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
- San Francisco called up right-handed SP Tristan Beck on Wednesday to replace Alex Wood, who hit the IL with a strained hamstring. Given the Giants’ crowded rotation situation (Ross Stripling figures to be next up), Beck could slide into an interesting role in relief for the time being.
- A’s closer Trevor May was placed on the 15-day IL Wednesday with issues related to anxiety. Zach Jackson may be next in line, on the off chance the A’s have a save opportunity in the next 15 days.
- Meanwhile, Daniel Bard was activated from the anxiety injured list (anxinjury list?) at the expense of RHP Peter Lambert. Expect the Rockies to ease him back into the closer role, displacing Pierce Johnson if all goes well (in Colorado, what could go wrong?).
- With just seven games on Thursday, 16 squads will be resting ahead of the weekend.
Yesterday’s Performances
TB 8 – CIN 0
H: Josh Fleming (1)
- Lucas Sims made his season debut in the fifth, replacing rookie Levi Stoudt, who was shelled. Sims looked solid in his inning of work, retiring the side on 13 pitches. Reiver Sanmartin pitched as well, sitting down three Rays in order in the seventh. Those two will likely jostle for the setup role behind Alexis Díaz going forward, but Sims is the better bet with his closing experience.
- The Rays needed just two relievers behind Drew Rasmussen, with Josh Fleming covering three nearly-perfect frames to earn the rare “hold-by-technicality.” Cincinnati’s best chance of scoring actually came against Pete Fairbanks in the nineth, as he loaded the bases with a pair of walks but escaped unscathed (those of you who weren’t counting on ol’ Pete dropping a 3.00 WHIP matinee with an eight-run lead, not so much).
CLE 3 – DET 2
SV: Emmanuel Clase (6)
H: James Karinchak (6)
H: Trevor Stephan (1)
- Cleveland’s bullpen made this more interesting than it needed to be, as both Karinchak and Stephan gave up solo home runs to cut a three-run lead into two by the eighth. Still, they hung on long enough to get the ball to Clase, who worked around two leadoff singles to notch save no. six.
- The Tigers used Alex Lange against the Guardians’ 2-3-4 hitters in the eighth, trailing 3-1 at the time. He threw 21 pitches and struck out two. He’s now worked back-to-back days, but with an off day on Thursday, Lange should be ready for the weekend.
SFG 5 – MIA 2 (11)
SV: Taylor Rogers (1)
W: Camilo Doval (1)
L: Devin Smeltzer (1)
- This game turned into an unlikely pitching duel between Alex Cobb and the Marlins’ bullpen, the latter of which covered an impressive seven scoreless innings before blowing it in the 11th. George Soriano, Tanner Scott, and Huascar Brazoban each recorded five-plus outs ahead of Smeltzer’s four-run meltdown.
- San Francisco went their standard route with John Brebbia, Scott Alexander, and Tyler Rogers pitching scoreless frames behind Cobb. Camilo Doval was deployed with two on and two out in the ninth in a tie game; he got Jazz Chisholm Jr. to fly out, then retired the side in the 10th to earn his first win. After taking a four-run lead, they turned to Sean Hjelle, who allowed an RBI double and a walk in three batters. Enter Taylor Rogers, who got a pair of outs to close it out and earn his first save of the year.
TEX 12 – KC 3
H: Jonathan Hernández (3)
- The Royals used both Aroldis Chapman and Scott Barlow in this game, despite the score, just to get them some work amidst their current losing skid. Chapman pitched a scoreless eighth. Barlow allowed three runs on three hits, including a home run, and walked two. His days as the capital-C-L closer certainly appear numbered, for whatever it’s worth on this team.
PHI 5 – CWS 2
SV: José Alvarado (2)
H: Craig Kimbrel (3)
H: Gregory Soto (3)
- Don’t look now, but that’s back-to-back days with a save for José Alvarado — and in both instances, Kimbrel (eighth inning Wednesday) was used before him. Alvarado is clearly the Phillies’ best reliever right now, but it remains to be seen how firmly, if at all, he holds the closer role in Philly.
- Tanner Banks was the long man for Chicago on Wednesday, tossing three innings after Mike Clevinger got knocked around. Gregory Santos covered the final two frames, striking out four.
NYM 5 – LAD 3
SV: Adam Ottavino (3)
H: David Robertson (2)
H: Drew Smith (6)
H: Jeff Brigham (1)
W: Jimmy Yacabonis (2)
- The Mets had to scramble their plans after Max Scherzer was ejected in the fourth inning, and Jimmy Yacabonis rose to the occasion. The Yac Attack worked 2.2 innings, allowed just one run and ultimately earned the win for his troubles. Robertson entered the game in the eighth to face the meat of the Dodgers’ order, and Ottavino picked up his third situational save in eight days as a result.
- The Dodgers let their top arms rest while trailing, despite the close score. Alex Vesia, Yency Almonte, Justin Bruihl, and Shelby Miller took their place.
SDP 1 – ATL 0
SV: Josh Hader (5)
H: Tim Hill (2)
H: Luis García (6)
- Nick Martinez was a stalwart, shutting down the red-hot Atlanta lineup for seven strong innings. Garcia, Hill and Hader took it the rest of the way, allowing just one hit between them.
- The Braves went with Joe Jiménez and Dylan Lee to follow Charlie Morton, which is good because it keeps Jesse Chavez nice and rested to throw 10 shutout innings against the Astros this weekend. Beware ye, those who cross the Hat Man.
MIL 5 – SEA 3
SV: Matt Bush (1)
H: Peter Strzelecki (5)
BS: Matt Brash (3)
- This game went south quickly for the Mariners, who led 3-0 entering the seventh… and left it trailing 5-3. Courtesy of Matt Brash, who allowed four singles in a span of six batters, including three of the RBI variety. That’s the MLB-leading third blown save for Brash on the young season, which doesn’t seem entirely fair. But then again, when has baseball ever been fair?
- Once Milwaukee took the lead, the task was simple. Eric Lauer pitched into the eighth inning, and Strzelecki and Bush took it from there. “The Other Matt B.” came in with one out in the ninth and earned his first save with Devin Williams resting due to workload concerns.
BAL 4 – WSH 0
H: Yennier Cano (3)
H: Cionel Pérez (4)
H: Bryan Baker (3)
LAA 2 – NYY 3 (10)
BS: Wandy Peralta (1)
W: Ian Hamilton (1)
L: Matt Moore (1)
- This game was a back-and-forth affair, with the Yankees holding a 2-1 edge as late as the eighth inning. The Angels scratched on across to tie it off Peralta in the eighth thanks to two singles and a balk. Clay Holmes pitched the ninth and struggled with control once again (one walk, one HBP) but escaped the jam. Hamilton retired the side in the 10th to earn his first win since 2018.
- The Angels deployed Carlos Estévez in the eighth against the top of the Yankees’ lineup, and he made it through unscathed. Moore was the hard-luck loser, as he took care of business in the ninth then allowed a walk-off sac fly in the 10th.
MIN 10 – BOS 4
S: Brent Headrick (1)
- Two three-inning technicality decisions in one day? This calls for celebration. I’ll have a glass of Headrick’s Gin.
TOR 1 – HOU 8
H: Bryan Abreu (3)
- This was a close game, up until Zach Pop and Adam Cimber allowed six Astros to cross the plate in the eighth inning. Happens to the best of us, really. The blowup spoiled an excellent start by José Berríos.
- Abreu came on after Rafael Montero nearly gave the lead away in the top of the eighth, deepening his early-season struggles. Ryan Pressly came on to pitch the ninth despite the lopsided score since he was already warming up. The quest for his first save will have to wait for another day.
Stream Targets
Seranthony Domínguez, PHI
- The Phillies are playing their fourth game in three days today, and Craig Kimbrel, José Alvarado, and Gregory Soto have all recorded back-to-backs. That leaves Dominguez as the only high-leverage arm left, having pitched just once since last Friday. Expect him to get the nod if a save situation arises against Colorado on Thursday.
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