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Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Roundup: 5/26

A Review of Key Bullpen and Reliever Usage from Yesterday's Games

Rick Graham

RP Roundup 40 Minutes Ago

Welcome to the RP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every reliever performance from the previous day.

WSN 6 – CLE 3

Washington Nationals
Mitchell Parker – SV (1)	3.0 IP	2 ER	3 H	1 BB	5 K	5 Whiffs	43% CSW

Mitchell Parker has leaned into his slider this year, and why not? It’s easily his best offering. The fastball was better here as well, up over 1 MPH, and located well.

Cleveland Guardians
Codi Heuer	2.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	0 K	3 Whiffs	17% CSW
Shawn Armstrong	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	11% CSW
Colin Holderman	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	25% CSW
Will Dion	3.0 IP	2 ER	5 H	0 BB	3 K	4 Whiffs	36% CSW

Will Dion made his MLB debut here, and there could be something here with his fastball/changeup duo. He doesn’t throw hard (92 MPH here), but the fastball has good shape (20″ iVB), and the changeup is around 79 MPH with some funky shape to it and should play well off the fastball.

TBR 1 – BAL 6

Tampa Bay Rays
Garrett Cleavinger	2.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	3 K	3 Whiffs	30% CSW
Trevor Martin	3.0 IP	0 ER	3 H	2 BB	1 K	6 Whiffs	15% CSW
Craig Kimbrel	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	20% CSW

Good to see Garrett Cleavinger pitch here, as it had been a while. Great results, but the stuff is still not quite where it was at last season.

Baltimore Orioles
Grant Wolfram	1.0 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	38% CSW
Andrew Kittredge	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	30% CSW

Grant Wolfram’s stuff was great here with the fastball velocity up nearly 1.5 MPH, but he only mixed in one slider (no curveball or sweeper).

LAA 10 – DET 6

Los Angeles Angels
Mitch Farris	1.2 IP	1 ER	2 H	3 BB	3 K	5 Whiffs	28% CSW
Jose Fermin – W (2)	1.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	3 K	4 Whiffs	53% CSW
Chase Silseth – HLD (5)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	27% CSW
Kirby Yates	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	31% CSW

Don’t fall for the Kirby Yates trap. This likely will not end well.

Detroit Tigers
Brenan Hanifee – HLD (1)	0.2 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	17% CSW
Will Vest – L (4)	1.1 IP	5 ER	4 H	1 BB	1 K	5 Whiffs	24% CSW
Tyler Holton	1.1 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	3 K	4 Whiffs	40% CSW

Will Vest HAD been looking strong since coming off the IL, but this is obviously a setback. He got two quick outs in the 7th before things unraveled in the 8th, culminating in a grand slam by Grissom on a 2-0 fastball. The stuff was down a tick, but the command was the biggest issue. This bullpen is hurting right now.

CHC 1 – PIT 12

Chicago Cubs
Ryan Rolison	1.2 IP	0 ER	2 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	16% CSW
Daniel Palencia	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	29% CSW
Hoby Milner	1.0 IP	2 ER	3 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	25% CSW

Every closer/top set-up man gave up a home run tonight, so don’t worry about Daniel Palencia. He was throwing harder than usual here too (101 MPH!?), but teh one splitter he threw, he happened to leave middle up to Horwitz. I hope this doesn’t lead to him completely abandoning the splitter, but obviously, the command needs to be better.

Pittsburgh Pirates
Brandan Bidois	1.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	3 K	6 Whiffs	36% CSW
Dennis Santana	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	28% CSW

Love what Brandan Bidois was doing here, attempting the BSB and if he can master it with his pitch mix, the Pirates may have the late-inning right-handed reliever they desperately need. Just needs to tighten up that command.

ATL 7 – BOS 6

Atlanta Braves
Didier Fuentes – HLD (3)	0.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	20% CSW
Dylan Lee – HLD (9)	1.1 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	27% CSW
Robert Suarez – HLD (7)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	44% CSW
Raisel Iglesias – SV (9)	1.0 IP	2 ER	4 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	32% CSW

Raisel Iglesias was due to have an outing like this, although the culprits may surprise you (first three hits were to Gasper, Sogard, and IKF). He went 13/25 changeups here and left a few of them over the middle of the plate. This isn’t the outing to panic about, but it’s a reminder that Iglesias will have outings like this given his lack of elite stuff.

Boston Red Sox
Greg Weissert	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	43% CSW
Danny Coulombe	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	27% CSW
Tyron Guerrero	2.0 IP	2 ER	2 H	0 BB	4 K	5 Whiffs	39% CSW

Tyron Guerrero actually looked good here as he sat 100.5 MPH. The 0-2 changeup Harris hit out to CF was out of the zone, as Harris is just locked in at the plate right now.

MIA 1 – TOR 8

Miami Marlins
Cade Gibson	2.1 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	37% CSW

Cade Gibson is the prototype lefty with a bad fastball and great breakers. He leaned into the breakers here and found success.

Toronto Blue Jays
Braydon Fisher	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	50% CSW
Adam Macko – HLD (3)	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	22% CSW
Yariel Rodriguez	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	27% CSW
Tanner Andrews	2.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	2 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	18% CSW

Braydon Fisher could be a solid option in holds leagues, but it looks like he may be opening games once a week now, which limits his potential.

CIN 7 – NYM 2

Cincinnati Reds
Sam Moll	1.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	25% CSW
Pierce Johnson	0.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	22% CSW
Brock Burke	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	50% CSW
Tony Santillan	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	20% CSW

Tony Santillan didn’t generate a whiff here, but he also didn’t allow a home run, so that’s a positive. The command was pretty bad here, and this isn’t some sort of turning point in Santillan’s season.

New York Mets
Sean Manaea	3.0 IP	1 ER	3 H	2 BB	6 K	11 Whiffs	32% CSW
A.J. Minter	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	38% CSW

We got our first look at A.J. Minter in over a year, and overall, he looked pretty good here. The fastball velocity was down 1.5 MPH from 2024-25 standards, with the cutter down 1 MPH, but let’s give him some time to work back up to that.

MIN 5 – CHW 3

Minnesota Twins
Anthony Banda	0.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	50% CSW
Andrew Morris	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	25% CSW
Taylor Rogers – W (1)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	25% CSW
Yoendrys Gómez – SV (3)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	28% CSW

If the Twins are going to hand the closer role to someone, it has to be Yoendrys Gómez at this point, right? The stuff is getting better each outing, it feels, and the confidence is growing as well. Just keep honing in on that command.

Chicago White Sox
Sean Newcomb	2.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	26% CSW
Bryan Hudson	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	36% CSW
Tyler Davis – L (2)	1.0 IP	2 ER	2 H	1 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	20% CSW

The White Sox didn’t go to either of their top two righties in this one, going with Tyler David instead, who, despite the three-run double to Lee, looked solid here. The stuff is there, just need more consistency, especially when commanding his fastball.

NYY 15 – KCR 1

Kansas City Royals
Luinder Avila	3.0 IP	3 ER	7 H	2 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	25% CSW
Steven Cruz	1.2 IP	1 ER	2 H	1 BB	4 K	8 Whiffs	28% CSW
Eli Morgan	1.0 IP	2 ER	3 H	1 BB	0 K	3 Whiffs	20% CSW
Tyler Tolbert	1.0 IP	2 ER	3 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	20% CSW

Obviously, Steven Cruz has a bit of a home run problem, but the stuff is great, and I feel like he’s just a tweak away from a legit breakout. The 1-2 slider he threw to Grisham here was garbage, and I wish he had either a splitter or a changeup he could mix into lefties.

STL 0 – MIL 6

St. Louis Cardinals
Ryan Fernandez	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	1 BB	3 K	3 Whiffs	33% CSW
Justin Bruihl	2.0 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	2 K	5 Whiffs	36% CSW
Matt Pushard	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	50% CSW

Ryan Fernandez has a 43.2% K rate over 8.2 innings now, and I don’t quite get it because the stuff is average at best, but he still belongs in this bullpen full-time over some others.

Milwaukee Brewers
Grant Anderson	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	33% CSW
Abner Uribe	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	26% CSW
Trevor Megill	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	17% CSW

Not a save situation, but we saw Abner Uribe get the eighth inning with Trevor Megill handling the ninth. Given Uribe’s antics last night and Pat Murphy not being a fan, perhaps that’s the edge that Megill needed to hang on to the closer role moving forward (purely speculating)? Either way, Megill looked better than Uribe here again.

HOU 7 – TEX 10

Texas Rangers
Jakob Junis	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	20% CSW
Jalen Beeks	0.2 IP	2 ER	3 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	40% CSW
Jacob Latz – SV (6)	1.1 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	36% CSW

Ayy, the Rangers finally provided Jacob Latz with a save chance (thank you, Jalen Beeks). Despite the home run to Peña (fastball up and away that he somehow hit out to left-center?), Latz was awesome here with a great fastball and changeup, not needing his slider as he threw just one pitch to a lefty.

SEA 4 – ATH 1

Seattle Mariners
José A. Ferrer	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	15% CSW
Gabe Speier	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	29% CSW
Andrés Muñoz	1.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	42% CSW

Gabe Speier is back and looked, OK, more or less like his normal self.
Andrés Muñoz gave up a home run in a non-save situation here, which is frustrating, as he left a slider over the middle of the plate to Soderstrom here. He started Soderstrom with two changeups that weren’t near the zone, and maybe we need to leave that changeup to 0-1 or two strike counts, given the lack of command right now.

Athletics
José Suarez	1.2 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	32% CSW
Justin Sterner	1.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	29% CSW
Hogan Harris	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	40% CSW

Justin Sterner has been more good than bad in the month of May, with a 1.93 ERA, 0.54 WHIP, with 22% K and 17.5% SwStr rates over his past 9.1 IP. As the Athletics continue their search for a closer, could Sterner get back into the mix?

PHI 4 – SDP 3

Philadelphia Phillies
Orion Kerkering – HLD (4)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	3 K	4 Whiffs	38% CSW
Brad Keller – HLD (7)	1.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	25% CSW
Jhoan Duran – SV (11)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	7 Whiffs	57% CSW

I wasn’t sure if Jhoan Duran would be available here after throwing Friday, Saturday, and Monday, but he was, and he was dominant despite not having his best command. He’ll get the next two days off before facing the Dodgers this weekend.

San Diego Padres
Bradgley Rodriguez	1.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	26% CSW
Wandy Peralta	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	2 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	32% CSW
Adrian Morejon	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	22% CSW

Schwarber blooped a single down the left field line, but other than that Adrian Morejon looks great, per usual. If it weren’t for his teammate, we’d be talking about Morejon as having the best stuff of any reliever in baseball.

ARI 7 – SFG 5

Arizona Diamondbacks
Kevin Ginkel	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	44% CSW
Juan Morillo	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	29% CSW
Paul Sewald – SV (13)	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	21% CSW

Paul Sewald gave up a home run because everyone was last night, but looked like his normal self nonetheless. I’m more concerned with Juan Morillo, who’s been struggling lately, and he went 19 pitches here before throwing a changeup. He hasn’t been throwing it as much lately, despite it being his best pitch early in the season.

San Francisco Giants
Keaton Winn	1.0 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	42% CSW
Erik Miller	1.0 IP	2 ER	1 H	1 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	30% CSW
Ryan Borucki	2.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	2 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	29% CSW

I’m not sure if we ever got a clear answer as to why Vitello and the Giants keep feeding Marte left-handed relievers, but Erik Miller probably shouldn’t have been in this situation facing him here. The good news, even with the walk, the command was better from Miller for the most part here, and hopefully that continues.

COL 6 – LAD 15

Colorado Rockies
Zach Agnos	2.0 IP	7 ER	6 H	1 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	19% CSW
Welinton Herrera	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	39% CSW
Brett Sullivan	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	27% CSW

There’s the velocity I was hoping for from Welinton Herrera. Herrera’s only 22, but he has an impressive three-pitch mix with his fastball/slider/changeup, and despite being a lefty, it wouldn’t totally shock me to see him work his way into the closer mix eventually.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Jonathan Hernández	2.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	3 K	5 Whiffs	32% CSW
Miguel Rojas	1.0 IP	5 ER	8 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	13% CSW

Jonathan Hernández got some help from this Rockies lineup that runs hot and cold, as the sinker/slider mix from him is just looking average (realistically below-average) at best.

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Also, if you’re looking for the detailed list or ranking of Relievers, check out my weekly RP Ranks

Rick Graham

Rick resides in the Boston area and has experience as a player and coach at the collegiate level. He has been covering relievers for Pitcher List since 2017.

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