Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Rankings – 4/1/24 Depth Chart

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

 

• Cionel Pérez was placed on the 15-day IL with a right oblique strain. The southpaw is likely to miss at least the next month. Jonathan Heasley was recalled from the minors to take his place on the roster. However, it will be Jacob Webb who lands on the chart as a holds option.

 

 

WSN 5 – CIN 6

W: Lucas Sims (1)

L: Kyle Finnegan (1)

HD: Dylan Floro (1), Hunter Harvey (1)

• Kyle Finnegan strikes again. The right-handed closer in the capital blew the lead, allowing three runs to score. Two came on home runs, the latter of which walked off the game. Finnegan is a risky play as, despite his success the past couple of years, the underlying metrics suggest it isn’t deserved. With a more reliable arm in Hunter Harvey breathing down his neck, Finnegan’s days always seem to be numbered.
• Finnegan has now pitched on back-to-back days but so has Harvey. We could see Tanner Rainey close out a close win on Monday.

 

PIT 9 – MIA 7 (10)

W: David Bednar (1)

L: Tanner Scott (1)

HD: Ryan Borucki (2), Aroldis Chapman (1)

SV: Hunter Stratton (1)

• David Bednar blew a one-run lead in the ninth. Nick Gordon took him deep to tie up the game. The righty was able to stay on and close out the inning, which led to the Pirates taking the lead in extras off Tanner Scott. Scott looked better in this one, but it was a costly error on his part that allowed two unearned runs to score. His control looked improved after being shaky in his season debut.
• Hunter Stratton vultured a save, stranding the zombie runner on second in the 10th. The right-hander proved to have the ability to induce strikeouts but showed little command in his most recent stint at Triple-A. The Pirates are currently counting on him to be one of their top-three righties out of the pen, so he could be a sneaky holds candidate
• Bednar has pitched consecutive days. After experiencing a delayed start to the season, the Pirates aren’t likely to push him on Monday. Expect Aroldis Chapman, who struck out two in a perfect inning on Sunday, to get a shot at a save.

 

MIL 4 – NYM 1

HD: Bryan Hudson (1)

SV: Joel Payamps (1)

• We got another look at the Brewers’ bullpen, and as expected, Joel Payamps locked down the save. Both Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe had pitched on back-to-back days, so Payamps was the last man standing to pitch the ninth. This will likely add confusion to the closer discussion in Milwaukee. Uribe got the first two saves. Megill pitched the seventh in each of his appearances, but they came against the middle of the order. Payamps set up in the eighth on Friday but then earned the save on Sunday. I still think Megill is the best bet from a fantasy standpoint, but this situation could be a headache all year long with both Uribe and Payamps mixing in as they have to start the year.
• I’m interested to see what the Brew Crew can do with Bryan Hudson. At Triple-A with the Dodgers last year, the southpaw pitched to a 2.43 ERA while striking out nearly 36% of the batters he faced. His team debut for the Brewers saw him post three scoreless frames with four punchouts. In leagues where games started are limited or bulk relievers are valuable, look to Hudson.

 

DET 3 – CHW 2

W: Tyler Holton (1)

L: Steven Wilson (1)

SV: Jason Foley (2)

• The Tigers turned to Jason Foley for a save once again. It looked like Alex Lange would begin the season as the closer as he did in 2023, but matchups necessitated Foley’s first save, and then Lange battled with his control in his debut. That likely led to Foley getting a shot again and he could hold it all year long. After hitting 101 with his sinker in his debut, Foley didn’t top 98 mph in this one. He should still be effective as one of the best groundball relievers, however, his strikeout ceiling may be capped, making him the reliever version of a Toby.
• It looked like we might be getting clarity when the White Sox first deployed their late-inning contingent on Saturday, but they flipped that on its head with their usage on Sunday. After pitching ninth, John Brebbia pitched in the sixth and seventh. Michael Kopech mixed into the eighth inning after not appearing in the first deployment. Steven Wilson was tasked with the ninth in a tie game and failed to keep it that way. I think the current closer battle is between Brebbia and Kopech.
• Both Brebbia and Wilson have pitched in each of the past two games, so Kopech should have the upper hand at a save on Monday.

 

NYY 4 – HOU 3

W: Nick Burdi (1)

L: Josh Hader (1)

SV: Clay Holmes (3)

• Your current 2024 saves leader, Clay Holmes! The right-hander once again pitched out of trouble to lock down a Yankees win. There’s little competition for him in the bullpen, so as long as he’s provided leads and continues to close them out, he’ll be a top-15 closer. Holmes has pitched on back-to-back days and in three of the last four, so expect Ian Hamilton to be Monday’s temporary closer.
• A two-out rally stuck Josh Hader with his first loss of the season. All it took was two singles and a stolen base to break the tie in the ninth. Hader should have no problem bouncing back from this, but keep an eye on him. That ballpark isn’t great for him and he’s shown signs of degradation over the years. On top of that, Ryan Pressly and Bryan Abreu are lurking and the Astros are seeking a playoff berth, so they won’t mess around when it comes to the closer role. Hader has also pitched on consecutive days, so expect Pressly in the ninth on Monday.

 

CHC 9 – TEX 5

W: Héctor Neris (1)

L: José Leclerc (1)

• José Leclerc imploded in a non-save situation, allowing the Cubs to run away with a four-run victory. The right-hander also allowed a run in his season debut and now sports a 27.00 ERA. He’ll have to lock in if he wants to fend off David Robertson or Josh Sborz from taking over the closer role.
• Adbert Alzolay pitched the bottom of the ninth to secure the win. His usage early in the season indicates that he is the team’s go-to option for the ninth.

 

CLE 3 – OAK 4

L: Scott Barlow (1)

H: Lucas Erceg (1)

SV: Dany Jiménez (1)

• With Mason Miller having thrown 30 pitches on Saturday, Lucas Erceg and Dany Jiménez were tasked with the final two frames. The former wasn’t sharp, allowing two runs (one earned) and needing help from Austin Adams (who blew the lead) to close out the frame. The offense retook the lead, setting up Jiménez to earn his first save. I expect him to be the team’s saves leader at season’s end because of the unorthodox usage the A’s have planned with Miller.
• Both Jiménez and Erceg have pitched on back-to-back days. It should be Miller in the ninth, but if the A’s want to rest him further, Austin Adams or Zach Jackson could be in line for a save.

 

COL 1 – ARI 5

• Kevin Ginkel pitched a clean ninth, recording all three of his outs via the strikeout. The game was close enough that manager Torey Lovullo deemed Ginkel’s presence necessary. He’ll be the closer until Paul Sewald returns, and even when he does, Ginkel may have secured his rightful place as the team’s save-getter.

 

BOS 5 – SEA 1

SV: Justin Slaten (1)

• Rule 5 pick Justin Slaten earned the final seven outs in perfect fashion to notch his first career save. The right-hander pitched to a 3.16 ERA with a 37.4% strikeout rate at Double-A with the Rangers in 2023. In a shallow bullpen, Slaten could quickly rise the holds ranks with appearances like this one.

 

STL 4 – LAD 5

W: Nabil Crismatt (1)

L: John King (1)

HD: Andrew Kittredge (2), Andre Pallante (1)

SV: Daniel Hudson (1)

• The St. Louis setup crew was unable to fulfill its duty of setting up the ninth for Ryan Helsley. Andrew Kittredge closed out the sixth successfully, but Andre Pallante shrunk the lead which allowed the Dodgers to grab it against John King in the eighth. Look for Giovanny Gallegos and JoJo Romero to be available in future games to avoid this outcome.
• Daniel Hudson recorded his first save with Evan Phillips resting after pitching on back-to-back days. It was interesting to see him over Ryan Brasier and Joe Kelly. With Brusdar Graterol out with an injury, Hudson looks to be the top right-handed setup option in LA.