Relievers to Stream for Wins and Saves – 7/28

With the MLB in full-swing, most bullpen hierarchies are becoming a lot more clear. While some managers may keep fantasy owners guessing, it is important to at least have an idea of who has a chance at a save and who is most likely not even going to appear in a game today. Don’t sleep on saves! In a shortened season, they all count that much more.

Before the chart, let’s examine some notes from yesterday’s games.

Notes

• In Oakland, Joakim Soria recorded his first save of the season as Liam Hendriks was given the day off after pitching a total of 44 pitches between Friday and Sunday’s appearances.
• Anthony Bass did indeed get the first save appearance for the Blue Jays after losing Ken Giles to an apparent elbow injury. Bass converted the save Monday against Washington easily enough, giving up just one hit to Trea Turner, but now has pitched in three of the last four days (including two straight). The same can be said about set up men Rafael Dolis and Jordan Romano. Brian Moran may be the next logical choice to take the ball in the 9th inning based on recent bullpen usage by the Blue Jays.
• Roberto Osuna threw 14 pitches on Monday to record his first save of the season for the Astros. He struck out two and gave up just one hit, so he seems to be all caught up after a reported slow summer camp ramp up. Meanwhile, Ryan Pressley is battling elbow discomfort and is day-to-day so we’ll take him out of the hierarchy until he shows he’s ready.
• Seth Lugo, who hadn’t pitched since Friday, entered the game for the Mets in the bottom of the 8th to clean up the mess left by Jeurys Familia. He did so easily striking our Christian Vazquez, and the Mets rewarded him by sending him back out in the 9th to finish off the Red Sox for a four-out save. No reason to change the hierarchy here just yet.
• With a four-run lead, Michael Feliz loaded the bases in the top of the 9th and the Pirates get Kyle Crick warmed up in the bullpen. Once Feliz hit Keston Hiura‘s jersey to walk in a run and give up another run via a Christian Yelich ground out, in came Crick who immediately let both inherited runners score off a Ryan Braun double. Josh Hader threw 18 pitches in a scoreless 10th inning for the Brewers.
• Craig Kimbrel came in with a three-run lead and was lifted in the 9th after 34 pitches, only 13 of which were strikes, facing six batters and recording only one out. He left the bases loaded and a one-run lead to Jeremy Jeffress who proceeded to strike out Phil Ervin and induce a fly out by Joey Votto to close out his first save of the season. Kimbrel is most likely out of consideration on Tuesday’s game, and with Jeffress pitching in back-to-back games himself, expect Rowan Wick to get any opportunity the Cubs might see against the reds on Tuesday.
• The White Sox and Indians will play a double header on Tuesday to make up the rain out from Monday. Both closers should be well rested (Brad Hand hasn’t pitched since Friday and Alex Colome hasn’t even made his 2020 debut yet), but don’t expect either to pitch both games. Look for Aaron Bummer or James Karinchak to get a stab at the game two save opportunity if their team takes both matches.
• The Tuesday Miami vs Baltimore game is in jeopardy of being cancelled/postponed if it’s not moved to Baltimore, which would take both bullpens out of the equation.