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
- There was a full 15-game docket on Wednesday, including several afternoon contests. Only six games are on the schedule for Thursday, so the majority of the league’s relievers should be fresh for the weekend once again.
- The Braves placed right-hander Collin McHugh on the 15-day IL with a shoulder injury. RHPs Darius Vines and Ben Heller were called up for added ‘pen depth (and, in Vines’ case, a potential spot start this weekend).
- The Yankees placed Keynan Middleton on the 15-day IL with a shoulder injury as well, shelving him for a few weeks at least. LHP Matt Krook was recalled from Triple-A.
- The A’s activated hard-throwing rookie Mason Miller from the 60-day IL on Wednesday and put him to work immediately with an inning in relief (and his first career hold) against Toronto. The plan is for Miller to work out of the bullpen for a while at least, while the A’s build him back up for next season.
Yesterday’s Performances
MIL 4 – PIT 5
HD: Collin Holderman (25)
SV: David Bednar (33)
- The Brewers held a 3-1 lead heading into the sixth, but Freddy Peralta ran into trouble and wasn’t able to hold it there. Trevor Megill struck out a pair of batters to end that threat, but the game was tied. The Pirates added two more in the seventh on a string of hits off Elvis Peguero. Abner Uribe flashed his skills with a perfect three-K eighth, but the Buccos were in control by that point.
- The Pirates got three and two-thirds quality scoreless innings from Bailey Falter after their opener, Colin Selby, surrendered three runs in the 1st. Cody Bolton followed Falter, and Carmen Mlodzinski picked up the win for his work in the seventh. Once they gained the lead, Pittsburgh went with the tried-and-true combo of Holderman and Bednar to close it out (albeit with some intrigue in the eighth, as Holderman allowed a run on three consecutive singles before escaping with the hold).
MIN 1 – CLE 2
HD: Sam Hentges (13), Reynaldo López (15), Nick Sandlin (9)
SV: Emmanuel Clase (38)
- After a short start from Joe Ryan, the Twins gave Louie Varland the ball, and he delivered (3.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K, 0 R). It was Varland’s first appearance since June when he was sent down after several poor starts. This new bullpen role may prove more suitable for Varland, who has showcased improved stuff since shortening his workload in Triple-A.
- The Guardians leaned on Hentges, López and Sandlin to get them to the ninth, at which point Emmanuel Clase entered and did what he does — needing just 10 pitches to collect his 38th save. Clase has put up yet another elite season in 2023, and if the Guardians are able to chase down the Twins, their closer’s consistency will have been a big reason why.
BOS 1 – TBR 3
HD: Robert Stephenson (13), Colin Poche (18)
SV: Pete Fairbanks (20)
- Nick Pivetta drew a start in this one, and he pitched into the fifth inning, striking out five. Mauricio Llovera pitched the final three innings. Combined with the off-day Thursday, this provides a much-needed break for Kenley Jansen and the rest of the taxed Boston ‘pen.
- Tyler Glasnow was spectacular, striking out 14 in six innings. The Rays went with Stephenson, Poche and Fairbanks from there, who combined to allow just two baserunners in the final three frames. Both Fairbanks and Poche have thrown the last two days, which could open the door for Stephenson or Andrew Kittredge to earn a spot save on Thursday.
DET 3 – NYY 4
HD: Wandy Peralta (17), Greg Weissert (1)
SV: Clay Holmes (18)
- The Tigers went with a bullpen game on Wednesday, and it did not go swimmingly. After a clean first inning from Matt Manning, Beau Brieske got knocked around with four hits, three walks and three runs in less than two innings. José Cisnero followed and allowed another run in the fourth. Tyler Holton pitched the next two innings cleanly, and with the game still close, Jason Foley and Alex Lange finished it off. Brieske (1-3) was the only one of them to earn a decision.
- After taking the lead in the third, Clarke Schmidt and the Yankees cruised to what felt like more than a one-run victory. Wandy Peralta struck out three in an inning-plus for the hold. Clay Holmes tossed a perfect ninth for his 18th save. Holmes has already pitched four times this week, including the last two games, so it could be up to Jonathan Loáisiga to convert a save on Thursday, should the Yanks continue their winning ways.
The best of the rest…
- The Giants used Sean Manaea (3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER) and Camilo Doval (1.0 IP, 0 H, 2 K) in an 8-2 loss to the Cubs. Doval hadn’t pitched in over a week previously, so this was likely just an exercise to get him some work with the off day coming.
- In addition to Mason Miller’s scoreless return (2.0 IP, 0 H, 3 K), the A’s closed out the Blue Jays thanks to another quality outing from Trevor May in the ninth. May has converted 18 saves this season, and he’s now 8/8 in the past month.
- Andrés Muñoz pitched the ninth inning of Seattle’s 8-4 win in Cincinnati, and he allowed a home run to Will Benson on a hanging 0-2 slider. It’s the third consecutive appearance with an earned run allowed for Muñoz, raising his ERA over 3.00 for the first time since June. Perhaps more notably, it’s only the second home run allowed by the new Mariners closer all season. Chalk it up to a busy few weeks — Muñoz has made 17 appearances since the start of August — but Seattle (and fantasy managers everywhere) will need him to shake it off as we inch ever closer to October.
- The Nats walked off the Mets at the expense of Phil Bickford, who recorded just one out in four batters despite not allowing a ball hit out of the infield (that is until the game-winning dribbler snuck past the shortstop’s glove). It’s been that kind of season in Flushing.
- Bryan Shaw picked up his second save against the Royals after Gregory Santos pitched in the eighth. It may have been purely situational (Santos did enter to face the 3- and 4-hole hitters), but it’s worth noting since Santos has blown the last three save opportunities he received. For the time being, Chicago seems to be operating with an unenviable three-man committee of Shaw, Santos and Aaron Bummer, who allowed a two-run homer in this game just before Santos’ entrance.
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
Photos by Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Doug Carlin (@Bdougals on Twitter).