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
- All 30 MLB teams were scheduled to play yesterday, however, the Atlanta/Philadelphia game was rained out. One game, Boston vs. Minnesota, went to extra innings. Nine relievers recorded saves on Wednesday.
- The Nationals placed one of their key relievers, Carl Edwards Jr., on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. Mason Thompson could see more hold opportunities in his absence.
- Shelby Miller, who’s been surprisingly good for the Dodgers this season, also hit the IL, furthering the team’s bullpen woes.
Yesterday’s Performances
WSN 3 – STL 0
SV: Hunter Harvey (4)
HD: Kyle Finnegan (4), Mason Thompson (4)
- Kyle Finnegan was called upon with two out and two on in the seventh, replacing Mason Thompson. Thompson only faced three batters, retiring two, before departing. Finnegan stayed on and threw a scoreless eighth, though he did allow a walk and base hit. Both players earned holds.
- Hunter Harvey got the call to close the game out, which he did after allowing only a two-out single to Nolan Gorman. The save was Harvey’s fourth of the season and first in three weeks. However, that’s more recent than Finnegan, who hasn’t picked one up since May 27th. A committee in Washington could be in the works, but it doesn’t matter much, as the team has only four victories in June.
HOU 10 – NYM 8
SV: Ryan Pressly (14)
HD: Rafael Montero (5), Hector Neris (14), Bryan Abreu (11)
- Ryan Pressly earned his 14th save after retiring the Mets in order in the ninth inning of a high-scoring affair. Pressly struck out two of the three batters he faced and remains a high-end closer even though his opportunities have been more limited than expected this season.
- The Astros trotted out five relievers prior to Pressly, as Cristian Javier was only able to record seven outs. Montero, Neris, and Abreu covered the sixth, seventh, and eighth, respectively, and earned holds. Montero’s 2023 struggles continued as he allowed a two-run shot to Pete Alonso in his inning of work.
- Houston’s bullpen worked hard yesterday, but the team is off today, and they should all be ready to go on Friday.
TOR 6 – MIA 3
SV: Jordan Romano (22)
HD: Erik Swanson (19), Trevor Richards (4)
- Jordan Romano worked around a single and a walk to earn a relatively easy three-run save. It was Romano’s 22nd of the season, which is tied for the MLB lead with Emmanuel Clase.
- Meanwhile, Erik Swanson played fireman in the seventh. Starter Kevin Gausman ran into trouble, allowing the first three batters to reach base. Swanson relieved him with no outs, two on, one in, and Luis Arraez at the plate. No need to worry Blue Jays’ fans, though, as Arraez hit into a 6-4-3 double play. Jorge Soler grounded out to close the inning and the Marlins hope for a comeback. Swanson has been terrific this season, leading the league in holds.
- Romano and Swanson have pitched in back-to-back games, but the Jays are off today, which will likely make them available on Friday.
LAD 2 – LAA 0
SV: Evan Phillips (9)
HD: Yency Almonte (6), Alex Vesia (4), Ryan Brasier (2), Caleb Ferguson (10)
- In the most unlikely result of the day, the Dodgers’ bullpen, which had been struggling, shut out the Angels and defeated Shohei Ohtani. Seven relievers combined for the shutout, beginning with Brusdar Graterol and ending with Evan Phillips.
- Phillips could run away with the closer job for the Dodgers as he continues to dominate opposing hitters. Dave Roberts may continue to mix and match, but Phillips looks like the player to roster in L.A.’s pen. As the Dodgers are off today, he should be available on Friday despite closing out both games against the Angels this week.
SF 4 – SD 2
SV: Camilo Doval (20)
HD: Tyler Rogers (15)
- The Giants continued to roll, putting up four runs off Yu Darvish in the fifth inning and holding on for a two-run victory. Camilo Doval notched another save and has quietly been brilliant for San Francisco this season, posting a 1.87 ERA.
- Tyler Rogers earned his 15th hold despite giving up a run in the eighth. The run lifted his ERA to a still-stellar 1.77 on the season. Rogers has pitched in two straight and will likely be held out of today’s finale against San Diego.
The best of the rest…
- Scott McGough notched his fourth save of the year in the D-backs’ 5-1 victory over the Brewers. McGough hurled two scoreless innings in relief of Zac Gallen, who improved to 9-2. The save was McGough’s third in the past 10 days and it appears he’s heading the committee in Arizona’s bullpen.
- With Alexis Díaz unavailable after throwing 51 on Monday and Tuesday, Buck Farmer stepped in to close out the Rockies for his second save of the season. After retiring the first two batters, Farmer allowed a double to Randal Grichuk, which made things interesting. However, he got Jorge Alfaro to line out to end the contest.
- Tommy Kahnle relieved Michael King in the ninth and recorded the last two outs to earn his first save of the year. King got the call to start the inning, but Aaron Boone pulled him after two of the first three batters reached base. The decision to go with Kahnle was curious as Wandy Peralta should have been available, and perhaps Clay Holmes too, though he threw 21 pitches yesterday. Kahnle has only thrown seven and two-thirds innings this season and has yet to allow an earned run.
- Emmanuel Clase pitched around an infield single and a walk to earn his 22nd save of 2023. The Guardians came from behind, scoring twice in the bottom of the eighth, which allowed Clase to remain tied with Jordan Romano for the league lead. Clase has pitched in back-to-back contests and may not be available should a save opportunity arise today. Trevor Stephan, who has also thrown two days in a row but only tallied 18 pitches, or Eli Morgan, appear most likely to vulture a save if Clase is held out.
- Josh Sborz earned his eighth hold after getting the first four outs in relief of Martín Pérez, who won his seventh game. Sborz has rebounded this season after a rough 2022 to be arguably the best reliever in the Rangers’ pen. Will Smith did not earn the save despite recording the final two outs, as he didn’t pitch a full inning.
Bullpen Depth Charts
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)