Reliever Ranks – 8/6

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 30 MLB teams took the field after all 30 MLB teams took the field on Friday. Additionally, we’ve got doubleheaders between SEA/LAA and ATL/NYM.
• On Monday (8/8), there is a travel day, and the following teams have off: BOS, TBR, CHW, CLE, DET, KCR, MIN, HOU, TEX, MIA, PHI, MIL, STL, COL, and LAD. We could expect these bullpens to get extra work through the weekend.

 

• The New York Yankees claimed Luke Bard from the Tampa Bay Rays as they option Carlos Espinal.
• The Minnesota Twins made a flurry of moves as Joe Smith, and Jharel Cotton cleared waivers. Tyler Duffy was optioned to the minors, and Cole Sands was recalled to the MLB roster.

 

• The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled Reyes Moronta to the pen while placing Clayton Kershaw on the 15-day IL.
• The Colorado Rockies scooped up Dinelson Lamet from the Milwaukee Brewers via waiver claims.

 

• After last night, the following bullpen arms pitched back-t0-back nights and will likely be unavailable for Saturday action: Colin Poche(TBR), Yimi García(TOR), Devin Williams(MIL), Ryan Helsley(STL), and Alex Colomé(COL).

 

 

PIT 0 – BAL 1

• Dean Kremer and Mitch Keller put on outstanding performances as both cruised past the sixth inning. The major difference is Keller gave up a run, saddling him with the loss. Manny Bañuelos and Yohan Ramirez tossed scoreless frames in the loss.
• For the Orioles, Cionel Pérez pitched 1.2 innings with a pair of Ks in his new setup role. Speaking of a new role, Félix Bautista earned his fourth save (and first since the departure of Jorge López). However, it was a bit shaky as he gave up a single and a walk before striking out Oneil Cruz and Kevin Newman.

 

CHC 2 – MIA 1

• Marlins starter Edward Cabrera was masterful in his five innings of no-run ball. The team utilized Huascar Brazoban and Steven Okert to make it through the sixth inning before Anthony Bender notched hold #2 with a quick inning. However, in the 8th inning, Dylan Floro struggled immensely as he allowed three hits (including Willson Contreras’s 16th HR) and took the loss.
• The Cubs traded away most of their bullpen and elected to trot out familiar names from the previous night. Erich Uelmen, Michael Rucker, and Brandon Hughes pitched again. The trio combined for three innings that included an earned run allowed by Uelmen. In the final 1.1 innings, Rowan Wick stepped into the limelight and delivered as he went on to claim his third victory of the season.

 

WSH 2 – PHI 7

• The Phillies jumped on Josiah Gray early as they hung a four spot in the first and two more in the third. Gray only lasted another inning before turning the ball over to Erasmo Ramírez for a pair of scoreless frames. In the 7th inning, Víctor Arano got knocked around and served up HR #34 for Kyle Schwarber. Finally, Andres Machado quieted things down with a scoreless 8th inning.
• On the other hand, Phillies starter Kyle Gibson looked very good as he pitched deep into this game (8.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K). The only reliever needed was Brad Hand, who gave up a leadoff single and walk to begin his inning. After two consecutive groundouts and allowing an earned run, he sat Lane Thomas down on three strikes to escape disaster.

 

HOU 9 – CLE 3

• Houston got 6.1 innings from Framber Valdez, where most of the damage was done in the seventh. He left the game with the bases loaded and one out, but Seth Martinez induced a pop-up by Amed Rosario and struck out Nolan Jones. Martinez went on to pitch a scoreless 8th inning, earning him hold #3. Finally, in the 9th, Bryan Abreu struck out the side on 11 pitches.
• Cleveland’s starter Hunter Gaddis put the team in a massive hole as he allowed eight earned runs in 3.1 innings of work. The team pitched Sam Hentges and Enyel De Los Santos for multiple innings. De Los Santos ran into some trouble but only allowed one run. Bryan Shaw appeared for a scoreless inning as well.

 

TBR 5 – DET 3

• After six innings from Corey Kluber, the Rays ran with Jalen Beeks for an inning. He vultured the W as the team scored while he pitched a scoreless frame that included a walk, hit, and strikeout. Following Beeks, Jason Adam picked up hold #17 with an inning of work that didn’t allow any baserunners. Up by a pair of runs in the 9th, Colin Poche was summonsed. He put two men on base but struck out Riley Greene for the final out as he collected his seventh save.
• Detroit received a short outing from its starting pitcher and turned to six different relievers in this one. In the end, some of their better bullpen arms didn’t help them. Will Vest (1 ER), Jason Foley (1 ER), and Joe Jiménez (3 ER) were the deciding factors in this game. However, it wasn’t all bad. Andrew Chafin grabbed his 14th hold in 1.1 innings of work. José Cisnero and Gregory Soto completed the final two frames without allowing anyone to score.

 

ATL 9 – NYM 6

• Starter Ian Anderson didn’t make it through five innings, which meant Atlanta would need a stellar bullpen performance. After Anderson left a pair of men on base, Dylan Lee came on. However, he allowed a double and single with a pair of runs getting charged to Anderson. Collin McHugh earned his 8th hold, but it was a sloppy performance (0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K). A.J. Minter scooped up the W as he pitched a clean 1.1 innings of work with three Ks. Making his first appearance in an Atlanta uniform, Raisel Iglesias picked up the hold with a pair of punchouts in an inning. Finally, Kenley Jansen pitched the final inning with a four-run lead and served up a solo shot to Jeff McNeil.
• For the Mets, Taijuan Walker had no answers as he allowed eight earned runs in an inning of work. Luckily, Trevor Williams was able to bail them out with four scoreless frames. Newly acquired Mychal Givens and Joely Rodríguez pitched scoreless 6th and 7th innings. Tommy Hunter pitched the final two innings but couldn’t escape the ninth without allowing a run.

 

CHW 2 – TEX 1

• Chicago went with three relievers after Dylan Cease pitched six innings of one-run ball. Joe Kelly struck out a pair in his lone innings to notch his 12th hold, and Kendall Graveman was okay (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB) as he collected hold #18. Up by a run in the 9th inning meant it was Liam Hendriks‘ time, and he delivered by striking out the final two batters for his 22nd save.
• Texas got a surprisingly solid start from Glen Otto, who lasted six innings while giving up two runs. Next up, Josh Sborz hurled a couple of scoreless innings with a trio of strikeouts before José Leclerc finished the ninth. Additionally, Texas had an abundance of relievers (Jonathan Hernández, Matt Moore, and Brock Burke) that pitched on back-to-back nights

 

BOS 7 – KCR 4

• Boston starter Josh Winckowski kept things quiet for four innings before Salvador Perez took him deep. Shortly thereafter, he was replaced by Ryan Brasier for an inning. In the 7th, Hirokazu Sawamura looked unhittable and struck out three while allowing one walk. In the 8th inning, up 7-1, Austin Davis allowed the first three batters to reach base (2 BB, 1 H), followed by a sac fly. John Schreiber came in to stop the bleeding hits by Michael A. Taylor, and MJ Melendez allowed three runs to score (all charged to Davis). In the 9th inning, Schreiber came back out with a 1-2-3 inning.
• Royals starter Zack Greinke was ticked with the loss after allowing four earned runs in 4.2 innings of work, but the bullpen wasn’t spectacular either. Although, Amir Garrett was able to collect the final out in the 5th inning with runners on base. Josh Staumont was not particularly great as he walked a pair and gave up a pair of earned runs from a Jarren Duran double. Joel Payamps cleaned up Staumont’s mess in the 8th inning but put the first two batters on base in the 9th before escaping.

 

TOR 5 – MIN 6 (10 innings)

• Starter José Berríos struggled (yet again) and only lasted 3.2 innings while allowing five earned runs. However, thanks to some solid bullpen work, that would be all the scoring until extra innings. Trevor Richards, Zach Pop, Adam Cimber, David Phelps, and  Yimi García combined for 5.1 innings of no-run ball. Unfortunately, Jordan Romano could not get out of the 10th inning. In a wild finish, Romano struck out the first batter (Jake Cave) but, due to a throwing error by Danny Jansen, Cave made it to first while the inherited ghost runner (Nick Gordon) went to third. Gordon scored on a fielder’s choice during the next batter.
• Through six innings, Tyler Mahle gave up four earned runs (three HRs) in his new uniform. Things went smoothly for the next two innings as Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran collected holds with scoreless frames. However, Jorge López blew the save by giving up a two-out single to Raimel Tapia. In the 10th inning, Michael Fulmer loaded the bases with one out before striking out Teoscar Hernández and Bo Bichette to earn his fourth win.

 

CIN 1 – MIL 5

• The Reds lost this game, but the bullpen was not the problem. Ross Detwiler, Luis Cessa, Ian Gibaut, and Reiver Sanmartin combined for five innings of no-run ball. So, what was the problem? The bats only managed one run, and starter Robert Dugger gave up five earned runs in four innings of work.
• On the other side, the Brewers got seven stout innings from Eric Lauer as he scattered nine base runners (6 H, 3 BB) while only allowing one run. Next, what looked like an appearance from Trevor Gott for the final two frames was altered. In the 9th inning, Gott walked a pair of batters, and Devin Williams was brought in for the third time in three days. He struck out the final two batters to pickup his 7th save. Surely, Williams won’t pitch tonight; perhaps former-Padres closer Taylor Rogers will get the chance.

 

NYY 3 – STL 4

• In the 6th inning, starter Nestor Cortes gave up a one-out walk and had the heart of the order following. Albert Abreu came in but gave up a single to Nolan Arenado. After striking out Nolan Gorman, Tyler O’Neill singled to drive in the inherited base runner. Scott Effross was brought in for the final out. He then pitched another inning without allowing a run. In the 8th inning, Clay Holmes blew the save as Paul DeJong doubled with two men on base.
• The Cardinals implemented a piggyback strategy with Daniel Hudson (4.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K) and Andre Pallante (4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 2 K). In the 9th, up by one, Ryan Helsley issues a one-out walk but comes away with save #10. After back-to-back nights of pitching, Helsley will get a night off, and Giovanny Gallegos should be in line for any save chances.

 

COL 5 – ARI 6

• In the sixth inning, Colorado starter Germán Márquez left the game with a 5-2 lead. However, the Rockies bullpen gave up four earned runs in the final two innings. Lucas Gilbreath walked three batters and gave up a double, allowing two runners to score…yet earned a hold as he only recorded one out (!?!?) Robert Stephenson followed by striking out a batter and stranding two base runners. Finally, Alex Colomé gave up three hits and two earned runs as he took the blown save.
• The Arizona bullpen was solid. Chris Devenski struck out three in his lone inning, and Kevin Ginkel didn’t allow any of Madison Bumgarner’s inherited base runners to score. Up by one in the 9th inning, Ian Kennedy came on to close out the game for his sixth save. This marks the second occasion Kennedy was brought on for closer duties this week.

 

LAD 8 – SDP 1

• Oof! Sean Manaea looks lost out there. He allowed ten hits and eight earned runs through four innings. However, the Padres bullpen did its job. Steven Wilson, Adrian Morejon, and Matthew Batten combined for four innings of no-run ball. Unfortunately, it was too little too late.
• On the flip side, Tony Gonsolin was outstanding and notched his 13th victory. Following his five innings, David Price struck out three batters in 1.2 innings of work. Newly promoted Reyes Moronta looked very impressive and struck out all four of his batters faced. Uo by a bunch, Phil Bickford found an inning of work, although a leadoff walk allowed Josh Bell to score.

 

LAA 4 – SEA 3 (10 innings)

• Angels starter Patrick Sandoval kept zeros on the scoreboard through 5.1 innings of work. After hitting Carlos Santana with a pitch and allowing J.P. Crawford to single, Aaron Loup shut down Seattle in the 6th and 7th. José Quijada grabbed his fourth hold by punching out a pair of batters in the 8th inning. Up by three in the 9th, the Angels turned to Jesse Chavez, but he was not effective. Chavez allowed three earned runs to cross home plate, and this game went into extra innings. In the 10th, Jimmy Herget collected three quick outs for his second save of the season.
• Robbie Ray was terrific for the Mariners as he struck out ten through seven innings. Following Ray, Erik Swanson allowed two base runners but struck out a pair. However, a late-inning disaster struck as Ryan Borucki served up a two-run dinger to Max Stassi. Finally, Paul Sewald was tallied with the loss after Taylor Ward’s sac fly allowed the inherited extra-inning runner to score.

 

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