Reliever Ranks – 8/16

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

 

• 26 teams took the field Monday, including a doubleheader between DET and CLE , with the following getting a day off: BOS, PIT, STL, and COL.
• The next off day will be on Thursday, and the following won’t play: CLE, DET, MIN, LAA, SEA, MIA, PHI, and CIN.

 

• The Chicago White Sox activated Vince Velasquez from the 10-day IL, optioning Matt Foster to make room in their bullpen.

 

 

DET 1 – CLE 4 (Game 1)
DET 7 – CLE 5 (Game 2)

• Emmanuel Clase picked up his 27th save in efficient fashion. Clase needed just eight pitches to spin his perfect ninth inning. James Karinchak returned to the Cleveland bullpen and picked up the win in the early game of the doubleheader, pitching around a walk and striking out two in the process. Trevor Stephan continues to impress, picking up his 10th hold in perfect fashion as he bridged the gap to Clase.
• In the night cap, Detroit’s Gregory Soto recorded his 21st save of the season, but not until giving up an earned run off two hits. Luckily the Tigers found themselves with a nice three run cushion and were still able to walk away with the victory. The rest of the Detroit bullpen did their job as they got the ball to Soto, with José Cisnero (0.1 innings), Joe Jiménez (0.2 innings), and Alex Lange (1.0 innings) each collecting a hold for their trouble.

 

PHI 4 – CIN 3

• David Robertson pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the Phillies on Monday, picking up just his second hold of the year and setting up Seranthony Domínguez in the ninth. Dominguez threw a perfect inning to collect his ninth save on the season. Both Robertson and Dominguez threw ten or less pitches and should be available if needed on Tuesday. Don’t be surprised to see their usage flipped on their next day pitching together.

 

SD 0 – MIA 3

• Tanner Scott bounced back after his less than stellar Sunday performance, picking up his 17th save on Monday, pitching around a walk and a hit while throwing 30 pitches in his scoreless inning of work. Between Sunday’s 36 pitches and Monday’s 30, Scott should most definitely be rested for the next day or two. Steven Okert set up Scott for the second straight day, pitching a perfect eighth inning and picking up his 16th hold on the year. With Okert and Scott going on back-to-back days, look for Dylan Floro or possibly Richard Bleier to see the end of game inning, depending on upcoming match ups.

 

CHC 5 – WAS 5

• Hunter Harvey stole the win from starter Josiah Gray, giving up a single run off two hits and a walk in the sevent inning. The Nationals’ offense would rally back in the eight, providing Carl Edwards Jr. with the win after he pitched a perfect top of the frame, punching out two Cubs in the process. This all set up Kyle Finnegan to pitch a clean ninth inning, good for his fifth save of the season. Finnegan was a bit more efficient, needing just nine pitches to get through his appearance and though each of the three Washington relievers used on Monday have seen time in two of the past three days, Finnegan should be expected to see time on Tuesday as he’s combined for just 25 pitches in those two appearances.

 

TB 4 – NYY 0

• Ryan Yarbrough followed opener Jalen Beeks and was rewarded with his first win of the season after throwing four scoreless innings. The combo combined for six hits through six innings while striking out eight Yankees hitters. Ryan Thompson, Brooks Raley each picked up a hold, combining for two scoreless innings of work, while Jason Adam pitched a scoreless ninth to close things out for the Rays’ victory, but not until Tampa Bay scored three insurance runs in the top of the inning, placing the save opportunity out of reach.

 

BAL 7 – TOR 3

• Félix Bautista closed out the Baltimore four-run victory on Monday, after not seeing the mound since last Tuesday. Bautista threw a scoreless inning regardless, pitching around a hit and a walk, but surprisingly failed to strike out a batter. After just 12 pitches thrown, Bautista should be ready to go on Tuesday if a save opportunity presents itself.

 

NYM 1 – ATL 13

• The Mets’ bullpen was roughed up pretty bad on Monday after starter Carlos Carrasco left his start after just two completed innings. Since joining the Mets’ bullpen at the trade deadline, Mychal Givens has made seven appearances and has seen runners score in four of them, including Monday’s knock around where he allowed three to cross home plate off four hits.

 

KC 2 – MIN 4

• Jorge Lopéz bounced back after his blown save on Saturday, pitching a scoreless ninth Monday, good for his 21st save of the season and second since becoming a member of the Twins. Every Minnesota pitcher walked away with a decision on Monday, with starter Joe Ryan picking up his ninth win, Caleb Thielbar (13), Griffin Jax (14), and Jhoan Duran (15) each picking up a hold after combining for 2.2 no-hit innings of work as they bridged the gap to Lopéz in the ninth.

 

OAK 1 – TEX 2

• Jonathan Hernández returned to the ninth inning role for the Rangers, picking up his fourth save since returning to action in mid-July. Hernández struck out one, but walked two in his scoreless outing and would seem to be the continued favorite to close out Ranger’s victories whenever they come around, though after needing 21 pitches on Monday let’s not be too surprised if we see José Leclerc back in the role on Tuesday.

 

HOU 2 – CWS 4

• Liam Hendriks ensured Johnny Cueto’s impressive outing would not go unrewarded, providing Cueoto with his 5th win of the year after closing up shop in the ninth and picking up his 26th save himself.
• On the other side, Rafael Montero was tasked with getting the final out of the eighth inning while the Astros were leading by two runs, and apparently did not understand the assignment. Montero gave up back-to-back doubles and then back-to-back free passes, one of which was intentional. After then giving up another two runs off a Yoán Moncada single, Montero would get lifted in favor of Phil Maton, who promptly ended the inning with a four-pitch strike out. The outing marked back-to-back 17-pitch outings for Montero, who may get a day of rest or two before being given an opportunity to redeem himself.

 

LAD 4 – MIL 0

• The Dodgers’ bullpen combined for four perfect innings to close out their victory over the Brewers on Monday. Chris Martin, Caleb Ferguson, Evan Phillips, and David Price each did their job to a tee, with each reliever being more efficient than the last.

 

SEA 6 – LAA 2

• Andrés Muñoz was credited with his second win of the year after the Mariners would break the tie in the top of the ninth inning. Munoz held the line for Seattle, pitching a scoreless eighth and striking out one, giving way to Paul Sewald to close things out in the ninth. Unfortunately for Sewald, the save opportunity was out of reach after one too many runs were scored, but he dominated none-the-less, striking out two in his perfect inning of work.

 

ARI 1 – SF 6

• The Giants’ bullpen combined for three scoreless innings to finish out their five-run victory over the Diamondbacks on Monday, with Alex Young being the only member of the bullpen to walk away with any hardware, his second hold of the season. This was a nice breather for closer Camilo Doval who had pitched in each of the previous three days.

 

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: Ranking the Top 100 Relievers for Holds Every Thursday

Closing Time: Ranking the Top 30 Closers

Top 100 Relievers for Save+Hold Leagues

 

Photos by Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Doug Carlin (@Bdougals on Twitter)