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Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Rankings – 4/21/24 Depth Chart

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

Brett Ford
Fantasy 4/21/2024

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

 

 

Yesterday’s Performances

TB 2 – NYY 0 (10 inn.)

W: Jason Adam (1-0)

Sv: Garrett Cleavinger (1)

  • No sign of Peter Fairbanks in this contest despite two full days of rest since his last appearance. Instead, Jason Adam pitched a scoreless ninth and Garrett Cleavinger held the ghost runner at bay, earning a save to help the Rays to a 2-0 win.
  • Caleb Ferguson took the loss for the Yankees, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits in the 10th inning.

 

MIN 4 – DET 3

HD: Steven Okert (1), Cole Sands (1), Kody Funderburk (2), Matt Bowman (1)

SV: Griffin Jax (2)

  • The Twins bullpen did their best to give this one away but the Tigers just wouldn’t take it. Okert and Funderburk each allowed an earned run while Sands and Bowman cleaned up their respective messes in the seventh and eighth innings. Jax struck out two in a clean ninth to earn his second save of the season and has now worked in two consecutive games. He will likely be unavailable for Sunday’s series finale.
  • Joey Wentz and Alex Lange combined for three scoreless innings of relief out of the Tigers’ bullpen.

 

MIL 12 – STL 5

  • The St. Louis bullpen got roughed up as Zack Thompson, Giovanny Gallegos, and Andre Pallante combined to allow seven earned runs over the final 4.1 innings pitched. If there’s a silver lining, I guess at least Ryan Helsley got the day off?
  • Abner Uribe was used in his third-straight low-leverage, non-save situation, making it even more clear than before that Joel Payamps has taken over the ninth-inning role in Milwaukee. Uribe did throw 1.2 scoreless innings with two walks and two strikeouts, but he’s still lost his place in the depth chart.

 

MIA 3 – CHC 2 (Game 1)

HD: Yency Almonte (5), Mark Leiter Jr., Jr. (4)

W: Calvin Faucher (1-0)

S: Tanner Scott (3)

 

NYM 6 – LAD 4

HD: Drew Smith (3), Jorge López (3), Edwin Diaz (1)

S: Reed Garrett (1)

  • This was one of the more interesting uses of a bullpen on Saturday, at least on the surface, as the Mets elected to use Edwin Diaz to get out of the eighth inning. It makes more sense the further you dig. Diaz faced the heart of the Dodgers’ order, issuing walks to Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman before ringing up Teoscar Hernández and Max Muncy on strikeouts.
  • Reed Garrett earned the save, striking out the side in the ninth. No need to panic, Diaz managers, he’s still the guy.
  • Evan Phillips pitched the eighth inning in what was obviously a non-save situation. He hadn’t been used since Saturday, April 13, so this was likely just a scheduled day for him to pitch. Phillips was one of seven relievers to throw for the Dodgers on Saturday.

 

SF 7 – ARZ 3

HD: Erik Miller (2), Taylor Rogers (2), Tyler Rogers (5)

  • Five Giants relievers each threw one scoreless inning to secure the victory over the Diamondbacks on Saturday. The Rogers and Rogers law firm looked especially effective, as the two brothers needed just 19 combined pitches for six outs. Camilo Doval pitched the ninth but was kept from a save as the Giants plated two runs in the bottom of the eighth to make it a four-run game.
  • Miguel Castro surrendered a pair of earned runs on four hits out of the Arizona bullpen while Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen allowed five earned runs in five innings pitched.

 

BOS 4 – PIT 2

HD: Chris Martin (4), Joely Rodríguez (4), Greg Weissert (1)

S: Kenley Jansen (5)

  • Kutter Crawford went six strong innings before turning it over to the bullpen. Chris Martin tossed a clean seventh while Joely Rodríguez got into trouble in the eighth. Rodriguez allowed an earned run before Weissert cleaned up his mess. Jansen struck out the side in the ninth for his fifth save of the year.
  • Luis Ortiz and Colin Holderman pitched three scoreless innings of relief, both seeing their first game action since early in the week.

 

WSH 5 – HOU 4 (10 inn.)

HD: Rafael Montero (3), Bryan Abreu (3)

W: Kyle Finnegan (1-2)

  • One of the preseason favorites to win the AL pennant race, the Astros are off to a dismal start. Rafael Montero and Bryan Abreu each tossed scoreless innings in relief after Ronel Blanco posted yet another quality start, but Ryan Pressly surrendered two runs (one earned) in the ninth to tally his second blown save of the season.
  • Kyle Finnegan held the Astros scoreless in the top of the 10th and the Nationals scored the ghost runner in the bottom of the frame to give their closer the pitching victory.

 

PHI 9 – CWS 5 

S: José Alvarado (4)

  • Zack Wheeler had a no-no going through seven innings but had it broken up in the eighth. Seranthony Domínguez got out of the eighth inning unscathed.
  • In the ninth, Ricardo Pinto got blown up for five runs on five hits, recording just two outs. José Alvarado was called out of the bullpen to face Andrew Benintendi (a lefty-lefty matchup – fear not, Jeff Hoffman managers), representing the tying run with the bases loaded. Alvarado got Benintendi to ground out to the right side on his first pitch to end the game and earn the one-pitch save.

 

CLE 6 – OAK 3

HD: Nick Sandlin (1), Scott Barlow (5), Hunter Gaddis (5)

S: Emmanuel Clase (6)

  • The Guardians took an early lead against the Athletics and never let it go, thanks in part to a bullpen that combined for 3.2 scoreless innings and seven strikeouts.
  • Scott Barlow looked especially dominant, striking out the side while allowing one walk.
  • Clase worked around a leadoff double to get the save, ringing up two strikeouts on his way.

 

CIN 7 – LAA 5 

HD: Nick Martinez (1)

S: Alexis Díaz (3)

  • The Reds made the decision to piggyback Nick Martinez after Graham Ashcraft for the second consecutive outing. Martinez went three innings, allowing just two hits, before turning it over to Alexis Díaz in the ninth. Diaz worked a flawless final inning to earn the save.
  • José Suarez, Hunter Strickland, and Luis Garcia combined for four scoreless innings out of the Angels bullpen to keep the game within striking distance.

 

BAL 9 – KC 7

HD: Yennier Cano (2), Keegan Akin (3), Mike Baumann (1)

S: Craig Kimbrel (5)

  • This was the pitching matchup the entire fantasy baseball community had been waiting for all day, as our crown prince faced off against one of the best arms in the business. Nobody told Cole Ragans though, because he allowed seven earned runs in 1.2 innings.
  • Danny Couloumbe and Yohan Ramírez allowed three earned runs in the seventh before Yennier Cano came in to mop up (and allowed an earned run, too). Keegan Akin and Mike Baumann combined for a scoreless eighth while Craig Kimbrel closed the door with a flawless ninth.
  • Six Kansas City relievers combined to allow just one run on six innings over 7.1 innings. Matt Sauer, Nick Anderson, and John Schreiber each toed the rubber for the second day in a row and will likely be unavailable for Sunday’s game.

 

ATL 5 – TEX 2 

HD: Joe Jiménez (5), A.J. Minter (2)

S: Raisel Iglesias (6)

  • Charlie Morton tossed a quality start for the Braves, limiting the Rangers to two runs on six hits before turning it over to the bullpen.
  • Joe Jiménez earned his fifth hold of the season with a perfect seventh while A.J. Minter tossed a scoreless eighth. Raisel Iglesias shut down the Rangers in the ninth to earn the save.
  • Jon Gray was used out of the Texas bullpen, signaling that he is the odd man out in the Rangers rotation (though Roster Resource still has him lined up to start on Tuesday). Gray recorded four strikeouts in 1.2 innings pitched and looked effective. Austin Pruitt surrendered two earned runs in the bottom of the eighth in his second-straight day of action.

 

CHC 5 – MIA 3 (Game 2)

HD: Ben Brown (1)

S: Héctor Neris (1)

  • Ben Brown tossed two scoreless relief innings behind a great start from Shota Imanaga. After Alzolay blew a save earlier in the day, the Cubs turned to Héctor Neris to shut down the Marlins in the ninth in game two, and he did just that to earn the save.
  • Anthony Bender took the loss with three earned runs in the sixth. Brian Hoeing and Sixto Sánchez each tossed a scoreless inning for the Fish.

 

SEA 7 – COL 0

  • Luis Castillo forgot it was still April and tossed a seven-inning gem, allowing just two hits and ringing up nine strikeouts. Tyson Miller and Brett de Geus preserved the shutout with a scoreless inning of relief each.
  • Victor Vodnik allowed three earned runs in the fifth for the Rockies while Tyler Kinley tossed a scoreless inning of relief. Rule-five pick Anthony Molina scattered four hits over the final three innings and kept the Mariners from adding to their lead.

 

TOR 5 – SD 2 

HD: Yimi García (2), Erik Swanson (2)

S: Jordan Romano (2)

  • Roles appear to be back to normal in Toronto with Romano and Swanson re-claiming their late-inning roles. Yimi García is now just a lowly setup man, but should still be in line for bulk holds the rest of the year. Génesis Cabrera and Swanson each allowed an earned run out of the bullpen, creating the save opportunity for Romano to convert.
  • Jhony Brito tossed three scoreless innings of relief, looking much better than most of his early-season outings. He’s now pitched 7.1 consecutive shutout innings, bringing his ERA down to 5.25 for the year. Yuki Matsui allowed an earned run in the top of the ninth on two hits.

 

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

Brett Ford

Born and raised in #Birdland. Some days you win, Some days you lose, Some days it rains.

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