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Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Rankings – 5/7/24 Depth Chart

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

Benjamin Haller
Fantasy 5/7/2024

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

 

  • There were only ten games on Monday and the following teams enjoyed a day to rest the bullpen: the Diamondbacks, Reds, Blue Jays, Orioles, Nationals, Astros, Yankees, Red Sox, Rockies, and Atlanta.
  • A promising option to stream a win: Buck Farmer is likely to piggyback returning starter Frankie Montas if the pitch count runs high for the Reds starter.

 

  • Lefty veteran Sam Hentges has been activated by the buoyant Guardians to add to their bullpen options. Hentges will likely slot into the middle innings and could notch a few holds for the team that keeps on winning. Peter Strzelecki was optioned in the consequential transaction.
  • The Rockies activated closer Justin Lawrence from the paternity list and he will be available right away. The Rockies are unlikely to pile on the save opportunities for the young arm, who has just one save so far in 2024. However, it is a notable transaction.
  • There were a number of relievers hitting the injured list that deserve mentions, including Joe Kelly (Dodgers), Giovanny Gallegos (Cardinals), Jacob Waguespack (Rays), and Dominic Leone (White Sox).

 

Yesterday’s Performances

 

DET 1 – CLE 2

W: Nick Sandlin (3-0)

HD: Hunter Gaddis (7)

SV: Emmanuel Clase (11)

  • Nine pitches, 11 saves, and a phenomenal 0.49 ERA and 0.71 WHIP for Emmanuel Clase, who continues to back up the Guardians’ excellent start to the season. The Cleveland closer has looked unshakeable this year and has now recorded three perfect outings in a row. Sensational.

 

MIL 2 – KCR 3

W: Nick Anderson (2-1)

HD: Will Smith (3), Tyler Duffey (1)

SV: Chris Stratton (2)

  • The Brewers threw a pitching gem from Bryse Wilson away after Jared Koenig allowed a solo homer to Michael Massey before hitting a batter, walking a batter, and then allowing back-t0-back hits to blow a two-run lead in the seventh inning.
  • Somewhat surprisingly Chris Stratton saw his first save opportunity since April 6 and only his third of the year. His last one was a five-run disaster so to be preferred to Will Smith was a shock. He wasn’t exactly convincing either but forced a double play after walking the first hitter he faced. Nick Anderson benefitted from the Brewers’ bullpen woes to steal a win.

 

SDP 6 – CHC 3

HD: Wandy Peralta (5), Jeremiah Estrada (1)

SV: Robert Suarez (11)

  • Another impressive five-out save from Robert Suarez ensured the Padres came away with the win to support returning starter Yu Darvish. Suarez struck out catcher Yan Gomes before retiring Nico Hoerner to escape a bases-loaded situation in the eighth before dominating in a clean ninth inning. Suarez is full of confidence and nailed on as the closer.
  • It all went wrong for the Cubs after returning talisman Justin Steele left the game in the fifth inning on his return from the injured list. Richard Lovelady allowed back-to-back-to-back singles and allowed a double steal before being pulled for Daniel Palencia, who then gave up two hits, a walk, and a double to Luis Campusano. A rough night for the Cubs pen.

 

SEA 1 – MIN 3

W: Griffin Jax (3-2)

HD: Jhoan Duran (2)

SV: Caleb Thielbar (3)

  • A nice night for the Twins bullpen as all three big names recorded useful stats. Griffin Jax needed 31 pitches but picked up a win despite giving up two hits and a walk to allow a sacrifice fly to tie the game in the seventh inning. Closer Jhoan Duran was again employed in the eighth inning, the same as this time last week. He picked up his second hold as he made light work of the top of the Mariners order. Veteran Caleb Thielbar struck out Mitch Garver and Cal Raleigh to earn his third save of the season. Everything is gold in Minnesota right now.

 

NYM 4 – STL 3

L: Andrew Kittredge (0-1)

HD: Jake Diekman (3), Adam Ottavino (5)

SV: Edwin Diaz (5)

  • A bounce-back performance from Edwin Diaz, who blew his first save opportunity over the weekend but answered back with a clean ninth inning in which he retired all three batters he faced on just 11 pitches. Veteran Adam Ottavino continues to impress with his 2.70 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and 22 strikeouts across 15.1 frames.
  • A solo home run from Brandon Nimmo off Andrew Kittredge was the first earned run the reliever had been charged with since March. Kittredge should still be a source of holds after notching 10 so far this season behind a 1.20 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 15:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 15 innings.

 

TEX 4 – OAK 2

W: José Leclerc (3-2)

L: Lucas Erceg (1-2)

HD: David Robertson (11)

SV: Kirby Yates (6)

  • Kirby Yates was lucky to get away with a clean inning after allowing a baserunner and then watching as a brilliant line drive catch was taken at first base resulting in a double play to end the game. Yates and David Robertson have pitched on back-to-back nights so expect José Leclerc or Josh Sborz to see an opportunity if one arises today. Leclerc set the franchise record for strikeouts by a reliever in this game, nice!
  • After feeling unlucky with a few close calls that resulted in baserunners, Lucas Erceg hung his head when Cory Seager took him deep in the eighth inning with a three-run blast to center field. Erceg has been outstanding for the A’s this season with 22 strikeouts in 15 frames so we hope this is just a bit of bad luck.

 

The best of the rest…

  • Alex Vesia notched his first save of the season after Evan Phillips hit the injured list on Sunday. Blake Treinen pitched a clean eighth and Daniel Hudson was not used. Vesia is in line to see more of these opportunities after boasting a 1.56 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a 20:12 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 17.1 innings.
  • Zach Wheeler was electric through seven scoreless frames allowing the Phillies bullpen a quiet night in the 6-1 win – Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering threw scoreless single frames in support. The Giants needed multiple innings from the bullpen after starter Mason Black couldn’t get out of the fifth inning.
  • Take a bow, Mitch Keller. The Pirates stalwart pitched a complete game allowing just one run on five hits. The Angels also got a solid outing from Tyler Anderson in the 4-1 defeat. Hunter Strickland was the only reliever used in the game.
  • Erasmo Ramírez picked up the win for the Rays after three innings of relief after Tyler Alexander struck out seven over four frames. Recently recalled Edwin Uceta finished up the 8-2 blowout of the hapless White Sox with two scoreless frames.

 

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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