Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Rankings – 5/02/23 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!

 

Transaction and Schedule Notes

 

• ATL and NYM played a doubleheader on Monday but there were only six other games across MLB. Teams that had a scheduled day off were: TBR, BAL, MIN, DET, CWS, TEX, HOU, SEA, LAA, OAK, MIA, PIT, MIL, STL, ARI, and COL. Those teams will boast fresh bullpens going into Tuesday’s games.
• The New York Mets got a little help back to the bullpen with Stephen Nogosek returning from the 15-day IL. The Padres also got immediate help from Domingo Tapia, who was recalled from Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas and picked up his first save of the season thanks to two scoreless innings in a win over the Guardians.

ATL 9 – NYM 8 (Game 1)
SV: A.J. Minter (6)

• It’s been a tough run for Atlanta closer A.J. Minter, who gave up another home run but still picked up the save in the first game of the doubleheader against the Mets. Minter remains the best option in the bullpen but Nick Anderson impressed again with a clean eighth inning with two strikeouts.
• The Mets deployed a bullpen strategy in this one using five low-leverage relievers including recently recalled Stephen Nogosek and John Curtiss for multiple innings.

 

ATL 3 – NYM 5 (Game 2)
SV: David Robertson (6)

• Michael Tonkin could not clear up a mess left by starter Charlie Morton, who left in the bottom of the sixth with only one out and two men on after back-to-back walks. Tonkin retired Brett Baty before allowing a two-run double to Francisco Álvarez which gave the Mets the lead, tagging Morton with the loss and he with the blown save.
• After a solid start from Tylor Megill, Drew Smith picked up his second win of the season thanks to the Mets’ resurgence in the top of the sixth. Smith worked Megill out of a jam before returning for a clean seventh frame. David Robertson then spun two impressive innings to pick up his sixth save of the year.

 

CLE 3 – NYY 2
SV: Emmanuel Clase (10)

• After a blip in extra innings at the weekend, Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase returned to form with a perfect ninth inning in which he struck out Aaron Hicks to end the contest. Clase is 9-for-11 in save chances with a 1.88 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 8:4 K:BB over his 14.1 innings and remains an elite option in the ninth inning. It was Enyel De Los Santos who picked up the win after getting two outs in the eighth in relief of Cal Quantrill, who was impressive in his start.
• It was a complete disaster for Clay Holmes and the Yankees in this one – the men in pinstripes went into the top of the ninth with a shutout on the cards only to fall behind after Holmes messed up a come-backer and was charged with an error to allow Amed Rosario to reach base before two singles saw the Guardians draw level. Wandy Peralta took over only to walk two batters and in doing so walk in what turned out to be the winning run. Pain!

 

CIN 3 – SDP 8
SV: Domingo Tapia (2)

• The only bright spot for the Reds here was the emergence of young Casey Legumina as a serious option in the bullpen. Legumina is fresh off his first MLB win a couple of days ago and pitched another two scoreless innings here with three strikeouts. Eyes on this arm.
• As previously noted, Domingo Tapia returned to the Padres and threw two scoreless innings to pick up his second save of the year. Tapia came into the game with a three-run lead in the eighth and made easy work of the Padres lineup. He was equally impressive in the ninth after the Padres added a couple of insurance runs. Tapia could be a sneaky option in San Diego if Steven Wilson’s struggles were to exacerbate.

 

CHC 5 – WSN 1

• The Cubs continue to roll with the bullpen solid (no Michael Fulmer, haha) as Mark Leiter Jr. picked up his seventh hold of the season. Brad Boxberger handled the ninth inning in a non-save situation.
• Unheralded relievers Cory Abbott and Thaddeus Ward both threw two innings to rest up the back of the bullpen as the game got away from the beleaguered Nationals.

 

TOR 5 – BOS 6

• Jordan Romano was tagged with his second loss of the season after “Mr. Walk Off” Alex Verdugo hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth to give the Red Sox the win in an entertaining AL East battle. The lead changed hands four times in this one before Verdugo settled it with a no-doubter. Nate Pearson fired two scoreless innings prior to Romano taking over in the ninth in a tied game.
• Josh Winckowski was tagged with a blown save after not one but two fielding errors at short by Kiké Hernández allowed the Blue Jays back into the contest in the eighth inning. However, manager Alex Cora showed faith in the promising bulk reliever and sent him back out in the ninth. In doing so he picked up his second win of the season thanks to Verdugo’s walk-off.

 

SFG 3 – HOU 7

• Sean Hjelle imploded in the seventh inning when asked to preserve the tied game – the erratic reliever allowed five runs on three hits with three walks, one intentional as the Giants threw this opportunity away. Hjelle also hit Yordan Alvarez and threw a wild pitch to allow runners to advance 90 feet. Hjelle now displays an ugly 10.13 ERA with a 2.33 WHIP. Ouch!
• Ryne Stanek was the pitcher of record after the Astros piled on five runs in the bottom of the seventh. Stanek now has two wins over the season to go with a 3.60 ERA with eight strikeouts but an ugly seven walks. He is not a reliable option currently with a couple of more fancied names ahead of him in the pecking order.

 

PHI 4 – LAD 13

• The Dodgers scored in every inning apart from the sixth as they jumped on Phillies’ pitching all night. Starter Tajiuan Walker could not get out of the fourth inning after being hit hard to the tune of eight runs on eight hits with three walks and three homers against him. Yikes! Craig Kimbrel was rolled out onto the mound with a huge deficit and gave up two runs on a Mookie Betts home run. He’s a long way from save opportunities right now.
• Victor González remained perfect on the year to earn his first win of the season – the young lefty allowed just one hit but struck out two across one and one-third innings to take the victory.

 

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)