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Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Rankings – 9/9/24 Depth Chart

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

Jake Crumpler
Fantasy 9/9/2024

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

 

  • The Los Angeles Angels recalled Hans Crouse from the minors. He pitched to a 3.00 ERA (24 IP) with a 32.7% K% during his first stint in the Majors with the Angels and has been unscored upon (six IP) with a 46.2% K% since being demoted to the minors in mid-August. Crouse will enter the holds conversation in LA. Victor Mederos was optioned to the minors in a corresponding move.
  • The Colorado Rockies activated Victor Vodnik from the 15-day IL. He hit the IL on August 21st with right biceps inflammation. Tyler Kinley has pitched well recently, was the closer in Vodnik’s absence, and recorded a save in Vodnik’s first day back on the roster. The Rockies are known to deploy their relievers unorthodoxly, so there’s no guarantee Vodnik will reclaim the closer role for the season’s final few weeks.
  • The Cleveland Guardians designated Scott Barlow for assignment. It’s a surprising move considering Barlow’s significant role (63 appearances, 19 holds, two saves), but he’ll likely catch on with another contender before being ineligible to pitch in the postseason. Nick Sandlin will enter the chart as a holds candidate.
  • The Cincinnati Reds placed Sam Moll on the 15-day IL with a left shoulder impingement. Casey Legumina was recalled from the minors in a corresponding move, however, it will be Brent Suter who joins the chart as a bulk reliever.

 

Yesterday’s Performances

 

TBR 2 – BAL 0

HD: Richard Lovelady (3), Kevin Kelly (15), Garrett Cleavinger (12)

SV: Edwin Uceta (2)

  • Edwin Uceta has been a revelation for the Rays. The righty signed a minor league contract with the club in the offseason and incorporated gloveside movement to his repertoire with a cutter (21% usage), sweeper (4%), and slider (2%). It didn’t work well at Triple-A (5.77 ERA, 34.1 IP), but he’s been one of the best relievers in baseball since being recalled in early May. After striking out four while recording the final five outs of the game, Uceta now has a 0.75 ERA (36 IP), the second-lowest in baseball. He’s also struck out 37.9% of the batters he’s faced and looks to be the Rays’ preferred option for the ninth inning.

 

TOR 3 – ATL 4 (F/11)

W: Raisel Iglesias (5)

L: Zach Pop (4)

HD: Erik Swanson (8), Génesis Cabrera (12), Dylan Lee (7), Pierce Johnson (11)

  • Chad Green was unable to secure a one-run lead, blowing his third save, leading to an extra-innings loss for the Blue Jays. After pitching to a 1.61 ERA (44.2 IP) through August, Green has allowed a run in each of his three appearances in September, inflating his ERA to 2.85 (47.1 IP) in the process. It’s likely a result of fatigue stemming from a workload that Green hasn’t experienced since 2021 because of injuries across the past two seasons. I wouldn’t expect this to sort itself out before the end of the season.
  • Raisel Iglesias maintained his scoreless streak with no earned runs across the 10th and 11th to help the Braves to a victory. Iglesias has been on an insane run, recording a flawless ERA across his last 34.1 IP while striking out 35.6% and walking just 4.2% of the batters he faced. Iglesias will eventually surrender a run, but this new level is certainly sustainable thanks to an extra mph of velocity on his fastball.

 

CIN 3 – NYM 1

W: Bucker Farmer (3)

L: Phil Maton (3)

SV: Alexis Díaz (26)

  • Every time it looks like Alexis Díaz is cooked and he might lose the closer role, he locks in and asuages any fears of him being removed from the ninth. Díaz ended August allowing a run to cross home in four of his final six appearances. Now, with his perfect outing on Sunday, he’s reeled off four consecutive perfect innings. I’ve seen enough of Díaz to not fall for his tricks, but the Reds have not, so he’ll continue to be turned to in the ninth through the end of the season.

 

MIN 0 – KCR 2

HD: Kris Bubic (6)

SV: Lucas Erceg (11)

  • Lucas Erceg made quick friends upon his arrival in Kansas City following his deadline trade from the A’s, producing a perfect ERA through his first 12.1 innings with the team. Then he got hit with a comebacker amidst regression and surrendered seven runs across three consecutive outings. Luckily, he’s figured things out recently with three straight scoreless outings featuring saves. Erceg is a top-20 closer moving forward with the Royals in playoff contention and the righty pitching well again.

 

COL 4 – MIL 1

HD: Seth Halvorsen (2), Angel Chivilli (5)

SV: Tyler Kinley (11)

  • Despite Victor Vodnik returning to the active roster and Tyler Kinley having pitched on back-to-back days, they still turned to the former in the ninth on Sunday. He got the job done with a perfect frame to continue his hot streak. Since July 28th, Kinley has a 2.50 ERA (18 IP) and a 32.8% K%, and that stretch includes a four-run blowup. So, the Rockies may have Kinley and Vodnik split the ninth, but I’d expect them to continue riding the hot hand in Kinley.

 

NYY 1 – CHC 2

HD: Nate Pearson (8)

SV: Porter Hodge (4)

  • The Cubs are putting together a fun group of relievers. Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge highlighted that fact on Sunday, covering the final three frames without allowing a hit to secure a one-run lead. Pearson was acquired from the Blue Jays at the trade deadline and has since pitched to a 1.96 ERA (18.1 IP) with a 26.2% K% and has recently been trusted in high-leverage more often. Hodge was called up for good on June 21st and has recorded a 1.41 ERA (32 IP) and a 32.2% K% since then. He’s now the favorite for saves on the North Side of Chicago and needs to be rostered universally.

 

LAA 4 – TEX 7

HD: José Leclerc (10), David Robertson (30)

SV: Kirby Yates (29)

  • Kirby Yates is having one of the best “old guy” pitching seasons ever. His 1.29 ERA (55.2 IP) is the fifth-lowest ever for a pitcher 37 years old or older with as many innings as Yates. His 36.7% strikeout rate is the third best all-time among that same group. Despite his impressive 2024, I likely won’t be targeting Yates much next year because of how inflated his ADP will be.

 

CLE 0 – LAD 4

HD: Michael Kopech (8)

  • The Dodgers have done exactly what everyone expected them to do and turned Michael Kopech into an absolute beast. He struggled with his command and consistency with the White Sox, posting a 4.74 ERA (43.2 IP) with a 30.9% K%. With the Dodgers, Kopech has recorded a 0.53 ERA (17 IP) with a 35.5% K% and has become the favorite for save in Hollywood. Kopech’s usage in the playoffs will be a key indicator for what we can expect from him in 2025.

 

SFG 7 – SDP 6

HD: Camilo Doval (3)

SV: Ryan Walker (7)

  • Even with Camilo Doval back in the Majors, Ryan Walker continues to be used as the closer. It’s not really Doval’s fault, though he did allow two more runs on Sunday, inflating his post-promotion ERA to 6.43 (seven IP). Walker has done everything he could do avoid relinquishing the role, extending his scoreless streak to 18.2 innings on Sunday, a span in which he’s recorded seven saves while striking out 42.9% of the batters he’s faced. With Doval obviously out of the closer conversation, Walker is locked in to being a top-10 closer with top-five upside.

 

ARI 12 – HOU 6

W: Kevin Ginkel (8)

  • Josh Hader had yet to pitch in September, taking eight days off before allowing a run while pitching the ninth on Sunday with the Astros trailing by seven. Hader has now allowed a run in three of his last four outings, yet still has a 2.33 ERA (19.1 IP) in the second half. Hader is a top three closer, but his cherry bomb nature will make him a headache-inducing pitcher to roster.

 

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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