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 played last night with one extra innings affair (WSH v SEA) and eight successfully converted saves.
- The Diamondbacks recalled RP Kevin Ginkel from the minors. Ginkel immediately provided bullpen depth by pitching a clean 8th inning with a strikeout to hold a four-run lead.
Yesterday’s Performances
CIN 3 – BAL 1
SV: Alexis Díaz (22)
HD: Lucas Sims (12); Buck Farmer (6)
- In support of rookie pitcher Andrew Abbott’s stellar performance, the Reds bullpen delivered three clean innings to secure the victory for one of MLB’s most electric teams.
- Buck Farmer seems to have solidified a back-end bullpen role as of late—earning a Save+Hold in four of the last seven games. For a surging Reds team, there might be some potential value to be found in this developing role.
- Alexis Díaz remained perfect on the season for save opportunities after converting his 22nd of the year. The 9th inning was a bit bumpy with a walk and an HPB, but Diaz induced a lineout of Austin Hays to finish the job.
SFG 3 – TOR 0
SV: Camilo Doval (23)
HD: Tyler Rogers (17)
- Tyler Rogers pitched 1.2 IP with four strikeouts to hold the Giants’ lead. Rogers now leads the NL in holds with 17 and trails only Erik Swanson & Yennier Cano for the MLB lead.
- Camilo Doval secured the final four outs—including three strikeouts in the 9th—to earn his 22nd save on the year. Doval has converted three saves in the past five days.
HOU 2 – STL 4
SV: Jordan Hicks (5)
HD: Giovanny Gallegos (9)
- Jordan Hicks continued his triumphant return as the St. Louis Cardinals closer with a clean 9th inning. Since June 17th, Hicks has accumulated five saves for a Cardinals team that had previously been struggling. It will be interesting to see how this situation shakes out upon Ryan Helsley’s return, but there is a real chance that Hicks could run away with this gig.
CHW 2 – LAA 4
SV: Carlos Estévez (20)
HD: Jacob Webb (5); Chris Devenski (10)
- Carlos Estévez has been walking a tightrope lately. The theme continued last night as Estévez allowed four hits and an earned run before inducing a game-ending, Elvis Andrus-fueled double play to clinch the save and victory. Estévez is still a perfect 20-for-20 for save chances this year, so it’s odd to think that he could somehow relinquish the role, but his outings as of late have just been tenuous.
- Meanwhile, Jacob Webb has done reasonably well as he was recently thrust into the mix for some holds chances. Unfortunately, Webb walks too many batters (11 B%) and lacks the K rate (26 K%) to be a real difference maker as a speculative add, so it is safe to ignore the recent usage pattern.
NYY 1 – OAK 2
SV: Sam Moll (1)
HD: Lucas Erceg (3); Trevor May (1)
- We had a double dose of firsts for the Oakland bullpen last night! Trevor May was deployed in the 8th inning and earned his first hold of the season. Meanwhile, Sam Moll got the call to close out the game. Moll made things interesting by allowing two hits but ultimately closed the door by striking out Kyle Higashioka to earn his first save of the year. Wading out into the A’s bullpen waters is dangerous swimming—speculate in only the direst situations.
Best of the Rest
- Roansy Contreras earned the unorthodox 3 IP save following a Rich Hill start. Since getting obliterated and being moved to the bullpen, Contreras has had some better results over his last six appearances—accumulating a 1.23 ERA with an almost-palatable 18.5 K-BB%.
- Emmanuel Clase pitched a clean inning for the Guardians and picked up his 24th save.
- With a comfortable lead, the Dodgers opted for Phil Bickford in the 9th who—in between two strikeouts—promptly walked the bases loaded, giving way to Evan Phillips who got the final out for his 11th save.
- Entering the game for the Mariners in the 8th inning, Paul Sewald blew a one-run lead and his chance at a hold. This was Sewald’s first appearance in the 8th inning in nearly a month and only his 4th such appearance all season. Much of this usage pattern was due to Andrés Muñoz’s absence and, with him back in the fold, it remains to be seen how the save opportunities will be distributed.
Bullpen Depth Charts
The Hold Up: Ranking the Top 100 Relievers for Holds Every Thursday