Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Roundup: 6/22

New York Yankees
Paul Blackburn	1.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	6 Whiffs	44% CSW
Ryan Yarbrough	2.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	2 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	26% CSW

Paul Blackburn was throwing a little harder than usual here, and the Yankees will likely have to lean on him in closer games now with Bird back in AAA.

Detroit Tigers
Drew Anderson	1.1 IP	2 ER	1 H	2 K	4 Whiffs	32% CSW
Drew Sommers – HLD (2)	0.1 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 K	0 Whiffs	0% CSW
Will Vest – SV (2)	1.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	2 K	2 Whiffs	50% CSW

Will Vest was excellent in this one, as Kenley Jansen was passed over for the save chance here. Vest’s slider is on another level right now, and the fastball velocity continues to improve.

Kansas City Royals
John Schreiber – HLD (5)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	44% CSW
Alex Lange – SV (6)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	27% CSW

John Schreiber was sitting at 96.2 MPH here?! What is going on? Alex Lange’s velocity was also up, but more importantly, he didn’t allow any free passes. Improved velo and command from Lange’s sinker? Don’t give me hope.

Tampa Bay Rays
Cam Booser	1.0 IP	0 K	0 Whiffs	0% CSW
Cole Sulser	1.0 IP	2 K	2 Whiffs	31% CSW
Craig Kimbrel	1.0 IP	0 K	0 Whiffs	14% CSW

Craig Kimbrel — Four-Seamer up 1.6 MPH (95.3 vs. 93.7 season avg)

Texas Rangers
Kumar Rocker	5.0 IP	2 ER	5 H	0 BB	9 K	20 Whiffs	46% CSW
Robby Ahlstrom – W (2)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	62% CSW
Jakob Junis – HLD (9)	0.2 IP	1 ER	1 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	12% CSW
Jacob Latz – SV (14)	1.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	2 K	7 Whiffs	26% CSW

Jacob Latz is just as big a breakout as Bryan Baker and Louis Varland. If he doesn’t make the All -Star team, we riot.

Miami Marlins
Michael Petersen	0.2 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	46% CSW
Anthony Bender	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	29% CSW
Calvin Faucher – L (4)	1.0 IP	2 ER	2 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	21% CSW
Dax Fulton	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	31% CSW

Calvin Faucher is (or was) back in the circle of trust in Miami, working as a primary setup man for Fairbanks lately, but I’m not sure that’s the right call. He hadn’t allowed a run in June heading into this one, but he’s still walking too many guys (11% BB, 1.22 WHIP in June) while not missing bats at a high enough rate (21.7% K, 7.8% SwStr, 69.2% Zc-Os). It’s pretty clear Anthony Bender and Michael Petersen should be handling the 7th and 8th, with Faucher probably best suited for the 6th inning.

Philadelphia Phillies
Alan Rangel	5.0 IP	1 ER	5 H	0 BB	4 K	8 Whiffs	22% CSW
Seth Johnson	1.0 IP	2 ER	3 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	18% CSW
Chase Shugart	1.0 IP	0 ER	2 H	1 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	29% CSW

Seth Johnson’s stuff was down here, which is disappointing, but hopefully this is just a one-off.

Washington Nationals
Richard Lovelady – HLD (7)	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	44% CSW
Clayton Beeter – SV (6)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	50% CSW

Clayton Beeter only threw six pitches…but the stuff looked good, and the fastball velocity was over 96 MPH here. It’s almost like his fastball is 96 MPH or 93 MPH on any given day, and it’s not really in between.

Houston Astros
AJ Blubaugh	2.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	2 BB	1 K	6 Whiffs	21% CSW
Enyel De Los Santos – L (2)	1.1 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 BB	2 K	5 Whiffs	47% CSW
Bryan King	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	18% CSW
Logan VanWey	1.0 IP	1 ER	3 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	19% CSW

Blegh, Enyel De Los Santos has hit a rough patch lately, although this game was a bit bad luck motivated, as he had gotten four outs before an infield single and double did him in (and King allowed a sac fly to the first batter he faced). The fastball hasn’t been quite the same recently.

Toronto Blue Jays
Braydon Fisher – W (3)	1.1 IP	0 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	17% CSW
Tyler Rogers – HLD (17)	1.0 IP	2 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	16% CSW
Louis Varland – SV (16)	1.0 IP	0 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	33% CSW

We know how dominant Louis Varland is, so let’s talk about Tyler Rogers. Has Rogers really been pitching that much better than Jeff Hoffman? Since May 20th, Rogers has held a 1.24 WHIP (4.01 SIERA) and a 9.5% K rate, while Hoffmans at a 1.00 WHIP (2.00 SIERA) and 36.5% K rate. Going back even further, since May 1st, Rogers WHIP is at 1.45 (3.73 SIERA) with a 13% K rate, while Hoffman’s WHIP is at 1.31 (2.37 SIERA) with a 30.7% K rate. Rogers has five more holds and a lower ERA since the start of May, but Hoffman leads in K’s, WHIP, and has four more wins. Based on everything, I’d lean towards Hoffman having the better second half.

Milwaukee Brewers
Aaron Ashby	1.0 IP	0 H	2 K	4 Whiffs	35% CSW
Abner Uribe	1.0 IP	0 H	1 K	3 Whiffs	50% CSW
Trevor Megill – W (2)	1.0 IP	0 H	1 K	1 Whiffs	25% CSW
Joel Kuhnel – SV (5)	1.0 IP	1 H	0 K	2 Whiffs	30% CSW

Abner Uribe needs to throw his slider closer to 50% of the time (currently at 34% this season), and here he threw it 70% of the time and made this inning look easy. The sinker velocity was also up, which is a nice bonus, but I really just like to see him focus on a closer to 50/50 pitch mix and improving his command.

Cincinnati Reds
Sam Moll	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	0 Whiffs	50% CSW
Tejay Antone	0.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	27% CSW
Brock Burke	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	50% CSW
Tony Santillan – L (4)	1.0 IP	1 ER	0 H	1 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	15% CSW

Tony Santillan gave up a lead-off walk, followed by a sac bunt, sac fly, and a second run scoring on a wild pitch. Unfortunate, but I still think he’s the best reliever in that bullpen as it currently stands.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Eric Lauer – W (3)	6.0 IP	0 H	3 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	18% CSW
Kyle Hurt – HLD (7)	1.0 IP	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	27% CSW
Tanner Scott – SV (10)	1.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	9% CSW

Tanner Scott has been so good, and I know the Dodgers are paying Edwin Díaz to close…but could there be some shared matchup-based split role here? I doubt it, but I think Scott will be worth hanging onto for a little while even after Díaz returns.

Minnesota Twins
Taylor Rogers	1.1 IP	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	35% CSW
Eric Orze	0.2 IP	1 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	45% CSW
Andrew Morris	1.0 IP	1 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	40% CSW

Andrew Morris has a plus fastball and can at least throw his cutter for strikes, but the lack of a true offspeed pitch could be an issue. Maybe his best path is to go that three different fastball route a la Schlittler.

Cleveland Guardians
Tim Herrin	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	25% CSW
Shawn Armstrong	1.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	21% CSW
Cade Smith – L (1)	1.2 IP	2 ER	2 H	1 BB	3 K	7 Whiffs	43% CSW

Not the best version of Cade Smith, although this game was chaotic, so I wouldn’t read too much into it. The stuff was down, and the command wasn’t great, but even still, Smith was very unlucky here as the “double” to Peters was on a check swing, and the game-winning single could have (should have?) at least been knocked down in the infield. Assuming the velocity dip was just a one-off, Smith should be fine moving forward.

Chicago White Sox
Grant Taylor – BS (2)	0.2 IP	3 ER	3 H	2 BB	2 K	5 Whiffs	33% CSW
Bryan Hudson	1.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	3 K	4 Whiffs	39% CSW
Seranthony Domínguez – BS (5)	0.1 IP	2 ER	2 H	1 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	18% CSW
Chris Murphy – W (2)	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	17% CSW

Grant Taylor’s fastball velocity was down once again, and this time it may have hurt him, although I might be more worried about his command with the fastball than anything. The curveball actually allowed two hits here. Seranthony Domínguez was just as bad here, and again, it starts with command for these guys. Domínguez threw 10/22 sweepers here, but only two were in (or even near) the zone, with one of them being left middle middle (which Bailey ripped for the game-tying single). Has the poor command from these two left the door open for one of the lefties to sneak into the closer role?

Arizona Diamondbacks
Taylor Clarke	1.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	30% CSW
Jonathan Loáisiga	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	25% CSW

Neither Taylor Clarke nor Jonathan Loáisiga will have value if they aren’t getting holds as well.

St. Louis Cardinals
Ryne Stanek – HLD (13)	0.2 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 Whiffs	18% CSW
JoJo Romero – HLD (18)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 Whiffs	22% CSW
George Soriano – HLD (10)	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 Whiffs	20% CSW
Riley O’Brien – SV (19)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 Whiffs	29% CSW

Zero K’s and just one Whiff from this Cardinals bullpen over three innings is not ideal, but there was just the one run allowed at least. Riley O’Brien’s fastball was down, but he was at least able to throw strikes consistently here.

Boston Red Sox
Tyron Guerrero – HLD (4)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	2 Whiffs	25% CSW
Garrett Whitlock – HLD (10)	1.0 IP	0 ER	4 H	3 Whiffs	27% CSW
Aroldis Chapman – L (3)	0.0 IP	3 ER	4 H	1 Whiffs	25% CSW

Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman needed just 13 pitches to allow eight hits to end this game, with the Rockies winning on a walk-off “triple” by McCarthy. Lucky for Whitlock, the Rockies forgot how to run the bases in the bottom of the eighth inning and had runners thrown out for the final two outs of the inning. Chapman did not have so much luck as he allowed back-to-back singles, followed by a bunt hit and that “triple” mentioned above. Just weird Coors shenanigans, although that is now back-to-back blown saves from Chapman.

Colorado Rockies
Brennan Bernardino	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	22% CSW
Victor Vodnik – W (2)	2.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	2 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	17% CSW

Baltimore Orioles
Rico Garcia	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	22% CSW

Rico Garcia tried sneaking a first-pitch fastball at 94 MPH by Soler here and got burned. The velocity was down again, and his pitching the ninth up six runs. I don’t like how this is trending.

Los Angeles Angels
José Fermin	1.1 IP	0 ER	2 H	3 K	5 Whiffs	46% CSW
Brent Suter	2.0 IP	1 ER	3 H	3 K	8 Whiffs	34% CSW
Kirby Yates	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	3 K	7 Whiffs	69% CSW

José Fermin’s command was pretty good here, actually, and he’d be just fine if this is what his command was like on a game-to-game basis.
Kirby Yates velocity was up, and he actually struck out some legit hitters here in Ward and Alonso. This was the best he’s looked all year by far.

Atlanta Braves
Didier Fuentes	0.1 IP	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	50% CSW
James Karinchak	1.2 IP	0 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	32% CSW
Dylan Dodd	1.1 IP	1 H	1 BB	3 K	5 Whiffs	23% CSW

This Braves bullpen is ridiculously deep. These three would be the high-leverage trio for about 5-6 teams in the league right now.

San Diego Padres
Adrian Morejon – HLD (13)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	50% CSW
Mason Miller – SV (21)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	2 K	6 Whiffs	50% CSW

The best late-inning duo in baseball.

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Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Roundup: 6/22

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Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Roundup: 6/22

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