Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Roundup: 9/23

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

WSN 4 – DET 2

Washington Nationals
Richard Lovelady	1.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	16% CSW
Will Dion – W (2)	2.0 IP	1 ER	3 H	1 BB	4 K	5 Whiffs	34% CSW
Jack Sinclair – HLD (3)	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	25% CSW
Erik Tolman – HLD (2)	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	2 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	25% CSW
Yovanny Cruz – SV (1)	1.1 IP	1 ER	3 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	32% CSW

Richard Lovelady — Four-Seamer down 1.7 MPH (89.7 vs. 91.4 season avg)
Jack Sinclair — Sinker down 1.2 MPH (94.6 vs. 95.8 season avg)
Erik Tolman — Four-Seamer down 2.3 MPH (94.6 vs. 96.9 season avg). Ugh, I hope everything’s OK. He has pitched a ton lately.
Yovanny Cruz — Sinker down 1.0 MPH (99.1 vs. 100.1 season avg); Four-Seamer usage 0% (-35 pts vs. 35% usual). Cruz got Singled Out here, and the command was actually decent, so I’d consider this a positive outing.

Detroit Tigers
Tyler Kinley	0.2 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	15% CSW
Jacob Waguespack	2.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	1 BB	2 K	5 Whiffs	32% CSW
Kenley Jansen	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	33% CSW

Kenley Jansen — Sinker down 1.6 MPH (92.3 vs. 93.9 season avg). Looks like Jansen will need to return next year to get to save #500. The Tigers can save $10M by declining his club option, which I would expect to happen, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see them bring him back for one more year.

TOR 2 – BAL 4

Toronto Blue Jays
José Rodríguez	1.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	39% CSW
Brendon Little	1.0 IP	1 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	40% CSW
Paul Sewald	1.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	18% CSW

José Rodríguez — Sinker up 1.2 MPH (98.3 vs. 97.1 season avg). The sinker can be really good. The secondaries are a work in progress.
Brendon Little — Sinker down 2.0 MPH (92.5 vs. 94.5 season avg)

Baltimore Orioles
Luis De León – HLD (1)	0.2 IP	2 H	1 K	2 Whiffs	17% CSW
Anthony Nunez – HLD (8)	1.1 IP	0 H	0 K	0 Whiffs	29% CSW
Rico Garcia – HLD (19)	1.0 IP	0 H	0 K	1 Whiffs	14% CSW
Andrew Kittredge – SV (11)	1.0 IP	1 H	1 K	2 Whiffs	31% CSW

Luis De León — Sinker down 1.0 MPH (94.9 vs. 95.9 season avg)
Rico Garcia — Four-Seamer down 1.3 MPH (94.1 vs. 95.4 season avg). And he’s back in the eighth inning again.

TOR 2 – BAL 4

Toronto Blue Jays
Brendan Cellucci	1.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	26% CSW
Chase Lee	1.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	3 K	3 Whiffs	47% CSW

Chase Lee — Four-Seamer usage 47% (+34 pts vs. 13% usual). While this worked here, I don’t think there’s much long-term upside.

Baltimore Orioles
Yennier Cano – HLD (14)	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	30% CSW
Josh Walker	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	18% CSW
Félix Bautista	1.0 IP	2 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	5 Whiffs	39% CSW

Yennier Cano — Sinker down 1.0 MPH (93.8 vs. 94.8 season avg); Sinker usage 90% (+36 pts vs. 54% usual)
Félix Bautista — Sinker down 2.2 MPH (93.1 vs. 95.3 season avg). The fastball is down 6.5 MPH from where it was the last season he was healthy (2023). He has a whole offseason to get where he needs to be, at least.

MIN 4 – SFG 2

Minnesota Twins
Yoendrys Gómez – W (3)	1.2 IP	0 H	0 BB	2 K	5 Whiffs	46% CSW
A.J. Minter – HLD (11)	1.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	14% CSW
Andrew Morris – SV (5)	1.0 IP	1 H	1 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	43% CSW

I’m surprised to see Andrew Morris in the ninth given how his second half has gone, but could it be so that Minter could face the top of the Giants order in the eighth? Not that it matters because that Giants lineup is essentially a AAA lineup at this point, but Morris still made it a bit interesting with a hit and walk before striking out Whitcomb.

San Francisco Giants
Joel Kuhnel	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	32% CSW
Dylan Smith – L (6)	0.2 IP	2 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	18% CSW
Sam Hentges	0.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	36% CSW
Braxton Roxby	1.2 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	25% CSW
Trent Harris	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	14% CSW

Sam Hentges — Four-Seamer usage 91% (+58 pts vs. 33% usual); Sinker usage 0% (-27 pts vs. 27% usual)
Trent Harris — Sinker up 0.8 MPH (94.6 vs. 93.8 season avg)

STL 5 – PIT 1

St. Louis Cardinals
Luis Gastelum	1.1 IP	0 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	25% CSW
Ryne Stanek	1.0 IP	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	27% CSW
George Soriano	1.0 IP	1 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	29% CSW

Luis Gastelum — Four-Seamer down 0.9 MPH (93.2 vs. 94.1 season avg). Fizzled out a bit down the stretch, but looking forward to him being in this bullpen on opening day next year.
Ryne Stanek — Four-Seamer down 0.8 MPH (97.2 vs. 98.0 season avg)

Pittsburgh Pirates
Lake Bachar	1.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	30% CSW
Brandon Eisert – L (3)	0.2 IP	3 ER	2 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	22% CSW
Antwone Kelly	2.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	3 K	6 Whiffs	33% CSW
Kirby Yates	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	14% CSW

Lake Bachar — Curveball usage 47% (+27 pts vs. 20% usual)
Antwone Kelly — Four-Seamer down 1.7 MPH (97.1 vs. 98.8 season avg). Hoping we see him get a chance in this bullpen next year.
Kirby Yates — Four-Seamer down 1.4 MPH (89.4 vs. 90.8 season avg)

MIL 4 – PHI 1

Milwaukee Brewers
DL Hall – HLD (6)	2.0 IP	1 H	1 BB	2 K	6 Whiffs	42% CSW
Abner Uribe – HLD (23)	1.0 IP	1 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	21% CSW
Trevor Megill – SV (30)	1.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	18% CSW

DL Hall > Ashby?

Philadelphia Phillies
Tanner Banks	2.0 IP	0 ER	2 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	32% CSW
Max Lazar	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	30% CSW

Tanner Banks — Four-Seamer down 0.8 MPH (91.2 vs. 92.0 season avg)
Max Lazar — Four-Seamer up 1.0 MPH (95.7 vs. 94.7 season avg). Umm, where did this come from? This bullpen has plenty of holes…does Lazar sneak onto the postseason roster now?

TBR 2 – NYY 9

Tampa Bay Rays
Casey Legumina	1.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	17% CSW
Brody Hopkins	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	2 K	4 Whiffs	38% CSW
Steven Matz	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	22% CSW
Cole Sulser	1.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	1 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	32% CSW

Casey Legumina — Four-Seamer down 0.9 MPH (92.1 vs. 93.0 season avg); Four-Seamer usage 70% (+27 pts vs. 43% usual)
Steven Matz — Sinker up 1.2 MPH (94.8 vs. 93.6 season avg); Changeup usage 0% (-30 pts vs. 30% usual); Sinker usage 74% (+25 pts vs. 49% usual)
Cole Sulser — Four-Seamer up 0.8 MPH (93.1 vs. 92.3 season avg)
I don’t care about all that, Brody Hopkins pitched. He has a chance to be the next Mason Miller/Mason Montgomery if he can just add even the slightest bit of command.

New York Yankees
Brent Headrick	0.1 IP	1 H	0 K	0 Whiffs	0% CSW
John Schreiber	0.1 IP	1 H	0 K	0 Whiffs	14% CSW
Tim Hill	0.2 IP	0 H	0 K	0 Whiffs	29% CSW
Paul Blackburn	1.0 IP	1 H	0 K	1 Whiffs	27% CSW
David Bednar	1.0 IP	0 H	1 K	4 Whiffs	38% CSW

Brent Headrick — Four-Seamer down 1.6 MPH (92.5 vs. 94.1 season avg). Not loving this.

CLE 0 – BOS 1

Cleveland Guardians
Tim Herrin	1.0 IP	1 H	3 K	5 Whiffs	38% CSW
Matt Festa	0.2 IP	1 H	0 K	1 Whiffs	21% CSW
Shawn Armstrong	0.1 IP	0 H	0 K	0 Whiffs	0% CSW

Tim Herrin — Sinker down 0.8 MPH (92.9 vs. 93.7 season avg). He threw 3 sinkers and 18 breakers (11 curve, 7 sliders) here, and that’s totally fine by me.

Boston Red Sox
Tyron Guerrero – HLD (19)	1.0 IP	0 H	1 BB	3 K	7 Whiffs	36% CSW
Garrett Whitlock – HLD (26)	1.0 IP	1 H	1 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	20% CSW
Aroldis Chapman – SV (35)	1.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	3 K	5 Whiffs	50% CSW

Garrett Whitlock — Sinker down 1.4 MPH (93.5 vs. 94.9 season avg). Don’t love this, it was cold in Boston last night, but still.
Aroldis Chapman — Splitter usage 42% (+30 pts vs. 12% usual). Looked just fine in his return from a minor lat injury.

CIN 2 – ATL 3

Cincinnati Reds
Graham Ashcraft	1.0 IP	0 H	1 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	31% CSW
Pierce Johnson	1.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	2 K	5 Whiffs	44% CSW
Luis Mey – L (1)	0.1 IP	1 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	10% CSW

Meh.

Atlanta Braves
Victor Mederos	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	30% CSW
Robert Suarez	1.0 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	8% CSW
Dylan Lee	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	23% CSW
Raisel Iglesias	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	3 K	3 Whiffs	31% CSW
Brent Suter – W (3)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	13% CSW

Robert Suarez finally made his return here and looked pretty good, all things considered. The first pitch he threw wound up being a triple, but he settled in after that.
Dylan Lee’s command is still off; I’m guessing it’s a mechanical thing and hopefully nothing health-related.
Raisel Iglesias has all four pitches working at their best right now, and that’s a great sign heading into October.
Brent Suter — Four-Seamer up 0.8 MPH (88.6 vs. 87.8 season avg)

CHW 4 – KCR 5

Chicago White Sox
Bryan Hudson	0.1 IP	3 ER	4 H	0 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	19% CSW
Erick Fedde	2.2 IP	0 ER	4 H	2 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	23% CSW
Sean Newcomb	2.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	6 Whiffs	44% CSW
Hagen Smith – L (3)	2.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 BB	2 K	1 Whiffs	33% CSW
Jordan Hicks	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	20% CSW

Bryan Hudson — Four-Seamer down 1.1 MPH (90.8 vs. 91.9 season avg); Sweeper usage 62% (+34 pts vs. 28% usual); Four-Seamer usage 38% (-29 pts vs. 66% usual). Oooof, yea the wheels are falling off here and it’s pretty clear he’s not 100%.
Erick Fedde — Sinker up 1.0 MPH (95.0 vs. 94.0 season avg)
Sean Newcomb — Sinker up 1.1 MPH (94.7 vs. 93.6 season avg)
Jordan Hicks — Sinker usage 20% (-29 pts vs. 49% usual)

Kansas City Royals
Anthony Gose	1.2 IP	0 H	1 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	24% CSW
Connor Thomas – W (2)	2.0 IP	1 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	32% CSW
Lucas Erceg – HLD (5)	1.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	44% CSW
Steven Cruz – SV (8)	1.0 IP	1 H	0 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	33% CSW

Lucas Erceg — Four-Seamer up 1.8 MPH (99.0 vs. 97.2 season avg). Erceg is finishing the season strong, and I still have this thought in the back of my brain that he should get a chance to start (I’ll take a starter with 4-5 average offerings over a reliever with 4-5 above-average pitches).
Steven Cruz — Four-Seamer usage 87% (+30 pts vs. 56% usual). There’s no denying how good the four-seamer can be. Just need a decent secondary to back it up.

MIA 3 – CHC 2

Miami Marlins
Michael Petersen – BS (2)	0.2 IP	1 H	2 K	6 Whiffs	54% CSW
Cade Gibson – W (6)	1.0 IP	0 H	2 K	3 Whiffs	35% CSW
Calvin Faucher – HLD (18)	1.0 IP	0 H	0 K	0 Whiffs	14% CSW
Sandy Alcantara – SV (2)	1.0 IP	1 H	0 K	1 Whiffs	33% CSW

Michael Petersen — Four-Seamer down 0.8 MPH (97.2 vs. 98.0 season avg)
Calvin Faucher — Four-Seamer down 0.9 MPH (95.5 vs. 96.4 season avg)
Sandy Alcantara — Four-Seamer up 1.6 MPH (99.1 vs. 97.5 season avg); Cutter usage 42% (+27 pts vs. 15% usual). It’ll be interesting to see if this carries into 2027. I don’t love turning starting pitchers’ bullpen days into high-leverage outings for an entire season, but I’m sure the Marlins have done their due diligence on the effects this will have. The fantasy implications of this are obviously massive.

Chicago Cubs
Javier Assad	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	0% CSW
Ryan Rolison – L (2)	0.2 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	26% CSW
Jacob Webb	1.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	26% CSW
Colin Rea	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	2 Whiffs	15% CSW

Jacob Webb is still having a bit of a curveball issue, but everything else looks great.

NYM 7 – TEX 2

New York Mets
Devin Williams – HLD (1)	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	23% CSW
Cionel Pérez	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	14% CSW

Devin Williams — Four-Seamer down 1.0 MPH (92.9 vs. 93.9 season avg). Fastball wasn’t great, but the changeup was at least.
Cionel Pérez — Sinker down 1.0 MPH (95.6 vs. 96.6 season avg); Sinker usage 71% (+42 pts vs. 30% usual)

Texas Rangers
Tyler Alexander	1.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	33% CSW
Chase Silseth	0.1 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	30% CSW
Jacob Latz – L (4)	1.2 IP	1 ER	1 H	1 BB	2 K	3 Whiffs	30% CSW
Jordan Montgomery	0.2 IP	2 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	36% CSW
Trevor Williams	0.1 IP	2 ER	1 H	1 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	25% CSW

Jacob Latz got burned by Semien here on a 2-0 fastball in the 8th, and the Rangers didn’t leave him in to pitch the ninth to keep the game close, which was certainly a choice.

ARI 5 – COL 3

Arizona Diamondbacks
Justin Martinez – HLD (2)	0.2 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	25% CSW
Brandyn Garcia – HLD (18)	1.1 IP	1 ER	1 H	0 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	33% CSW
Juan Morillo – HLD (19)	0.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	0% CSW
Jonathan Loáisiga – SV (2)	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	1 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	19% CSW

Justin Martinez continues to show an elite fastball. He’ll be one of my favorite closer targets for next season.

Colorado Rockies
Mark Manfredi	2.0 IP	1 ER	3 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	36% CSW
Jaden Hill	1.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	30% CSW

Jaden Hill — Four-Seamer down 1.2 MPH (95.7 vs. 96.9 season avg)

LAA 3 – ATH 7

Los Angeles Angels
Luke Murphy	0.2 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	0 Whiffs	25% CSW
Tayler Saucedo	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	36% CSW
José Fermin	0.2 IP	2 ER	3 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	12% CSW
Blake Weiman	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	1 Whiffs	50% CSW
Mitch Farris	2.0 IP	0 ER	2 H	1 BB	1 K	3 Whiffs	20% CSW

Luke Murphy — Four-Seamer down 0.8 MPH (94.9 vs. 95.7 season avg)
José Fermin — Sinker down 1.4 MPH (95.0 vs. 96.4 season avg). Ugh, make it stop.

Athletics
Geoff Hartlieb – W (2)	1.2 IP	1 H	1 BB	2 K	6 Whiffs	38% CSW
Luis Medina	1.0 IP	1 H	1 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	32% CSW
Hogan Harris	1.0 IP	1 H	0 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	18% CSW
Elvis Alvarado	1.0 IP	0 H	0 BB	2 K	6 Whiffs	67% CSW

Hogan Harris — Four-Seamer down 1.2 MPH (94.0 vs. 95.2 season avg)
Elvis Alvarado with a throwback performance here after a few stinkers in a row. The fastball was excellent, and we even saw a slider for a strike. There’s just no consistency (yet), but these types of outings are what rope me back in.

SDP 5 – LAD 1

San Diego Padres
David Morgan	0.2 IP	0 H	1 BB	1 K	1 Whiffs	15% CSW
Yuki Matsui – HLD (11)	1.0 IP	1 H	1 BB	0 K	3 Whiffs	25% CSW
Bradgley Rodriguez – W (4)	2.0 IP	1 H	1 BB	3 K	6 Whiffs	32% CSW
Adrian Morejon – HLD (28)	1.0 IP	1 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	0% CSW
Mason Miller	1.0 IP	0 H	1 BB	2 K	2 Whiffs	39% CSW

David Morgan — Four-Seamer usage 77% (+48 pts vs. 29% usual)
Bradgley Rodriguez — Four-Seamer up 1.1 MPH (99.4 vs. 98.3 season avg). After his velocity was down a few games ago, he has now elevated it. Didier Fuentes has been kind of the same way.
Adrian Morejon — Sinker up 1.0 MPH (100.5 vs. 99.5 season avg)

Los Angeles Dodgers
Kris Bubic	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	17% CSW
Jack Dreyer	1.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	36% CSW
Blake Treinen	0.2 IP	1 ER	2 H	1 BB	0 K	3 Whiffs	19% CSW

Kris Bubic — Four-Seamer up 1.2 MPH (93.1 vs. 91.9 season avg). The Dodgers may only have room for one of Bubic or Dreyer in October, and while I still lean Dreyer, Bubic is certianly making a case for himself.

HOU 5 – SEA 6

Houston Astros
Josh Hendrickson	2.0 IP	1 ER	2 H	0 BB	3 K	6 Whiffs	39% CSW
Logan VanWey	0.1 IP	0 ER	0 H	0 BB	0 K	0 Whiffs	0% CSW
AJ Blubaugh	2.0 IP	0 ER	0 H	1 BB	1 K	4 Whiffs	29% CSW
Bryan Abreu	1.0 IP	0 ER	1 H	0 BB	1 K	2 Whiffs	44% CSW
Josh Hader – L (2)	1.1 IP	1 ER	2 H	4 BB	0 K	5 Whiffs	20% CSW

Bryan Abreu — Four-Seamer up 1.5 MPH (97.2 vs. 95.7 season avg)
Just the first time the Astros have asked Josh Hader to get more than three outs all season, although the other two times he was great. Every walk here came on a 3-2 count as Hader wound up throwing a whopping 44 pitches in this outing.

Seattle Mariners
José A. Ferrer	1.0 IP	0 H	2 K	5 Whiffs	54% CSW
Gabe Speier	1.0 IP	1 H	2 K	3 Whiffs	50% CSW
Carlos Vargas	1.0 IP	1 H	2 K	2 Whiffs	29% CSW
Seranthony Domínguez	1.0 IP	1 H	1 K	5 Whiffs	37% CSW
Cooper Criswell – W (4)	1.0 IP	1 H	1 K	1 Whiffs	20% CSW

Carlos Vargas — Sinker up 1.2 MPH (97.2 vs. 96.0 season avg)
Cooper Criswell — Sinker down 1.4 MPH (89.4 vs. 90.8 season avg)

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: 9/23

Rick Graham

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Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Roundup: 9/23

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