Fantasy Baseball Reliever Roundup

Arizona Diamondbacks
Ryan Thompson	1.1 IP	1 H	1 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	26% CSW
Brandyn Garcia	2.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	40% CSW
Kevin Ginkel	1.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	14% CSW

Brandyn Garcia made his 2025 debut here and looked really strong with his sinker/sweeper combo. As long as the command is OK, he should get a chance to stick in this bullpen.

Chicago Cubs
Ryan Rolison	0.2 IP	3 ER	3 H	1 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	24% CSW
Phil Maton – HLD (1)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	45% CSW
Jacob Webb – SV (1)	2.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	3 K	6 Whiffs	31% CSW

Jacob Webb getting a save here shouldn’t be a shock, it’s the two-inning save that is surprising. The fastball/changeup combo looked great here, though.

Texas Rangers
Cole Winn	0.2 IP	1 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	24% CSW
Jalen Beeks – BS (1)	1.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	27% CSW
Tyler Alexander – W (1)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	14% CSW
Jakob Junis – HLD (5)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	22% CSW
Jacob Latz – SV (3)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	33% CSW

Jacob Latz is the real deal, and probably going to be in the top 10 of my closer rankings next week. If he’s still available in your league, you’re gonna want to change that.

Detroit Tigers
Enmanuel De Jesús	1.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	29% CSW
Brenan Hanifee	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	31% CSW
Brant Hurter	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	1 Whiffs	38% CSW
Burch Smith – L (1)	2.0 IP	1 ER	3 H	0 BB	3 K	4 Whiffs	22% CSW

There’s nothing exactly special about Brant Hurter (the sinker/sweeper duo is above average), but I think he may be the most consistent lefty in this bullpen right now, so there may be some value here in holds leagues eventually.

Cincinnati Reds
Zach Maxwell	1.0 IP	4 ER	3 H	2 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	24% CSW
Sam Moll	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	40% CSW
Pierce Johnson	1.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	2 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	21% CSW
Luis Mey	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	26% CSW
Jose Trevino	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	27% CSW

I doubt Zach Maxwell will be sticking around after this outing. The fifth inning started with a walk and a HR, followed by a flyout…and then a single and a second HR. The stuff is still awesome, the command is just Ryne Stanek-esque still.

Pittsburgh Pirates
Justin Lawrence	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	23% CSW
Evan Sisk	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	33% CSW

Justin Lawrence hasn’t allowed a run over his past seven outings, also not allowing a walk over that span. It does come with just four strikeouts, though, as the stuff has taken a step back, so I’m not sure how excited you should really be about this scoreless stretch.

Milwaukee Brewers
Aaron Ashby	2.2 IP	1 ER	2 H	2 BB	4 K	5 Whiffs	33% CSW
Easton McGee	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	20% CSW

I was hoping we’d see Aaron Ashby finish this game and get a save (he still has ZERO SV+HLD’s, 0), but his ability to go multiple innings and rack up strikeouts still gives him some value in almost any format. Just make sure you have a plan in place to counteract that poor WHIP.

Washington Nationals
Cionel Pérez	2.0 IP	2 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	19% CSW
Andre Granillo	1.0 IP	3 H	1 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	25% CSW
Paxton Schultz	1.0 IP	1 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	29% CSW

Trying to find trustworthy relievers in this bullpen is a chore, and I had some hope that Paxton Schultz could be a guy the Nationals could rely on this offseason, but the stuff just isn’t adding up.

Baltimore Orioles
Albert Suárez	2.2 IP	1 ER	1 H	4 BB	3 K	7 Whiffs	22% CSW
Tyler Wells	1.1 IP	1 ER	3 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	28% CSW

Tyler Wells was the 8th inning guy on Opening Day, but he’s at best the 5th option now to replace the injured Ryan Helsley. It’s not even that he’s pitched particularly poorly or that his stuff isn’t good (cause it is), this bullpen is just so deep at the moment.

New York Yankees
Fernando Cruz – HLD (5)	0.2 IP	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	33% CSW
Camilo Doval	1.0 IP	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	45% CSW
Jake Bird	1.0 IP	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	42% CSW

No Hold for Camilo Doval, but his stuff continues to trend upward, as he was sitting 99 MPH here. If the velo sticks and his command doesn’t completely tank, he should get back to being a relatively safe SV+HLD’s option.

Houston Astros
Bennett Sousa	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	25% CSW
Bryan King	1.0 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	29% CSW

The fastball could be a bit better, but Bennett Sousa has looked more like his 2025 self these past two outings. I’d take him over Bryan King at this point.

Boston Red Sox
Zack Kelly – HLD (3)	1.1 IP	2 H	2 K	4 Whiffs	37% CSW
Danny Coulombe – HLD (3)	0.2 IP	1 H	0 K	0 Whiffs	0% CSW
Garrett Whitlock – HLD (5)	1.0 IP	2 H	0 K	3 Whiffs	25% CSW
Aroldis Chapman – SV (6)	1.0 IP	1 H	1 K	2 Whiffs	31% CSW

There are a lot of issues with this Red Sox team, obviously, but Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman can absolutely not be one of them if they have any hope of turning things around. Whitlock’s stuff more or less looks great still, even with the diminished velocity. He’s just not as dominant as he was last year.
This was probably the worst Chapman has looked in some time, and it’s not even bad; it’s just not elite Chapman. Sitting at 95.7 MPH is a lot different than 98.7 MPH.

San Francisco Giants
JT Brubaker	1.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	24% CSW

Not really interested in “Coffee Cakes”, unless it’s one of those Boston Coffee Cakes (IYKYK).

Tampa Bay Rays
Ian Seymour – HLD (7)	1.0 IP	1 H	0 K	1 Whiffs	36% CSW
Cole Sulser – HLD (4)	1.0 IP	0 H	1 K	2 Whiffs	30% CSW
Bryan Baker – SV (8)	1.0 IP	0 H	1 K	0 Whiffs	17% CSW

Bryan was the Tru Baker in this matchup as he cooked up the Giants lineup…I apologize for going full Nick. But seriously, Bryan Baker now is third in baseball in saves and looks like a legit top 10 reliever no matter the role, so he needs to be rostered everywhere.

Philadelphia Phillies
Orion Kerkering	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	31% CSW
Jonathan Bowlan	0.2 IP	3 ER	2 H	1 BB	0 K	3 Whiffs	26% CSW
José Alvarado – HLD (4)	0.1 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	50% CSW
Brad Keller – SV (1)	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	1 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	31% CSW

Better days are ahead for Jonathan Bowlan (one hit was off Stott’s glove); he just needs to tighten up his command a bit.
We finally got a save from Brad Keller, right before Jhoan Duran is scheduled to return from the IL. His command was terrible, but we’ll take the save and probably be dropping him in the coming days.

Miami Marlins
Cade Gibson	1.2 IP	4 ER	5 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	24% CSW
Lake Bachar	2.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	3 K	7 Whiffs	43% CSW

Lake Bachar’s 38.6% Whiff rate puts him in the 98th percentile, but he unfortunately only has one hold and zero wins so far. If he had five wins right now, we’d be more interested in Bachar over Aaron Ashby.

Toronto Blue Jays
Braydon Fisher – HLD (5)	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	44% CSW
Jeff Hoffman	1.0 IP	1 ER	3 H	0 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	50% CSW
Tyler Rogers	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	56% CSW
Louis Varland	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	2 K	5 Whiffs	30% CSW

The first two hits Jeff Hoffman allowed here were infield dribblers (the second one was probably an error) before a hard-hit single and a sac fly to the warning track with the bases loaded (that Heineman totally thought was a grand slam). The stuff is still excellent, the command can always be better, though, and he’s just going through this rough patch right now with bad batted ball luck.

Minnesota Twins
Taylor Rogers	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	38% CSW
Eric Orze	2.1 IP	1 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	24% CSW
Luis García Jr.	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	22% CSW

The bullpen usage here is maddeningly frustrating. Why all of a sudden is Eric Orze asked to get 7 outs? Why is Luis García Jr. taking up a roster spot? Is Taylor Rogers going to have a positive K-BB rate this season with a 16% Whiff rate?

Los Angeles Dodgers
Jack Dreyer	1.1 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	19% CSW
Edgardo Henriquez	1.0 IP	2 ER	2 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	21% CSW
Kyle Hurt	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	50% CSW

I hate to say it, but I’m afraid the Dodgers have done it again with Kyle Hurt potentially being a legit bullpen weapon for them. He hasn’t seen any high leverage work yet, but just take a peek at his player page.

St. Louis Cardinals
George Soriano – HLD (4)	1.1 IP	0 H	1 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	28% CSW
Gordon Graceffo	1.0 IP	1 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	24% CSW
Matt Svanson	1.0 IP	1 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	38% CSW

George Soriano and Gordon Graceffo have emerged as the top right-handed options behind closer Riley O’Brien here, but it’s too risky to really trust either one with their below-average fastballs.

Atlanta Braves
Anthony Molina	2.0 IP	0 H	1 BB	0 K	3 Whiffs	27% CSW
Didier Fuentes – W (1)	1.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	20% CSW
Robert Suarez – SV (4)	1.0 IP	1 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	29% CSW

Raisel Iglesias will probably be back next week, so Robert Suarez time as closer could be coming to an end…for now. I still think we may see him take over that role at some point this summer when Iglesias runs into trouble.

Colorado Rockies
Zach Agnos	1.1 IP	2 ER	1 H	2 BB	1 K	6 Whiffs	28% CSW
Jaden Hill – BS (1)	0.2 IP	2 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	26% CSW
Juan Mejia – L (3)	1.0 IP	2 ER	2 H	2 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	35% CSW

This is more like what we’ve come to expect from the Rockies bullpen.

New York Mets
Huascar Brazobán – W (2)	1.0 IP	1 K	2 Whiffs	45% CSW
Brooks Raley – HLD (5)	1.0 IP	1 K	2 Whiffs	38% CSW
Luke Weaver – HLD (3)	1.0 IP	2 K	2 Whiffs	18% CSW
Devin Williams – SV (3)	1.0 IP	2 K	4 Whiffs	50% CSW

This was vintage Devin Williams, and I don’t want to get too excited, but this was Williams dominating the 2-3-4 hitters in the Angels lineup (I know it’s a weak lineup with Moncada hitting 3rd). Hopefully luck gets back on his side (only two qualified relievers have BABIPs over .500 right now: Jeff Hoffman and Williams).

Los Angeles Angels
Brent Suter – HLD (2)	0.2 IP	2 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	29% CSW
Chase Silseth – BS (2)	0.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	33% CSW
Jose Fermin – L (1)	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	29% CSW
Nick Sandlin	2.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	17% CSW

Tough luck loss for Jose Fermin, who gave up the go-ahead HR to Mauricio on a fastball up and out of the zone (good piece of hitting, I guess). A lot of bad things would have to happen for Fermin to get a look in the closer role, but he has the stuff for that role, just needs to shore up the command now.

Cleveland Guardians
Tim Herrin	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	0 K	3 Whiffs	30% CSW
Matt Festa – HLD (2)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	10% CSW
Hunter Gaddis	0.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	2 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	19% CSW
Erik Sabrowski – W (1)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	50% CSW
Connor Brogdon – HLD (3)	0.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	27% CSW
Cade Smith – SV (8)	1.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	27% CSW

Not good from Hunter Gaddis here, as the velo was way down and he had no command. Hopefully, this isn’t health-related.
Still not loving the command from Cade Smith, but he’s surviving for now, and we’ll take it. The command needs to improve, though.

Athletics
Hogan Harris	1.1 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	26% CSW
Justin Sterner	1.0 IP	2 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	24% CSW
Brady Basso	0.2 IP	1 ER	3 H	1 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	26% CSW
Joel Kuhnel	1.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	25% CSW

I’d love to see some consistency in this bullpen from anyone not named Perkins. Hogan Harris and Justin Sterner should be the two other guys they can rely on, but they are still really hard to trust, as you don’t know what you are going to get with Harris and his 1.53 WHIP or Sterner and his 1.56 WHIP.

Chicago White Sox
Tyler Davis	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	44% CSW
Osvaldo Bido	1.0 IP	2 ER	3 H	1 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	23% CSW
Jordan Hicks	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	58% CSW

In case you were wondering, no, Jordan Hicks is still not anywhere near the radar in any fantasy format.

San Diego Padres
Wandy Peralta	2.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	2 K	7 Whiffs	26% CSW
Ron Marinaccio	2.0 IP	1 ER	3 H	1 BB	1 K	5 Whiffs	27% CSW

The same goes for Wandy Peralta, so we can just ignore the Gold Star performances in this game and move on.

Kansas City Royals
Nick Mears – HLD (4)	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	20% CSW
Daniel Lynch IV – W (1)	1.0 IP	2 ER	2 H	0 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	28% CSW
Matt Strahm – HLD (8)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	36% CSW
Lucas Erceg – SV (8)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	33% CSW

Daniel Lynch IV finally ran into some trouble, and I worry that it may be a sign of things to come as he’s more or less been the same pitcher he was last season. I still like him (the swing and miss gains could be real), but we should expect that .148 BABIP to creep closer to his .296 career mark over time.
Lucas Erceg worked a clean inning, his first in seven appearances, so we will certainly take that, and who cares if he faced Leo Rivas (why is he hitting in the 9th down a run?), Crawford, before getting Raleigh to fly out. The stuffs still down and closer to average than anything, but he should at least find a way to remain in this closer role until Carlos Estevez returns.

Seattle Mariners
Cole Wilcox	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	2 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	35% CSW
Jose A. Ferrer – L (1)	1.0 IP	1 ER	3 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	13% CSW
Alex Hoppe	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	3 K	4 Whiffs	47% CSW

Jose A. Ferrer left a slider up to Sal Perez here for a double before allowing a single over the second baseman’s head with the infield in and a single through the shift on the left side. The command of his secondaries isn’t great, right? That’s why he doesn’t throw them often. But it’s going to need to improve, or he’ll forever be that high BABIP guy who’s constantly “unlucky”.
Alex Hoppe’s fastball is probably not good enough (yet) for him to stick and enter the high-leverage conversation here.

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Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Roundup: 5/1

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Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Roundup: 5/1

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