The Cardinals bullpen got a boost this past week with the return of Giovanny Gallegos, who has been one of the top set up man in baseball in the not too distant past. I’m not too optimistic on Gallegos returning to that form, as his velocity is still down as of his first game back from the IL, but it’s also his first game back so it’s fair to give him some more time to get up to speed. So if Gallegos isn’t the reason for JoJo Romero and Andrew Kittredge’s fall this week, than what is?
Romero and Kittredge continue to rack up plenty of holds, but the underlying metrics aren’t exactly backing up the production. Since May 1st Romero holds 19.8% K and 8.8% SwStr rates along with a 3.62 SIERA and just a 85 Stuff+ rating. Kittredge over that span also has a sub 20% K rate at 18.6%, as well as a 25.7% CSW, and 4.00 SIERA. To be fair, no one has really excelled in this bullpen over this time span (highest K-BB rate is just 15%) so perhaps Gallegos can jump right in to a high leverage role.
Notes
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Alex Vesia has been dominant since May 1st with a 41.4% K rate, 0.44 WHIP and 1.72 SIERA, but still just 6 holds on the year (4 saves though!). This could just be a Dodgers thing because both Daniel Hudson (32.3% K rate, 0.57 WHIP, 2.13 SIERA) and Blake Treinen (34.3% K rate, 1.02 WHIP, 2.37 SIERA) have also pitched well over that span, and they only have 5 and 6 holds respectively. Vesia is at least the top left handed option in that bullpen and I’d expect more consistent hold chances moving forward.
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I may have been too low on Ryne Stanek recently as he’s really been pitching well this year. The stuff is still excellent and his 18.2% SwStr rate since May 1st suggest there could be even more K upside (only 29.4% K rate over that span). He also has 6 holds and 5 saves since May 1st and could be in for that type of split moving forward as Andrés Muñoz is struggling with command and a potential injury. If Munoz does wind up missing time, it definitely boosts the value of Trent Thornton who earned his first save of his career last night.
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Lucas Erceg remains the top holds option in Oakland and possibly the only one worth rostering with Austin Adams struggling lately. Adams has just a 9.9% K-BB rate and 4.41 SIERA since May 1st, and has now allowed 10 ER over 9 innings in June. Erceg, while having some issues himself since returning from the IL this month, has been much more consistent overall and has better stuff to back it up (Erceg: 5.39 PLV, Adams: 5.13 PLV).
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I think Dylan Lee is starting to distance himself from the other lefties in the Braves bullpen, at least he should be (I know, just 2 holds on the year). Since May 1st, Lee leads all relievers in SwStr rate with a 22.4% mark, while also posting an impressive 2.62 SIERA. A.J. Minter is likely returning soon and will probably consume most of the hold chances the Braves give their left handed relievers, but I’d hope they start giving Lee more high leverage work as he’s earned it.
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. | Matt Strahm | PHI | One of the best middle-relief fantasy options |
| 3. | Ryan Walker | SF | Fastball/slider combo from funky slot plays up in pen |
| 4. | Hunter Gaddis | CLE | Been impressive in a bullpen role |
| 5. | Luke Weaver | CWS | Top setup option in New York now? |
| 6. | Michael Kopech | NYY | Closer in Chicago…for now |
| 7. | A.J. Puk | MIA | Velo is back up in the bullpen |
| 8. | Erik Miller | SF | Been opening a lot, but also has 10+ holds |
| 9. | Randy Rodríguez | SF | Electric stuff, but role isn’t quite clear |
| 10. | Calvin Faucher | MIA | MIA top right-handed relief option |
Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X)