Reliever Ranks – 8/20

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

 

• Yesterday, even with weather concerns, all 15 series were played. The following travel day is on Monday (8/22), and the following teams will get a rest: BAL, BOS, TOR, CLE, DET, HOU, SEA, WSN, ARI, COL, SDP, and SFG. Additionally, we should expect those teams to push their bullpen through the weekend.
• All 30 teams play today, including a doubleheader between NYM and PHI. So, we could see additional bullpen arms utilized between them.

 

• The St Louis Cardinals placed Ryan Helsley on the paternity list and recalled JoJo Romero. The move signals a return of Giovanny Gallegos to the closer role with Génesis Cabrera playing setup.
• The Texas Rangers placed Joe Barlow on the 15-day IL and recalled A.J. Alexy, who will push into a multi-IP role for the bullpen.

 

• The Baltimore Orioles recalled Nick Vespi and optioned Logan Gillaspie. Vespi is an intriguing arm as the underlying metrics (3.38 xFIP and 3.27 SIERA) suggest his 4.22 ERA was a tad unlucky. However, there isn’t room for him, and he’ll slot toward the back end of the bullpen.
• The Detroit Tigers activated Eduardo Rodriguez and optioned Wily Peralta back to Triple-A. This move will likely push Daniel Norris into the bulk inning RP of the staff.

 

• With Dustin May making his long-awaited start, the Los Angeles Dodgers will have him on a pitch count. Thus, we could see someone like David Price, Phil Bickford, or Reyes Moronta vulture the win if May only tosses four innings.
• Speaking of potentially needed early bullpen help, Trevor Williams is set to make a start in a doubleheader. Following behind Williams could be Stephen Nogosek or southpaw Sam Clay. Both relievers have recently been promoted from Triple-A.

 

• The following relievers have pitched on back-to-back nights and will likely be unavailable for tonight:
  • Closers: Jordan Romano (TOR), Kyle Finnegan (WSH), Josh Hader (SDP), and Kenley Jansen (ATL).
  • Hold Options: Will Smith (HOU), Phil Maton (HOU), José Leclerc (TEX), Carl Edwards Jr. (WSN), Brandon Hughes (CHC), Kevin Ginkel (ARI), and Brad Boxberger (MIL).

 

 

BOS 10 – BAL 15

• Scoring came early and often against Boston’s SP Kutter Crawford, who was knocked out before completing four innings. Following Crawford, Hirokazu Sawamura (1 ER) and Ryan Brasier (5 ER) were lit up for six runs between them. Luckily, all the scoring stopped after that. Jeurys Familia, Matt Barnes, and Matt Strahm finished the final three-plus frames with a 4:1 K/BB ratio while not allowing any hits.
• Baltimore also allowed ten runs, with most of the damage coming early as starter Jordan Lyles allowed four earned runs. In the top of the 5th inning, Keegan Akin allowed four hits and five runs, but none were earned due to multiple fielding errors. Newly recalled, Nick Vespi danced around three hits and an earned run to scoop up his fifth win of the season. Dillon Tate, Cionel Pérez, and Félix Bautista kept base runners to a minimum and collected outs quickly to finish the final three innings.

 

MIL 7 – CHC 8

• Milwaukee starter Aaron Ashby struggled through five and left the game down by a run. However, Hoby Milner was credited with the loss after giving up a two-run blast to Christopher Morel. Peter Strzelecki and Brad Boxberger pitched the final two innings while striking out a pair each.
• Chicago didn’t get a long outing from starter Keegan Thompson, who served up three dingers. So, bulk work came from Kervin Castro, who allowed two earned runs of his own. In the 6th inning, Michael Rucker pitched a clean inning and was rewarded the win after the offense put the team ahead. Mark Leiter Jr. was DOMINANT and struck out all three batters faced in the 8th inning. Finally, Brandon Hughes (not Rowan Wick) came in for the final three outs and picked up his second save. Wick was available after receiving a day off on Thursday.

 

CIN 4 – PIT 5

• Cincy got a solid outing from starter Graham Ashcraft, who lasted nearly seven innings. Much like we’ve seen all season, the bullpen usage has been sporadic, and Alexis Díaz pitched in the 7th inning (not the 9th). Following Diaz, Reiver Sanmartin notched his sixth save in a clean inning. However,  Joel Kuhnel couldn’t escape the 9th inning with the lead and was tallied with the blown save.
• For the Pirates, starter Bryse Wilson scattered five hits (two HR) over seven innings. In the 8th inning, Duane Underwood Jr. ran into some trouble, and Wil Crowe came in to collect the final out. Additionally, Crowe came back out for the last three outs and ended up getting the win.

 

NYM 7 – PHI 2

• The Mets got a terrific outing from Chris Bassitt, who lasted six innings. Adam Ottavino, Joely Rodríguez, and Trevor May each notched a scoreless inning with very little theatrics.
• Philly starter Aaron Nola allowed five earned in five innings. The deficit was too much for the team to come back from, and Nola was tarnished with his 10th loss. Nick Nelson followed Nola and pitched a scoreless frame. In the 7th inning, Andrew Bellatti put far too many on base and allowed a pair of runners to cross the plate. Sam Coonrod completed the final two innings while laboring through 27 pitches and will likely be unavailable for Saturday.

 

TOR 4 – NYY 0

• Toronto starter Kevin Gausman shut down the struggling New York offense with seven innings of no-run ball. Following Gausman, Yimi García pitched a scoreless frame, and Jordan Romano struck out one in his stellar performance. In fact, 14 of Romano’s 17 pitches went for a strike.
• Jameson Taillon allowed three runs over five innings and dropped his record to 11-4. After a full day’s rest, the bullpen found work for many of them. Lou Trivino, Wandy Peralta, and Jonathan Loáisiga pitched scoreless frames from the 6th through 8th inning. However, Aroldis Chapman couldn’t keep the trend and was removed after only one out while walking two and giving up an earned run. Ron Marinaccio collected the final two outs.

 

LAA 1 – DET 0

• Patrick Sandoval tossed a complete game in a pitchers’ duel while only allowing four hits and striking out nine batters.
• Detroits’ Matt Manning sprinkled three hits and one earned run over seven innings of work. The only RPs utilized were Jose Jimene and Jason Foley, who each hurled scoreless three-out performances.

 

KCR 3 – TBR 2 (10 innings)

• After six strong innings, starter Brady Singer retreated to the bench. Dylan Coleman pitched the next two innings and racked up three Ks. Next up, Scott Barlow pitched a 1-2-3 inning to take the game into extras. In the 10th inning, Barlow came back out and collected the win, thanks to a base running miscue by the Rays.
• The Rays got seven innings from Sugar Shane and quickly brought Jason Adam in to advance through eight innings. After a scoreless 9th inning from Jalen Beeks, he returned for the 10th. Unfortunately, the inherited ghost runner on second base scored after a pair of sacrifices. Beeks was tallied with his third loss.

 

CHW 2 – CLE 5

• Starter Lance Lynn looked like his old self in this one and pitched 5.2 innings while only allowing one earned run. After inducing the third out in the 6th inning, Reynaldo López returned in the seventh but didn’t fare well. He was touched up for three earned runs on three hits. Although, one of those runs came with Jake Diekman on the mound. Diekman was a disaster and walked three before recording an out. Jimmy Lambert pitched the final 1.1 innings and kept things quiet.
• Cleveland got a gem from starter Triston McKenzie, who struck out 14 in seven innings. Additionally, his two earned runs were all the offense Chicago could muster. Trevor Stephan notched his 11th hold with a one-strikeout inning, and Emmanuel Clase picked up save #28 with a pair of punchouts.

 

HOU 2 – ATL 6

• After starter Lance McCuller Jr. gave up three earned runs through five innings, Phil Maton allowed three earned runs of his own in an inning of work. Will Smith followed with an inning that included one walk and one strikeout but no runs. Finally, Héctor Neris completed the 8th inning with a walk, strikeout, and no runs as well.
• Atlanta’s Kyle Wright picked up his 15th win with a six-inning outing. Helping keep the lead, Collin McHugh tossed two innings while striking out three batters. In the 9th inning, in a non-save chance, Kenley Jansen struck out two after a leadoff double to Alex Bregman.

 

TEX 1 – MIN 2

• Texas only needed two relievers in this one. Brock Burke tossed a clean 8th inning, and José Leclerc found work for the second time in as many days. Additionally, Leclerc struck out a batter in his lone inning.
• After starter Dylan Bundy exited the 6th inning with the lead, the Twins pitched the primary RPs. Earning holds, Caleb Thielbar (15), Trevor Megill (3), and Jhoan Duran (16) each pitched scoreless outings. With a one-run lead, Jorge López gave another scare as he walked a pair before inducing a double-play to end the game.

 

SFG 4 – COL 7

• It wasn’t an outing to write home about for starter Alex Wood, who allowed seven earned runs over 4.2 innings of work. Luckily, the bullpen was outstanding. Alex Young scattered two hits but notched 1.1 innings of outs. Tyler Rogers followed with his own clean inning before Dominic Leone found 14 strikes in 19 pitches to complete his inning.
• After starter José Ureña kept the lead through nearly seven innings, Lucas Gilbreath struggled but escaped before too much damage was done. In the 8th inning, Carlos Estévez allowed a leadoff double but finished his inning strong by collecting three straight outs. Up by three runs, and as we’ve expected, Daniel Bard struck out three to-notch save #25.

 

WSN 6 – SDP 3

• Outside of starter Paolo Espino, the Washington pitchers were outstanding. Steve Cishek, Carl Edwards Jr., Erasmo Ramírez, and Kyle Finnegan combined for four innings with four Ks and didn’t allow a single base runner. Additionally, Víctor Arano made an appearance but gave up a leadoff double that charged two earned runs to Espino.
• Following starter Blake Snell, the Padres’ bullpen was solid…until Josh Hader toed the rubber. He failed to record a single out and puts two men on base before giving up an HR. Luis Garcia was implemented following the three-run dinger and struck out a pair to finish the inning.

 

SEA 10 – OAK 2

• In the 6th inning, Matt Brash collected his fourth hold after collecting the final two outs. What made the appearance extremely helpful to Seattle was starter Marco Gonzales left with the bases loaded and one out. After that tense moment, the Seattle bullpen went into lock-down mode. Diego Castillo, Penn Murfee, and Chris Flexen combined for three innings and three Ks but no base runners.
• After Oaklands’ Cole Irvin allowed five earned in six innings, Norge Ruiz got rocked(1.2 IP, six hits, four runs, two earned runs). At that point, it’s deep in the game and down by eight runs. Sam Moll finished the final 1.1 innings without allowing much action and striking out a batter.

 

STL 5 – ARI 1

• The Cardinals got eight innings of two-hit ball from starter Miles Mikolas. The final three outs belonged to Jordan Hicks, who struck out all three but put two men on base via hits.
• Diamondbacks’ starter Tommy Henry was cruising until the 6th inning when he walked Paul Goldschmidt and allowed a single to Nolan Arenado. Following a base running mistake by Arenado, Kevin Ginkel came on for relief and finished the final two batters off. Unfortunately, he imploded in the next inning, and St Louis hung a four-spot on the scoreboard. Lower-leverage RPs Edwin Uceta and Tyler Holton quietly completed the final two innings.

 

MIA 1 – LAD 2

• The Marlins got a great start from Jesús Luzardo, who looked back to form after an extensive injury layoff. His 6.1 innings of one-run ball kept the team within shouting distance of winning. However, Dylan Floro’s leadoff triple to Mookie Betts became the deciding factor.
• The Dodgers got seven innings from starter Tyler Anderson. Following Anderson in the 8th inning, Chris Martin notched his fourth win after striking out one batter. Then, in the 9th inning (Craig Kimbrel unavailable due to over-usage), the team turned to Evan Phillips for the save. His 1-2-3 inning gave him save #2.

 

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

 

Photos by Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Doug Carlin (@Bdougals on Twitter)