of the pen; however, Tanner Scott (1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K) was a timebomb. Walks have become problematic for Scott, and he’s issued a free pass in seven of his last eight appearances. Perhaps a change at closer is coming.

 

SFG 6 – LAD 9

• Los Angeles tossed runs on the board in each of the first three innings, then went quiet till the eighth inning. Dominic Leone (0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 K) and Jarlín Garcia (0.1 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 1 BB) couldn’t stop the comeback as the pair imploded for four runs after Mookie Betts belted his 21st HR. Before the chaos, John Brebbia (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB) danced around a couple of base runners for a scoreless frame.
• On the flip side, the Giants’ bats were unable to get anything going until an explosion in the seventh inning. Phil Bickford (0.0 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 BB) was yanked after allowing an HR to Evan Longoria and failing to register an out. Things didn’t get much better for Alex Vesia (0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 2 K) as the duo allowed San Fran to tie things up late. In the top of the eighth, Evan Phillips (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K) couldn’t find the strike zone, and it resulted in the lead switching hands. However, due to the bats roaring back, Craig Kimbrel (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K) hurled 12 pitches in a scoreless inning to nab his 16th save of the season.

 

NYY 2 – HOU 3 (Game 1)

• Starter Jordan Montgomery pitched a gem into the seventh inning but left the game with a score of 2-1. Following Monty, Albert Abreu (1.2 IP) was flawless as he induced a groundball double-play with an inherited runner on base. Then, he went on to pitch another scoreless frame in the eighth inning. However, all was for naught as Michael King (0.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) struggled to find his command and eventually allowed J.J. Matijevic to drive in the winning run.
• Similar to the Yankees, scoring did not come easy in this one, and the mighty Yankees offense was held to one run until the ninth inning. A combination of Phil Maton (1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K), Ryne Stanek (1.0 IP, 1 K), and Rafael Montero (1.0 IP) completely shut down all offenses. However, in the top of the ninth, Héctor Neris (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB) coughed up the lead but was rewarded the win after the ninth-inning heroics from the bats.

 

NYY 5 – HOU 7 (Game 2)

• Game two marked the return of Domingo Germán, who only tossed three innings. They were ineffective innings and put his team in a five-run deficit early. Needing some bulk work, the team turned the rock over to JP Sears (3.0 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 1 K), who allowed a two-run blast to Chas McCormick but was otherwise OK. At this point, the Yankees were down 7-2 late and elected to use Aroldis Chapman(1.0 IP, 2 K) in a low-leverage situation. Finally, Jonathan Loáisiga(1.0 IP) got some much-needed work, as he returns to form from a lengthy IL stint.
• Houston didn’t want to overload the bullpen and utilized Brandon Bielak (3.1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K) for 74 pitches. Bielak’s appearance came after Luis Garcia went five innings. Completing the final pair of outs for his seventh save was Rafael Montero (0.2 IP, 1 H) due to Ryan Pressly being unavailable.

 

DET 7 – OAK 2 (Game 1)

• Starter Tarik Skubal was masterful through six innings before turning the ball over to the pen for the final nine outs. First up, Alex Lange (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) showed the early week layoff didn’t help. Seth Brown crushed Lange’s 0-2 sinker into centerfield for his 11th HR. However, that would be all the scoring allowed as Michael Fulmer (1.0 IP, 1 H) and Jason Foley (1.0 IP, 2 K) made quick work of the Oakland bats.
• Oakland gave starter Zac Logue plenty of leash and turned in a pleasant six innings, two-run performance. Although, the wheels came off after the bullpen came in. Kirby Snead (1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) and Domingo Tapia (1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) were highly ineffective and gave up runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth inning.

 

DET 0 – OAK 5 (Game 2)

• Detroit elected to start Garrett Hill (the 27th man) for a handful of innings. His three earned runs allowed were enough to credit him with the loss. However, the bullpen was pretty solid outside of Andrew Chafin (1.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 K). Joe Jiménez (1.0 IP, 2 K) came out in the eighth inning firing strikes, and José Cisnero (1.0 IP, 2 H) shook off the rust as he made his first appearance of the season.
• Making his comeback, Frankie Montas toed the rubber for three innings (53 pitches). As expected, Austin Pruitt (2.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 K) followed Montas for a few innings of multi-inning work. Although, the win went to Domingo Acevedo (1.0 IP, 2 K) since the Oakland bats didn’t strike until the sixth inning. Finishing out the final three frames were AJ Puk (1.0 IP, 2 H), Sam Moll (1.0 IP, 1 K), and Lou Trivino (1.0 IP, 2 K).

 

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