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Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Rankings – 5/21/24 Depth Chart

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

Benjamin Haller
Fantasy 5/21/2024

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

 

  • 22 teams were in action on Monday with the Padres and Atlanta playing a doubleheader. Fresh bullpens going into tomorrow for the following teams: the Athletics, Reds, Rangers, Phillies, Giants, Pirates, Cubs, and the Rockies.
  • Not a transaction but a worthy announcement is that the Mets are demoting Edwin Diaz from the closer role for the near future. The Mets are going with a “fluid” approach to the ninth inning with veteran Adam Ottavino and bright new thing Reed Garrett looking to make the most of the opportunity.

 

  • The Yankees placed reliable reliever Ian Hamilton on the injured list and designated Colby White for assignment. Lefty Clayton Andrews was recalled from Triple-A to fill out the bullpen. Expect Luke Weaver to immediately step into a high leverage role for holds.
  • The Royals switched up lefties in the bullpen by optioning Jake Brentz to Triple-A and calling up Sam Long from the Omaha Storm Chasers.
  • The Mets traded Yohan Ramírez to the Dodgers for cash considerations after waiving him earlier in the week. Ramirez was also waived by the Orioles this season and supports an ugly 6.91 ERA in 14 and a third innings.

 

Yesterday’s Performances

 

SDP 6 – ATL 5

W: Jhony Brito (1-2)

L: Joe Jiménez (1-1)

SV: Robert Suarez (1)

HD: Jeremiah Estrada (2)

  • After the Padres offense fought back from a 5-0 deficit to score four in the eighth inning to take the lead. Closer Robert Suarez made light work of the ninth needing just seven pitches to send Atlanta down in order. Suarez is a perfect 13-for-13 on save opportunities and boasts a 0.44 ERA and 0.64 WHIP along with an 18:4 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
  • Joe Jiménez allowed two walks and two hits before Manny Machado blasted a two-run double to hand him the loss. Jiménez had been fantastic for Atlanta this season but this was a bad night at the office.

 

SDP 0 – ATL 3

SV: Raisel Iglesias (11)

HD: Pierce Johnson (4)

  • Pierce Johnson and Raisel Iglesias both threw perfect frames to close out a phenomenal Chris Sale performance to ensure Atlanta split the doubleheader. Iglesias has only 12 strikeouts in 19 innings this season but he’s firmly entrenched as the closer with 11 saves in 13 chances.

 

ARI 4 – LAD 6

SV: Daniel Hudson (3)

  • A Freddie Freeman grand slam put the Dodgers in full control before Elieser Hernández gave up two solo homers in the eighth inning to bring about a save situation. Daniel Hudson struck out Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte in style to earn his third save. Hudson is the Dodgers’ best option in the ninth and now has a strong 2.70 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and 22:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio with three saves and eight holds this season.

 

LAA 9 – HOU 7

SV: Carlos Estévez (7)

HD: Hunter Strickland (2), Adam Cimber (7)

  • After both starters were knocked around to the tune of 14 runs on five homers, the bullpens were forced into important work. José Suarez picked up the win with two solid frames before Carlos Estévez gave up two hits and a walk but managed to get the key out of the on-fire Alex Bregman to end the contest. Estevez remains the fantasy closer nobody wants but he does hold value.

 

BAL 3 – STL 6

SV: Ryan Helsley (14)

HD: John King (2), Andrew Kittredge (13), JoJo Romero (16)

  • Stretching his scoreless streak to ten frames, Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley was perfect across the ninth inning to pick up his 14th save of the year. A prime trade candidate if things go south for the Cardinals again, Helsley has been electric in the ninth for St. Louis. He has a terrific 1.29 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 23:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 21 innings. He has just one blown save.

 

DET 3 – KCR 8

SV: Chris Stratton (3)

  • After the Tigers loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth inning, Chris Stratton entered with the tying run on deck to make it a save situation. He forced a ground ball from Spencer Torkelson to end the threat before pitching a clean ninth and picking up his third save of the year. He remains the main setup option for James McArthur.

 

SEA 5 – NYY 4

L: Clay Holmes (1-1)

SV: Andrés Muñoz (9)

  • Entering with a four-run lead in the top of the ninth, Clay Holmes looked on track with an easy first out before it all fell apart for the first time this season. Holmes allowed three hits in between two walks and was charged with his first loss of the season. He was removed with just two outs in the ninth as Caleb Ferguson extinguished the fire.
  • After a one-out single from Juan Soto gave the Yankees some hope in the ninth, Andrés Muñoz answered back with a strikeout of Aaron Judge before Alex Verdugo grounded out to earn the Mariners closer his ninth save of the year and seventh straight in opportunities. Muñoz has been dealing of late if it was not for a few situational appearances, he’d have a few more saves in his bank too. He now has 17 strikeouts and just one walk in his last 13 frames. Elite!

 

NYM 1 – CLE 3

SV: Emmanuel Clase (14)

HD: Cade Smith (5), Scott Barlow (11), Nick Sandlin (4)

  • In what is becoming a monumental start to the season for Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase, he added yet another scoreless outing to boast just one earned run to his name throughout 2024. Clase did not record a strikeout but expertly worked through the Mets lower order to win his 14th save of the campaign. He can do no wrong right now. The emergence of Cade Smith continues as the rookie arm earned his fifth hold of the year as he assumed setup duties in front of Scott Barlow. Smith struck out two to now reach 30 strikeouts across his 19 appearances in his full debut year.

 

The best of the rest…

  • The Blue Jays got some much-needed confidence in the lineup by shedding the White Sox bullpen for four runs after also piling on Erick Fedde. Yimi García notched his eighth save of the season with a perfect seventh inning with two strikeouts.
  • Two solid frames from Derek Law and a scoreless frame from Dylan Floro saw the Nationals home with the offense doing the damage against Pablo López, who shipped seven earned runs and gave up two long balls in a 12-3 loss.
  • The Red Sox held the stuttering Rays to just three hits and a walk in a 5-0 shutout. Breakout reliever Justin Slaten struck out three in two impressive frames after Tanner Houck spun seven phenomenal innings.
  • The Brewers vs Marlins went to extra innings after being tied 2-2 after nine innings. The Brewers used seven relievers after starter Joe Ross was removed with back tightness in the second inning. Tanner Scott picked up the win after a clean top of the inning before Mitch White gave up a hit after intentionally walking two Marlins to get to Josh Bell, who delivered the walk-off single.

 

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

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