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!
Transaction and Schedule Notes
- Thursday’s slate featured 11 games and pitchers locked down six saves on the day. The most impactful game of the day was one that didn’t even finish as the Mets and Marlins were suspended in the top of the 9th inning. The Marlins had rallied back and taken a 2-1 lead over the Mets before the game was suspended due to rain. If there are still playoff implications on the line on Sunday with the Marlins fighting for a Wild Card spot, the game is scheduled to resume on Monday at 1:10 pm Eastern from Queens, NY.
- The Braves recalled AJ Smith-Shawver and optioned Darius Vines to Triple-A Gwinnett.
- The Marlins reinstated Tanner Scott from the paternity list and optioned Enmanuel De Jesús to Triple-A Jacksonville. Scott has been quietly one of the best relievers in baseball, with a 9-5 record, 10 saves, and 24 holds, all while compiling a 2.38 ERA.
Yesterday’s Performances
ARI 1 – CWS 3
HD: Declan Cronin (1), Aaron Bummer (15)
SV: Bryan Shaw (4)
- Tanner Banks got his first win of the season, pitching a scoreless fifth inning as the White Sox took down the Diamondbacks. Declan Cronin and Aaron Bummer also saw setup action as they went a combined three innings, each earning a hold. It was the first hold of the season for Cronin. It was Bryan Shaw who locked down the save for the White Sox as he closed the door on Arizona, striking out one and not allowing any hits.
- The Diamondbacks deployed an opener, Bryce Jarvis, before rolling out a number of relievers. Jarvis went 2.2 innings and allowed a home run to give the Sox an early lead before Kyle Nelson pitched the next inning. Nelson allowed an additional run before Miguel Castro, Joe Mantiply, and Luis Frías ended the scoring for Chicago. They went the next four innings without allowing a hit.
OAK 2 – MIN 1
HD: Dany Jiménez (6)
SV: Trevor May (21)
- Trevor May earned his 21st save of the season on Thursday over his former team. He’s been excellent since the All-Star break, with 15 saves in the second half and a 1.64 ERA. May has not surrendered a run in September. Lucas Erceg (4-4) earned the victory for Oakland. He pitched the seventh inning and allowed three walks but escaped without any damage. Dany Jiménez also appeared for the A’s and got his sixth hold of the season.
- Kenta Maeda made a long relief appearance for the Twins as he spelled starter Sonny Gray after four innings. Maeda went 3.1 innings and fell to 6-8 as he gave up what turned out to be the game-deciding home run to Ryan Noda.
CHI 3 – ATL 5
HD: Joe Jiménez (13), A.J. Minter (20)
SV: Raisel Iglesias (32)
- The Braves not only swept the Cubs, they earned home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, and in doing so they knocked the Cubs out of position out the last NL Wild Card spot. Atlanta recalled AJ Smith-Shawver from the minors to start the game and he went 3.2 innings before Kyle Wright came in for 2.1 innings. Wright allowed three hits and an earned run while striking out four. He earned his first win of the season for his efforts. Joe Jiménez and A.J. Minter were next out of the Braves bullpen and they each earned holds before Raisel Iglesias entered for the ninth inning. Iglesias threw a scoreless inning for this 32nd save of the season.
- Chicago rolled out four pitchers during the game, none lasting longer than 2.1 innings. After Marcus Stroman gave up four hits and two earned runs through the first two innings, Javier Assad was next up. He allowed an earned run and struck out three in his two innings of work. Luke Little went 1.2 innings before Hayden Wesneski became the last pitcher out of the Cubs bullpen. Wesneski closed the game out with 2.1 innings of work.
PIT 3 – PHI 2
HD: Dauri Moreta (5), Ryan Borucki (8), Carmen Mlodzinski (10)
SV: David Bednar (38)
- After being hit with the loss on Tuesday, David Bednar bounced back and locked down his 38th save of the season on Thursday, moving into a first-place tie with Camilo Doval for most saves in the National League. Bednar struck out two and walked one. A trio of Pittsburgh relievers (Moreta, Borucki, and Mlodzinski) preceded Bednar and each earned holds.
- Zack Wheeler departed after only four innings to stay rested as he’s in line to start Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series. Matt Strahm relieved Wheeler and he gave up three hits and two earned runs during the fifth inning. Strahm was hit with the loss to fall to 9-5. Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth inning for the Phillies.
BOS 0 – BAL 2
HD: DL Hall (2), Cionel Pérez (11), Yennier Cano (31)
SV: Tyler Wells (1)
- It was a big game for the Orioles as they clinched the AL East Division crown with their 100th win of
the season with a 2-0 victory over the Red Sox. Recently recalled Tyler Wells worked out of the bullpen to earn his first save of the season for the Orioles. Yennier Cano allowed a hit in 0.2 innings of work, striking out one for a hold, his 31st of the season. Cano lowered his ERA to 2.12. - The Red Sox’s Zack Kelly gave up two walks and and an earned run in his inning of work. Josh Winckowski (1.2 IP) and Brennan Bernardino (o.1 IP) also worked out of Boston’s bullpen, striking out three and not allowing a hit.
Best of the Rest
- José Cisnero earned his third win for the Tigers during Detroit’s 7-3 win over the Royals. Jason Foley, Alex Lange, and Will Vest also appeared for the Tigers. Carlos Hernández blew his sixth save on the year for the Royals when he gave up Spencer Torkelson’s 30th home run.
- In another September last season oddity, Ethan Small came up big and achieved a career milestone as he saved his first career game in the Brewers 3-0 win over the Cardinals. It was only the fourth MLB game of Small’s career, and his second appearance this season.
- In the Rangers/Mariners game, Andrew Hainey and José Leclerc clinched holds before Aroldis Chapman allowed two runs to take the loss. Chapman moved to 5-6 with the loss. Andrés Muñoz (4-7) got one out for the Mariners to earn his fourth win.
Bullpen Depth Charts
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