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Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Rankings – 8/19/24 Depth Chart

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

Jake Crumpler
Fantasy 8/19/2024

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

 

 

Yesterday’s Performances

MIA 3 – NYM 2

W: Andrew Nardi (3)

L: Reed Garrett (5)

HD: Declan Cronin (4)

SV: Calvin Faucher (3)

  • Calvin Faucher has the highest Stuff+ (151) in baseball since the beginning of June, a timeframe during which he’s pitched to a 3.20 ERA (25.1 IP) and a 26.3% K%. His cutter and curveball are excellent with PLV marks in the top 25% of the league, but he throws his sub-par sinker too much. He throws the pitch up in the zone, so he doesn’t get groundballs, but he gets a decent amount of whiffs (11.9% SwStr%) and weak contact (31.6% ICR). Faucher doesn’t need to be rostered universally, but I think he’s better than most relievers on last-place teams.

 

BAL 4 – BOS 2

HD: Yennier Cano (28)

SV: Seranthony Domínguez (4)

  • Seranthony Domínguez has officially taken over the closer role in Baltimore. He’s surrendered just two runs in 10.1 innings since being dealt to the Orioles and has struck out 34.2% of the batters he’s faced. With the Orioles providing him plenty of save opportunities, his experience in the role, and his success since the trade, Domínguez should be rostered everywhere.

 

WSN 6 – PHI 4

W: Jacob Barnes (7)

L: Matt Strahm (4)

SV: Kyle Finnegan (31)

  • It’s been a rough summer for Kyle Finnegan as he sports a 5.14 ERA (28 IP) since the beginning of June. However, he hasn’t slowed down the pace at which he’s been recording saves, securing seven in June, six in July, and three so far in August. Finnegan’s 4.09 xFIP this summer suggests he’s been unlucky, but I’m not convinced the Finnegan we saw for the first two months is one we’ll be seeing often.

 

KCR 8 – CIN 1

HD: Lucas Erceg (18)

  • Lucas Erceg recorded five outs across the seventh and eighth frames with the Royals leading by three. It was usage indicative of Erceg being considered a high-leverage reliever, but I don’t think that should take away from his fantasy value. Since being dealt to the Royals, Erceg has a pristine 0.00 ERA (9.1 IP) with a 12/0 K/BB ratio. I don’t think the Royals have suddenly turned him into an ace in a similar fashion to their acquisition of Cole Ragans last year, but he’s clearly in a groove and the best pitcher in Kansas City, so he should be rostered as such in fantasy.

 

ARI 7 – TBR 8 (F/12)

W: Edwin Uceta (1)

L: Justin Martinez (4)

HD: Colin Poche (16)

  • Justin Martinez was tagged with the tough-luck loss on Sunday. He recorded four outs in extras only for the zombie runner to score in walk-off fashion in the 12th. Martinez’s numbers look pretty awesome for a 22-year-old as he sports a 1.82 ERA (54.1 IP) and a 29.1% K% while averaging 100 mph on his sinker. His repertoire is unlike any other closer and it makes him intriguing, especially with such a bright future ahead of him. I’m suspicious that Martinez may disappoint fantasy managers in September as his 2.91 xFIP doesn’t necessarily support his sub-2.00 ERA, but I’m excited to be in on him next draft season.
  • Pete Fairbanks surrendered multiple runs for the second outing in a row as he attempted, and failed, to close out a three-run lead. Following the blow-up Fairbanks was placed on the IL, explaining the sudden downturn in performance. Garrett Cleavinger took over immediately for Fairbanks and was followed by Kevin Kelly in the 11th and Edwin Uceta in the 12th. I like Uceta the most to take over the ninth. In his first season in Tampa Bay, Uceta has a 0.94 ERA (28.2 IP), a 0.59 WHIP, and a 30% K-BB%. His sinker-cutter-changeup combo subverts the platoon split, allowing him to dominate in any circumstance. It’s all in the Rays’ hands now to give him the opportunity.

 

CHW 0 – HOU 2

HD: Bryan Abreu (31)

SV: Josh Hader (27)

  • After a tough July in which Josh Hader posted a 5.23 ERA (10.1 IP) and coughed up four long balls, he’s been lights out in August. Including his final outing of July, Hader has reeled off 9.1 straight scoreless innings, during which he’s allowed just two hits and has struck out 12 batters. This is how Hader pitches when he’s not serving up homers like Carlos Alcaraz serves up tennis balls. It’s his Achilles Heel and we can only hope he gets lucky in the closing weeks to finish strong.

 

CLE 0 – MIL 2

HD: Bryan Hudson (13)

SV: Jared Koenig (1)

  • Emmanuel Clase pitched the ninth with the Guardians trailing by two. He hadn’t pitched since last Tuesday, so a maintenance outing was in order. Clase’s 0.63 ERA (57.1 IP) is the lowest in the Majors and his 37 saves lead the American League. His 148 career saves are the most by a player through their age-26 campaign.
  • Jared Koenig registered the first save of his career with a perfect outing. The 30-year-old, sophomore southpaw has been exceptional in his first season in Milwaukee with a 2.09 ERA (47.1 IP) and a 24% K%. With Hoby Milner and Trevor Megill on the IL, Koenig is a member of a trio of setup men and proved to be one of the most valuable on Sunday when he was saved for the ninth.

 

LAD 2 – STL 1

HD: Evan Phillips (5), Daniel Hudson (16)

SV: Michael Kopech (11)

  • It’s really happening. Michael Kopech is taking over the closer role in Hollywood. The hard-throwing righty has recorded each of the team’s last two saves and was deserving of the opportunity. Since being dealt to the Dodgers at the deadline, Kopech owns a perfect ERA (9.1 IP) and a 13/1 K/BB ratio. It’s similar to Lucas Erceg, but Kopech’s upside is much higher on a better team with better stuff and better pitching development. With Daniel Hudson and Evan Phillips losing the role in recent weeks, Anthony Banda and Alex Vesia being lefties, and Brusdar Graterol and Blake Treinen being on the IL, everything has fallen together for Kopech to become a coveted closer in fantasy leagues.

 

TOR 1 – CHC 0

HD: Ryan Burr (2), Génesis Cabrera (8)

SV: Chad Green (13)

  • It’s been great to see Chad Green have a renaissance season at the age of 33 after two years lost to injury. Green isn’t nearly as dominant as he was in his days in pinstripes, but his heater is still elite allowing him to be a decent closer. Don’t be fooled by his 1.82 ERA (39.2 IP), he has a 4.51 xFIP and a 21.9% K%.

 

MIN 5 – TEX 6

W: Andrew Chafin (4)

L: Jhoan Duran (6)

HD: David Robertson (24)

  • The overuse of Jhoan Duran finally bit the Twins, but it wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been. After sending him out for three straight appearances, Duran got one day off before getting right back on the mound on Sunday. He allowed the zombie runner to score and took the loss, but more importantly, his velocity was down two mph, suggesting he was fatigued from having pitched so much last week. The Twins will need to take it easy on him if they want him to be at the top of his game when things matter most.
  • Kirby Yates blew his first save of the season when he served up a game-tying homer to Carlos Santana in the ninth. It’s pretty impressive that it took him this long to blow a save, and his 1.36 ERA (46.1 IP) is a testament to him being deserving of staving it off for so long. I wonder if Yates will be given a chance to close next year as a 38-year-old.

 

SFG 4 – OAK 2

W: Ryan Walker (8)

L: Dany Jiménez (3)

  • Ryan Walker turned in an epic performance to get the Giants the win. The newly minted closer pitched the ninth and tenth, working around the zombie runner scoring, and recording five of his six outs via the punchout. Walker sat 1.5 mph up on his sinker, helping it earn 48% CSW thanks to nine called strikes on just 21 offerings, while his slider was untouchable with five whiffs and 43% CSW. Walker will be a sneakily elite closer down the stretch.
  • Mason Miller pitched a perfect ninth with the game tied at two. He has a 1.08 ERA (16.2 IP) since June 14th and has compiled a nine-inning scoreless streak. His 37.7% K% during that time is excellent but it’s not in the league-leading territory it was in the season’s first two months. Regardless, his full-season mark continues to lead the Majors.

 

ATL 3 – LAA 1

HD: Dylan Lee (4), Joe Jiménez (20)

SV: Raisel Iglesias (26)

  • Raisel Iglesias has been incredible for the past two months. He’s not allowed an earned run across his last 21 innings and sports a 37.7% K% and there’s no end in sight. It’s a heel flip from the 2.70 ERA (26.2 IP) and 18.9% K% he had to open the season and, because of his track record and underlying metrics, I’d expect it to stick moving forward.

 

NYY 2 – DET 3

W: Beau Brieske (2)

L: Mark Leiter Jr. (5)

HD: Luke Weaver (20), Tommy Kahnle (11)

  • Clay Holmes blew another save (his 10th), allowing a run in the ninth despite three strikeouts and leading to an extra innings loss. The switch flipped for Holmes when he gave up his first runs of the season on May 20th. Since then, he has a 4.80 ERA (30 IP) and a 24.4% K% and has been untrustworthy in the ninth inning. The Yankees didn’t add enough reinforcements at the deadline to consider removing Holmes from the ninth, but he’s making it hard for them to keep turning to him.

 

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

 

Jake Crumpler

A Bay Area sports fan and lover of baseball, Jake is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz with a B.A. in English Literature. He currently writes fantasy articles for Pitcher List, is the lead baseball writer at The Athletes Hub, and does playing time analysis at BaseballHQ. Some consider his knowledge of the sport to be encyclopedic.

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