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Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Roundup: 7/17

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

Rick Graham

RP Roundup 5 Hours Ago

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

TBR 0 – BOS 10

Boston Red Sox
Alec Gamboa – SV (1)	3.0 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	19% CSW

I think Alec Gamboa could be a good full-time piece in this bullpen, but there’s no spot for him yet. I’d keep him on the roster over Weissert at this point.

TBR 3 – BOS 5

Tampa Bay Rays
Craig Kimbrel	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	30% CSW
Cole Sulser	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	27% CSW
Cam Booser	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	12% CSW

The stuff was up here for Cam Booser again (revenge game factor?), but even still, he’s settled in nicely as one of the top four relievers in this Rays bullpen.

Boston Red Sox
Greg Weissert – W (2)	0.2 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	14% CSW
Jovani Morán – HLD (2)	2.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	18% CSW
Tyron Guerrero – HLD (10)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	23% CSW
Garrett Whitlock – HLD (17)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	33% CSW
Justin Slaten – HLD (13)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	25% CSW
Aroldis Chapman – SV (20)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	31% CSW

Tyron Guerrero threw only sinkers here, averaging 101 MPH in the process and allowing just a bloop single.

LAD 2 – NYY 1

Los Angeles Dodgers
Jack Dreyer – W (4)	1.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	33% CSW
Alex Vesia – HLD (16)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	2 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	33% CSW
Tanner Scott – SV (14)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	27% CSW

Tanner Scott was sitting at 98.4 MPH with his fastball here, and I still don’t quite understand how he wasn’t on the All-Star game roster. He may only have a week left as the full-time closer here, but he’s probably still worth rostering through the deadline unless you are in shallow leagues.

New York Yankees
Brent Headrick	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	5 Whiffs	45% CSW
Fernando Cruz	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	22% CSW
Paul Blackburn	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	20% CSW

Brent Headrick: Four-Seamer usage 18% (-32 pts vs. 50% usual); Slider usage 64% (+29 pts vs. 35% usual). Love seeing the slider dominance from Headrick here.

TEX 1 – ATL 15

Texas Rangers
Emiliano Teodo	1.2 IP	2 ER	3 H	2 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	26% CSW
Gavin Collyer	1.0 IP	4 ER	2 H	2 BB	1 K	5 Whiffs	27% CSW
Ben Peoples	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	17% CSW
Kyle Higashioka	1.0 IP	3 ER	3 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	14% CSW

The stuff certainly checks out for Emiliano Teodo, but the command (or lack thereof) also lived up to his reputation. The skill set and opportunity factor make him someone to monitor, but we are not near “must-roster” territory yet.

Atlanta Braves
Victor Mederos	2.0 IP	1 ER	3 H	0 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	29% CSW

The fastball was down for Victor Mederos, but there’s still a fun reliever skill set here if he’s able to stick around in this bullpen, and the velocity dip was just a blip.

CHW 12 – TOR 4

Chicago White Sox
Trevor Richards	1.2 IP	2 ER	4 H	0 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	28% CSW
Seranthony Domínguez	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	50% CSW
Tyler Schweitzer – W (1)	3.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	3 K	6 Whiffs	30% CSW

Tyler Schweitzer has average to above-average stuff, and it showed out here with this dominant performance to end the game. This bullpen is potentially quite deep all of a sudden?

Toronto Blue Jays
Adam Macko	1.0 IP	2 ER	2 H	2 BB	2 K	5 Whiffs	32% CSW
Patrick Corbin	1.1 IP	2 ER	2 H	1 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	21% CSW
Braydon Fisher	0.2 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	33% CSW
CJ Van Eyk	2.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	24% CSW

Adam Macko’s stuff was down in this one, and he’s not exactly trending in the right direction. This team needs to shore up the bullpen from the left side ASAP.

MIA 1 – MIL 2

Miami Marlins
Calvin Faucher	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	29% CSW
Michael Petersen	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	2 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	29% CSW
Pete Fairbanks	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	2 K	6 Whiffs	33% CSW
Lake Bachar – L (1)	0.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	35% CSW

Michael Petersen did not have his best command, but the stuff was up, and his fastball was sitting over 99 MPH here. He’s far and away the team’s best setup option at the moment.

Milwaukee Brewers
Chad Patrick	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	38% CSW
Aaron Ashby	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	35% CSW
Abner Uribe	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	27% CSW
Trevor Megill	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	45% CSW
Craig Yoho – W (1)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	17% CSW

Abner Uribe came out of the break looking refreshed, with his sinker sitting above 100 MPH here. He should be in for a big second half as the Brewers top setup man.

MIN 5 – CHC 2

Minnesota Twins
Tommy Nance – HLD (2)	1.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	28% CSW
Taylor Rogers – HLD (9)	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	50% CSW
Andrew Morris – HLD (14)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	21% CSW
Yoendrys Gómez – SV (12)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	27% CSW

Andrew Morris was throwing 2.2 MPH harder than average here, sitting 99 MPH with his four-seamer, but it’s still just an average offering given the shape and extension.

Chicago Cubs
Drew Pomeranz	0.1 IP	1 ER	1 H	2 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	5% CSW
Gavin Hollowell	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	62% CSW
Ryan Rolison	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	33% CSW
Tyler Ferguson	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	43% CSW

Gavin Hollowell’s stuff was down, but even still, it grades out well above average, and we got great results.

BAL 3 – HOU 2

Baltimore Orioles
Anthony Nunez	2.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	2 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	19% CSW
Grant Wolfram	0.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	2 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	13% CSW
Cam Sanders – W (1)	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	36% CSW
Andrew Kittredge – HLD (5)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	19% CSW
Tyler Wells – SV (3)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	28% CSW

Tyler Wells continues to act as the Orioles primary closer, and should at least until September.

Houston Astros
Steven Okert – HLD (12)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	38% CSW
Bryan King – L (3)	1.0 IP	2 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	24% CSW
Enyel De Los Santos	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	0 K	3 Whiffs	33% CSW

Steven Okert continues to outperform fellow lefty setup man Bryan King, so roster accordingly.

SDP 6 – KCR 7

San Diego Padres
Bradgley Rodriguez – BS (4)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	15% CSW
Adrian Morejon	2.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	1 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	39% CSW
Mason Miller	1.0 IP	0 ER	2 H	1 BB	3 K	5 Whiffs	50% CSW
Kyle Hart – L (2)	0.1 IP	3 ER	4 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	21% CSW

Kyle Hart’s sinker was up 1.5 MPH, and it did not matter. Moving on.

Kansas City Royals
Steven Cruz	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	29% CSW
John Schreiber	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	25% CSW
Alex Lange – BS (1)	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	33% CSW
Lucas Erceg – W (4)	1.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	17% CSW

Steven Cruz velocity was up over a MPH as he was sitting 99.4 MPH here. With Lange and others struggling in this bullpen lately, I’m still thinking we’ll see some Cruz save chances here in the second half.

CIN 7 – COL 2

Cincinnati Reds
Brock Burke	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	37% CSW
Tejay Antone	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	36% CSW

Brock Burke’s fastball was down below 95 MPH here, and he’s not exactly been thriving the past month or so.

Colorado Rockies
Jimmy Herget	0.2 IP	2 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	21% CSW
Victor Vodnik	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	25% CSW
Jeff Criswell	2.0 IP	2 ER	3 H	1 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	20% CSW

Nope

DET 2 – LAA 1

Detroit Tigers
Keider Montero – W (6)	3.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	5 K	8 Whiffs	40% CSW

Keider Montero’s fastball was up a MPH, and he’s starting to adapt to the bullpen transition. He could be someone to keep an eye on here if the velocity continues trending the right way.

Los Angeles Angels
Ryan Zeferjahn – HLD (7)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	58% CSW
Sam Bachman – HLD (14)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	3 K	3 Whiffs	30% CSW
Kirby Yates – L (5)	0.2 IP	2 ER	1 H	1 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	15% CSW
Samy Natera Jr.	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	0% CSW

Kirby Yates had better velocity here, but I’d still much prefer almost anyone but him in the closer role moving forward.

WSN 23 – ATH 4

Washington Nationals
Riley Cornelio	2.0 IP	0 ER	2 H	1 BB	5 K	15 Whiffs	38% CSW
Jorbit Vivas	1.0 IP	1 ER	3 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	0% CSW

Riley Cornelio’s fastball was up 1.3 MPH here, and the slider was awesome. 15 Whiffs over two innings is crazy.

Athletics
José Suarez	1.0 IP	2 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	25% CSW
Justin Sterner	0.1 IP	6 ER	4 H	2 BB	0 K	5 Whiffs	23% CSW
Yunior Tur	2.0 IP	6 ER	7 H	1 BB	2 K	12 Whiffs	38% CSW
Brady Basso	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	33% CSW
Carlos Cortes	1.0 IP	5 ER	4 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	13% CSW

Getting close to the point where anyone in this bullpen not named Elvis is worth ignoring.

STL 5 – ARI 4

St. Louis Cardinals
George Soriano – HLD (14)	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	29% CSW
Luis Gastelum – W (1)	1.0 IP	2 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	28% CSW
Riley O’Brien – SV (25)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	12% CSW

Riley O’Brien worked around some traffic for his 25th save and continues to toe that line between not being bad enough to lose the closer role and not being good enough to get excited about for fantasy purposes moving forward (6.26 xERA since May 1st).

Arizona Diamondbacks
Taylor Clarke	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	20% CSW
Kevin Ginkel	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	12% CSW
Juan Morillo	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	21% CSW
Paul Sewald – L (5)	0.1 IP	1 ER	2 H	1 BB	0 K	3 Whiffs	35% CSW
Brandyn Garcia	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	25% CSW

The ninth started with a “single” against Paul Sewald on a weak groundball off his own glove here, which really should have been an error. He then walked Crooks on four pitches before giving up a single to Wetherholt and finally a sac fly to Herrera. Not the worst outing, but Sewald didn’t exactly help himself out here.

SFG 7 – SEA 0

San Francisco Giants
Jason Foley	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	13% CSW
Caleb Kilian	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	23% CSW

Jason Foley made his return here and looked OK, all things considered. The velo isn’t what it once was, but he may be able to make things work. Just don’t get excited about it.

Seattle Mariners
José A. Ferrer	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	29% CSW
Nick Davila	1.0 IP	4 ER	4 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	24% CSW
Cole Wilcox	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	64% CSW
Michael Rucker	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	35% CSW

Cole Wilcox ditched his slider for his sweeper here, and look at that line. There could be something here.

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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.