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 16 games on Saturday as the Yankees and Cardinals took part in a doubleheader. Every team will be in action again on Sunday.
- The San Diego Padres activated Tom Cosgrove from the 15-day IL. He missed time with a strained left hamstring. Prior to the injury, he allowed just one run across his first 18 career innings pitched. He’ll slot in as a holds option on the chart.
Yesterday’s Performances
NYY 6 – STL 2 (Game 2)
H: Wandy Peralta (10), Tommy Kahnle (4)
- The Yankees went with a bullpen game in the second half of their doubleheader. It ended with Clay Holmes finishing off a win with a hitless ninth up by four. However, the standout reliever that appeared was Tommy Kahnle. In 11.2 innings so far this year, he’s looked unhittable. He has yet to surrender a run and is striking out more than 30% of batters while walking batters less than 5% of the time. It’s all thanks to what may be the best changeup going right now. He throws the pitch 80% of the time, the most among changeups in baseball. The pitch has turned in a 36.7% CSW to go with an 88th percentile PLV. While Kahnle has a feel for the offspeed pitch, he’ll continue to soar.
- After an early demotion, Andre Pallante returned to the minors on May 9th. Since then he has produced a 2.53 ERA (21.1 IP) and has recorded seven holds. The right-hander currently leads the Majors in ground ball rate (74.7%) and is quickly becoming one of the most reliable options in the St. Louis bullpen.
BOS 7 – TOR 6
SV: Kenley Jansen (17)
- Kenley Jansen worked around a run in a four-out appearance to record his 17th save of the season. It’s been a streaky season for the future Hall of Famer, and despite recording the save on Saturday, he’s in the middle of a cold streak. He’s surrendered a run in each of his last three outings. That’s coming off a stretch during which he gave up just two runs across 13 innings. The volatility will be something fantasy managers will have to contend with all year, but as a closer for a .500 team, he’s a must-roster regardless.
- Eight runs in appearances on back-to-back days have really inflated Nate Pearson’s numbers. If you remove those two outings, the young righty has a 1.69 ERA (26.2 IP) and a 22.2% K-BB%. Those are elite numbers and are more indicative of Pearson’s true talent level than his current surface-level metrics would suggest.
MIN 1 – BAL 0
H: Griffin Jax (11)
SV: Jhoan Duran (12)
- Jhoan Duran’s follow-up to his electric rookie campaign may feel underwhelming, but that’s underselling how well he’s pitched this year. Duran posted a 1.86 ERA (67.2 IP) and a 0.98 WHIP with a 33.5% K% in 2022. This year, he owns a 1.41 ERA (32 IP) and a 0.94 WHIP with a 34.1% K%, all better numbers across the board. The one difference is a 5.4% jump in his walk rate which has been offset somewhat by an increase in his fastball velocity (+1 mph) and his ground ball rate (+9%). While 12 saves is low for someone so elite on a first place team, you’ve got to be ecstatic with the way Duran has pitched this year. He’s set to be one of the best closers in baseball for a long time.
- Is it time to talk about Yennier Cano again? The right-hander leads pitchers with at least 40 innings pitched in ERA (1.12, 40.1 IP). However, he may not be able to keep this up without the swing and miss that was essential to his game during his season-opening scoreless streak. Since that scoreless streak ended, he’s struck out just 14.6% of batters and owns a 1.61 WHIP. I’d be wary of holding onto him too long, regression will hit him sooner or later.
CHW 6 – OAK 7
- Kendall Graveman pitched the 10th in a tie game and allowed the zombie runner to score and walk things off. He was tagged with his fourth loss and has now pitched in three of the last four days. Reynaldo López could see the ninth in a save situation today. Gregory Santos finished the starter’s sixth on Saturday and continued his strong Chicago debut. He currently sports a 2.59 ERA (41.2 IP) and has a very Brusdar Graterol-esque 23.3% K% to go with a 99 mph sinker and a 57.4% ground ball rate. Despite the blazing heater, his slider actually grades out as his best pitch and is considered in the Top 2% of sliders according to PLV. At just 23 years old, Santos has a bright future ahead of him.
- Trevor May shut down the White Sox in a tie game in the ninth to set his team up for a walk-off in extras. He has pitched on consecutive days, meaning Sam Moll could be the interim closer on Sunday. Shintaro Fujinami was the benefactor, as he took home the win following a perfect 10th. It’d be great to see Fujinami figure things out stateside because his stuff is so electric. He may be turning a corner. Prior to his last seven outings, he struggled to an 11.12 ERA (34 IP) with a 34/29 K/BB. In his last seven outings, he’s been able to control his pitches, producing a 3.24 ERA (8.1 IP) with a 9/1 K/BB ratio. He could be the closer in the second half if May is dealt, but on the worst team in baseball, it may not be actionable in fantasy.
ARI 3 – LAA 1
H: Andrew Chafin (11)
SV: Scott McGough (7)
- It’s pretty clear that Scott McGough now has sole possession of the closer role in Arizona. He’s recorded five saves in the past two weeks and since mid-April has pitched to a 2.11 ERA (38.1 IP) and has struck out 31.1% of the batters he’s faced. He just needed some time to acclimate to the majors and get a feel for his splitter before he really got going. The Diamondbacks are a first place team, so McGough’s fantasy value is pretty darn high.
- The ninth overall pick in 2021, Sam Bachman has been eased into the majors by pitching out of the bullpen. It has gone well thus far as despite giving two runs (one earned) on Saturday, he still owns a 2.35 ERA (15.1 P). His calling card thus far has been his ability to induce grounders. His 67.4% ground ball rate places him 11th among relievers and in the 97th percentile. He’ll need to find a strikeout pitch, but at just 23 years old, he’s got a good base from which to build.
Best of the Rest
- Will Smith needed just three pitchers to secure the final out for the Rangers. He was called upon after Joe Barlow failed to finish off the game with a five-run lead.
- With Devin Williams resting for the second straight day after heavy usage during the week, Joel Payamps vultured his second save of the season.
- Adam Ottavino vultured his sixth save while David Robertson rested after having pitched on back-to-back days.
- Scott Barlow secured save number 10 by recording the final four outs for the Royals. With Aroldis Chapman gone, he has little competition, but it’ll be interesting to see if he’s also on the move this month.
- Paul Sewald utilized just 17 pitches to get five outs to record his 15th save of the season. Two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth made it a smooth and stress-free outing.
- After pitching the ninth in a tie ballgame, Alex Lange went back out for the 10th, this time with a newfound lead. He worked around the zombie runner crossing home to earn his fifth win.
Bullpen Depth Charts
The Hold Up: Ranking the Top 100 Relievers for Holds Every Thursday