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
- Every team was in action on Sunday and eight games are scheduled for Monday, with 14 clubs taking the day off.
- The Phillies are planning a bullpen day vs. the Diamondbacks on Monday, with Matt Strahm serving as the opener. Dylan Covey will presumably follow and throw the bulk innings.
- The Dodgers called up LHP Adam Kolarek from Triple-A, demoting Andre Jackson in the corresponding move. Kolarek, who last pitched for Oakland in 2022, posted a 2.18 ERA in 22 minor league appearances this year.
- The Angels called up RHP Jimmy Herget, with Gerardo Reyes taking his place on the Salt Lake Bees. Herget holds a 4.38 ERA in 12 appearances for the Angels this year; he should resume his middle-relief role.
- Cleveland activated RHP Cody Morris from the 60-day injured list. LHP Tim Herrin was sent down to make room on the roster.
- Tampa Bay recalled RHP Ryan Thompson from Triple-A, taking the place of Jose Lopez. Thompson has a 6.60 ERA in 15 innings pitched for the Rays this season.
- After one day in the bigs, Reds RHP Kevin Herget was sent down to make room for RHP Casey Legumina, whom Cincinnati activated from the 60-day IL.
Yesterday’s Performances
ARI 7 – DET 5
H: Jose Cisnero (6), Chasen Shreve (8), Alex Lange (2), Tyler Holton (2), Andrew Chafin (8)
SV: Scott McGough (2)
- Arizona stormed back with five runs in the last two innings to win this one, setting up Andrew Chafin and Scott McGough for their respective decisions. The D-Backs went with Chafin initially in the bottom of the 9th, then pivoted to McGough after a leadoff triple and a one-out walk. McGough was able to strike out Javy Baez and induce a game-ending grounder to strand the runners and pick up his first save since April 2.
- Detroit led 5-2 when Joey Wentz exited, but the D-Backs did not go quietly. Runners stood at the corners with two out in the 7th when they called upon closer Alex Lange to end the threat. He did so, but a pair of doubles in the 8th chased Lange from the game. Leading 5-3 in the 9th, Detroit went with Jason Foley, who allowed four hits and a walk en route to a blown save.
- For Lange, this makes three consecutive appearances with multiple hits and an earned run allowed. Considering his only real competition for the closer role is Foley, I wouldn’t worry just yet — but he is a volatile arm to rely on.
NYM 1 – PIT 2
H: Dauri Moreta (4)
SV: David Bednar (14)
- The Mets trailed from the 5th inning onward, despite a decent showing from Carlos Carrasco. Josh Walker, Drew Smith, and Brooks Raley combined for six Ks in 3+ innings and didn’t allow a run, but it wasn’t enough. Raley lowered his season ERA to 2.82 through 21 1/3 innings.
- For Pittsburgh, Mitch Keller was stellar once again. Once he was done, they turned to Dauri Moreta and David Bednar, who had little trouble slamming the door. Bednar did allow a one-out double, but he left Tommy Pham stranded on second to end the game. It was a nice bounce-back for Bednar after Friday’s performance.
MIN 6 – TOR 7
H: Griffin Jax (7)
SV: Jordan Romano (18)
- The Twins blew a 6-1 lead in this game, and there’s plenty of blame to go around. Louie Varland allowed three runs in the 5th before he was finally removed, Jovani Moran pitched a clean 6th, and Griffin Jax worked around some trouble in the 7th. Then the Jays went single, single, homer off Emilio Pagán in the 8th, and that was pretty much the ballgame.
- An uncharacteristically short outing from Kevin Gausman provided an opportunity for Nate Pearson to shine, and shine he did. After allowing a leadoff double and a wild pitch to start the 7th, he came back to strike out the next two batters swinging, escaped the inning, and then threw a perfect 8th with another K to boot. He ended up being credited with his fourth win thanks to the Blue Jays comeback, and Romano navigated a leadoff walk to nail down the save.
MIA 6 – CWS 5
SV: A.J. Puk (7)
- Each side technically blew a save in this one, starting with JT Chargois, who entered with a 1-0 lead in the 6th and promptly gave up three doubles to put the White Sox on top. Huascar Brazoban allowed two more on a Luis Robert homer in the 7th. But the Marlins came back with five runs in the 8th and 9th, setting up A.J. Puk for his seventh save after a perfect 9th. Puk has looked sharp since returning from the IL, firmly reestablishing himself as Miami’s closer with three scoreless appearances this week. He has worked in two straight though, so Dylan Floro could get a look in the 9th on Monday.
- Chicago lost Liam Hendriks to the injured list yesterday morning, and they miss him already. Keynan Middleton and Kendall Graveman made an absolute mess of their four-run lead, allowing a combined four homers in two innings to give the game away. It’s particularly concerning for Graveman, who hadn’t allowed a run (let alone a home run) since April. Chalk it up as a bad day, and hope there are better ones ahead for the White Sox new (and old) closer.
OAK 8 – MIL 6
H: Sam Moll (5), Lucas Erceg (2), Shintaro Fujinami (2), Richard Lovelady (4)
SV: Sam Long (2)
- Quite recently, the Oakland A’s went a full month without any player recording a save. They now have four — count ’em, four! — in the last five days. Ironically, this one wouldn’t have been possible without some particular ineptitude from Trevor May (you know, the guy who got two of those previous three saves). May took the mound in the 9th with an 8-3 lead on Sunday, and got the first two outs quickly, then allowed a walk or a hit to the next four batters. With the lead down to four, Oakland called upon Sam Long, who had just earned his second career save on Saturday, when May was unavailable. Two batters later, he had three of ’em in his pocket. Baseball?
- It was not a good day for Milwaukee setup man Peter Strzelecki, among others. Strez (can I call ya Strez, Strez?) looked good at first with two strikeouts in the 8th, but he gave free passes to the first two batters in the 9th and it went downhill from there (Oakland scored three runs). Outside of Devin Williams, this Brewers bullpen continues to produce a whole lot of huh?
CIN 4 – STL 3
H: Lucas Sims (7)
SV: Alexis Díaz (15)
- Alexis Díaz bounced back well after allowing his first home run of the year on Saturday, needing just 11 pitches to close out the Cardinals and grab his 15th save. He has clearly cemented himself as a top-five closer in the game this year. That said, both he and Sims have thrown back-to-backs this weekend, with roughly the same aggregate pitch count. Ian Gibaut also threw 20+ pitches on Sunday, so don’t go chasing him. Díaz is probably still the most likely to earn a save on Monday, assuming David Bell isn’t too worried about overworking his young fireballer.
- Jordan Hicks allowed the go-ahead run to score in the 8th, breaking a month-long scoreless stretch for the righty. It had taken him that long to get his ERA down below 4.00 for the first time, too. No good thing lasts forever.
BOS 3 – NYY 2 (10)
H: Nick Ramirez (1)
SV: Chris Martin (1)
- Kenley Jansen pitched in a 2-2 tie in the 9th, and that’s exactly where he kept it. Jansen needed only 10 pitches to retire the side. That left Chris Martin to take the hill in the bottom of the 10th, which was now a save situation since the Sox took the lead in the top half. Martin was impressive, striking out the last two batters with the ghost runner on third base to end the game. Martin has been a reliable high-leverage reliever for several years now, and he’s having another stellar season as Boston’s primary setup man.
- Boston eked across the tying run in the 8th off Michael King, who allowed just one hit but also walked two. Clay Holmes was effective in the 9th. Ron Marinaccio allowed the winning run in the 10th, but it was a ghost runner, so whaddyagonnado?
The Best of the Rest…
- Emmanuel Clase pitched in a non-save situation Sunday, helping the Guardians polish off the Astros 5-0. He struck out two, and didn’t allow a baserunner. With the day off Monday, the league’s saves leader should still be fully rested heading into a midweek series in San Diego.
- The Phillies used Gregory Soto, Seranthony Domínguez, José Alvarado, and Craig Kimbrel (in that order) to salt away a 7-3 win over the Dodgers. Soto (10) and Dominguez (9) each picked up holds before their lead was expanded further. With a bullpen game on Monday (Matt Strahm is opening) and no days off this week, this unit could become taxed.
- Meanwhile, the Dodgers used eight pitchers in as many innings Sunday, with Brusdar Graterol recording the last three outs. However, they do have Monday off, so that could explain Dave Roberts’ opting not to use a bulk reliever.
- The Nationals utilized both Hunter Harvey and Kyle Finnegan to close out a 6-2 win over the Braves. Finnegan drew the slightly more difficult assignment, which happened to come in the 8th inning.
- The Rays piggybacked Shane McClanahan with two clean innings from Colin Poche and Jason Adam to close out the Rangers with a four-run lead. Ho, hum.
- With Josh Hader unavailable, the Padres put their 9th-inning lead in the hands of Tom Cosgrove… and it did not go well. Ryan McMahon’s 442-foot tied the game on the third pitch of the inning, and a 90-minute rain delay immediately followed. When the skies cleared, Brent Honeywell Jr. entered the game, and Nolan Jones ended it with a 472-foot walk-off blast. When it rains, it pours?
- Chris Devenski (8) and Jose Soriano (3) picked up holds for scoreless innings in the Angels’ 9-4 win over the Mariners. Jimmy Herget, fresh from Triple-A, pitched a scoreless 9th.
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)