Ryan Pressly just can’t seem to get any positive momentum going as every time it looks like he’s about to turn the corner, he goes out and has a rough outing. For now, it makes sense to look at other options, but I’m still not out on Pressly for the rest of the year. He still has a 22.1% K-BB rate, 32.1% CSW, 2.51 xFIP, 2.61 SIERA and 125 Stuff+. So what has been the issue? He’s been the most unlucky pitcher in baseball with the highest BABIP amongst relievers by quite a large margin as his .431 BABIP is .018 points higher than the second-highest number, in fact, there are only four qualified relievers with a BABIP higher than .382.
While some relievers (notoriously Edwin Díaz) have high career BABIPs, Pressly’s career number is .295 which is still a bit high compared to most, but we’d also be having a much different conversation about Pressly if that were his BABIP this season. All that being said, Pressly is allowing a lot of hard contact (47.5% ICR, he’s been around 36% the past three seasons), so the high BABIP isn’t entirely luck-related, and for those reasons he drops down the list a little bit this week.
Notes
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Jeremiah Estrada now has 18 Ks over his past 6.2 IP (allowing just one hit and no walks) which is just comical. When these types of breakouts happen, they do tend to happen fast and out of nowhere, so act fast as this is probably the last chance you’ll get to jump on the Estrada bandwagon before he is rostered in all holds leagues.
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Ryan Walker has followed up his great April with an even better May, allowing just two ERs this month while posting an elite 18/1 K/BB rate. He’s seeing more and more hold chances as well and has emerged as the team’s top setup option ahead of Tyler Rogers.
- Similar things can be said about Bryan Hudson, as he too has been even better in May somehow, allowing just one ER and eights hits while striking out 19 and walking just two this month. The Brewers definitely have question marks in their rotation and lineup, but if they get a healthy Devin Williams back in a month or so to go along with Trevor Megill and Hudson, that’s probably the best late-inning trio in all of baseball.
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Cade Smith has been fantastic in May as well, as he and Hunter Gaddis have taken over setup duties with Scott Barlow struggling as of late. Smith has a nice 15/1 K/BB ratio in May, and has allowed just one ER and six hits.
- The baseball gods really seem to enjoy making things miserable for the Mets as they’ve lost their closer to the IL, Reed Garrett’s allowed seven hits and seven runs over his past 2.1 IP, Jorge López had one of the most bizarre meltdowns in recent history yesterday, and Adam Ottavino has completely imploded in the month of May. Ottavino has allowed 16 hits and seven walks this month, to go along with 11 ERs over just a 10.2 inning span.
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Ryan Thompson is putting together some of the best work of his career this season, and with Kevin Ginkel having a brutal month he’s established himself as the Diamondbacks’ top setup option at the moment. Nothing has really changed with his repertoire as he’s still the same sidewinding sinker/slider guy, but his low walk rate, high groundball rate, and ability to limit hard contact put him in that Tyler Rogers territory.
- Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like A.J. Puk is going to have much use in fantasy leagues this season as things have not translated well in his relief role either. He still is not able to get swings and misses (4.2% SwStr, 21% CSW and 1/2 K/BB rates!) as the stuff is just down right now. The velo is starting to get back to where it was at last season, but it hasn’t resulted in more success yet. There’s still time, but I think Andrew Nardi has worked his way back into being the next-in-line closer option in Miami.
If you would like more daily reliever updates, please check out our Reliever Ranks series.
SP Eligible Relievers
| Rank | Pitcher | Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Mason Miller | OAK | Closer in Oakland |
| 2. | Michael Kopech | CWS | Closer in Chicago for now |
| 3. | Matt Strahm | PHI | One of the best middle-relief fantasy options |
| 4. | Ryan Walker | SF | Fastball/slider combo from funky slot plays up in pen |
| 5. | Hunter Gaddis | CLE | Been impressive in a bullpen role |
| 6. | Luke Weaver | NYY | Top setup option in New York now? |
| 7. | John Brebbia | CWS | Back in the White Sox pen after IL stint |
| 8. | Calvin Faucher | MIA | Stuff is playing up out of the pen |
| 9. | Shawn Armstrong | TB | 1.38 ERA, 0.90 WHIP in 54 IP last year |
| 10. | Caleb Ferguson | NYY | Slow start, but still needed in that pen |