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Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Roundup: 6/27

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

Rick Graham

RP Roundup 9 Hours Ago

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

HOU 8 – DET 6

Houston Astros
Steven Okert	1.1 IP	1 ER	1 H	1 BB	0 K	3 Whiffs	33% CSW
AJ Blubaugh – W (4)	2.0 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	32% CSW
Bryan King – HLD (9)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	18% CSW
Josh Hader – SV (7)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	27% CSW

Hmm, so Josh Hader’s fastball velocity was down again, sitting at just 94 MPH here despite not pitching since Wednesday. The slider was also down two MPH (the extension was also down about 4″), so given his injury status a month ago, this is worth closely watching over the next couple of outings.

Detroit Tigers
Drew Anderson – HLD (5)	0.2 IP	1 ER	2 H	1 BB	1 K	5 Whiffs	20% CSW
Drew Sommers – HLD (3)	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	40% CSW
Will Vest – L (5)	1.0 IP	2 ER	4 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	27% CSW
Jacob Waguespack	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	14% CSW

Will Vest got Singled Out here despite nothing really getting hit hard, but that said…the fastball was way down here from a stuff perspective (velo was down, yes, but the iVB was also down over 3″, and HAVAA down .5°). This was a very different pitcher from the one we saw last time out.

NYY 1 – BOS 4

New York Yankees
Brent Headrick	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	3 K	5 Whiffs	47% CSW
Camilo Doval	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	44% CSW
Paul Blackburn	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	25% CSW

Camilo Doval’s changeup was actually kind of dope here; he still just can’t command it (he got Abreu to Whiff on one in a 1-2 count). This was maybe the best his stuff has looked in one outing this year, but will we ever get this consistently?

Boston Red Sox
Justin Slaten – HLD (9)	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	1 Whiffs	33% CSW
Garrett Whitlock – HLD (12)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	29% CSW
Aroldis Chapman – SV (16)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	35% CSW

Good news here with Aroldis Chapman is that his velocity was up over 3 MPH (the opponent was definitely a factor), and the stuff profile finally looks like it did last season. The command was scattershot, though (6/20 pitches in the zone), resembling earlier days Chapman more than Red Sox Chapman.

TEX 7 – TOR 4

Texas Rangers
Robby Ahlstrom	0.1 IP	2 ER	3 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	17% CSW
Joe Ross	1.1 IP	2 ER	4 H	0 BB	2 K	8 Whiffs	34% CSW
Peyton Gray – W (3)	2.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	4 K	6 Whiffs	31% CSW
Tyler Alexander – SV (3)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	13% CSW

I have hope for Robby Ahlstrom, but the fastball was down 1.5 MPH, and that won’t work. Peyton Gray, on the other hand, has seen his velocity increase lately, and I think with his three pitch mix being average-above average, he should start seeing more high leverage work.

Toronto Blue Jays
Mason Fluharty	0.1 IP	2 ER	2 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	21% CSW
Braydon Fisher	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	25% CSW
Tommy Nance	1.0 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	45% CSW
Jeff Hoffman	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	25% CSW
Tyler Rogers	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	9% CSW

Every reliever gave up a hit in this one for the Jays, with Mason Fluharty having the worst outing of the group, allowing a walk, single, and double (should have been an out). The BABIP’s still really high for Fluharty, but the bat-missing ability is down, and maybe this just isn’t going to be the year for his breakout.

CIN 9 – PIT 7

Cincinnati Reds
Sam Moll – BS (4)	0.2 IP	1 ER	1 H	2 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	5% CSW
Tejay Antone	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	33% CSW
Caleb Ferguson – W (1)	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	43% CSW
Chase Petty – SV (1)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	17% CSW

Chase Petty with a sneaky save here as the Reds took the lead late and had used Ferguson and Antone already. I want to be excited about this, but the stuff was down for Petty (fastball down almost 2 MPH), and we also should have Pagan returning this week.

Pittsburgh Pirates
Evan Sisk	0.1 IP	2 ER	1 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	18% CSW
Yohan Ramírez	2.0 IP	0 ER	3 H	0 BB	2 K	5 Whiffs	38% CSW
Isaac Mattson	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	46% CSW
Gregory Soto – L (2)	1.0 IP	3 ER	2 H	2 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	33% CSW

Gregory Soto had another meltdown here, and over the past seven weeks now (14 IP), he has held a 7.71 ERA and 1.71 WHIP with just a 21% K rate (28% CSW). Either the team sells Soto and parts at the deadline, or they’ll need to go out and find a potential closer if they want to compete this fall.

PHI 2 – NYM 6

Philadelphia Phillies
Alan Rangel – L (1)	4.0 IP	4 ER	4 H	2 BB	4 K	8 Whiffs	23% CSW
Jonathan Bowlan	0.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	40% CSW
Kyle Backhus	1.0 IP	2 ER	2 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	19% CSW
Seth Johnson	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	44% CSW

Seth Johnson’s fastball was better here, and Jonathan Bowlan’s fastball is always great, but both need to lock in a secondary offering. For Bowlan, I like the slider (yet he did not throw one here), and the changeup can be OK as well. The same goes for Johnson with his slider, but it’s inconsistent from game to game right now.

New York Mets
A.J. Minter – W (1)	1.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	18% CSW
Huascar Brazobán – HLD (6)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	10% CSW
Luke Weaver	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	40% CSW
Devin Williams	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	36% CSW

Luke Weaver continues to throw harder each game, sitting at 97.2 MPH here! He didn’t have his best command, but the stuff looks great right now.
Devin Williams changeup looked a lot closer to his patented “Airbender” here, as the movement profile was much closer to last year’s with more vertical and less horizontal break. Is that a good thing? Probably right?

KCR 1 – CHW 2

Kansas City Royals
Daniel Lynch IV – L (2)	0.1 IP	1 ER	3 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	8% CSW
John Schreiber	0.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	33% CSW

It’s probably time to hop off the Daniel Lynch IV train if you are still hanging on. The stuff is still fringy, and the swing and miss we saw in April is just non-existent now. He holds a -1.6 K-BB rate over the past six weeks (14 IP), with just a 6.6% K rate and 25% CSW.

Chicago White Sox
Sean Newcomb	1.2 IP	1 ER	2 H	2 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	27% CSW
Grant Taylor – W (3)	2.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	4 K	4 Whiffs	68% CSW

Grant Taylor, man. Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in! It’s just maddeningly inconsistent, but when we get outings like this, how do you not want to roster him and see what happens?

ARI 2 – TBR 4

Arizona Diamondbacks
Juan Morillo	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	22% CSW
Kevin Ginkel	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	31% CSW
Taylor Clarke	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	33% CSW

I know Juan Morillo has faded over the past month or so, but if we want to consider this bullpen in August after the Diamondbacks sell off pieces (still hypothetical, they are just 2.5 games back of a Wild Card spot), Morillo is probably the frontrunner for saves until Justin Martinez returns (which may not be this season in that case). And the stuff hasn’t faded for Morillo, so I’m not totally out on him just yet.

Tampa Bay Rays
Michael Grove – W (1)	3.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	4 K	6 Whiffs	50% CSW
Casey Legumina – HLD (4)	1.2 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	20% CSW
Kevin Kelly – HLD (18)	1.1 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 BB	2 K	1 Whiffs	25% CSW
Bryan Baker – SV (21)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	20% CSW

Bryan Baker still has some command hiccups now and again, but he’s still cruising along as the primary closer here in Tampa Bay with no competition in sight (for now). I’d love to see some consistency from Kelly and Cleavinger in front of him, though.

WSN 4 – BAL 3

Washington Nationals
PJ Poulin – HLD (7)	0.2 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	45% CSW
Orlando Ribalta – BS (3)	0.1 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	25% CSW
Clayton Beeter – W (3)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	30% CSW
Justin Lawrence – SV (1)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	20% CSW

25 blown saves for the Nationals now, just 11 shy of the single-season “record”. Justin Lawrence showing up with his 8.04 ERA and 1.90 WHIP and getting a save feels pretty on brand.

Baltimore Orioles
Rico Garcia	1.0 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	5 Whiffs	44% CSW
Keegan Akin	2.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	23% CSW
Andrew Kittredge	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	43% CSW
Ryan Helsley – L (4)	1.0 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	33% CSW

Changes from Andrew Kittredge (increased velo) and Rico Garcia (increased offspeed usage) are noticeable, but are they enough for them to have productive second halves?
Ryan Helsley gave up two hits (on an infield tapper) in extras for the loss, but overall, he looked fine. The fastball command is still sketchy, though, and we need that to come around sooner rather than later.

SEA 3 – CLE 4

Seattle Mariners
José A. Ferrer	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	20% CSW

José A. Ferrer would be a nice piece for the Nationals bullpen right now (Harry Ford is hitting .201 at AAA with a .282 SLG…), but he continues to be a key piece to this Mariners team, and if we can just get those offspeed pitches to come around, he’d be an elite-level reliever.

Cleveland Guardians
Colin Holderman	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	43% CSW
Erik Sabrowski – HLD (19)	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	25% CSW
Shawn Armstrong	0.0 IP	3 ER	3 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	30% CSW
Hunter Gaddis – HLD (14)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	29% CSW
Cade Smith – SV (25)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	29% CSW

Much-needed bounce-back from Cade Smith here as the fastball velocity was back up…but the command is still shaky at best. There were maybe three pitches here that were located where they should be. I’m not out on him yet, but I don’t think he belongs in the same tier as Miller, Duran, and Hader (if healthy).

COL 8 – MIN 5

Colorado Rockies
Victor Vodnik – HLD (3)	1.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	33% CSW
Brennan Bernardino	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	23% CSW
Zach Agnos	0.1 IP	3 ER	3 H	1 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	20% CSW
Jimmy Herget – SV (3)	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	11% CSW

Zach Agnos has allowed multiple runs in 14 of his 21 appearances this season.

Minnesota Twins
Taylor Rogers	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	22% CSW
Kody Funderburk	1.0 IP	3 ER	2 H	1 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	24% CSW
Marco Raya	2.0 IP	2 ER	2 H	2 BB	1 K	6 Whiffs	25% CSW

Blegh.

CHC 8 – MIL 2

Chicago Cubs
Tyler Ferguson	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	20% CSW
Jacob Webb	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	54% CSW
Trent Thornton	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	25% CSW
Vince Velasquez	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	17% CSW

Jacob Webb in the seventh is a bit concerning, but he looked great, and this was the middle of the Brewers lineup.

Milwaukee Brewers
Chad Patrick – L (4)	0.2 IP	4 ER	2 H	2 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	13% CSW
Grant Anderson	1.1 IP	1 ER	2 H	2 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	15% CSW
Jared Koenig	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	27% CSW
Joel Kuhnel	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	22% CSW

Jared Koenig is back in this bullpen, and he looked fine here, more or less the lefty we are used to.

MIA 5 – STL 1

Miami Marlins
John King – W (6)	1.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	23% CSW
Lake Bachar	2.0 IP	1 ER	3 H	1 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	23% CSW
Anthony Bender	1.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	40% CSW
Tyler Zuber	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	50% CSW

Tyler Zuber is still hanging around in this Marlins bullpen, and I get why, as the fastball/sweeper can be a really good combo. Can he break into some consistent high-leverage usage in this crowded bullpen, though?

St. Louis Cardinals
Matt Svanson	0.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	27% CSW
Justin Bruihl	2.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	43% CSW

Meh. Justin Bruihl’s sweeper/sinker actually isn’t that bad; he’s just very inconsistent.

LAD 15 – SDP 3

Los Angeles Dodgers
Kyle Hurt	0.1 IP	1 ER	2 H	2 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	16% CSW
Alex Vesia	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	30% CSW
Jack Dreyer	1.0 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	33% CSW
Miguel Rojas	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	0% CSW

Jack Dreyer’s been throwing harder since returning from the IL, but he’s been getting hit around a bit, which may just be some bad luck. Hopefully, that’s the case, and his WHIP can start declining as we move forward because he should be a great ratio and strikeout source.

San Diego Padres
Kyle Hart	2.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	1 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	33% CSW
Ron Marinaccio	1.2 IP	3 ER	3 H	3 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	13% CSW
David Morgan	1.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	47% CSW
Rodolfo Durán	1.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	7% CSW

Kyle Hart opened this one for the Padres and pitched well, all things considered. If he stays in the bullpen, he should see some increased leverage usage with how well he’s thrown recently, but I wonder if the team is preparing to move him into the rotation.

ATL 0 – SFG 5

Atlanta Braves
Grant Holmes	4.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	4 K	4 Whiffs	30% CSW

Grant Holmes came in after Elder here, and I’m not entirely sure what the Braves are doing with their rotation, but I’m pretty sure you don’t want either Elder or Holmes on your team anyway.

San Francisco Giants
Ryan Walker	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	13% CSW
Sam Hentges	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	36% CSW

Sam Hentges is throwing harder and throwing strikes more consistently, but the stuff is still not great and not worth chasing. The same goes for Ryan Walker. The stuff is just not worth it.

ATH 2 – LAA 5

Athletics
Justin Sterner	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	35% CSW
Geoff Hartlieb – L (1)	0.2 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	22% CSW
Matt Krook	0.2 IP	2 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	33% CSW
Mason Barnett	0.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	29% CSW

Mason Barnett got the final two outs here, but the arsenal just still doesn’t do much for me. That said, he could always be this year’s Matt Svanson/Porter Hodge, so there’s a chance he continues to pitch well all season.

Los Angeles Angels
Chase Silseth	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	33% CSW
Ryan Zeferjahn – W (4)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	5 Whiffs	44% CSW
Sam Bachman – HLD (12)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	2 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	23% CSW
Kirby Yates – SV (2)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	44% CSW

Kirby Yates has been pitching better lately; the fastball is closer to being respectable, and the splitter is still a good pitch. I’m sure the Angels wouldn’t mind getting Yates some easy saves over the next month to help boost his trade value before the deadline.

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

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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