Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Roundup: 8/12

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

BAL 5 – MIN 7

Baltimore Orioles
Cam Sanders	1.1 IP	2 ER	4 H	0 BB	1 K	5 Whiffs	30% CSW
Yaramil Hiraldo	1.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	3 K	9 Whiffs	48% CSW
Alex Hoppe	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	23% CSW
Albert Suárez	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	25% CSW

Alex Hoppe — Sinker up 0.9 MPH (98.7 vs. 97.8 season avg); Slider usage 15% (-31 pts vs. 46% usual); Sinker usage 46% (+30 pts vs. 16% usual). This is the best Hoppe’s sinker has looked, and I’m already sold on him as a four-seam/slider reliever as long as the command is solid.

Minnesota Twins
Andrew Morris – HLD (19)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	28% CSW
Jeff Hoffman – HLD (14)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	2 BB	1 K	6 Whiffs	33% CSW
A.J. Minter – HLD (3)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	56% CSW
Yoendrys Gómez – SV (17)	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	9% CSW

Jeff Hoffman — Four-Seamer down 1.7 MPH (94.7 vs. 96.4 season avg). The stuff was down, and he couldn’t command the fastball anyway. The two balls in play were hit well, with a 0-2 middle fastball to Narvaez luckily being lined right to the centerfielder and a slider to Holliday being lined right at the second baseman.
A.J. Minter — Four-Seamer up 1.3 MPH (94.4 vs. 93.1 season avg). This looked like vintage Minter. Now, is it sustainable?
Yoendrys Gómez gave up a home run on the first pitch he threw to Taveras and followed that up with a walk but finished with a double play (on a line drive right back at him he caught) and ground out to secure another save.

PHI 1 – STL 7

Philadelphia Phillies
Brooks Raley	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	54% CSW
José Alvarado	0.1 IP	2 ER	1 H	3 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	27% CSW
Chase Shugart	1.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	1 Whiffs	45% CSW

Brooks Raley — Sinker up 1.6 MPH (91.8 vs. 90.2 season avg). Better stuff from Raley here.
José Alvarado — Sinker down 1.8 MPH (96.2 vs. 98.0 season avg). Not so much from Alvarado, and this does feel very much concerning. Both Alvarado and Kerkering don’t appear to be at full strength right now.

St. Louis Cardinals
Justin Bruihl	1.1 IP	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	12% CSW
Gordon Graceffo	1.2 IP	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	23% CSW
Luis Gastelum	1.0 IP	1 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	36% CSW

Luis Gastelum went heavy changeup usage here against a left-handed heavy part of the lineup, and it worked, but it’s hard to get excited about anything else in this arsenal but the sweeper.

TBR 8 – ATH 4

Tampa Bay Rays
Steven Matz	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 K	2 Whiffs	56% CSW
Casey Legumina	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 K	5 Whiffs	33% CSW
Michael Grove	2.0 IP	2 ER	2 H	2 K	5 Whiffs	30% CSW

Casey Legumina — Four-Seamer down 1.1 MPH (92.2 vs. 93.3 season avg). He was fine here, but I’m not sure he can survive with the velocity at 92 MPH.

Athletics
Drew Rom	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	23% CSW
Scott Blewett	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	23% CSW
Hayden Juenger	1.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	28% CSW
Seth Johnson	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	31% CSW

Drew Rom — Four-Seamer down 1.3 MPH (90.9 vs. 92.2 season avg). Yeah, the stat line was fine here, but this won’t work.

COL 6 – ARI 4

Colorado Rockies
Parker Mushinski	0.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	2 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	23% CSW
Juan Mejia – HLD (8)	0.1 IP	1 ER	0 H	2 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	22% CSW
Jimmy Herget – HLD (7)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	2 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	10% CSW
Brennan Bernardino – HLD (10)	1.0 IP	1 ER	3 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	23% CSW
Jordan Romano – SV (12)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	24% CSW

Juan Mejia — Four-Seamer down 0.9 MPH (96.3 vs. 97.2 season avg); Four-Seamer usage 89% (+40 pts vs. 49% usual); Sweeper usage 11% (-26 pts vs. 37% usual). This isn’t working.
Jordan Romano — Four-Seamer down 0.9 MPH (93.1 vs. 94.0 season avg). The Rockies head to San Francisco this weekend, but after that, the schedule is not favorable for Romano. I can’t recommend this.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Gerardo Carrillo	2.0 IP	1 H	1 BB	4 K	6 Whiffs	42% CSW
Philip Abner	1.0 IP	1 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	33% CSW
Brandyn Garcia	1.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	25% CSW

Gerardo Carrillo may have something here with his deep pitch mix (fastball/sweeper/splitter/cutter); it just comes down to command and usage.
Philip Abner — Four-Seamer up 1.3 MPH (91.9 vs. 90.6 season avg); Slider usage 50% (+32 pts vs. 18% usual). The fastball may be decent enough at 92 MPH for it to work with his slider.

HOU 2 – SFG 1

Houston Astros
Bryan King	0.2 IP	1 ER	0 H	2 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	42% CSW
Enyel De Los Santos	0.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	33% CSW
Tatsuya Imai	3.0 IP	0 ER	3 H	2 BB	3 K	7 Whiffs	27% CSW
AJ Blubaugh	1.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	39% CSW
Steven Okert – W (6)	1.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	24% CSW
Bryan Abreu – HLD (8)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	50% CSW
Josh Hader – SV (17)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	38% CSW

Steven Okert — Four-Seamer down 1.4 MPH (89.9 vs. 91.3 season avg). Okert may be hitting a bit of a wall here, unfortunately.
Bryan Abreu — Four-Seamer up 1.5 MPH (97.0 vs. 95.5 season avg). Fastball back to 97 MPH and the slider looking good…this is exciting.
Josh Hader — Sinker down 1.4 MPH (93.6 vs. 95.0 season avg). Not exactly ideal, but he only threw eight pitches, and even with his stuff being significantly down, it still grades out well above average.

San Francisco Giants
Sam Hentges – HLD (9)	0.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 K	1 Whiffs	25% CSW
Keaton Winn – L (3)	1.2 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 K	1 Whiffs	25% CSW
Reiver Sanmartin	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	2 K	4 Whiffs	47% CSW

Keaton Winn — Four-Seamer down 1.0 MPH (95.1 vs. 96.1 season avg); Splitter usage 12% (-33 pts vs. 46% usual). This just isn’t it anymore. I wonder if he should still be on the IL.

MIL 3 – SDP 4

Milwaukee Brewers
Chad Patrick – HLD (7)	0.2 IP	1 ER	0 H	2 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	11% CSW
Aaron Ashby – BS (6)	0.2 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	21% CSW
Trevor Megill	1.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	0 K	4 Whiffs	33% CSW
Antonio Senzatela – L (4)	0.2 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	20% CSW

Antonio Senzatela — Sinker up 3.1 MPH (99.1 vs. 96.2 season avg); Sinker usage 40% (+28 pts vs. 12% usual); Four-Seamer usage 13% (-26 pts vs. 39% usual). They actually did it. They Kuhnel’d Senzatela! Seriously, how does this team keep adding 3 MPH to pitchers midseason?

San Diego Padres
Bradgley Rodriguez	2.0 IP	1 H	1 BB	3 K	5 Whiffs	34% CSW
Jeremiah Estrada	1.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	31% CSW
Kyle Hart	1.0 IP	0 H	2 BB	2 K	1 Whiffs	30% CSW
Mason Miller	1.0 IP	0 H	2 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	26% CSW
Adrian Morejon – W (9)	2.0 IP	2 H	2 BB	4 K	7 Whiffs	26% CSW

I still don’t know how to feel about Jeremiah Estrada. The statline looks fine, but this chart doesn’t feel fine.

CLE 6 – DET 4

Cleveland Guardians
Colin Holderman – HLD (9)	1.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	35% CSW
Erik Sabrowski – HLD (21)	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	36% CSW
Hunter Gaddis – HLD (23)	0.2 IP	1 ER	1 H	1 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	29% CSW
Cade Smith – SV (31)	1.1 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	3 K	3 Whiffs	32% CSW

Hopefully, this is a step in the right direction for Erik Sabrowski. We need to see him repeat this, though (and the command wasn’t exactly great here).
Cade Smith — Four-Seamer up 2.1 MPH (99.4 vs. 97.3 season avg). The stuff coming out of Smith’s arm right now is crazy, and the two singles here were just good pieces of hitting.

Detroit Tigers
Ty Madden	0.2 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	12% CSW
Enmanuel De Jesús	1.0 IP	1 ER	3 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	30% CSW
Tanner Rainey	1.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	2 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	25% CSW

Tanner Rainey’s still kicking around, and this was his first MLB outing of the season. Interestingly enough, this is probably the closest he’s looked to his old pre-2023 form. The fastball was at 97 MPH with 18.6″ of iVB, and the command was terrible. It’s good seeing his stuff looking better, though.

PIT 2 – MIA 8

Pittsburgh Pirates
Evan Sisk	0.2 IP	1 ER	0 H	2 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	19% CSW
Lake Bachar	3.0 IP	3 ER	3 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	22% CSW
Kirby Yates	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	28% CSW
Camilo Doval	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	2 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	28% CSW

Evan Sisk — Sinker down 0.8 MPH (90.4 vs. 91.2 season avg). Not quite the same guy we had seen prior to the IL stint, unfortunately.
Lake Bachar — Four-Seamer down 0.8 MPH (93.8 vs. 94.6 season avg). Apparently, this made a difference, although the slider also had its issues.

Miami Marlins
Tyler Zuber	1.0 IP	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	38% CSW
Calvin Faucher	1.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	38% CSW
Victor Vodnik	1.0 IP	1 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	24% CSW

Tyler Zuber — Four-Seamer up 0.9 MPH (96.1 vs. 95.2 season avg); Sweeper usage 6% (-28 pts vs. 34% usual). The four-seamer looked great here, but I want to see more of the sweeper, not less.
Calvin Faucher — Sinker down 0.9 MPH (95.2 vs. 96.1 season avg). Meh.

CHC 12 – WSN 6

Washington Nationals
Jake Bird	1.1 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	32% CSW
Tom Cosgrove – L (2)	0.1 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	18% CSW
Yovanny Cruz	0.1 IP	2 ER	2 H	1 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	23% CSW
Trevor Williams	3.0 IP	3 ER	5 H	0 BB	3 K	6 Whiffs	24% CSW

Jake Bird — Sinker down 1.8 MPH (93.0 vs. 94.8 season avg). Womp womp.

SEA 5 – NYY 10

Seattle Mariners
Gabe Speier – L (3)	0.2 IP	3 ER	3 H	2 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	23% CSW
Seranthony Domínguez	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	50% CSW
Nick Davila	1.0 IP	2 ER	2 H	0 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	38% CSW

The wheels have fallen off in Seattle.

New York Yankees
Fernando Cruz	0.1 IP	1 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	22% CSW
Tim Hill	1.0 IP	0 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	15% CSW
Paul Blackburn – W (4)	1.2 IP	0 H	1 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	24% CSW
Brent Headrick – HLD (19)	1.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	3 K	3 Whiffs	33% CSW
Yerry De los Santos	1.0 IP	2 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	38% CSW

Paul Blackburn — Sinker down 0.8 MPH (93.5 vs. 94.3 season avg). Blegh.

BOS 4 – TOR 6

Boston Red Sox
Justin Slaten	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	24% CSW
Erik Miller	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	41% CSW
Tyron Guerrero – L (2)	0.0 IP	4 ER	3 H	2 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	5% CSW
Alec Gamboa	1.0 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	11% CSW

Tyron Guerrero — Sinker down 1.0 MPH (99.1 vs. 100.1 season avg). Prior to this outing, Guerrero had allowed just 3 ER over his past 27.1 IP with a 27/2 K/BB ratio. He gave up three straight singles on sinkers here (two of which were bloops) before an intentional walk and an eight-pitch bases-loaded walk to Clement. The sinkers elite, we know that, but he needs to be able to mix in that slider (maybe the splitter too), especially if the velocity is down below 100 MPH. Hopefully this is just a blip.

Toronto Blue Jays
Mason Fluharty	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	8% CSW
Tyler Rogers – W (2)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	45% CSW
Matt Waldron	0.1 IP	3 ER	3 H	1 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	31% CSW
Louis Varland – SV (26)	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	0% CSW

Matt Waldron — Four-Seamer up 0.8 MPH (92.8 vs. 92.0 season avg). #DontTrustAKnuckleballer

NYM 3 – ATL 6

New York Mets
Dedniel Núñez	0.1 IP	3 ER	3 H	1 K	2 Whiffs	45% CSW
Jefry Yan	0.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 K	1 Whiffs	14% CSW
Jack Weisenburger	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 K	2 Whiffs	33% CSW

Dedniel Núñez left a few (all) of his sliders up here, but I still think the long-term outlook for him is promising (maybe more of a 2027 contributor than this season).
Jefry Yan — Sinker down 1.4 MPH (96.5 vs. 97.9 season avg). The velocity here is fine; just locate better.

Atlanta Braves
Dylan Dodd – HLD (11)	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	19% CSW
Dylan Lee	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	28% CSW
Raisel Iglesias	1.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	1 BB	0 K	3 Whiffs	27% CSW

Raisel Iglesias — Four-Seamer usage 14% (-26 pts vs. 40% usual). Just feels like a matter of time before the Braves make a change here, right? It’s not like Iglesias has been terrible; they just have better options, especially if they get Suarez back healthy.

CIN 0 – CHW 5

Cincinnati Reds
Julian Garcia	0.2 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	36% CSW
Sam Moll	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	19% CSW
Ron Marinaccio	1.0 IP	2 ER	1 H	2 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	13% CSW

Sam Moll — Sinker up 1.6 MPH (93.0 vs. 91.4 season avg). Interesting…but I’m still trying to figure out why Ron Marinaccio is here?

Chicago White Sox
Hagen Smith – HLD (1)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	3 K	2 Whiffs	47% CSW
Huascar Brazobán	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	12% CSW

Hagen Smith is not having any problems striking anyone out, but the command is very questionable, and just how good is the stuff actually (surprised at his cutter being the best offering in that arsenal, not the fastball or slider)? I’m not sold yet.

KCR 2 – LAD 4

Kansas City Royals
Jose Cuas	1.2 IP	0 ER	2 H	1 BB	2 K	5 Whiffs	30% CSW
Mason Black	3.0 IP	1 ER	3 H	2 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	25% CSW
Craig Kimbrel	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	10% CSW

Craig Kimbrel is still kicking around with his third team this season, but even in this shallow bullpen, I don’t see any reason to consider Kimbrel in any leagues.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Landon Knack – SV (1)	2.2 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	28% CSW

Landon Knack finished things out here, and it was even a traditional-ish save chance. The fastball and changeup can play for him.

TEX 2 – LAA 5

Texas Rangers
Robby Ahlstrom – L (1)	0.1 IP	3 ER	2 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	14% CSW
Peyton Gray	0.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	8% CSW
Ben Peoples	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	2 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	20% CSW
Cole Winn	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	17% CSW

The fastball is just very meh for Robby Ahlstrom
Cole Winn — Four-Seamer up 1.0 MPH (96.4 vs. 95.4 season avg); Four-Seamer usage 75% (+45 pts vs. 30% usual); Cutter usage 0% (-31 pts vs. 31% usual). The fastball/slider looked great here. Sustain this?

Los Angeles Angels
Blake Weiman – HLD (2)	1.1 IP	2 H	1 K	2 Whiffs	26% CSW
Ryan Watson – HLD (2)	0.2 IP	0 H	1 K	3 Whiffs	36% CSW
Ben Joyce – SV (1)	1.0 IP	0 H	1 K	3 Whiffs	42% CSW

Ben Joyce picked up his first save with Natera and Fermin off, and it may not be his last this season if he can remain healthy. The stuff looks great; just need the command to catch up.

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

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Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Roundup: 8/12

Rick Graham

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Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Roundup: 8/12

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