Dynasty
Nastiest GIFs
The List
Dynasty
Nastiest GIFs
The List

Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Rankings – 4/16/24 Depth Chart

Breakdowns of key bullpen usage from yesterday's slate of games.

Benjamin Haller
Reliever Ranks 4/16/2024

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 teams were in action across a busy Monday of baseball. After numerous high-leverage relievers saw plenty of work over the weekend, there was plenty of opportunity for holds and saves going around.
  • The Dodgers will likely employ an opener for Ryan Yarbrough, who has a plus matchup against the Nationals. It is the perfect chance to vulture a win for fantasy managers who can feel confident with the L.A. offense on fire to start the season. Yarborough is just 8% rostered in Yahoo! leagues as of writing.
  • There were a few minor transactions involving relievers but nothing noteworthy. Edward Cabrera was reinstated from the injured list and started in place for A.J. Puk, who was scratched due to illness. Cabrera was electric, striking out 10 and allowing just one run. It remains to be seen but Puk could move to the bullpen after struggling across three starts. His Wednesday start could be his last chance to show starter material.

 

Yesterday’s Performances

TEX 1 – DET 0

HD: José Leclerc (1), David Robertson (6)

SV: Kirby Yates (1)

  • A textbook bullpen performance from the Rangers preserved a one-run lead through four innings after returning starter Michael Lorenzen looked sharp through five frames. Relegated from the closer conversation for now it seems but effective through two scoreless frames in this one, José Leclerc looked his old self as he breezed through the Tigers lineup. Veteran David Robertson continued his early season form notching his sixth hold of the season in a setup role behind Kirby Yates. Yates needed just eight pitches (six thrown for strikes) to retire the side and earn his first save of 2024. It could be that it is still a fluid situation in Texas with gameplay determining who is used given the spot but we like Yates to spearhead the ninth right now with Robertson waiting in the wings.
  • Reese Olson was superb again and was unlucky to take the loss in this tight contest. Alex Faedo allowed just one hit in two innings of relief. He doesn’t have much fantasy relevance right now but could emerge as a bulk reliever for wins if he continues his strong start.

 

MIN 4 – BAL 7

SV: Craig Kimbrel (4)

  • Veteran Matt Bowman chewed up some innings for the Twins after Louis Varland once again struggled through five innings giving up four runs on 11 hits. Bowman is a low-leverage veteran who has bounced around over 188 career innings. You just immediately forgot about him.
  • Yennier Cano entered in the seventh inning after Keegan Akin gave up a single and a double with one out. Cano struck out Alex Kirilloff before giving up a two-run double to Ryan Jeffers, which was charged to Akin. He came back out for the eighth and pitched a clean inning but missed out on the hold because there were only two baserunners on with the score 7-2. That’s one baserunner away from a save/hold situation. Craig Kimbrel threw 13 pitches, 10 for strikes and struck out two in a perfect ninth to register his fourth save of the season. The Orioles keep rolling.

 

SFG 4 – MIA 3

L: George Soriano (0-1)

HD: Tyler Rogers (1), Ryan Walker (1), George Soriano (1)

SV: Camilo Doval (2)

BS: Andrew Nardi (2)

  • Camilo Doval was outstanding in getting the last out in the eighth inning before striking out two in the ninth for his second save of the season. Doval threw 29 pitches and could be unavailable today after coming through in a big spot for the Giants. Tyler Rogers threw a clean seventh before Ryan Walker got two outs and left a man on base in the eighth.
  • What could go wrong will go wrong for the Marlins right now and after allowing two walks, George Soriano gave way to Andrew Nardi, who allowed back-to-back two-out singles from Jung Hoo Lee and Wilmer Flores to give up a two-run lead and be charged with his second blown save of the season.

 

STL 3 – OAK 1

HD: Andrew Kittredge (7), JoJo Romero (6)

SV: Ryan Helsley (6)

  • Closer Ryan Helsley struck out JJ Bleday and Tyler Nevin in a perfect, breezy ninth inning to earn his league-leading sixth save of the season. JoJo Romero had given up a solo homer to Esteury Ruiz in the eighth inning but Helsley closed the door on the upstart A’s in dominant fashion. Former Rays and Cardinals reliever Andrew Kittredge is enjoying a career renaissance after notching his seventh hold of the year.

 

NYY 1 – TOR 3

HD: Chad Green (2), Tim Mayza (2)

SV: Yimi García (2)

  • The Yankees got two scoreless innings out of Ralph Marinaccio backing up Luis Gill. Former Dodgers reliever Dennis Santana also pitched a scoreless frame, saving the higher-leverage arms from any work.
  • After Chad Green converted two save opportunities last week, Yimi García recorded his second straight save after earning his first on Saturday. The veteran disposed of Juan Soto, Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo on nine pitches and looks to be the favorite to continue in the ninth inning until the return of Jordan Romano.

 

PIT 3 – NYM 6

W: Adam Ottavino (1-0)

L: Aroldis Chapman (1)

SV: Edwin Diaz (4)

  • Aroldis Chapman looked to be cruising to yet another dominant outing in a tied 3-3 ballgame after striking out Francisco Alvarez, but he allowed Jeff McNeil to reach on a wild pitch and walked DJ Stewart to bring Harrison Bader to the plate. Chapman was ejected for mouthing off to the home plate umpire after Bader doubled and brought in two runs. An embarrassing night for the veteran.
  • Despite giving up a home run on Sunday, Edwin Diaz bounced back to pitch a clean ninth inning for his fourth save of the campaign. Diaz now has 10 strikeouts through seven frames and is set for a bonanza season as long as he stays healthy. Adam Ottavino benefitted from Chapman’s meltdown to earn a win in relief.

 

KCR 2 – CWS 0

HD: Chris Stratton (1)

SV: James McArthur (3)

  • All three of James McArthur’s saves this season have come against the White Sox and he made light work of the lineup in the ninth, striking out two in a perfect frame. McArthur looks to have taken a stranglehold on the closer role after Will Smith’s early struggles. It was Chris Stratton who setup in the eighth.

 

SDP 7 – MIL 3

SV: Robert Suarez (1)

  • Converting his sixth straight save opportunity, hard-throwing righty Robert Suarez gave up an infield single to William Contreras but managed to force Sal Frelick to fly out for his one-out save. Rookie Stephen Kolek allowed two baserunners with a four-run lead to force Suarez into action. Suarez in the undoubted closer in San Diego.

 

WSN 6 – LAD 4

HD: Hunter Harvey (6), Dylan Floro (3)

SV: Kyle Finnegan (6)

  • Who saw this coming as Kyle Finnegan joined the save leaders with his sixth save of the short season. The Nationals closer continued his good form from last year after striking out Taylor Trammel before getting Mookie Betts to groundout to earn the save. Hunter Harvey earned his sixth hold and now has 15 strikeouts through eight and a third innings.
  • Nick Ramirez and Ricky Vanasco both pitched multiple innings in relief of a shaky outing from Tyler Glasnow.

 

The Best of the Rest…

  • In the early contest, the Guardians continued their promising start to the year with a 6-0 drubbing of the Red Sox. Tim Herrin struck out three across two dominant frames to pick up the win. The 27-year-old has given up just one run in eight relief appearances and could be in line for higher-leverage duties if an injury occurs for Cleveland. The Red Sox bullpen gave up five runs across four relievers after Kutter Crawford had allowed just two hits through five and a third innings. Brutal!
  • Yikes, is it about time to worry about Josh Hader? The Astros closer entered trailing 2-1 in the ninth inning before allowing a walk, throwing a wild pitch and giving up four straight singles, conceding four runs without a single out. He did strikeout Matt Olson but was then replaced by Brandon Bielak with the game out of reach. He now owns a 9.39 ERA on the season.
  • Nick Martinez and Buck Farmer had to pick up the pieces for the Reds after Frankie Montas‘ fairytale start to the season became a horror story lasting just two innings. Montas walked five and gave up two homers to the Mariners. Martinez did an admirable job allowing just one run across four frames but Farmer allowed a further three runs across his two lacklustre frames. Seattle run out 9-3 winners on the back of six solid innings from George Kirby.
  • A five-run eighth inning for the Angels inspired them to a win over the Rays. Journeyman Phil Maton gave up five hits including a two-run homer to Mike Trout. Kevin Kelly then gave up a two-run bomb to Taylor Ward to compounded a nightmare backend for the bullpen. Matt Moore also gave up a two-run home run for the Angels in an eventful last few frames.
  • The Phillies edged past the Rockies in extra innings as a Cristian Pache single in the bottom of the 10th inning settled the dour encounter. José Alvarado and Jeff Hoffman saw work after Aaron Nola’s stellar nine-strikeout performance but it was Seranthony Domínguez who notched the win. Jake Bird the unlucky loser for Colorado.
  • The Cubs overcame the Diamondbacks in the top of the 11th inning thanks to a Nico Hoerner hit after Bryce Jarvis allowed a hit and a walk to load the bases. Keegan Thompson took the win thanks to two scoreless innings in extras.

 

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

Benjamin Haller

A Yorkshireman living in Australia, loving Major League Baseball from afar. As I wait for my A's to build their new stadium, I spend my time coaching soccer, writing for sportbc.blog, and over-analyzing relief pitcher scoring in fantasy baseball. Follow me @benjaminhaller1 for thousands of retweets

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Account / Login