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
- There was a full slate of games on Friday, apart from the interleague matchup between the Miami Marlins and Cleveland Guardians, which was postponed due to inclement weather and will be made up by a doubleheader today.
- There were a bunch of close games yesterday, with nine affairs decided by two runs or less, giving ample room for high-leverage relievers to make their impact
- The Guardians activated Enyel De Los Santos from the Paternity List, and the Los Angeles Angels sent down Jimmy Herget while selecting the contract of RHP Austin Warren
- The Dodgers called up Jake Reed as the organization placed Michael Grove on the 15-Day IL with a right groin strain
Yesterday’s Performances
CIN 3 – PIT 4
SV: David Bednar (7)
- Both starters had quality outings, but it was the Reds bullpen who blinked first, coughing up the lead, with Derek Law and Ian Gibaut each allowing a run.
- The Pirates continue at it, and it couldn’t have come more swiftly in yesterday’s game. After taking the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, Robert Stephenson and Colin Holderman both came in for an inning each, to notch another hold, needing only 12 and 13 pitches respectively. And if you thought that was quick work, David Bednar hardly broke a sweat, needing only eight pitches to notch his seventh save of the season.
CIN 3 – PIT 4
W: Kevin Kelly (1)
- Liam Hendricks might be back sooner than we all expected, and the White Sox surely need his services. It was the second blown save over the last four appearances for right-hander Reynaldo López, who conceded three earned runs on a pair of home runs, to give the Rays an 8-7 walk-off win.
- Reynaldo’s blow-up undid what had otherwise been a fine game for the White Sox bullpen, with Jimmy Lambert, Kendall Graveman, and Aaron Bummer all notching another hold to their belt, each covering an inning, and combining to allow only a single baserunner along the way.
- It was another typical bullpen game for Kevin Cash’s men, as Calvin Faucher didn’t do a particularly good job of opening the game, allowing three runs over his two innings of work, with three punchouts along the way. The third inning spelled trouble as Jalen Beeks couldn’t find the zone, walking five batters in the process, and leaving the game without completing the inning. Cooper Criswell minimized the damage, covering eight outs along the way, and only conceding one earned run. Garrett Cleavinger struck out the two hitters he faced to end the sixth, Poche covered a scoreless seventh… and Kelly kept the momentum, allowing the Rays to come back in the ninth.
DET 1 – BAL 2
W (BS): Félix Bautista (2-1)
- Tyler Wells shoved for seven scoreless against this putrid Tigers offense, but as Baltimore couldn’t muster up more than a single run against Michael Lorenzen and the Tigers’ pen, it was up to Félix Bautista to close the door on a one-run game, and the tall right-hander was unable to, coughing up the lead on an RBI single to Javier Báez.
- Luckily for Bautista shareholders, Jason Foley decided to return the favor, allowing a couple of hits of his own, and the walk-off run in the bottom of the ninth, giving Bautusta the win.
- Bryan Baker also collected a hold, with a very impressive, two-strikeout eighth, on 11 pitches.
COL 3 – PHI 4
S: José Alvarado (3)
- Aaron Nola did typical Aaron Nola things, and as the Phillies entered the eighth inning with a tied ball game at 3-3, Seranthony Dominguéz provided a scoreless eighth, and ultimately notched a win, as the Phills offense scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the inning off Brad Hand.
- With two lefties due up in the ninth in Charlie Blackmon and Ryan McMahon, it became an easy decision for Philadelphia to turn to José Alvarado to shut the door. It was the third straight save for the southpaw, who as of right now, is well-positioned to take over this closer role.
- Jumping on Aaron Nola for three in the first, the Rockies held the lead late in the game, but Dinelson Lamet and Brad Hand promptly gave it away, allowing a run in the seventh, and one in the eighth.
HOU 6 – ATL 4
S: Ryan Pressly (1)
- When Jesse Chavez is looking like your go-to guy results may come, but eventually that’s gonna burn you. Well, it did that for the Braves as the Astros jumped on the journeyman righty for three runs as he was unable to record a single out in the sixth inning and to make matters worse, A.J. Minter looks far from his 2022 self, surrendering a pair of go-ahead runs in the ninth inning.
- Between the two blowups, Nick Anderson and Dylan Lee pitched in with a scoreless seventh and eighth.
- Hey, look who is here. The Astros’ comeback gave Ryan Pressly a chance to earn his first save of the season, but the right-hander did need 22 pitches to get it done, with a walk in there, so with the Astros being cautious with him, one would be wise to question his availability for Saturday’s game.
KC 0 – LAA 2
S: José Quijada (4)
- Do the Angels have their new closer? Well, it appears so. As the lineup only mustered up a couple of runs against the Royals, it needed all of Shohei Ohtani’s masterful seven innings, with no runs, and 11 punchouts, plus the clean hold for Carlos Estévez. Quiajda came in for the ninth inning, with two righties up first, before MJ Melenzdez and Vinnie Pasquantino could come up to the plate, and he got the job done despite a couple of hard-hit balls. Quijada has yet to allow an earned run this season.
- As far as Kansas City was concerned, Taylor Clarke opened for a couple of innings, and the Angeles notched two runs off Ryan Yarbrough (the bulk man) before Amir Garrett and Josh Staumont each pitched a scoreless inning around some traffic.
Best of the rest!
- Erik Swanson secured another hold against the Yankees before the Blue Jays added a couple of insurance runs in the eighth inning, off Albert Abreu to increase their lead to 6-1 and secure the win.
- Left-hander Will Smith came in at a tied ballgame in the top of the ninth and surrendered the lead to the A’s, who sent out Jeurys Familia for the close. Jonathan Hernández, Brock Burke, José Leclerc, Chad Smith, and Zach Jackson all had scoreless appearances in what was at the time a tied affair.
- Remember that guy everyone was fading, well, Kenley Jansen notched another save as the Red Sox closer has yet to allow an earned run in 2023. The Red Sox jumped on Hoby Milner who couldn’t strand either of the inherited runners he got from Freddy Peralta, with two outs in the sixth inning. On the plus side, Bryse Wilson continues to be an intriguing bulk option, going two and a third, allowing one earned run on a single hit.
- After Griffin Jax undid a great outing from Tyler Mahle, surrendering the lead in the eighth inning, Washington was able to close out a tight game as Kyle Finnegan lowered his season ERA to 8.56, earning the save against the heart of the Twins order.
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
(Photos by Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Doug Carlin (@Bdougals on Twitter)