Fantasy Baseball Reliever Roundup

Philadelphia Phillies
Tim Mayza	1.1 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	47% CSW
Jonathan Bowlan	1.0 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	2 K	5 Whiffs	33% CSW
Chase Shugart	2.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	20% CSW
José Alvarado – W (1)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	3 K	6 Whiffs	36% CSW
Orion Kerkering – SV (1)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	33% CSW

José Alvarado keeps getting hit around, but the stuff has looked great, and the swing and miss has been there lately.

Pittsburgh Pirates
Mason Montgomery	1.1 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	20% CSW
Gregory Soto – BS (2)	1.0 IP	2 ER	2 H	2 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	13% CSW
Dennis Santana – L (3)	0.0 IP	2 ER	4 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	11% CSW
Brandan Bidois	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	29% CSW

This outing could have been a lot worse for Gregory Soto as Bryce Harper was centimeters away from hitting a grand slam (was a two-run “single” instead), which would have turned this line into a .1 IP, 4 ER, 2 H, 2 BB loss instead. Soto’s command (especially to lefties) was basically non-existent, and this is something we see from time to time with him. At least we don’t have to worry about Dennis Santana anymore (Bidois bailed him out here, too), but Mason Montgomery is looming.

Baltimore Orioles
Josh Walker	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	56% CSW

Josh Walker has a pretty good slider, but the Orioles are pretty deep when it comes to LH relievers, so not sure he sticks around for long.

Washington Nationals
Andrew Alvarez – HLD (1)	3.0 IP	2 ER	3 H	1 BB	5 K	9 Whiffs	38% CSW
Gus Varland – HLD (5)	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	44% CSW
Richard Lovelady – SV (2)	0.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	45% CSW

As someone who rosters Gus Varland in one deeper league, I had some unkind words for Blake Butera in this one. The Nationals entered the 9th inning up 3-0 and kept lefty Andrew Alvarez out there to start the inning. He gave up a single to Basallo on the first pitch, then Butera let him pitch to O’Neil, who walked on four pitches. THEN Varland comes in, and while he walked his first batter, he struck out the next and got a fly out for the second out, and then got pulled after facing just three batters for Richard Lovelady. It took Lovelady three batters just to get the final out, but like, why are we so scared of just letting Varland get three outs in the ninth? The unorthodox usage is not helping anybody and almost cost the Nationals another win.

Toronto Blue Jays
Braydon Fisher	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	50% CSW
Joe Mantiply	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	29% CSW
Jeff Hoffman – L (3)	0.2 IP	1 ER	2 H	1 BB	2 K	5 Whiffs	26% CSW

Poor Jeff Hoffman, at this point, you have to feel for the guy. He got a quick strikeout before a bloop flyball fell in between three defenders for a single…but then he got his second strikeout, and things were looking fine. Vierling stole second, which led to Hoffman intentionally walking McKinstry to face Torkelson. The 2-2 fastball Tork singles on was not even a bad pitch at all; that’s just the kind of luck Hoffman is dealing with right now. Hoffman remains the only reliever with a BABIP over .500. In fact, there are only 7 pitchers over .400.

Detroit Tigers
Brant Hurter	0.2 IP	1 ER	1 H	2 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	26% CSW
Ty Madden	0.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	14% CSW
Burch Smith	2.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	23% CSW
Drew Anderson	4.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	20% CSW
Kenley Jansen – W (1)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	5 Whiffs	38% CSW

I think we can move on from the recent injury scare with Kenley Jansen, as he’s looked great recently…and the rest of this bullpen hasn’t. Anderson and Smith looked fine here, but it hasn’t been smooth sailing.

Cincinnati Reds
Pierce Johnson – HLD (3)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	32% CSW
Tony Santillan – HLD (10)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	32% CSW
Graham Ashcraft	0.0 IP	4 ER	1 H	3 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	13% CSW
Brock Burke – HLD (4)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	2 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	17% CSW
Tejay Antone – SV (1)	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	26% CSW

I’m not sure what the exact plan was here. I think Francona was hoping Graham Ashcraft could get through the 8th and then turn to Brock Burke in the ninth, but Ashcraft had other ideas as he threw 12 straight balls to start the inning. That led to Tejay Antone getting the call in the ninth, and as awesome a story as this is, he only has breaking stuff at this point in his career. They are all decent pitches (sweeper, cutter, curve), but not having a fastball as a closer is unorthodox to say the least. He can still match up with right-handed hitters, but ideally, you’d keep him away from lefties as much as possible.

Cleveland Guardians
Matt Festa	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	3 Whiffs	43% CSW
Peyton Pallette	1.0 IP	3 ER	3 H	0 BB	2 K	5 Whiffs	41% CSW
Tim Herrin	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	38% CSW

I don’t think I’ve talked about Tim Herrin much this year, and it was cool to see his sinker up 2 MPH here and in the 95 MPH range. Is the curveball that good, though?

Miami Marlins
Michael Petersen	1.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	21% CSW
Andrew Nardi	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	38% CSW

Andrew Nardi was up 1.3 MPH here, sitting at nearly 96 MPH with his fastball and mixed in some nice changeups and a slider as well. He’s so inconsistent, but outings where he looks like this are why it’s so hard to quit him.

Tampa Bay Rays
Jesse Scholtens – W (4)	5.0 IP	1 ER	5 H	0 BB	4 K	6 Whiffs	28% CSW
Casey Legumina	2.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	21% CSW

Milwaukee Brewers
Aaron Ashby – W (8)	2.0 IP	1 ER	4 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	22% CSW
Abner Uribe – HLD (5)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	36% CSW
Trevor Megill – SV (5)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	25% CSW

Trevor Megill back in the ninth inning is an interesting development, but I’m at the point where I don’t want to play this game going back and forth between Megill and Abner Uribe. Both have their issues and are volatile, and neither one has shown anything to suggest that it is going to change anytime soon. Megill has been great lately (1.77 SIERA, 0.73 WHIP, 37% K, 16% SwStr over the past month), but is the command consistent enough to trust him again? The upside is tempting, and ultimately makes him worth the add where available, but we should probably temper expectations.

Minnesota Twins
Taylor Rogers	1.0 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 K	1 Whiffs	17% CSW
Andrew Morris – L (2)	0.2 IP	1 ER	3 H	0 K	3 Whiffs	29% CSW
Anthony Banda	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 K	1 Whiffs	25% CSW
Yoendrys Gómez	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 K	1 Whiffs	29% CSW

This bullpen is so dull. One strikeout in three innings from four different relievers? Andrew Morris had a poor showing, but at least his stuff ticked up 2 MPH. Maybe that could lead to something.

Boston Red Sox
Greg Weissert	1.1 IP	0 H	0 K	0 Whiffs	8% CSW
Jovani Morán	1.2 IP	1 H	3 K	4 Whiffs	38% CSW
Aroldis Chapman	1.0 IP	0 H	2 K	4 Whiffs	50% CSW
Tyler Samaniego – L (2)	0.0 IP	1 H	0 K	0 Whiffs	0% CSW

Props to Jovani Morán in this one. The Red Sox bullpen has been shorthanded, but Morán got them 5 outs while allowing just a single to Baldwin. That changeup is so good from Moran, and the fastball was up to 94 MPH here as well.

Atlanta Braves
Dylan Lee – HLD (7)	0.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	5 Whiffs	50% CSW
Tyler Kinley – BS (2)	0.2 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	27% CSW
Robert Suarez	1.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	5 Whiffs	33% CSW
Raisel Iglesias	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	20% CSW
Didier Fuentes – W (3)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	40% CSW

Robert Suarez didn’t have his best fastball in this one, but the changeup was there to carry him. It’s nice having three pitches now for him to lean on.
Raisel Iglesias may be incorporating his slider more; he only threw it twice here, but he has been willing to mix it in now, and then lately, so it’s not completely out. He may not need it now, but later in the year it could help.

New York Yankees
Fernando Cruz – HLD (7)	1.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	27% CSW
David Bednar	1.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	1 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	14% CSW

David Bednar gave up a pair of ground ball singles, but otherwise, I was pleased with where his stuff was at. I still think the curveball usage can still come down, as the splitter is the better offspeed pitch.

New York Mets
Austin Warren	1.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	24% CSW
Tobias Myers	2.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	28% CSW
Craig Kimbrel	1.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	24% CSW

Austin Warren was down 1+ MPH across the board last night, but didn’t allow any runs, so let’s just hope the stuff ticks back up next time out.

Chicago Cubs
Ryan Rolison	0.1 IP	1 ER	2 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	10% CSW
Trent Thornton – W (2)	2.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	31% CSW
Javier Assad	2.0 IP	1 ER	3 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	21% CSW

Trent Thornton gave the Cubs a valuable two innings of clean relief, but the stuff remains average at best and is best suited for these kinds of leverage appearances.

Chicago White Sox
Trevor Richards	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	29% CSW
Grant Taylor	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	27% CSW
Bryan Hudson – L (1)	1.0 IP	2 ER	4 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	26% CSW
Jordan Hicks	0.2 IP	4 ER	1 H	4 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	26% CSW
Tyler Schweitzer	1.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	0 K	3 Whiffs	33% CSW

Bryan Hudson had been so good lately; I suppose this was due. He abandoned his sweeper and threw 20/23 fastballs, and even while up 1.4 MPH, the pitch got hit around. As long as the sweeper command doesn’t completely abandon him, this is likely just a blip.

Texas Rangers
Cole Winn	1.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 BB	3 K	5 Whiffs	33% CSW

Cole Winn has just one hold over the past 30 days, but it’s not like he’s looked terrible. The stuff was great in this one, fastball up 1.5 MPH, and the slider was working (3/8 Whiffs), he just didn’t have command of his cutter.

Houston Astros
Bryan King – SV (4)	1.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	29% CSW

Bryan King’s fastball command was good enough here to survive, and the command needs to be stellar for him with the average stuff he possesses.

Kansas City Royals
Daniel Lynch IV	1.0 IP	1 H	1 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	25% CSW
Nick Mears	1.0 IP	2 H	1 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	31% CSW
Matt Strahm	0.2 IP	1 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	40% CSW
John Schreiber	0.1 IP	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	0% CSW
Lucas Erceg – BS (3)	1.0 IP	2 H	0 BB	2 K	5 Whiffs	42% CSW
Steven Cruz – L (1)	0.2 IP	1 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	0% CSW

Lucas Erceg almost had another BSL here, but was able to hold on and strand a runner at third as he got Winn to strikeout and Church to fly out to end the inning. The stuff’s still down (96.6 MPH here with the fastball), but he did throw some nice sliders in this one and was aggressive in the zone. With Matt Strahm now on the IL, Lynch is the only lefty in the bullpen the team can trust now, which could benefit Erceg by giving him a longer leash in the ninth.

St. Louis Cardinals
George Soriano	0.2 IP	1 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	33% CSW
JoJo Romero	1.1 IP	0 H	1 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	43% CSW
Riley O’Brien	1.0 IP	1 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	30% CSW
Ryne Stanek	1.0 IP	1 H	1 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	46% CSW
Gordon Graceffo – W (3)	1.0 IP	0 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	7% CSW

Riley O’Brien hasn’t looked the same from a stuff standpoint lately, but he’s still finding ways to make things work. It’s looked more like 2025 O’Brien this week than what we were getting prior. Only Hogan Harris has made more appearances this season than O’Brien, Ryne Stanek, or JoJo Romero.

Colorado Rockies
Zach Agnos	4.1 IP	2 ER	4 H	0 BB	1 K	5 Whiffs	25% CSW
Seth Halvorsen	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	28% CSW

Seth Halvorsen will get a chance to stay in this bullpen with Herget out for a while, but I’m still not enticed by his stuff or command (or the situation) enough to consider him a viable option in deep holds leagues.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Edgardo Henriquez – W (2)	1.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	35% CSW
Blake Treinen	1.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	45% CSW
Wyatt Mills	1.0 IP	0 H	1 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	20% CSW
Kyle Hurt	1.0 IP	0 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	35% CSW
Alex Vesia	1.0 IP	1 H	0 BB	3 K	5 Whiffs	47% CSW
Jack Dreyer	1.0 IP	0 H	1 BB	2 K	1 Whiffs	32% CSW
Charlie Barnes	1.0 IP	0 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	0% CSW

Everyone pitched in this bullpen game, and it should be no surprise Alex Vesia looked the best. That said, Edgardo Henriquez had the best-looking slider of his career, maybe in this one, while averaging 100.1 MPH with his sinker and 101.2 with his four-seamer. Every like 5 games or so, he has one of these outings that, if we could just get this consistently, would make him one of the best relievers in baseball.

Los Angeles Angels
Kirby Yates	1.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	36% CSW
Ryan Johnson	1.0 IP	1 H	1 BB	1 K	5 Whiffs	33% CSW
Brent Suter	1.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	38% CSW

This Kirby Yates line looks good, and you may be thinking that he’s turned things around. I’m not so sure, though. The fastball velocity is still under 91 MPH (he was at 92.8 last year, 93.2 in 2024, and 93.6 in 2023), but the command was fine here at least. This was against Ohtani, Betts, and Smith too, so it wasn’t like the bottom of the Dodgers lineup or anything. Let’s see if he can build off this and/or if the velocity continues to improve.

San Diego Padres
Adrian Morejon – HLD (8)	1.0 IP	0 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	25% CSW
Jason Adam – HLD (8)	0.2 IP	1 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	21% CSW
Mason Miller – SV (14)	1.1 IP	2 H	1 BB	4 K	7 Whiffs	41% CSW

Jason Adam got a whiff and a strikeout here, which is nice to see…but mixed in a walk and Naylor just missed taking him deep as well. He’s not easy to trust right now, but the holds keep on coming, and the ratios are great (just ignore the 5.27 xFIP and 10.9% K rate, I guess?).

Seattle Mariners
Cooper Criswell	1.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 K	1 Whiffs	31% CSW
José A. Ferrer	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 K	2 Whiffs	36% CSW
Alex Hoppe	1.0 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 K	0 Whiffs	15% CSW

José A. Ferrer mixed in 4 changeups in this 11 pitch outing…with one almost winding up the first HR for Tatis in 2026. I still think he needs to trust the change (and slider), and while there may be some initial hiccups, he needs to develop those offspeed pitches.

San Francisco Giants
Sam Hentges	1.0 IP	1 K	0 Whiffs	23% CSW
Ryan Borucki	1.0 IP	1 K	4 Whiffs	40% CSW
Tristan Beck	1.0 IP	1 K	2 Whiffs	44% CSW

Tristan Beck has a really good sweeper that could play well out of the bullpen, and his four-seamer isn’t terrible either. That two-pitch mix could work.

Athletics
Joel Kuhnel – HLD (3)	1.0 IP	1 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	29% CSW
José Suarez – HLD (1)	1.0 IP	2 H	0 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	38% CSW
Luis Medina – HLD (2)	1.0 IP	0 H	1 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	26% CSW
Hogan Harris – SV (3)	1.0 IP	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	21% CSW

Hogan Harris got the save chance here with Jack Perkins off, but perhaps we could see him see more save chances in the future, maybe splitting the role with Perkins for the time being? The command has improved lately for Harris while keeping those initial stuff gains intact, so there is something to be excited about here potentially. In 15+ teamers, he could be worth throwing a low-dollar bid on.

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Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Roundup: 5/15

Rick Graham

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Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Roundup: 5/15

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