Welcome to the RP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every reliever performance from the previous day.
MIN 6 – BAL 8
W: Rico Garcia | SV: Ryan Helsley | HLD: Tyler Wells | HLD: Yennier Cano | BS: Yaramil Hiraldo
Anthony Banda — 0.2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 Whiffs, 33.3% CSW. three pitches
Grant Wolfram — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 2 Whiffs, 42.1% CSW. Interesting lefty with good breakers, and he located his sinker great today.
Yaramil Hiraldo (BS) — 0.1 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 3 BB, 1 K, 3 Whiffs, 25.0% CSW. Zero location in this one, but man, that four-seamer (96.1 MPH, 20.2″ iVB) is intriguing, and the splitter can get whiffs. Just don’t hang that slider.
Rico Garcia (W) — 0.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 Whiffs, 37.5% CSW. Speaking of awesome four-seamers, Garcia’s is approaching elite level (97 MPH, 20″ iVB). He should probably be their 8th inning guy.
Tyler Wells (HLD) — 0.2 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 5 Whiffs, 40.7% CSW. Wells is working with 4-5 quality pitches, just needs to figure out the mix for short inning stints.
Yennier Cano (HLD) — 0.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 3 Whiffs, 33.3% CSW. Had a tough 9 pitch AB against Buxton with the bases loaded. Eventually got Buxton to K, so that should boost his manager’s trust.
Ryan Helsley (SV) — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 Whiffs, 20.0% CSW. Stuff looked great again, could probably locate better, but that’s nitpicking.
TEX 8 – PHI 3
HLD: Cole Winn
Cole Winn (HLD) — 0.2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 Whiffs, 9.1% CSW. Not sure what to think with Winn yet. Stuff looks better this year.
Carter Baumler — 1.2 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 4 BB, 2 K, 6 Whiffs, 25.6% CSW. No fastball command for Baumler yesterday, or curveball command for that matter.
Chris Martin — 0.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 Whiffs, 0.0% CSW. Three pitches (none near the strike zone).
Robert Garcia — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 Whiffs, 42.9% CSW. Still don’t love where his command is at (it was a bit better), but at least he got the ninth inning again?
Zach Pop — 1.0 IP, 2 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 4 Whiffs, 32.0% CSW. nope.
Brad Keller — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 Whiffs, 31.2% CSW. Phillies debut went well, but I think we need to be ready for some regression with Keller.
Kyle Backhus — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 Whiffs, 33.3% CSW. Plus sweeper, bad fastball.
KCR 4 – ATL 1
SV: Lucas Erceg | HLD: Matt Strahm
Matt Strahm (HLD) — 0.2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 Whiffs, 25.0% CSW. Four pitches (well located)
John Schreiber — 1.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 Whiffs, 30.4% CSW. Blegh. I’d hope Mears could take over the top right-handed setup role here if Erceg takes over the closer role.
Lucas Erceg (SV) — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 Whiffs, 16.7% CSW. Command is still shaky, but the stuff is back to 2024 levels, and he may be the trusted 9th inning guy here now. Definitely worth the speculative add.
Didier Fuentes — 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 4 Whiffs, 28.6% CSW. He should be starting (and will be eventually).
ATH 2 – TOR 5
SV: Jeff Hoffman | HLD: Braydon Fisher | HLD: Tommy Nance | HLD: Mason Fluharty
J.T. Ginn — 3.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 3 Whiffs, 28.9% CSW. Great slider, no fastball
Braydon Fisher (HLD) — 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 6 Whiffs, 40.9% CSW. 14 sliders, 5 curveballs, and 3 fastballs in this one. He’ll be spinning those breakers until his arm falls off.
Tommy Nance (HLD) — 0.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 2 Whiffs, 33.3% CSW. Nance also possesses two plus breakers and continues to be slept on as a reliever.
Mason Fluharty (HLD) — 0.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 Whiffs, 40.0% CSW. Good to see Fluharty back after eating a couple of line drives. He’s a nasty, super underrated lefty.
Jeff Hoffman (SV) — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 4 Whiffs, 40.0% CSW. Stuff looked great, the command was good enough. Good to see him get on the saves board.
BOS 2 – CIN 3
W: Brock Burke | L: Greg Weissert | SV: Emilio Pagán | HLD: Pierce Johnson | HLD: Tony Santillan
Greg Weissert (L) — 0.2 IP, 2 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 Whiffs, 33.3% CSW. I’m over the Weissert experiment. Hitters know he has no trustworthy fastball.
Jovani Morán — 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 4 Whiffs, 36.0% CSW. The offspeed stuff is fun if he can locate better.
Brock Burke (W) — 1.1 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 K, 5 Whiffs, 29.6% CSW. Located his fastballs with precision, but the slider was a mess. Should remain the team’s top lefty even when Ferguson returns.
Pierce Johnson (HLD) — 0.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 Whiffs, 30.8% CSW. He’ll get a handful of holds to begin the season despite having the worst stuff in that bullpen.
Tony Santillan (HLD) — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 5 Whiffs, 33.3% CSW. Santillan sitting at 93.7 MPH with his fastball is a pretty big red flag here. He either needs some rest/IL stint or to be moved to lower-leverage situations for now.
Emilio Pagán (SV) — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 Whiffs, 8.3% CSW. Pagán was able to close out this one, but did make it interesting, and it’s fair to worry about him. He should have some leeway, but there are better relievers in this bullpen (Connor Phillips and maybe Graham Ashcraft).
PIT 4 – NYM 3
W: Dennis Santana | L: Richard Lovelady | SV: José Urquidy
Yohan Ramírez — 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 4 Whiffs, 45.5% CSW. Yohan probably deserves a better role in this bullpen, but then again, he has next to no fastball command. The breakers, though…
Mason Montgomery — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 K, 8 Whiffs, 45.0% CSW. Classic Montgomery, although he upgraded to D locations in this one. Again, there’s only a handful of relievers that have similar stuff to him, but that fastball command needs to lock in before anyone can fully trust him.
Isaac Mattson — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 Whiffs, 46.2% CSW. Good stuff from Mattson today. The four-seam shape and ability to locate it decently well should keep him in a high-leverage role.
Dennis Santana (W) — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 3 Whiffs, 38.5% CSW. We knew the fastball was bad, but should we be worried about the slider? It’s taken a step back stuff-wise as well.
José Urquidy (SV) — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 K, 0 Whiffs, 18.2% CSW. I actually could see Urquidy being an interesting four-seam/changeup reliever.
Huascar Brazobán — 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 Whiffs, 7.1% CSW. Ignore.
Sean Manaea — 1.1 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 4 Whiffs, 31.0% CSW. Hmm. I wonder what kind of role Manaea carves out in this bullpen, because he could be interesting, but I’d imagine he’s mostly going to be a long mop-up guy or spot starter (or eventually a starter).
Luke Weaver — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 BB, 1 K, 3 Whiffs, 31.8% CSW. Not the best fastball command from Weaver today, but nothing to be concerned about moving forward.
Richard Lovelady (L) — 1.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 K, 4 Whiffs, 26.9% CSW. nope
COL 3 – MIA 4
W: Michael Petersen | L: Victor Vodnik | HLD: Antonio Senzatela
Jimmy Herget — 0.2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 3 Whiffs, 62.5% CSW. Sweeper be sweeping and slider be sliding.
Antonio Senzatela (HLD) — 2.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 3 Whiffs, 34.9% CSW. This result looks tempting, maybe, but it’s the same old Senzatela.
Victor Vodnik (L) — 1.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 Whiffs, 36.4% CSW. I shouldn’t have to say it, but as a general rule of thumb. Do not roster Rockies relievers. That being said, Vodnik does have great stuff, but if you hang a changeup middle-middle, most left-handed power bats will make you pay. I’d love Vodnik if he were traded, and maybe he figures things out here, but I’d let someone else deal with him in Colorado.
Tyler Phillips — 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 4 Whiffs, 36.4% CSW. Phillips has a fun arsenal of pitches that all move various different ways, making it really hard for hitters to square him up. That sweeper is the go-to, though, and it was working yesterday.
John King — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 5 Whiffs, 50.0% CSW. This is just a result of Rockie Road, I believe, as King only threw three pitches near the strike zone.
Michael Petersen (W) — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 5 Whiffs, 72.7% CSW. Petersen has been in multiple organizations recently, but it’s not because of a lack of stuff. The fastball is electric (98 MPH, 20.4″ iVB), so if he can locate and stay healthy, he could be a problem. This bullpen has a crazy amount of plus stuff.
LAA 7 – HOU 9
W: AJ Blubaugh | L: Drew Pomeranz | SV: Bryan King | HLD: Bryan Abreu
Chase Silseth — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 4 Whiffs, 42.9% CSW. Maybe there’s something here as a reliever? He’ll get a long chance to earn a consistent role with no more options left.
Sam Bachman — 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 3 Whiffs, 32.4% CSW. 21 sliders over 34 pitches thrown lol. It’s a great pitch, so I get it. He also couldn’t find the zone with his fastball. Really fun three-pitch mix here if he can command his sinker better.
Drew Pomeranz (L) — 1.0 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 0 K, 0 Whiffs, 17.6% CSW. The Stuff was still great, he just couldn’t command his curveball at all. He’ll be fine.
Roddery Muñoz — 2.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 13 Whiffs, 42.6% CSW. Despite that Whiff total, I am not too interested here as the locations were a mess and the stuff is more or less average (ok, the slider can be good).
Christian Roa — 0.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 Whiffs, 66.7% CSW. Three pitches (one really good four-seam though)
Steven Okert — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 Whiffs, 13.3% CSW. Slider heavy usage as expected, but Okert didn’t have his best command today.
AJ Blubaugh (W) — 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 5 Whiffs, 34.8% CSW. I don’t know what his role is going to be, but man, if the Astros didn’t think Hader was going to return this season, I’d say Blubaugh should be their closer. Three plus pitches, and he commanded them fairly well today. He’s at least a holds league option.
Bryan Abreu (HLD) — 0.1 IP, 1 ER, 0 H, 2 BB, 0 K, 0 Whiffs, 14.3% CSW. Something is clearly not right with Abreu; hopefully, it isn’t health-related. The velo was down 4.1 MPH here, and he couldn’t locate anything. For the time being, I’d expect him to be built up in lower leverage spots or potentially an IL stint if there is something physically affecting him.
Bryan King (SV) — 0.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 Whiffs, 33.3% CSW. King isn’t the preferred closing option here, but he could be a fine stopgap until Hader returns. Given his arsenal, I’d say I’m worried about him against righties, but last year he actually had some pretty intense reverse splits, so maybe this can work.
CHW 7 – MIL 9
W: Jake Woodford | L: Seranthony Domínguez | SV: Trevor Megill
Jordan Leasure — 1.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 3 Whiffs, 34.6% CSW. I don’t love the early game usage here for Leasure, who served as the “fireman” here. That will limit his holds upside, but the fastball command was awesome here, so that’s a good sign.
Grant Taylor — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 3 Whiffs, 29.2% CSW. A+ stuff with B locations = striking out the side (despite a walk and a hit mixed in). The walk was an inch off the plate, and the single was a weak grounder in the six hole. The command was much better here, and if this can be consistent, then we can talk about Taylor taking over closer duties, maybe.
Chris Murphy — 0.1 IP, 4 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 Whiffs, 23.5% CSW. Whoops. (This actually wasn’t as bad as it looks, definitely some poor luck involved)
Seranthony Domínguez (L) — 0.1 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 K, 0 Whiffs, 15.8% CSW. Obviously, not a great start for Seranthony here, but you take away that terrible splitter he threw to Yelich, and it isn’t too discouraging. He’s a volatile reliever, so you should expect these outings to happen from time to time.
Jordan Hicks — 0.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 Whiffs, 66.7% CSW. three pitches.
Grant Anderson — 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 4 Whiffs, 29.0% CSW. Anderson didn’t have great command but was able to navigate his way through two scoreless innings. The sweeper can be so good for him.
Jared Koenig — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K, 4 Whiffs, 69.2% CSW. Oh ok, I guess Koenig’s spring was just an outlier. If he’s right and the early 2025 version of himself again, this bullpen is incredibly deep, especially from the left side. The stuff’s not great from Koenig, but he can locate so well, just living on the edges in this one, with just one pitch in the zone that wasn’t on an edge.
Jake Woodford (W) — 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 2 Whiffs, 31.8% CSW. Sure, I guess we’ll take it and move on.
Trevor Megill (SV) — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 6 Whiffs, 53.3% CSW. Electric stuff per usual from Megill. He’s the closer here until further notice.
TBR 11 – STL 7
W: Steven Matz | L: Dustin May | HLD: Kevin Kelly | HLD: Garrett Cleavinger
Kevin Kelly (HLD) — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 2 Whiffs, 50.0% CSW. Meh. Offspeed stuff is interesting.
Garrett Cleavinger (HLD) — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K, 2 Whiffs, 21.7% CSW. No command in this one for Cleavinger. I think most of the Rays bullpen will just want to forget about this series.
Mason Englert — 1.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 5 Whiffs, 29.2% CSW. Englert could be on the holds radar eventually, but more likely a long/mop-up guy.
Bryan Baker — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 Whiffs, 40.0% CSW. Was Baker always getting the ninth, or would he have gotten the eighth if the game were closer? Either way, he was the best reliever for the Rays this series, and it shouldn’t be shocking to see him get save chances this week. That doesn’t mean to give up on Jax, just be cognizant of Baker (and maybe speculatively add him).
Justin Bruihl — 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 5 Whiffs, 31.0% CSW. Changeup and sweeper were great, and he located the sinker well enough.
George Soriano — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 Whiffs, 33.3% CSW. Similar to Bruihl, there’s a really good changeup and slider here, just needs to locate the fastballs well.
Matt Pushard — 1.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 Whiffs, 12.9% CSW. nope
Chris Roycroft — 1.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 0 K, 0 Whiffs, 10.3% CSW. also nope.
WSN 6 – CHC 3
W: Jake Irvin | L: Shota Imanaga | SV: Clayton Beeter | HLD: PJ Poulin | HLD: Gus Varland
PJ Poulin (HLD) — 0.2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 Whiffs, 28.6% CSW. Can survive on his offspeed more often than not, as he did here.
Gus Varland (HLD) — 1.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 Whiffs, 33.3% CSW. Yep, this will do. I love the setup usage already for Varland, who deserves it. His stuff has looked great, and he’s locating well right now.
Cionel Pérez — 1.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 3 Whiffs, 45.5% CSW. We may not know it yet, but Pérez may be in a closer committee here with Beeter (based on Opening Day/Spring usage). Either way, he seems locked into the 8th or 9th for this team, and he’s throwing the ball better than he ever has. The fastball is vulnerable, though, and the HR to Bregman wasn’t even in the zone.
Clayton Beeter (SV) — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 Whiffs, 50.0% CSW. Beeter needed just six pitches here, but we should still celebrate the A+ locations, maybe. Only one pitch was out of the zone (a fastball just high that led to a flyout). A great first save chance from Beeter.
Phil Maton — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 Whiffs, 30.4% CSW. Velo doesn’t matter where we’re going
Hunter Harvey — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 Whiffs, 30.0% CSW. Only 10 pitches here, and just three fastballs, but 97.5 MPH is something to get excited about.
Hoby Milner — 1.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 Whiffs, 41.2% CSW. Milner is a Tim Hill-type lefty, where he needs to be locating perfectly to succeed, and he did not today. Sinker location was the issue here, and it wasn’t even terrible; it just needs to be great given how poor his stuff is.
Daniel Palencia — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 4 Whiffs, 31.2% CSW. Some rust here, perhaps from Palencia, who had trouble locating, but everything looks great stuff-wise.
CLE 0 – SEA 8
W: Emerson Hancock | L: Slade Cecconi | SV: Cooper Criswell
Peyton Pallette — 1.2 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 3 Whiffs, 18.4% CSW. A name to keep an eye on, but not near the fantasy radar yet.
Colin Holderman — 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 7 Whiffs, 34.3% CSW. Command is all over the place, but the sweeper can still be a weapon.
Cooper Criswell (SV) — 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 5 K, 7 Whiffs, 29.5% CSW. Gotta love the three-inning mop-up save, but Criswell was dealing in this one, locating his sinker well, and he does possess two good offspeed pitches in his changeup and sweeper.
Also, if you’re looking for the detailed list or ranking of Relievers, check out my weekly RP Ranks
