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
- A full slate of 15 games was played on Saturday and we’ll see the same on Sunday.
- The Mariners placed RHP Penn Murfee on the 15-day injured list retroactive to May 4, 2023 with right elbow inflammation.
- The Cubs sent RHP Codi Heuer on a rehab assignment to AAA Iowa.
- The Twins recalled RHP Jorge Alcala from AAA St. Paul.
- The Mariners recalled RHP Juan Then from AA Arkansas.
DET 6 – STL 5
W: José Cisnero (2)
L: Giovanny Gallegos (2)
H: Génesis Cabrera (2), Drew VerHagen (4)
BS: Chris Stratton (1)
- It’s been a rough week for Giovanny Gallegos, as he’s allowed 4 runs (3 earned) over 8 hits and 3.2 innings to begin the month. I think his high-leverage role is safe for now, but let’s hope he can bounce back next week.
MIA 2 – CHC 4
W: Keegan Thompson (2)
L: A.J. Puk (1)
H: Tanner Scott (3), Huascar Brazoban (5)
SV: Adbert Alzolay (1)
BS: A.J. Puk (1)
- Adbert Alzolay recorded his first save of the season, and I’d imagine it won’t be his last. Even with Michael Fulmer pitching better as of late, an Alzolay/Mark Leiter Jr. matchup-based committee could make sense for the Cubs moving forward.
- On the other side, A.J. Puk struggled again, allowing 3 hits, 3 runs (2 earned) while getting just one out. That’s now back-to-back outings allowing 2+ runs, and I think we can start talking about him potentially being on the hot seat. Huascar Brazoban (who worked the 8th in this one) could be a really interesting speculative add right about now…
COL 5 – NYM 2
H: Jake Bird (1)
SV: Pierce Johnson (5)
- Pierce Johnson picked up his 5th save of the season yesterday, with the storyline here for me being that Daniel Bard did not pitch in this game at all, despite last pitching on Wednesday. At this point, I think it’s safe to drop Bard in all leagues.
NYY 3 – TB 2
W: Ron Marinaccio (1)
L: Kevin Kelly (1)
H: Clay Holmes (1), Jalen Beeks (2), Ryan Thompson (3)
SV: Ian Hamilton (1)
BS: Kevin Kelly (1)
- The Yankees scored all three of their runs in the eighth inning in their come-from-behind win over the Rays. We saw Clay Holmes pick up his first hold of the season as he worked the eighth inning while Ian Hamilton was surprisingly called on to close out the game. I still see the closer role as Michael King’s to lose right now, but until the team is comfortable with him working back-to-back days, I’m sure we’ll see a few different names picking up saves here and there.
OAK 5 – KC 4
H: Rico Garcia (1), Richard Lovelady (2), Sam Moll (4)
SV: Zach Jackson (1)
- Zach Jackson earned his first save of the season and should be the favorite for them here moving forward. I still don’t think you need to go and add him outside of the deepest of leagues, but I do think he’s the best reliever in this bullpen and shouldn’t totally decimate your ratios.
BOS 7 – PHI 4
H: Josh Winckowski (4)
SV: Kenley Jansen (8)
- It’s good to see Kenley Jansen able to work on back-to-back days after missing close to a week and also great to see his velocity wasn’t affected last night as well. There’s some health concern/risk with Jansen but as long as he’s able to pitch, he’s a no doubt top 10 closer option right now. It’s also interesting to see Josh Winckowski pick up his 4th hold, as he is looking like the clear-cut top setup option in this bullpen at the moment.
BAL 4 – ATL 5
W: A.J. Minter (2)
L: Danny Coulombe (1)
H: Colin Poche (4), Bryan Baker (8), Cionel Pérez (6)
SV: Raisel Iglesias (1)
BS: Nick Anderson (1), Danny Coulombe (2)
- It’s great to see Raisel Iglesias back in action, jumping right into the closer role and working a perfect ninth while adding two strikeouts. If he’s available anywhere, go pick him up now. A.J. Minter will slide back into a setup role, and while it’s been a complicated season for him so far, I still think he’s worth holding on to in leagues that count holds.
WAS 7 – ARZ 8
W: Miguel Castro (1)
L: Kyle Finnegan (2)
H: Kyle Nelson (1)
SV: Jason Adam (3)
BS: Andrew Chafin (2), Kyle Finnegan (2)
- We’ll start with Arizona, where Andrew Chafin melted down in the ninth inning last night, allowing 4 hits and 3 earned runs while not getting an out. To be fair, he shouldn’t have needed to enter the game if Scott McGough didn’t allow two runs himself to start the inning, but the fact Chafin couldn’t get the last out of the game is certainly frustrating. Miguel Castro eventually came in and got the last out in the inning, and we may see him get the next save chance here.
- Just when I thought Kyle Finnegan may be turning things around, he goes out and walks three hitters and allows a home run to blow a save. Again though, I’ll place the same caveat as with Chafin in that he likely wasn’t expecting to pitch in this game. Still, you have to wonder when the team will give Hunter Harvey a chance to close out games.
LAD 2 – SD 1
H: Caleb Ferguson (6), Brusdar Graterol (3)
SV: Evan Phillips (4)
- Evan Phillips picked up his fourth save of the season last night, impressively striking out the side and we got a clear look at the late-inning pecking order for the Dodgers bullpen with Brusdar Graterol working the 8th and Caleb Ferguson the 7th.
DET 6 – STL 5
W: Tyler Saucedo (1)
L: Rafael Montero (1)
H: Phil Maton (1), Hector Neris (3)
BS: Rafael Montero (2)
- Rafael Montero allowed 3 hits and 4 earned runs while getting just two outs in the eighth inning last night, with Ryne Stanek coming in to get the last out and proceeding to allow 4 hits and 3 earned runs himself before finally ending the inning. Stanek is far down the depth chart here, but the outing could shift Montero’s future usage, as the team has better options in Bryan Abreu, Phil Maton, and Hector Neris.
- Paul Sewald wound up having to pitch the ninth following the Mariners 7 run eighth, and was a little shaky in allowing three hits and two runs, but was ultimately able to hold on and finish the game.
Best of the Rest
- Emmanuel Clase picked up his 11th save of the season, working a clean ninth and adding a strikeout. It was also great to see Sam Hentges pick up his first hold of the season, as he should be on your radar in holds leagues.
- Alexis Díaz continues his impressive season, picking up his 6th save of the season, although it came with no strikeouts marking the first time he’s gotten an out in a game this year without striking anyone out.
- Camilo Doval added another save Saturday, making that 4 saves in 5 days, and will almost assuredly be off today, leaving Taylor Rogers as a potential closer for the day.
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