Bullpen Depth Charts: Relievers To Stream 4/8

Welcome back to our Relievers to Stream for Wins and Saves series! This will bring you up-to-date bullpen depth charts every morning for the day’s games and makes for a great tool for those of you looking to stream saves or wins. This series runs 7 days a week, so be sure to check in every morning to get your daily bullpen fix!

Notes

Schedule notes:

• Only the Angels and Astros had the day off yesterday. And thanks to the Nationals-Braves doubleheader, there was still a full 15-game slate on deck.
• 12 teams have the day off today: NYY, TBR, CLE, DET, TEX, ATL, PHI, WSN, CIN, LAD, SD, and SFG. While several of these bullpens had pitchers pitch on back-to-back days, that won’t affect many roster decisions today.
• Another 12 teams have tomorrow off: BAL, BOS, CHW, KCR, MIN, SEA, MIA, NYM, CHC, MIL, PIT, and STL. That might make them more inclined to have pitchers throw on back-to-back days, making today’s already slim reliever streaming options even smaller.

• Atlanta and Washington’s doubleheader meant that almost everyone saw at least one inning for the Braves except for Chris Martin, who is still dealing with numbness in his fingers. In the first, game, Josh Tomlin took over in the third and picked up a win after an ugly outing for Max Fried. Both Nate Jones and A.J. Minter picked up holds, but most importantly, Brian Snitker again put his faith in Will Smith in the final frame. Smith again allowed a run, but thanks to an insurance run in the top of the seventh, he still picked up his first save of the year. In the second half of the doubleheader, longman Huascar Ynoa allowed just three baserunners over five innings before turning the ball over to Luke Jackson, who picked up the win after Atlanta scored the game’s only two runs in the top of the seventh. Sean Newcomb then struck out the side to notch his first save of the season. Thankfully for these arms, the team has the day off Thursday to recover. But with Smith’s struggles in the spotlight, be alert to changes in bullpen roles over the weekend.
• Washington’s undermanned bullpen likewise had to take over early in the opening game after Eric Fedde did what he does best and allowed six earned runs before leaving partway through the second. Wander Suero was the arm trusted in the heart of the Atlanta order in the final frame, but two singles and two wild pitches allowed a runner to score. In the second game, Tanner Rainey was sent out in the seventh with the game scoreless, and he also blew the Nats’ chances at a win, giving up a home run to Pablo Sandoval. The Nats will hope to have Brad Hand back from COVID-19 protocols soon.

• The Orioles and Yankees went 11 innings and helped clarify some roles within their bullpen. Jonathan Loaisiga pitched a clean eighth and Aroldis Chapman struck out the side in the 9th with the game tied. Chad Green was credited with the loss, although both runners that scored on his watch started the inning on second. A later role for Loaisiga is the thing to watch here: he might deserve an add in holds leagues if he makes the seventh and eighth his home more often going forward.
• The messy Orioles bullpen situation gained also gained some clarity, with Tanner Scott coming out in the sixth and pitching the seventh. After Shawn Armstrong blew the lead in the eighth, Cesar Valdez came out for the final out of that frame and returned for both the ninth and tenth. He looks like the arm to roster in Baltimore, but will likely have the day off against Boston today.

• Mark Melancon came out for the ninth again for the Padres, seemingly solidifying his role as the closer in San Diego, although Tim Hill was credited with a loss in extras.
• The Giants sent Jake McGee to the mound in the ninth in the other half of that game, where he picked up the win after the team scored in the 10th. Wandy Peralta was credited with the save after pitching a clean tenth.

• After Brandon Woodruff went six innings without giving up a hit for the Brewers, Devin Williams surrendered the lead on a home run to Joc Pederson. Josh Hader picked up a win for his clean ninth, and their hitters gave their bullpen a three-run cushion for the bottom of the 10th. J.P. Feyereisen allowed the bonus runner to score before loading the bases himself, but he was still credited with the hold after Brad Boxberger got him out of trouble and earned the save.
• The Cubs’ Brandon Workman made a mess of the 10th, giving up a three-run shot to Lorenzo Cain and picking up the loss. Craig Kimbrel did pitch a clean seventh.

• Alex Colomé notched three strikeouts in a two-inning save for the Twins. With the team off tomorrow, that likely won’t keep him from being used Friday. The rest of their late-inning options had pitched yesterday, and Hansel Robles was the lone arm to go back-to-back. He earned his second hold of the year.
• With Gregory Soto off, the Tigers turned to José Cisneros for the final two innings, and he delivered three strikeouts without allowing a baserunner. This bullpen likely won’t produce many saves, but the arms there are worth watching.

• Kenley Jansen blew his first save of the season for the Dodgers, walking two and giving up a hit. Jimmy Nelson was the one who had to start the 10th with a man on second, and Mitch Moreland walked him off to give the A’s the win. Corey Knebel and Victor Gonzalez both picked up holds, the latter on just two pitches.
• The A’s trotted out presumed fill-in closer Jake Diekman to face the bottom of the Dodgers order in the eighth, sent him out to face Corey Seager in the 9th, and then pulled him after he allowed a single. Lou Trivino was then sent out to keep the deficit to one run. He allowed some loud contact and two walks, but struck out Edwin Rios to leave with no damage done. With the A’s offense sputtering and rotation struggling, it is unclear how much value their bullpen can provide, and if Diekman is pitching in the 8th more going forward, he may miss out on some of the save value.

• As promised by Terry Francona in the preseason, Nick Wittgren got a save opportunity for Cleveland yesterday. Nick Karinchak was sent out in the middle of the seventh and allowed one of Shane Bieber’s runners to score, and Emmanuel Clase pitched a clean eighth with two strikeouts.
• Greg Holland melted down yet again, giving up two runs to just one out in the ninth after entering with the game tied. Jesse Hahn had pitched the seventh, leaving Jake Brentz to pitch the final two outs. Whether Holland gets any opportunities in the ninth this weekend will be worth watching.

• Ian Kennedy picked up his second save of the season for the Rangers after Kyle Gibson pitched six scoreless innings. Matt Bush picked up his second hold despite allowing the Blue Jays their only run of the game, a solo shot to Marcus Semien. The new pecking order for the depleted Rangers bullpen does seem like it’s starting to settle for Chris Woodward, but lack of talent on the Rangers roster will eat away at the value that clarity provides.
• Tim Mayza and Rafael Dolis combined to tag-team the eighth for the Blue Jays, who did not have to pitch the ninth inning. Both Jordan Romano and Julian Merryweather were available — we’ll have to wait another day to verify that Merryweather is the arm to own there, though.