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 13 games and a doubleheader between the White Sox and Blue Jays. Six total saves were collected on the day.
- The Rangers reinstated José Leclerc from the 15-day IL after he recovered from a sprained right ankle and optioned Joe Barlow to Triple-A Round Rock.
- Tony Santillan was activated by the Reds after he had spent the entire 2023 season on the IL. Ricky Karcher was designated for assignment in a corresponding move. Karcher made his MLB debut for Cincinnati on June 12, capturing the save in that game, but had not appeared since then.
- The White Sox called up Jimmy Lambert and Nick Padilla from Triple-A Charlotte after placing Joe Kelly on the 15-day DL with right elbow inflammation. Kelly has a 4.82 ERA and one save and 10 holds in 29 appearances this season.
- Deivi García was called back up to the majors by the Yankees as they optioned Randy Vásquez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Garcia threw three innings of long relief back on May 10 in his only MLB appearance of the season.
Yesterday’s Performances
CIN 5 – WSH 4 (F/10)
SV: Alexis Díaz (25)
- The Reds defeated the Nationals in extra innings after Kyle Finnegan and Jose A. Ferrer blew save opportunities, and Hunter Harvey took the loss for Washington. Finnegan and Harvey have been battling for the closer role with Harvey looking like the number one option as of late. However both pitchers have struggled at times with Finnegan sitting at 3-3 with a 3.50 ERA and six blown saves on the year and Harvey falling to 3-4 on the year with the loss.
- Alexis Díaz locked down his 25th save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning. Diaz is continuing the standard of dominance his brother set last season and now has an ERA of 2.13 and WHIP of 1.03 on the year. Tony Santillan (1-0) took the win in his first appearance this season.
CHC 5 – MIL 6
SV: Joel Payamps (3)
HD: Bryse Wilson (3), Elvis Peguero (10)
- J.C. Mejía gave up a two-run home run to blow the save opportunity, but then got his first win of the year when Victor Caratini bailed him out by hitting a home run off Michael Fulmer. Joel Payamps then came on in the ninth and got the save for Milwaukee, his third of the year. Payamps has mainly been used in setup duty this season racking up 15 holds, but has now captured two saves in the last week for the Brewers. Devin Williams blew the save on Wednesday and is still the unquestioned closer in Milwaukee, but if you own Williams it may be a situation to monitor moving forward.
- Daniel Palencia and Mark Leiter Jr. threw scoreless relief outings for the Cubs before Fulmer took the loss and fell to 0-5 in 2023.
TOR 6 – CHW 2 (F/11): Game 1
SV: Yimi García (1)
- In another extra inning affair, Yimi García grabbed his first save of the year for the Blue Jays after pitching the final two outs of the 11th inning. Trevor Richards was the first arm out of the bullpen for Toronto and pitched two innings in relief after starter José Berríos threw seven scoreless innings. Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano appeared in a non-save opportunity and pitched the 10th inning before Thomas Hatch got the first out of the 11th and Garcia then closed the game out.
- White Sox starter Lance Lynn also went seven strong innings, giving up only one hit and striking out 11 before Gregory Santos, Kendall Graveman, and Reynaldo López succeeded Lynn with scoreless appearances of their own. Everything was good for the South Siders until the game broke open in the 11th inning when Aaron Bummer gave up five earned runs to the Blue Jays. Bummer fell to 3-2 on the season.
TOR 5 – CHW 4: Game 2
SV: Nate Pearson (1)
HD: Tim Mayza (11)
- In the second game of the Blue Jays and White Sox doubleheader, the Blue Jays got the sweep as Nate Pearson captured his first career save. The Jays had burned up most of the bullpen arms during the first game of the doubleheader, opening the door for Pearson to appear for the save chance. Tim Mayza also appeared out of the pen and garnered his 11th hold.
- Jimmy Lambert and Nick Padilla made appearances for the White Sox after being called up from the minors earlier in the day. Padilla gave up an earned run and two hits in one inning of work and Lambert threw two innings of scoreless work, surrendering two hits and striking out three.
STL 3 – MIA 0
SV: Jordan Hicks (6)
HD: Chris Stratton (3), Giovanny Gallegos (11)
- Jordan Hicks continued the surprise resurgence he’s experienced filling in for injured closer Ryan Helsley by capturing his sixth save of the year in the Cardinals victory over the Marlins. Hicks threw a perfect ninth inning to lock down the save after appearances by Chris Stratton and Giovanny Gallegos ended with them each earning holds.
- For the Marlins, Dylan Floro and George Soriano each gave up an earned run in their appearances to extend the Cardinals 1-0 lead. Jeff Lindgren pitched a scoreless ninth inning, but it was too late as the Marlins lost 3-0.
PIT 2 – LAD 5
SV: Alex Vesia (1)
HD: Nick Robertson (1), Brusdar Graterol (9)
- Nick Robertson and Brusdar Graterol locked down holds for the Dodgers and Alex Vesia earned his first save of the season on Thursday. Evan Phillips has been serving as the primary closer for the Dodgers and doing a nice job, but he blew a save in ugly fashion during Tuesday’s loss to the Pirates with three earned runs and two walks so that could be the reason Vesia got the chance on Friday.
- The Dodgers have many capable bullpen arms as seven total players have captured saves this season, so this could just be a blip on the radar. I would not expect Vesia to receive many chances moving forward.
The best of the rest…
- Matt Strahm moved to 5-3 on the season with two innings of work in the Phillies 3-1 victory over the Rays. He struck out three and gave up one hit. The Rays were using an opener and ended up going through eight total arms during the game (including primary closers Jason Adam and Pete Fairbanks) so it will be hard to predict who would get the save chance if one arises on Friday.
- Matt Brash and Andrés Muñoz appeared for the Mariners and each captured holds in the 5-1 win over the Astros.
- Josh Winckowski moved to 3-1 after being credited with the win for the Red Sox. He threw two innings and lowered his ERA to 3.14. On the Rangers side, Brock Burke earned his ninth hold, Josh Sborz took the loss, and Grant Anderson blew the save.
- The Orioles stomped the Yankees 14-1 causing New York to run through many of their regular bullpen arms before Isiah Kiner-Falefa pitched the ninth inning. Clay Holmes did not appear so he should be fresh going into the weekend.
Bullpen Depth Charts
The Hold Up: Ranking the Top 100 Relievers for Holds Every Thursday