Welcome to the RP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every reliever performance from the previous day.
MIN 5 – KCR 1
HLD: Kody Funderburk | HLD: Cole Sands | HLD: Taylor Rogers
Kody Funderburk (HLD) — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 2 Whiffs, 33.3% CSW. The cutter did well for him yesterday, especially considering he had no command of his offspeed stuff. There’s opportunity in this bullpen.
Cole Sands (HLD) — 0.2 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 Whiffs, 27.3% CSW. Sands started the 8th inning by giving up back-to-back singles on two really well executed pitches. His stuff just isn’t dominant enough, so he’ll have some bad batted ball luck as a result, even with great command like he had today.
Taylor Rogers (HLD) — 0.1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 2 Whiffs, 75.0% CSW. Got a called strike on a sinker with the runner at first stealing (Cags was taking all the way). Then got Caglianone to whiff at two sliders. Rogers should still get lefties out as long as he isn’t in a situation where he needs to rely on his fastball.
Justin Topa — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 Whiffs, 30.8% CSW. Topa got the ninth in what was not a save situation anymore, but this is not something you want to chase.
Matt Strahm — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 3 Whiffs, 36.8% CSW. Strahm’s fastball is still down 2 mph, but the shape in this one was a huge improvement (20.2″ iVB). That’s a new development and could just be a one-time thing, but if this is able to stick, now we are talking three above-average offerings again for Strahm.
John Schreiber — 1.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K, 2 Whiffs, 18.5% CSW. Schreiber is very OK, but the Royals should hope for better from their 8th-inning man.
Steven Cruz — 1.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 3 Whiffs, 22.2% CSW. He’s not this bad. The first two home runs were opposite-field line drives that the Twins lefties (Wallner and Clemens) just did a good job with, but he eventually hung a slider to Bell that he turned on and crushed.
ATL 17 – ARI 2
SV: Osvaldo Bido
Tyler Kinley — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 2 Whiffs, 40.0% CSW. Slider remains good, just have to worry about how hittable his fastball can be.
Osvaldo Bido (SV) — 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 4 Whiffs, 26.2% CSW. Bido gave the Braves some length here to save the rest of the bullpen for the weekend.
Kevin Ginkel — 0.1 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 0 K, 2 Whiffs, 9.1% CSW. Nope, this isn’t going to work.
Joe Ross — 2.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 1 K, 8 Whiffs, 26.9% CSW. Neither is this. I don’t think Ross will be on the roster much longer.
Andrew Hoffmann — 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 Whiffs, 30.4% CSW. The fastball is vulnerable, and the changeup is really good. Maybe he can be Tommy Kahnle 2.0?
James McCann — 1.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 Whiffs, 10.0% CSW. He wound up getting three outs eventually.
NYM 2 – SFG 7
SV: Blade Tidwell
Sean Manaea — 3.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 6 Whiffs, 24.3% CSW. Manaea saved the Mets bullpen here.
Ryan Walker — 0.2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 Whiffs, 33.3% CSW. Obviously, this is weird usage for Walker, and while it may just be because Ray was starting, does that mean any time the Giants have a lefty starter, Walker will be the first guy out of the bullpen? Luckily, they only have Ray at this point, but Carson Whisenhunt isn’t far behind. Walker, for his part, looked his best tonight, and ideally, this would be his role.
Blade Tidwell (SV) — 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 8 Whiffs, 29.7% CSW. 3 games last night and we got 2 three-inning saves. Tidwell’s four-seam and sweeper actually could be something here if the Giants ever consider him for a traditional relief role.
TOR – CHW
Postponed
Also, if you’re looking for the detailed list or ranking of Relievers, check out my weekly RP Ranks
