Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Roundup: 6/21

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

CIN 4 – NYY 1

Cincinnati Reds
Sam Moll – HLD (3)	1.0 IP	1 H	1 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	19% CSW
Caleb Ferguson – HLD (2)	1.0 IP	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	31% CSW
Tony Santillan – SV (5)	2.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	31% CSW

Tony Santillan only needed 16 pitches here to get through two innings, and while he got lucky here (some hard-hit balls, left his curveball middle-middle), at least he continues to trend the right way and get consistent save chances. The velocity wasn’t at 96 MPH like it has been lately, but at 94.8 MPH, although he did a great job locating his fastball at the top of the zone (only 1/10 fastballs were in the zone here, though).

New York Yankees
Tim Hill	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	18% CSW
Paul Blackburn	1.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	29% CSW
Brent Headrick	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	18% CSW
Fernando Cruz	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	8% CSW
Camilo Doval	1.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	1 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	17% CSW

Camilo Doval’s inning got started by a weak ground ball up the middle (.060 xBA) that led to one of the worst doubles you’ll see. Marte later flared a fly ball to right field that also somehow wound up being a double (.100 xBA…Domínguez really is a terrible outfielder). More bad luck for Doval, but the stuff still looks great.

MIL 9 – ATL 4

Milwaukee Brewers
Chad Patrick – SV (4)	3.0 IP	2 ER	3 H	0 BB	2 K	7 Whiffs	35% CSW

Trevor Megill has nine saves, Abner Uribe five, and Chad Patrick now has four, just as we all expected. Still not worth chasing this outside of deep NL-only leagues.

Atlanta Braves
Reynaldo López	3.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	3 K	5 Whiffs	26% CSW

Reynaldo López had a slight increase in velocity here (95.3 MPH), but it’s still not where it needs to be (97+). He’s likely stuck in a mop-up role the remainder of the season unless he finds some velo or there’s a rash of injuries to this pitching staff.

WSN 3 – TBR 4

Washington Nationals
Gus Varland	2.0 IP	1 ER	3 H	1 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	28% CSW
Orlando Ribalta – L (1)	1.0 IP	2 ER	2 H	1 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	22% CSW
Paxton Schultz	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	12% CSW

Orlando Ribalta was throwing harder than usual here (98.2 MPH), but he also had no command of his fastball while hanging a slider to DeLuca. Ribalta has a good foundation with his heater, but he really struggles to locate it, and the slider is just an average offering.

Tampa Bay Rays
Garrett Cleavinger – W (2)	1.0 IP	1 H	2 K	1 Whiffs	36% CSW
Bryan Baker – HLD (2)	1.0 IP	0 H	0 K	1 Whiffs	21% CSW
Kevin Kelly – SV (3)	1.0 IP	1 H	2 K	4 Whiffs	50% CSW

Bryan Baker got his second hold here, pitching in the eighth as the Rays wanted him to face the 2-3-4 hitters in the Nationals lineup. It worked out as Kevin Kelly was able to pitch around a leadoff single in the ninth, as Lile was thrown out trying to steal. The Rays will do this now and then, but it doesn’t make Baker any less rosterable.

CHW 4 – DET 5

Chicago White Sox
Bryan Hudson – HLD (5)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	40% CSW
Grant Taylor – HLD (5)	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	35% CSW
Seranthony Domínguez – BS (4)	1.0 IP	1 ER	3 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	26% CSW
Brandon Eisert – L (1)	0.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	14% CSW
Jordan Hicks	0.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	0% CSW

Grant Taylor pitched the eighth here and allowed a run (Dingler homered on a 2-0 middle-middle fastball)…but that led to Seranthony Domínguez pitching the ninth and allowing a run on three hits for his fourth blown save, so maybe there’s still a chance for Taylor. To be fair to Seranthony, though, he was super unlucky here as he got two quick outs before an infield hit (could argue it was an E6) kept the inning alive for the Tigers. Two more ground ball singles found their way through the infield to tie the game, and the White Sox couldn’t keep the lead tied in the tenth either.

Detroit Tigers
Drew Sommers	1.0 IP	3 K	6 Whiffs	35% CSW
Kyle Finnegan	1.0 IP	1 K	3 Whiffs	38% CSW
Will Vest – W (3)	1.0 IP	0 K	1 Whiffs	12% CSW

Kyle Finnegan threw two sliders in the first three pitches of his outing, so it looks like there is an effort there to get that pitch working and up to speed. The splitter was better here, though, and the fastball command was good enough here.

SFG 1 – MIA 2

Miami Marlins
John King – W (4)	1.1 IP	1 H	0 BB	0 Whiffs	20% CSW
Calvin Faucher – HLD (9)	1.1 IP	0 H	0 BB	0 Whiffs	25% CSW
Michael Petersen – HLD (10)	1.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	0 Whiffs	12% CSW
Lake Bachar – SV (1)	1.0 IP	0 H	1 BB	1 Whiffs	27% CSW

With Fairbanks off yesterday, it was Lake Bachar who got a chance to close things out. I thought Bachar might get a real chance at moving into the rotation, but that seems less likely as his pitch count has been down lately. Anyway, the stuff remains great from Bachar; it’s just a matter of command with him.

CLE 1 – HOU 2

Cleveland Guardians
Colin Holderman	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	44% CSW
Hunter Gaddis	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	36% CSW

Colin Holderman was nasty per usual here, and I’m not sure what it’s going to take for him to move ahead of Hunter Gaddis in the leverage ladder here, but he deserves it.

Houston Astros
Steven Okert – HLD (9)	1.0 IP	1 BB	3 K	6 Whiffs	33% CSW
Bryan King – HLD (7)	1.0 IP	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	27% CSW
Josh Hader – SV (5)	1.0 IP	0 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	78% CSW

Steven Okert has been on another level for the past six weeks, over nearly 20 innings (19.2 IP) as he holds a 0.92 ERA, 0.51 WHIP, and 33.3% K rate. That slider is just so so good.

STL 12 – KCR 10

St. Louis Cardinals
Max Rajcic	1.1 IP	1 ER	1 H	1 BB	2 K	5 Whiffs	39% CSW
Matt Svanson – HLD (2)	0.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	29% CSW
Gordon Graceffo – W (5)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	20% CSW
JoJo Romero	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	43% CSW
Ryne Stanek	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	18% CSW
George Soriano	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	36% CSW
Riley O’Brien	1.0 IP	2 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	33% CSW

Riley O’Brien tried sneaking a first-pitch slider in on Caglianone and left over the middle of the plate, leading to a leadoff home run. He then hit Perez with a sweeper on the next pitch, and Massey lined a single to right on the sweeper a few pitches later. O’Brien eventually got out of the inning, but we can’t afford this type of outing from him. We need to see the April version of O’Brien soon, or we’re going to be stuck with Ryne Stanek back in the closer role again.

Kansas City Royals
Connor Seabold	1.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	24% CSW
Steven Cruz	1.2 IP	3 ER	4 H	1 BB	3 K	5 Whiffs	27% CSW
Lucas Erceg	1.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	33% CSW
Matt Strahm	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	12% CSW
Beck Way	2.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	28% CSW

Steven Cruz had been pitching so much better lately, and I’m not sure I blame him for this one. I’m not sure he’s someone you ask to get six outs or throw more than 30 pitches, as things went downhill after the 30 pitch mark here with a walk, single, home run, and another single allowed. The fastball he threw to Herrera for the home run was only 96.5 MPH (he sits 98-99 MPH), and he left it down and in.

SDP 3 – TEX 4

San Diego Padres
Lucas Giolito – L (3)	4.0 IP	4 ER	7 H	2 BB	2 K	10 Whiffs	27% CSW
Kyle Hart	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	45% CSW
Ron Marinaccio	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	20% CSW
Yuki Matsui	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	29% CSW

Kyle Hart could compete with Yuki Matsui for that secondary lefty role behind Morejon here, but neither one really sticks out right now.

Texas Rangers
Peyton Gray – HLD (3)	1.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	2 K	1 Whiffs	45% CSW
Robby Ahlstrom – HLD (1)	1.0 IP	0 H	1 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	8% CSW
Jakob Junis – SV (5)	1.0 IP	2 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	40% CSW

Jakob Junis was throwing over 2 MPH harder in this one (#SaveChanceEnergy), but he started things off with back-to-back singles on a hanging sweeper and changeup. He was able to bounce back, though, and strike out France before getting outs against Song and Durán to end the game. He’s been a bit shakier lately, but he remains the top setup man here.

PIT 8 – COL 6

Pittsburgh Pirates
Yohan Ramírez – W (5)	2.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	3 K	3 Whiffs	18% CSW
Evan Sisk	2.0 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	3 K	6 Whiffs	31% CSW
Dennis Santana	1.0 IP	3 ER	3 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	11% CSW
Gregory Soto	1.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	16% CSW

When I was starting to think that we may be able to trust Dennis Santana again…and we can blame Coors for this one, but it’s still a setback. Gregory Soto wasn’t much better, but he’s still in full control of the ninth-inning duties here.

Colorado Rockies
Juan Mejia	1.2 IP	4 ER	5 H	0 BB	0 K	4 Whiffs	19% CSW
John Brebbia	2.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	25% CSW

Juan Mejia’s fastball was down 1.7 MPH here as well. Not good.

MIN 4 – ARI 2

Minnesota Twins
Cody Laweryson – W (1)	1.0 IP	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	29% CSW
Andrew Morris – HLD (10)	1.0 IP	1 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	41% CSW
Yoendrys Gómez – HLD (6)	1.0 IP	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	10% CSW
Anthony Banda – SV (2)	1.0 IP	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	40% CSW

It looks like the Twins were also cognizant of Anthony Banda’s recent velocity surge as they gave him the ninth inning here and he delivered for his second save of the season. Banda at 97 MPH has legit upside, and it will be interesting to see how the Twins use him and Yoendrys Gómez (and sure, Andrew Morris too) in the later innings moving forward.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Brandyn Garcia – HLD (7)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	25% CSW
Juan Morillo – L (4)	1.0 IP	2 ER	4 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	27% CSW
Kevin Ginkel	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	0 K	4 Whiffs	32% CSW
Ryan Thompson	1.0 IP	1 ER	3 H	0 BB	0 K	3 Whiffs	31% CSW

Juan Morillo got Singled Out here, and it’s unfortunate timing as he’s already moving down the high-leverage pecking order here as Kevin Ginkel is the eighth-inning man now. He hasn’t been the same guy we saw in April, as his numbers since the start of May indicate (4.11 ERA, 1.37 WHIP), but the stuff is still there, and the swing and miss hasn’t evaporated, so that’s a positive sign and makes me think this is just a rut that he’ll eventually snap out of.

LAA 9 – ATH 7

Los Angeles Angels
Brent Suter	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	4 Whiffs	25% CSW
Chase Silseth – W (2)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	2 K	5 Whiffs	25% CSW
Sam Bachman – SV (1)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	27% CSW

Somehow, this was only Sam Bachman’s first save of the season, but at least we finally made it, even after he allowed seven earned runs over his past two outings (half of his season total). He only threw two fastballs, leaning primarily on his slider, but it worked out here despite zero strikeouts again. I’d still prefer Bachman to Zeferjahn in the ninth if the Angels are up for it, and maybe the team will let him try to build some momentum in the role now that he’s got his first save.

Athletics
Matt Krook – HLD (1)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	22% CSW
Luis Medina – HLD (4)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	33% CSW
Hogan Harris – BS (4)	0.1 IP	3 ER	3 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	11% CSW
Elvis Alvarado – L (2)	1.2 IP	2 ER	2 H	0 BB	3 K	5 Whiffs	48% CSW

On the one hand, this looks bad for Elvis Alvarado, but his only competition for saves right now was Hogan Harris. I guess this is still kind of a win for Alvarado? Cleaing up Harris’s mess in the eighth inning was easy, but the ninth started with a ground ball single up the middle before Neto jumped on a fastball (at 96.9 MPH, by far his lowest velocity fastball of the day) at the top of the zone for a home run. It was really just that one fastball mistake here for Alvarado, so I don’t want to give up hope yet.

BAL 12 – LAD 1

Baltimore Orioles
Grant Wolfram	2.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	21% CSW
Keegan Akin	2.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	16% CSW

The lines are similar, and I don’t think either lefty here really stood out, unfortunately.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Jack Dreyer	0.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	2 K	6 Whiffs	39% CSW
Edgardo Henriquez	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	9% CSW
Jonathan Hernández	1.2 IP	4 ER	4 H	2 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	35% CSW
Chayce McDermott	1.1 IP	2 ER	2 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	17% CSW
Miguel Rojas	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	29% CSW

I got to imagine this is Jonathan Hernández last game with the Dodgers, as Brock Stewart could return today.

BOS 1 – SEA 3

Boston Red Sox
Danny Coulombe	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	22% CSW
Ryan Watson	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	42% CSW

Ryan Watson was throwing 95 MPH here, which makes his fastball a little less terrible at least, and may be enough to pair with his two plus-plus breakers.

Seattle Mariners
Gabe Speier – HLD (9)	0.2 IP	1 H	2 K	3 Whiffs	44% CSW
Eduard Bazardo – HLD (15)	1.0 IP	0 H	1 K	1 Whiffs	45% CSW
Andrés Muñoz – SV (13)	1.0 IP	1 H	2 K	5 Whiffs	47% CSW

Gabe Speier’s fastball averaged 97.8 MPH here!? He didn’t even throw a slider here, and I don’t blame him when he’s throwing harder than he ever has before.
Andrés Muñoz leaned on his fastball here, a rare sight for him, but it worked out, and we saw decent fastball command from Muñoz for a change as well.

NYM 2 – PHI 6

New York Mets
Austin Warren	2.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	1 BB	2 K	6 Whiffs	38% CSW
Brooks Raley	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	14% CSW
A.J. Minter	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	33% CSW

Brooks Raley leaned on his cutter and sweeper here, his two best offerings, so it makes sense to fade the sinker usage.

Philadelphia Phillies
Jonathan Bowlan – HLD (2)	0.1 IP	0 H	1 K	2 Whiffs	75% CSW
José Alvarado	1.0 IP	1 H	2 K	5 Whiffs	33% CSW
Orion Kerkering	1.0 IP	0 H	1 K	1 Whiffs	45% CSW
Jhoan Duran	1.0 IP	1 H	3 K	7 Whiffs	47% CSW

Jhoan Duran generating this type of swing and miss again is so awesome to see after back-to-back seasons with a sub 29% K rate. We can thank the increased splitter/sweeper usage for that.

If you’re looking for potential relievers to stream today, check out RP Streamers

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

AL East

AL Central

AL West

NL East

NL Central

NL West

Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Roundup: 6/21

Rick Graham

AL East

AL Central

AL West

NL East

NL Central

NL West

Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Roundup: 6/21

Subscribe to the Pitcher List Newsletter

Your daily update on everything Pitcher List

Rick Graham