Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Roundup: 8/19

Detroit Tigers
Tyler Holton – HLD (13)	0.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	44% CSW
Jacob Waguespack – HLD (3)	0.2 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	20% CSW
Drew Sommers – HLD (10)	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	33% CSW
Kyle Finnegan – HLD (14)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	2 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	32% CSW
Kenley Jansen – L (5)	0.2 IP	2 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	29% CSW

Kenley Jansen — Sinker up 0.8 MPH (94.6 vs. 93.8 season avg). This bullpen has been a mess most of the year, but Jansen hasn’t been the issue here, at least since the start of July. The cutter to Flores for the home run here wasn’t even a bad pitch. The one to Lowe, that was a mistake. In general, he does get away with too many pitches over the middle of the plate, especially considering he’s a one-pitch guy.

Pittsburgh Pirates
Gregory Soto	1.2 IP	1 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	26% CSW
Camilo Doval	1.0 IP	0 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	27% CSW
Luke Weaver	1.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	12% CSW
Mason Montgomery – W (5)	1.0 IP	2 H	0 BB	2 K	5 Whiffs	35% CSW

Mason Montgomery — Sinker usage 50% (+37 pts vs. 13% usual). Montgomery is clearly the closer here now, but Luke Weaver did look good in the eighth inning. The velocity isn’t at its highest point of the season but also not at the lowest, so as long as he can stay around or above 95.5 MPH, he should be good.

San Diego Padres
Jeremiah Estrada	0.2 IP	1 ER	2 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	5% CSW
Yuki Matsui	0.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	22% CSW

Still concerned about Jeremiah Estrada. Very concerned. Either the fastball needs to return, or the command needs to improve at the very least.

New York Mets
Jonathan Pintaro	0.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	23% CSW
Nate Lavender – W (1)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	78% CSW
Austin Warren – HLD (1)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	35% CSW
Daniel Duarte – HLD (4)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	50% CSW
Kodai Senga – SV (4)	1.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	1 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	19% CSW

Daniel Duarte — Sinker up 1.1 MPH (94.2 vs. 93.1 season avg). This bullpen might be alright here with Duarte and Nate Lavender throwing the ball well and Austin Warren returning. Kodai Senga was not at his best here, the stuff was down, and the command continues to be an issue.

Atlanta Braves
Dylan Dodd	0.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	33% CSW
Victor Mederos – L (1)	1.1 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 BB	0 K	3 Whiffs	14% CSW
Dylan Lee	0.2 IP	1 ER	2 H	1 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	31% CSW
Ray Kerr	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	15% CSW

Dylan Lee threw seven straight sliders here, hanging two of them for a pair of singles (and Caratini just missed taking him deep on a slider). Maybe Lee’s a bit too dependent on the slider at times, because the fastball is really, really good too (and no changeups here?).

Minnesota Twins
Kody Funderburk – HLD (10)	0.1 IP	3 ER	3 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	12% CSW
Tommy Nance – BS (3)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	3 K	6 Whiffs	50% CSW
A.J. Minter – W (2)	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	19% CSW
Jeff Hoffman – HLD (16)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	3 K	3 Whiffs	35% CSW
Yoendrys Gómez – SV (20)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	31% CSW

Kody Funderburk — Sinker up 1.3 MPH (94.3 vs. 93.0 season avg). First hiccup for Funderburk in a while, and even when he was throwing harder.
A.J. Minter — Four-Seamer up 1.5 MPH (94.7 vs. 93.2 season avg). Could be a result of him facing his former team, but hopefully we can see this velocity stick around for Minter.
Yoendrys Gómez — Four-Seamer up 1.0 MPH (96.8 vs. 95.8 season avg). Throwing on his third day in a row, and looking this good?

Chicago White Sox
Sean Newcomb	2.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	2 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	15% CSW
Grant Taylor – SV (7)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	58% CSW

Sean Newcomb — Four-Seamer up 1.4 MPH (96.0 vs. 94.6 season avg). 2 walks and 0 K’s…but no hits or runs, so we’ll take it, I guess.

Chicago Cubs
Caleb Thielbar	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	50% CSW
Trent Thornton	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	35% CSW
Ryan Rolison	0.2 IP	2 ER	2 H	1 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	28% CSW
Aaron Civale	1.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	3 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	15% CSW

Trent Thornton — Four-Seamer up 1.1 MPH (96.2 vs. 95.1 season avg); Four-Seamer usage 71% (+38 pts vs. 32% usual)
Aaron Civale — Four-Seamer up 1.1 MPH (92.6 vs. 91.5 season avg). Not the type of guy who can afford to walk three in this role.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Juan Morillo	1.0 IP	1 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	25% CSW
Brandyn Garcia	0.2 IP	0 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	25% CSW
Kevin Ginkel	0.2 IP	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	0% CSW
Jonathan Loáisiga – W (4)	2.0 IP	1 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	25% CSW

Juan Morillo — Sinker usage 43% (+27 pts vs. 16% usual)
Kevin Ginkel — Four-Seamer down 1.6 MPH (94.0 vs. 95.6 season avg). Ginkel threw just one fastball (and two sliders) here, so not really a big concern.

Boston Red Sox
Greg Weissert	1.0 IP	2 ER	2 H	1 BB	1 K	5 Whiffs	26% CSW
Erik Miller	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	26% CSW
Tyron Guerrero	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	33% CSW
Aroldis Chapman	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	43% CSW
Jovani Morán – L (3)	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	3 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	15% CSW

Tyron Guerrero — Sinker up 1.3 MPH (101.4 vs. 100.1 season avg). Love to see it.
Aroldis Chapman — Four-Seamer down 1.2 MPH (95.7 vs. 96.9 season avg). It’s certainly a concern, as is the leadoff walk.
Jovani Morán — Four-Seamer up 0.9 MPH (93.6 vs. 92.7 season avg). Ugh, three walks and a bloop single.

Miami Marlins
John King	1.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	24% CSW
Victor Vodnik	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	29% CSW

Philadelphia Phillies
Jonathan Bowlan – HLD (11)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	21% CSW
Jhoan Duran – SV (28)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	22% CSW

Jhoan Duran — Four-Seamer up 0.9 MPH (101.3 vs. 100.4 season avg). Like he needs the extra velocity.

New York Yankees
Tim Hill	1.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	38% CSW
Fernando Cruz – BS (5)	0.2 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 BB	2 K	6 Whiffs	47% CSW
Brent Headrick – W (7)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	38% CSW
Paul Blackburn – HLD (7)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	30% CSW
David Bednar – SV (29)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	33% CSW

Fernando Cruz now holds a 5.11 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, and 10.5% K-BB rate since the All-Star break over 15 games. He’s always been volatile, but this issue now is that the Yankees need to be able to count on him for leverage outs because there’s just no way Paul Blackburn continues to be this reliable.

Baltimore Orioles
Grant Wolfram	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	40% CSW
Rico Garcia	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	15% CSW
Cam Sanders – L (1)	0.2 IP	2 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	22% CSW
Yennier Cano	0.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	33% CSW
Alex Hoppe	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	33% CSW

Cam Sanders — Slider usage 11% (-31 pts vs. 42% usual). I appreciate the Orioles trying to give Sanders a bigger role, but he was very shaky here with two hit-by-pitches and a walk.
Alex Hoppe — Four-Seamer up 1.4 MPH (99.5 vs. 98.1 season avg); Four-Seamer usage 73% (+37 pts vs. 36% usual). It wasn’t a save chance, but I could see Hoppe getting more ninth-inning work, especially with how poorly the rest of the bullpen has been throwing lately. The command just needs to improve a bit here.

San Francisco Giants
Matt Wilkinson	2.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	12% CSW
Dylan Smith – SV (3)	2.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	5 K	5 Whiffs	37% CSW

Dylan Smith — Four-Seamer usage 77% (+28 pts vs. 48% usual). Finally, get a Dylan Smith save chance, and they even played it safe here with the one-run lead by giving him the final two innings. The fastball’s good, and it dominated here, obviously, so I get the high usage. I’d still like to see more curve/sweeper usage.

Cleveland Guardians
Hunter Gaddis	0.1 IP	0 H	1 K	3 Whiffs	75% CSW
Erik Sabrowski	1.0 IP	1 H	2 K	4 Whiffs	44% CSW
Cade Smith	1.0 IP	0 H	2 K	2 Whiffs	67% CSW

Erik Sabrowski — Four-Seamer up 1.0 MPH (95.1 vs. 94.1 season avg); Four-Seamer usage 31% (-36 pts vs. 67% usual); Slider usage 44% (+32 pts vs. 12% usual). I think he may be back?! Are we ready to start trusting him again?
Cade Smith — Four-Seamer up 2.7 MPH (100.1 vs. 97.4 season avg). Just incredible that he’s all of a sudden throwing 100 MPH right in the middle of the season.

St. Louis Cardinals
Luis Gastelum	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	50% CSW
Justin Bruihl	1.0 IP	2 ER	3 H	2 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	28% CSW

I’m not sure I have a ton of faith in this for the long run, but Luis Gastelum has been the Cardinals best reliever recently. Average-ish (maybe a little better than that) with good command lately.

Cincinnati Reds
Sam Moll – W (2)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	22% CSW
Brock Burke – HLD (15)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	2 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	12% CSW
Luis Mey – HLD (3)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	3 K	2 Whiffs	22% CSW
Emilio Pagán – SV (16)	1.0 IP	2 ER	2 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	16% CSW

Luis Mey — Sinker down 0.9 MPH (97.6 vs. 98.5 season avg). Keeps dominating with improved command.
Emilio Pagán — Four-Seamer down 1.6 MPH (93.2 vs. 94.8 season avg). Uh oh. This seemingly came out of nowhere, or perhaps it’s related to that hand injury that kept Pagán out of a game recently. Tony Santillan is returning tomorrow, and it might not be shocking to see Emilio Pagán back on the IL

Toronto Blue Jays
Braydon Fisher	1.0 IP	1 H	1 K	4 Whiffs	46% CSW
Brendon Little	0.2 IP	1 H	1 K	2 Whiffs	38% CSW
Paul Sewald	0.1 IP	0 H	1 K	2 Whiffs	33% CSW
Mason Fluharty	1.0 IP	0 H	1 K	3 Whiffs	57% CSW
Tyler Rogers	1.0 IP	1 H	0 K	1 Whiffs	29% CSW

Braydon Fisher — Four-Seamer down 1.8 MPH (92.8 vs. 94.6 season avg). Breaking ball specialist anyway.
Brendon Little — Sinker down 1.7 MPH (93.0 vs. 94.7 season avg). As long as he isn’t walking people.

Tampa Bay Rays
Cam Booser – HLD (8)	0.2 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	0% CSW
Kevin Kelly – HLD (25)	1.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	38% CSW
Tyler Wells – HLD (13)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	0 K	3 Whiffs	25% CSW
Bryan Baker – SV (36)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	28% CSW

The fastball got hit hard, but the velocity was steady here (only down .7 MPH) for Bryan Baker as he recorded another save. Just keep rolling with it.

Athletics
Scott Blewett – HLD (1)	0.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	43% CSW
Elvis Alvarado – HLD (8)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	10% CSW
Hayden Juenger	0.0 IP	3 ER	2 H	1 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	19% CSW
Drew Rom – L (1)	1.0 IP	4 ER	3 H	2 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	15% CSW

Elvis Alvarado — Sinker usage 80% (+63 pts vs. 17% usual); Four-Seamer usage 10% (-43 pts vs. 53% usual). That’s fine, but please find your slider again.
Drew Rom — Four-Seamer down 1.0 MPH (90.8 vs. 91.8 season avg). Nope.

Kansas City Royals
Alex Lange	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	2 K	4 Whiffs	50% CSW
Craig Kimbrel – W (1)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 K	2 Whiffs	23% CSW
Steven Cruz	1.0 IP	2 ER	2 H	0 K	1 Whiffs	29% CSW

Steven Cruz is now tied with Paul Sewald for the most home runs allowed by a reliever this season (12). He really needs to find a secondary pitch he can trust.

Seattle Mariners
Eduard Bazardo	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	47% CSW
José A. Ferrer	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	46% CSW
Seranthony Domínguez	0.2 IP	2 ER	2 H	1 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	15% CSW
Gabe Speier – HLD (16)	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	0% CSW
Andrés Muñoz – SV (23)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	44% CSW

Andrés Muñoz threw five fastballs, two changeups, and two sliders here. All for this pitch mix.

Milwaukee Brewers
Grant Anderson	1.0 IP	0 H	1 BB	3 K	3 Whiffs	38% CSW
DL Hall	3.0 IP	0 H	2 BB	3 K	5 Whiffs	34% CSW
Bryse Wilson	2.0 IP	2 H	0 BB	2 K	1 Whiffs	30% CSW
Antonio Senzatela	1.0 IP	1 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	43% CSW

Grant Anderson — Four-Seamer up 0.8 MPH (94.2 vs. 93.4 season avg). Who needs Abner Uribe?
Antonio Senzatela — Sinker up 1.1 MPH (97.5 vs. 96.4 season avg); Four-Seamer usage 0% (-39 pts vs. 39% usual); Cutter usage 64% (+34 pts vs. 30% usual). A lot of strikeouts from the Brewers bullpen here, but seeing a swing-and-miss from Senzatela is the biggest surprise.

Washington Nationals
Will Dion	1.0 IP	0 H	1 K	2 Whiffs	29% CSW
Max Kranick	1.0 IP	1 H	0 K	1 Whiffs	40% CSW
Jake Bird	1.0 IP	0 H	1 K	3 Whiffs	25% CSW

Will Dion — Four-Seamer down 0.9 MPH (90.4 vs. 91.3 season avg). Why was his fastball down in just a one-inning stint? The stuff’s still awesome, and whatever the role, he’s on the radar now. If he isn’t going to start, let him close?
Jake Bird — Four-Seamer down 1.6 MPH (91.9 vs. 93.5 season avg); Four-Seamer usage 42% (+28 pts vs. 14% usual); Sinker usage 8% (-27 pts vs. 36% usual). Somehow, the line was fine? (blame it on the Rangers lineup).

Texas Rangers
Cole Winn	1.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	0% CSW
Peyton Gray	1.0 IP	3 ER	1 H	2 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	22% CSW
Jordan Montgomery	2.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	5 Whiffs	32% CSW

Peyton Gray — Four-Seamer up 0.8 MPH (93.8 vs. 93.0 season avg). Ugh, I’d prefer Gray over Junis in a setup role here, but Gray has not been making a great case for himself lately.

Los Angeles Angels
Michael Fulmer	1.0 IP	2 H	3 K	5 Whiffs	50% CSW
Tayler Saucedo	1.1 IP	0 H	2 K	4 Whiffs	32% CSW
Luke Murphy	0.2 IP	0 H	0 K	0 Whiffs	33% CSW

Fulmer and Saucedo both in this bullpen at this point? What a crop

Houston Astros
Bennett Sousa – W (1)	1.1 IP	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	28% CSW
AJ Blubaugh – HLD (7)	1.0 IP	1 H	0 BB	2 K	5 Whiffs	50% CSW
Steven Okert – HLD (18)	1.0 IP	0 H	1 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	40% CSW
Bryan Abreu – HLD (9)	1.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	50% CSW
Josh Hader – SV (18)	1.0 IP	0 H	1 BB	0 K	3 Whiffs	32% CSW

Steven Okert — Four-Seamer down 1.4 MPH (89.8 vs. 91.2 season avg). No no no…
Bryan Abreu — Four-Seamer up 1.5 MPH (97.1 vs. 95.6 season avg). …Yes yes yes. Just waiting for some consistency now.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Brock Stewart – HLD (5)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	47% CSW
Alex Vesia – BS (2)	1.0 IP	2 ER	1 H	1 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	11% CSW
Jack Dreyer	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	2 K	1 Whiffs	23% CSW
Kyle Hurt – W (4)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	29% CSW
Tanner Scott – SV (18)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	12% CSW

Brock Stewart — Four-Seamer up 0.8 MPH (96.5 vs. 95.7 season avg). Stewart looked good in his first game back and could work his way into a setup role with Evan Phillips and Alex Vesia struggling at the moment.
Jack Dreyer — Four-Seamer down 0.8 MPH (93.2 vs. 94.0 season avg). Ugh, the line was fine, but the stuff…blame it on Coors?
Kyle Hurt — Four-Seamer up 1.5 MPH (98.0 vs. 96.5 season avg). The best velocity he has had all season.

Colorado Rockies
Mark Manfredi	1.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	32% CSW
Nick Frasso	2.0 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	25% CSW
Jaden Hill	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	25% CSW
Jordan Romano	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	25% CSW
Jimmy Herget – L (5)	0.2 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	31% CSW
Brennan Bernardino	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	17% CSW

Jaden Hill — Four-Seamer usage 58% (+28 pts vs. 30% usual). Welcome back Hill. I’ll take his sinker/slider over most of this bullpen still.

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Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Roundup: 8/19

Rick Graham

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Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Roundup: 8/19

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