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
- Thursday’s slate featured a total of 10 games so many teams will be rested going into the weekend. In a strong day for pitching but not for saves and holds, four of the 10 games ended in shutouts. Only three games produced saves.
- In a big boost to San Diego’s bullpen, the Padres activated Robert Suarez on Thursday. He had a breakout season last year (5-1 with a 2.27 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 11.5 SO/9) and could potentially be in the mix for saves if the Padres trade Josh Hader before the trade deadline. He’s worth an add if he is floating on the waiver wire and you have some roster flexibility.
- The Orioles sent Austin Voth to the FCL Orioles on a rehab assignment. Voth is working his way back from elbow discomfort and has appeared in 23 games this season.
- The Phillies agreed to a minor league deal with RHP Shaun Anderson. Anderson hasn’t appeared in many games over the past few seasons but pitched for the Giants in 2019 and 2020.
- Kansas City activated Zach Greinke from the 15-day IL and in a corresponding move optioned Max Castillo to the minors. Castillo appeared in Wednesday’s game and pitched three innings of long relief.
Yesterday’s Performances
ARI 5 – ATL 7
SV: Raisel Iglesias (17)
- Kirby Yates earned the win and moved to 4-0 on the season as he pitched an inning of relief, despite allowing a solo home run to Corbin Carroll. Raisel Iglesias came in for the ninth inning and allowed a hit and walk but came away with the save for Atlanta, his 17th of the year. Ben Heller also pitched a scoreless inning for the Braves.
- For the Diamondbacks, Miguel Castro got the save chance but surrendered a three-run home run to Austin Riley as the Braves avoided a sweep with the victory. It was his third blown save of the season. He also scored the loss, falling to 5-4 with a 3.83 ERA on the season. Arizona’s closer situation seems to be up in the air at the moment, with Kevin Ginkel receiving the save chances on Tuesday and Wednesday over Scott McGough and Miguel Castro getting the nod on Thursday. This is one to monitor moving forward.
DET 3 – KC 0
HD: Tyler Holton (5)
SV: Jason Foley (4)
- Tyler Holton captured his fifth hold for Detroit with a perfect eighth-inning outing. He now sits at an impressive 1.78 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. Jason Foley locked down his fourth save a day after getting his 17th hold in the Tigers’ win over the Royals on Wednesday. He also has a noteworthy ERA and WHIP for the season and sits at a 2.13 ERA and 1.06 WHIP.
- The Royals started with Zach Greinke on the mound on Thursday, and as he was returning from injury, it was probably a planned short outing. After he departed after throwing four innings, the Royals rolled out a number of bullpen arms to finish out the game. As a whole, Austin Cox, Jonathan Heasley, Jose Cuas, and Nick Wittgren gave up only two hits over five innings, including one earned run. Wittgren pitched two shutout innings to close out the game.
MIN 0 – SEA 5
HD: Matt Brash (12)
- In an easy bullpen game for the Mariners, George Kirby twirled a gem on Thursday, going a strong seven innings and allowing four hits against 10 strikeouts. Matt Brash relieved Kirby in the eighth and earned his 12th hold with a scoreless inning. Paul Sewald pitched the ninth in a non-save outing.
- Jorge López allowed two hits and three earned runs in relief for the Twins. Lopez started off the season with a strong month of April but has been shaky recently. His season ERA is now 5.40 and his WHIP is 1.32.
BAL 4 – TB 3 (F/10)
No HD or SV
- In the Orioles victory over the Rays, there weren’t any saves or holds recorded but Yennier Cano blew his fourth save of the season. Ultimately, he was bailed out by his offense and his bullpen partner Félix Bautista. Bautista earned the win after pitching two scoreless innings of relief, striking out three and allowing no hits. He also appeared in Wednesday’s game so with Thursday’s long outing, he will be resting on Friday. His season ERA now sits below 1.00 (0.96) and his WHIP as well at 0.85. He’s been as automatic as a closer can be in 2023.
- On the Tampa Bay side, Jason Adam and Pete Fairbanks each pitched a scoreless inning and struck out two. Robert Stephenson then took over in the 10th inning and allowed the ghost runner Aaron Hicks to score on a sac fly and was tagged with the loss. Stephenson fell to 1-4 for Tampa Bay.
HOU 3 – OAK 1
HD: Bryan Abreu (17)
SV: Ryan Pressly (22)
- Bryan Abreu and Ryan Pressly pitched in relief for the Astros after starter J.P. France went seven innings. Abreu walked one and struck out two in the eighth inning to gather his 17th hold of the season. After giving up earned runs in his previous two outings, Ryan Pressly was back to normal as he closed the game out in the ninth inning. He struck out one to lock down his 22nd save. Pressly has a good shot at passing his career-high in saves set last season (33) as he continues to be the anchor in Houston’s bullpen. He also lowered his ERA to 2.91 with the scoreless outing.
- On the Oakland side, Freddy Tarnok pitched three innings after starter Hogan Harris left after six. He allowed one hit – an Alex Bregman solo shot. Tarnok also went multiple innings in his only other appearance this season on 7/15.
Best of the Rest
- Tim Mayza and Erik Swanson both earned holds in the Blue Jays’ 4-0 win over the Padres on Thursday. It was Mayza’s 13th hold of the season and Swanson is now up to 23 on the season. Jordan Romano pitched the ninth in a non-save appearance.
- Two of San Francisco’s less heralded arms carried the bullpen during the Giants’ 5-1 loss to the Reds. Jakob Junis went 2.2 innings in long relief for the Giants before being replaced by Mauricio Llovera, who threw a scoreless eighth. Not much help was needed from the Reds’ bullpen as Andrew Abbott pitched an eight-inning one-hitter and struck out six. Derek Law was the only other pitcher to appear for Cincinnati.
Bullpen Depth Charts
The Hold Up: Ranking the Top 100 Relievers for Holds Every Thursday
Not sure I would call Castro coming in for the bottom of the eighth a “save chance,” unless you were expecting him to go two innings.