Welcome back to the newest 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 was a light one, with only eight games scheduled plus the conclusion of the Astros/Twins matchup that was suspended due to weather on Wednesday. As a result, several teams were able to give their bullpens a rest, including ARI, ATL, BOS, CHC, CLE, COL, LAA, MIA, MIL, SD, SF, SEA, TB, and TOR.
- Today we have a full slate of games on the docket, so there’s a lot of baseball on tap, barring any postponements.
- Lucas Sims of the Reds went back on the IL today with a bulging disc in his back after making only six appearances since his activation in late April. It’s likely the Reds will go back to a committee approach at closer with Sims shelved again, but we’ll slide Art Warren in as the leading candidate for saves in his absence.
- The Orioles optioned Paul Fry to the minors, which was somewhat surprising as he hadn’t given up an ER over his past five appearances. This transaction may have been a roster balance issue as they recalled infielder Rylan Bannon to take his place on the roster. Fry has only one hold on the season and has been removed from the chart for now.
- Josh Sborz was recalled by the Rangers, replacing Kolby Allard on the 26-man roster. Sborz started the year with the big club but was sent down after coming off the IL in early May. He probably won’t see many high leverage situations right away, but we’ll put him in the mix for holds since he had nine last season.
- The Pirates activated Duane Underwood Jr. from the IL today. Underwood faced only one batter earlier this season before his hammy sent him to the IL. He could vulture a hold here or there for the Bucs, but you’ll probably be able to count them on one hand at the end of the season.
- The Royals optioned Kris Bubic and his 12.83 ERA down today. Bubic had been serving as a long man out of Kansas City’s bullpen but has had a rough go of it this season.
Yesterday’s Performances
- The conclusion of Wednesday’s Astros and Twins suspended game was a bullpen game on both sides. When play resumed, the Astros already had a 5-1 lead, and it didn’t get any better for the Twins as Houston tacked on an additional six runs against the Twins relievers. Yennier Cano was called up for his MLB debut to start the fourth inning and retired the first six batters he faced. In the sixth, however, Kyle Tucker led off with a HR, and Cano was pulled three batters later after back-to-back singles with one out. Cano will likely be sent back down but does have an intriguing arm. The Astros plated three more against Cody Stashak before the sixth inning was done, and the rout was on. Stashak stayed in through the eighth until shortstop Nick Gordon came in to pitch a scoreless ninth inning. Give the man a look Rocco Baldelli!
- The Astros relievers fared much better, as the combination of Bryan Abreu, Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek, and Héctor Neris gave up only two runs over six innings.
- The second game of the day didn’t go any better for the Twins, who were shut out by Astros starter Luis Garcia, Seth Martinez, Blake Taylor, and setup man Rafael Montero. Martinez was especially impressive in his first inning of work when he struck out the side in order.
- Minnesota’s bullpen didn’t get much of a break as starter Josh Winder only lasted 3.1 innings before being pulled with two men on in the fourth and three runs on the board. Caleb Thielbar gave up an infield single to Jeremy Peña that plated another run before pitching out of the jam. He threw a scoreless fifth before giving way to Tyler Duffey, who held the Astros scoreless for two innings. Houston tacked on another run in the ninth after Yordan Alvarez blasted his second HR of the game off Cole Sands.
- The Orioles threw a bullpen game yesterday and managed to edge the Cardinals 3-2. Bryan Baker got the nominal start and tossed 2.1 innings of shutout ball before being replaced by Keegan Akin, who came away with the win after throwing 2.2 innings. Thanks to the O’s offense getting an early lead off Cardinals’ starter Steven Matz, Dillon Tate, Cionel Pérez, and Joey Krehbiel would all record holds in this one, despite Perez and Krehbiel giving up runs. Felix Bautista closed the game with a four-out save. As Bautista has the past two saves with Jorge Lopez on the IL, we’ll move him to the top of the committee.
- Despite giving up a run in the second, Matz pitched pretty well and lasted into the seventh inning. He was followed by Génesis Cabrera, Nick Wittgren, and closer Giovanny Gallegos, who combined for 2.1 scoreless frames. Gallegos hadn’t worked since Sunday, so he should be available again today if needed.
- The A’s edged the Tigers 5-3 on the back of Seth Brown, who homered off Michael Fulmer in the eighth to put Oakland ahead after Domingo Acevedo allowed the Tigers to tie the game in the sixth inning. A.J. Puk got the win in relief, and Dany Jiménez recorded his sixth save. Jiménez has yet to give up an earned run this season.
- In addition to Fulmer, Joe Jiménez and Will Vest pitched scoreless innings for the Tigers. Both have thrown in two out of the last three games and thus may not be available today.
- Taijuan Walker game the Mets seven shutout innings against the Nationals en route to his first win of the season. Seth Lugo retired the side in order in the eighth to record the hold, and Edwin Diaz finished the game but did not record the save as the Mets were up 4-0 when he came in. Díaz only faced four batters, but the third one was Juan Soto, who smacked his eighth homer of the year into the center-field seats.
- The Nats starter, Joan Adon, did not fare as well. He surrendered three runs before the end of the fourth inning when Erasmo Ramírez replaced him. Ramírez, Carl Edwards Jr., and Kyle Finnegan held the Mets in check for 4.1 innings, but Steve Cishek gave up a HR to Mark Canha to start the ninth, ruining Diaz’s chance at a save.
- The Reds shut out the Pirates behind starter Connor Overton, who has been pretty successful in his three starts this season. Luis Cessa and Art Warren followed Overton. Cessa picked up his second hold on the season, but Warren did not record a save as the Reds won 4-0.
- Pirates starter JT Brubaker gave up two runs over five innings and was succeeded by Cam Alldred and Heath Hembree, who recorded scoreless innings. Fresh off the IL, Duane Underwood Jr. pitched the last two frames for the Bucs and gave up two more runs along the way.
- Four Texas relievers combined to close out the Royals following starter Taylor Hearn, who went five scoreless innings for the well-deserved win. Brock Burke, John King, and Matt Bush all recorded holds while Joe Barlow nailed down his sixth save. King gave up the game’s only run to the Royals in the eighth on back-to-back-to-back singles to Whit Merrifield, Andrew Benintendi, and Salvador Perez.
- The Royals bullpen had to work harder as Jon Heasley, who took Kris Bubic’s spot on the roster, only went 3.1 innings in his 2022 debut. Four relievers, including sometimes closer Josh Staumont, finished out the game for Kansas City. Staumont and Taylor Clarke each gave up a run in an inning of work, while Amir Garrett and Collin Snider combined for 2.2 of scoreless baseball.
- The Yankees exploded for seven runs in the eighth inning to break open a close game against the White Sox. Joe Kelly bore the brunt of it after three consecutive walks, a bases-loaded single by Aaron Judge, and another walk chased him from the mound. Tanner Banks replaced him and promptly gave up a single to Giancarlo Stanton and a home run to Josh Donaldson to blow the game open. Prior to the eighth, the Chisox rolled out José Ruiz and Ryan Burr in relief of Dylan Cease.
- New York got four innings out of Luis Gil, who was called up today to start the game. Gil was not sharp, allowing four White Sox to score before being relieved by Miguel Castro. Castro was followed by Lucas Luetge, Jonathan Loáisiga, and Chad Green, who finished the game. Luetge grabbed a hold and Loáisiga the win even though both were scored upon, the latter on a three-run shot by Yoán Moncada.
- The Dodgers/Phillies nightcap was a wild affair. After jumping out to a 7-1 lead by torching Dodgers starter Tyler Anderson, the Phils gave it all back as the Dodgers got to Zack Wheeler in the sixth for two runs and plated another four in the eighth off José Alvarado. The Phillies got their revenge in the top of the ninth off Daniel Hudson, scoring two runs via a wild pitch and sac fly. The Dodgers made it interesting in the ninth, loading the bases off of Phillies closer Corey Knebel before recording an out. But Knebel induced three subsequent pop-ups to walk away with his seventh save of the season. Andrew Bellatti, who got the last two outs of the eighth, earned the win.
Photos by Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Doug Carlin (@Bdougals on Twitter)