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Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Rankings – 7/23/24 Depth Chart

Breakdowns of key bullpen usage from yesterday's slate of games.

Scott McDermott
Fantasy 7/24/2024

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

 

Transactions and Schedule

 

  • All 30 MLB teams were on the docket Tuesday, but rain would be a factor and postpone the Reds and Braves.  The two teams will partake in a split-doubleheader on Wednesday.
  • Speaking of Wednesday, all teams are back in action (plus the double-bill above) but check your schedule as day games abound.
  • Dealing with altitude-related heart issues in previous visits to Coors Field, Red Sox closer did not make the trip to Colorado and will not make an appearance until at least Friday.
  • The Mets placed first-year starter Christian Scott on the 15-day IL with an elbow sprain, recalling LHP Alex Young.  Young started the year in Cincy but was released in early July, then claimed by the Giants.  They released him last week without an MLB appearance and was signed by the Mets.  Young has only pitched in two games all year but had 63 appearances in 2023 with a 1.36 WHIP and 3.86 ERA.  He figures to be in a low-leverage, situational role.

 

Yesterday’s Performances

 

STL 2 – PIT 1

W: Ryan Fernandez (2-1)

L: Paul Skenes (6-1)

BS: Jojo Romero (5)

HD: John King (6), Andrew Kittredge (27)

  • Who needs a reliever when you have Paul Skenes?  For the first time this season the Pirates let Skenes work into the ninth, as he was sitting at just over ninety pitches through eight and trucking.  He’d retired the last twelve in a row but found trouble in the ninth with the game tied at one.
  • Number-nine hitter Michael Siani started it off by squeezing a double on a hard grounder down the line.  Masyn Winn was able to push him to third on a ball to the right side before Alec Burleson came to the plate.
  • The Pirates kept Skenes in against Burleson and that turned out to be a mistake, as the Cards’ hottest hitter lined a fastball to right-center for the go-ahead run.
  • That would be all Ryan Helsley would need, and he came out firing to strike out the side.  First, Joshua Palacios was spun around in his cleats waving at a hard curveball in the dirt.  Then Jared Triolo waved at a disappearing slider and Connor Joe would do the same.  That’s seven straight scoreless appearances for the NL’s most dominant closer.

 

DET 4 – CLE 5

W: Cade Smith (4-1)

L: Joey Wentz (0-2)

SV: Emmanuel Clase (30)

HD: Scott Barlow (18), Nick Sandlin (6), Hunter Gaddis (21)

  • Not to be outdone, the AL’s most dominant closer would get the ball with a one-run lead just a few minutes later.  The two bullpens in this game were busy as the Tigers went without a starter and Cleveland’s Xzavion Curry couldn’t get out of the fifth inning.
  • Usually, when it’s a bullpen contest, Cleveland will come out on top—and it was no different here.  In 4.2 IP the Guardians relievers combined to yield just two hits and one earned run.
  • Scott Barlow has struggled a bit lately with a 1.94 WHIP over the last few weeks but bounced back for his eighteenth Hold, again working the eighth.  That left Clase, and while he didn’t record a K he put the Tigers away on nine pitches—eight of them strikes—and the game was over in a blink.

 

BAL 3 – MIA 6

W: A.J. Puk (4-8)

SV: Tanner Scott (17)

HD: Andrew Nardi (11)

  • The Marlins’ anemic offense showed some life against O’s starter Albert Suarez, jumping out for six runs in just over two innings.  They wouldn’t score again but it turned out not to matter.
  • Puk was asked to work two innings and he’s gotten sharper as the year goes on.  His ERA by month: March 18.00, April 7.71, May 4.05, June 2.45, July 0.00.  He is working his way back into elite territory and hopefully never comes back into the starter conversation again.
  • Somehow Puk got the Win and Nardi the Hold, even though Bryan Hoeing finished the fifth inning and should have been the pitcher of record.  Since he only got one out, he didn’t qualify—but then why wouldn’t Nardi?  I’m still trying to figure this out, maybe someone can help in the comments.
  • Tanner Scott, fresh off his All-Star appearance, was all business as he fanned his first two hitters.  A wayward slider hit Austin Hays in the back leg but given the 3-run lead Scott bounced back easily, retiring Ramón Urías on a grounder to second.  It’ll be interesting to see if Scott is moved to a contender at the trade deadline—he’s certainly earned it.

 

NYM 3 – NYY 2

  • The Battle in the Apple (they call it that, right?) remained surprisingly low-scoring as Jose Quintana was able to work around five walks in as many innings to only yield one run.  But other than Juan Soto and Aaron Judge (who walked four times on his own in this one), the Bronx Bombers don’t have a regular bat with an OPS higher than .722.
  • With the game at 3-2 in the top of the eighth, Luke Weaver would load the bases with one out but strike out the next two batters to squirrel out of the jam.  Tyrone Taylor had worked a 3-0 count before fanning on the next three pitches.
  • Having acquired Phil Maton from the Rays for cash considerations, the Mets put him to work.  Maton has looked shaky at times this season but seems to like New York as he’s managed a 0.50 WHIP since coming over.  He’d work around a walk to preserve the lead.
  • Clay Holmes hadn’t seen work since before the All-Star break and showed early rust, going 3-0 to Harrison Bader.  He settled down quickly, though, helped by a pickoff once Bader broke early from second base (he’d reached on an error).
  • With Edwin Diaz throwing 28 pitches the night before (and the Mets playing thirteen straight games), Jake Diekman got the surprise Save opportunity against the top of the Yankees order.  He’d retire the first batter–late substitution Trent Grisham–on a fly ball to the warning track and then walk Juan Soto on four pitches.
  • That brought up Aaron Judge, who was pitched around all night.  Shockingly, Diekman went right at him with a fastball down the pipe on his first pitch and eventually struck him out looking with a dart on the inside corner.  That left Ben Rice as the Yankees’ last hope, but a slow roller to second got Diekman the Save.

 

TBR 4 – TOR 2

W: Tyler Alexander (3-3)

SV: Pete Fairbanks (19)

HD: Manuel Rodríguez (4), Kevin Kelly (12), Jason Adam (19)

  • Blue Jays starter José Berríos has struggled to find either his velocity or his command, walking six in under five innings.  The Rays plated three runs against him but it could have been much more.
  • The Rays opted to make Tyler Alexander a bulk reliever, recalling him from AAA Durham, and Shawn Armstrong the opener.  The strategy paid off as they combined for eight K’s and five scoreless frames.
  • Up by two in the ninth, the Rays leaned on Pete Fairbanks to bring it home.  He’d go three-up, three-down to do just that.  Fairbanks has had some notable blow-ups but has six Saves in his last seven appearances and a 2.35 ERA over his last thirty games.

 

PHI 3 – MIN 0

W: Gregory Soto (2-3)

L: Jhoan Duran (5-5)

SV: Matt Strahm (1)

  • After the game stayed scoreless into the ninth, Jhoan Duran replaced Griffin Jax.  Things looked promising at the start with a Trea Turner flyout, but Bryce Harper lined a double, and then a pair of walks loaded the bases.  A sac fly and Nick Castellanos double suddenly made it 3-0.
  • Your humble Reliever Ranks recapper pointed out last week in the All-Star version of this very article that Matt Strahm might see some Save chances, and here we are.  Some may have anointed Jeff Hoffman, but he subbed in directly after Zack Wheeler to work the eighth (and got in some trouble on two walks).
  • So Strahm was the choice, and he looked comfortable in the role, striking out two on eleven pitches.  It’s tough to say if things will stay this way moving forward—Strahm and Hoffman are both great arms—but safe to say Alvarado’s out for now.

 

MIL 1 – CHC 0

W: Elvis Peguero (6-3)

SV: Trevor Megill (20)

HD: Jared Koenig (5)

  • This game also stayed scoreless for most of the way, with Colin Rea and Jameson Taillon both looking like aces.  Milwaukee would scratch a run home in the eighth, however, with a Brice Turang single.
  • The Cubs loaded the bases on Elvis Peguero in the bottom of the inning, mounting their biggest threat of the night.  But a David Bote fly ball would die on the warning track to keep it 1-0.
  • Trevor Megill has up twenty saves even though he wasn’t officially the closer until May.  He gave up a leadoff single to Dansby Swanson (who would later steal a base) but that was his only blemish on the night.  He’d record a strikeout before getting Nico Hoerner on a weak ground ball and complete the shutout.
  • With Devin Williams coming back next week, Milwaukee has some choices to make.  They might keep Megill in his role until Williams is fully settled, so don’t drop him to the curb until the situation shakes out.

 

The Best of the Rest

 

  • Fresh off his All-Star appearance, Robert Suarez looks to keep his phenomenal season going in the second half.  He came on in a non-Save situation after Jeremiah Estrada worked a clean inning before him (but didn’t earn a Hold in another curious statistical anomaly).  Suarez struck out two, including James Wood to end it.
  • With the Dodgers up 5-1 in the ninth, LA brought in Alex Vesia as Daniel Hudson had pitched the two nights prior.  Vesia would walk his first two batters and give up an RBI single to Tyler Fitzgerald to make it 5-2.  He’d retire the next two batters but his pitch count got up to 26 so Evan Phillips was asked to close it out.  He’d walk a batter himself but get the next batter for a one-0ut Save.

 

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

Scott McDermott

Scott lives in Virginia Beach with his wife, two daughters, and a couple of furballs. When he’s not dissecting box scores and pondering over the optimal starting lineup for the Cincinnati Reds, he covers fantasy baseball for Pitcher List. He’s also the author of the award-winning book series 'Election 2064', available on Amazon.

One response to “Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Rankings – 7/23/24 Depth Chart”

  1. Babbo B says:
    July 24, 2024 at 5:05 PM

    Estrada didn’t get a hold because his team led by more than three runs when he entered the game and the potential tying run was not on base, at bat or on deck. Not an anomaly, happens to lots of relievers every day, that’s just how the rules work for holds and saves.

    Reply

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