Reliever Ranks – 8/27

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

 

• All 3o teams took the field yesterday, and all 30 will retake the field on Saturday.
• The next off day will be on Monday (8/28), and the following teams may push their bullpens usage through the weekend: BAL, TBR, CHW, CLE, DET, KCR, HOU, OAK, SEA, TEX, ATL, NYM, WSN, and COL.

 

• The St Louis Cardinal reinstated Ryan Helsley and optioned Packy Naughton to Triple-A. Helsley will get placed back into the closer role, with Giovanny Gallegos returning to the setup.
• The Pittsburgh Pirates placed Colin Holderman on the 15-day IL and promoted Yohan Ramirez. He’ll slot into the middle-reliever ranks for the ball club.

 

• The Oakland Athletics optioned Norge Ruiz and recalled Jared Koenig, who will fill the vacated bulk RP role.
• The Los Angeles Angels moved Ryan Tepera and  Aaron Loup to the restricted list. Taking their roster spot is José Marte and Gerardo Reyes.

 

• The Chicago Cubs optioned Kervin Castro to the minors and removed Manuel Rodríguez from the 60-day IL. Luke Farrell becomes the multi-IP reliever for the team.
• The Arizona Diamondbacks DFA’d Chris Devenski. No official countermove has been made, and for the moment, Luis Frias slots into the long-relief role.

 

• The following RPs pitched on back-to-back nights and will likely be unavailable: Dillon Tate(BAL), Matt Barnes (BOS), Matt Strahm (BOS), Shawn Armstrong (TBR), Will Smith (HOU), Matt Brash (SEA), Edwin Díaz (NYM), and Sean Newcomb (CHC).
• Clay Holmes is expected to return early next week if you’ve got the room on your bench to stash. No one has locked down the closer role in his absence.

 

 

LAD 10 – MIA 6 (10 innings)

• The Dodgers bullpen was rested after a night off on Thursday. So, everyone got their chance to make an impact in this one. Evan Phillips shut things down for two outs after Tyler Anderson only allowed a single run in six innings. Phil Bickford struggled, again, with command and coughed up two hits. In the 8th inning, Craig Kimbrel hurled a two-strikeout performance, though it was not a save opportunity. The 9th inning belonged to David Price, who gave up a solo shot to Peyton Burdick but earned the win. Finally, Brusdar Graterol gave up a double that allowed the inherited ghost runner on second to score.
• The Marlins went with a bullpen game, and not a single pitcher lasted more than two innings. The plan worked until Dylan Floro allowed two runs to score via a Mookie Betts dinger. Following Floro, Steven Okert notched his 17th hold with a scoreless frame. Up by one run, Tanner Scott blew his 6th save as Mookie Betts went yard again. In the 10th inning, Andrew Nardi gave up a slew of runs to give Miami its 71st loss.

 

CHC 4 – MIL 3 (10 innings)

• Erich Uelmen pitched a flawless 1.2 innings after Justin Steele hurled nearly six innings while only allowing one run. Brandon Hughes struck out three batters but ended up taking the blown save. Mark Leiter Jr. and Sean Newcomb finished a scoreless 9th inning, earning Newcomb the win. After the offense put two on the board, newly promoted Manuel Rodríguez grabbed the save. However, it was a shaky performance as he walked a batter and allowed a pair of hits and an unearned run (inherited ghost runner).
• Milwaukee got a stellar performance from Freddy Peralta through six innings. However, Matt Bush served up an HR to Ian Happ. Taylor Rogers and Brad Boxberger quieted things down for the next two innings, and the game was tied after nine innings. Unfortunately, Devin Williams couldn’t keep it that way, and two runs crossed home plate as Williams took the loss.

 

CIN 7 – WSN 3

• Mike Minor pitched a seven-inning gem, and the Reds only found themselves needed a pair of RPs. Hunter Strickland pitched the 8th inning but allowed a pair of hits and a walk that resulted in an earned run. Following Strickland, Buck Farmer issues a two-out walk before Victor Robles lined out to end the game.
• Cade Cavalli got rocked for seven runs before the 5th inning for Washington. That meant Erasmo Ramírez would need to pitch a couple of innings, and he performed well by striking out three and not giving up any runs. Steve Cishek and Jake McGee finished the final two innings with ease.

 

PIT 4 – PHI 7

• Bryse Wilson only lasted one inning before getting the hook after scattering five hits and four runs. Zach Thompson found multiple innings, five. He did pretty well and only allowed a single-earned run. Yohan Ramirez finished the final six outs while striking out one and allowing an earned run.
• Earning holds in this one were Connor Brogdon (H, 6), José Alvarado (H, 14), and David Robertson (H,3 ). The trio combines for one earned run over two innings. In the 9th inning, Brad Hand notched save #5 while striking out one batter.

 

LAA 12 – TOR 0

• The Angels blanked the Blue Jays with a few lesser-known RPs. Newly called up José Marte and Gerardo Reyes held the stout Toronto bats in check, and Jesse Chavez finished them off in the 9th with a two-strikeout performance. Additionally, in the 6th inning, Andrew Wantz shut down a potential problem after Reid Detmers was pulled after a leadoff double and walk.
• Starter Mitch White got shelled in this one and allowed seven earned runs over five innings. Yusei Kikuchi followed White with three innings but allowed three earned with six Ks. With the game firmly out of hand and several bullpen arms unavailable from over usage, Whit Merrifield pitched the final three out.

 

COL 6 – NYM 7

• Colorado got five decent innings from Chad Kuhl, but he left the ball game down by three runs. In the 6th inning, Lucas Gilbreath didn’t help the situation as he walked a batter and allowed two hits that allowed a run to score. Things quieted for an inning when Dinelson Lamet struck out a batter over his lone inning. However, in the 8th inning, Carlos Estévez gave up two runs to score, and Daniel Bard could not keep the game tied in the ninth. A walk-off single to Pete Alonso decided this one.
• Chris Bassitt lasted 7.1 innings in this one. Mychal Givens was summonsed for 8th inning relief work with a one-run lead. Unfortunately, he allowed Elias Díaz to swat a double into center field, causing three runs to score. With the game tied 6-6, Edwin Díaz came on in a non-save chance. He responded by allowing one hit and striking out a batter and was awarded the W, thanks to the offensive rally.

 

DET 6 – TEX 7

• Detroit only got three innings out of its starter, and Garrett Hill found himself with extra work. He navigated through his own three innings while striking out four batters and only walking one. Jason Foley and José Cisnero finished off the 7th and 8th innings without allowing any damage.
• Taylor Hearn pitched a pair of innings after Glenn Otto escaped five of his own. In the 8th inning, Jonathan Hernández threw a scoreless frame with one punchout. Then, in an exciting development, José Leclerc came on for the save opportunity. He accomplished the goal and earned save #2, but it was rough. Leclerc allowed a walk, two hits (one HR), and two earned runs.

 

BAL 2 – HOU 0

• Kyle Bradish dazzled batters for eight solid innings and locked down Houston’s offense. Cionel Pérez tried to keep the trend going and almost got there, but after a pair of singles, Dillon Tate was implemented for the final out. Tate’s strikeout of Trey Mancini earned him save #3.
• Houston tossed Cristian Javier for three innings after pulling Lance McCullers Jr. in the fifth. In the 6th inning, a two-run shot from Ramón Urías was all the offense Baltimore would need. In the 9th, Will Smith struck out one in an eight-pitch inning.

 

SDP 13 – KCR 5

• Joe Musgrove struggled in this one and allowed eight hits with five runs (two earned). Following Musgrove, Robert Suarez earned his fourth win with 1.1 innings of no-run ball. Adrian Morejon tallied his third hold as he scattered two base runners and struck out a pair. In the scoreless 8th inning, southpaw Tim Hill struck out two batters on 14 pitchers (nine strikes). Nabil Crismatt gave up a couple of leadoff singles before inducing a double-play to end the game.
• Kris Bubic gave up six runs in four innings, and the bullpen saw plenty of action afterward. Some were good, and some were not so much. Amir Garrett got rocked for four earned runs and only recorded one out. Brad Keller couldn’t pickup strikes and allowed one run before getting yanked. However, Dylan Coleman, Jose Cuas, Anthony Misiewicz, and Collin Snider kept the scoreboard clean. Finally, Hunter Dozier pitched the 9th and gave up an HR to Ha-Seong Kim.

 

SFG 0 – MIN 9

• Alex Wood got chopped to pieces by the Twins’ offense. In his three innings, he gave up eight earned runs. Down big early, the bullpen used Zack Littell, Tyler Rogers, and Dominic Leone to make it out of this one. The trio combined for four innings and kept the basepaths relatively quiet. In the 9th, catcher Austin Wynns pitched a scoreless frame.
• Fortunes were much different for Minnesota as Joe Ryan looked terrific for six innings, and Emilio Pagán stuck out a batter in his two following innings. Finally, Michael Fulmer allowed a leadoff single before inducing a flyout to end the game.

 

ARI 7 – CHW 2

• Tommy Henry left after five innings with the lead, and Kevin Ginkel followed him by hurling two scoreless frames. Next up, Reyes Moronta pitched a flawless 8th inning. Finally, Tyler Horton served a one-out HR to AJ Pollock before collecting the final two outs. Additionally, none of the bullpen outs came from a strikeout.
• Johnny Cueto coughed up six earned runs in the 2nd inning and another in the 3rd to put his team in a big-time hole. He calmed things down and lasted until the 5th inning. Following Cueto, Tanner Banks pitched three innings of his own and did a solid job as he struck out three and only allowed a single hit. In the 9th inning, José Ruiz walked a batter and stuck out one to complete his scoreless frame.

 

ATL 11 – STL 4

• Atlanta’s pitching was magnificent through eight innings. Spencer Strider dazzled in six, Raisel Iglesias shut down an inning, and A.J. Minter didn’t allow a run. Then, disaster struck as Jackson Stephens couldn’t make it out of the inning before giving up three earned runs on several consecutive hits. Tyler Matzek came in for the final two outs.
• The only St Louis player to toe the rubber and not give up an earned run was catcher Andrew Knizner. Yeah, that’s kind of how tough the Cardinal’s night went. After José Quintana got roughed up in five innings, Andrew Pallante (one earned run),  Chris Stratton (one earned run), and Génesis Cabrera (five earned runs) couldn’t halt the Atlanta bats.

 

NYY 3 – OAK 2

• Gerrit Cole earned his 10th win after an 11-strikeout performance that lasted nearly eight innings. Jonathan Loáisiga followed Cole by striking out one of the two batters he faced in the 8th inning. In the 9th, Wandy Peralta grabbed save #3 with a meh performance. He struck out a pair of batters after giving up an earned run on back-to-back hits.
• Oakland let JP Sears go six innings against his former club. The final three innings belonged to Jared Koenig, who allowed a few base runners while striking out one. The loss was tallied to Sears.

 

TBR 8 – BOS 9

• The Rays went with an opener strategy, and JT Chargois pitched a scoreless 1st inning. Next, Ryan Yarbrough made it a couple of innings before imploding. He was eventually pulled after 3.1 innings of work and allowing five earned runs. Things didn’t get much better for Shawn Armstong, who gave up three earned runs of his own while not even lasting two innings. In the 7th, Jalen Beeks allowed back-to-back hits as Tommy Pham scored. Finally, Brooks Raley tossed a clean 8th inning with one K.
• Boston spent the middle three innings with a comfortable lead until Ryan Brasier gave up four earned runs while failing to record an out. Matt Barnes quieted things down in the 8th with a pair of strikeouts before Garrett Whitlock nailed down save #6.

 

CLE 2 – SEA 3 (11 innings)

• Following seven strong innings from Bieber, James Karinchak struck out three in his inning. Trevor Stephan danced around a pair of hits to keep the scoreless bullpen streak alive. Continuing the success, Nick Sandlin struck out two of the three batters; the other was a walk. Unfortunately, luck ran out as Emmanuel Clase allowed a single to Mitch Haniger, and speedy Dylan Moore (inherited ghost runner on second base) crossed home to end the game.
• The Mariners hurled a slew of RPs in this one. In the 7th inning, Matt Brash relieved Logan Gilbert and collected the inning’s final two outs while stranding two base runners. From there, Paul Sewald and Diego Castillo pitched scoreless frames to extend the game into extras. Matthew Festa stuck out one and walked one to push the game into the 11th inning. Finally, Penn Murfee walked a pair (one intentionally) before inducing a forceout for the win.

 

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)