After featuring Giants reliever Taylor Rogers last week, how about we shift focus to his twin brother, also a Giants reliever, Tyler Rogers. I’ll admit I am typically skeptical of submarine style relievers as they usually don’t strike out anyone and tend to be volatile in general, but Rogers has broken that mold. Despite his NINE (9) strikeouts this past week, we shouldn’t expect him to contribute much in that category moving forward, but what he does a fantastic job of is limiting hard contact and walks. He’s also going to continue to rack up holds, as his 17 on the season is third most in baseball. I still don’t consider Tyler Rogers as a high upside option, but he has an incredibly high floor given his holds output.
Notes
- Andrew Nardi continues to impress in the Miami bullpen, to the point where I really have no idea which one of their lefty relievers truly is worth rostering behind A.J. Puk. Tanner Scott continues to dominate as well, but Nardi has arguably been a Top 10 reliever since May started. Over his last 22.1 IP Nardi has a 2.07 xFIP to go with 31.8% K-BB and 33.4% CSW rates, allowing just two earned runs over that span. He does have seven holds since May, but Scott has 11 and Steven Okert has eight in the same timeframe. Basically, you can’t go wrong rostering a left handed pitcher on the Marlins.
- Speaking of lefties, the Orioles really have find another diamond in the rough in Danny Coulombe. Over his last 14.1 IP, Coulombe has a 1.26 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 32.1% K rate, to go along with eight holds, which is good for eighth most in baseball since the middle of May. And while it seems like Yennier Cano has been slowing down lately, he does lead the league in Holds over that span (11) while also holding a 2.29 ERA but it does come with a 1.53 WHIP and just a 15.3% K rate.
- The White Sox best reliever right now is likely Keynan Middleton as he’s been a terrific addition for this bullpen and could land the team a nice prospect at the deadline. Over 21 IP since the start of May, Middleton has a 2.14 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and impressive 17.5% SwStr rate and looks like the secondary saves option for the team at the moment. If Chicago does have a fire sale this deadline, if Aaron Bummer sticks around he could be a sneaky addition for the second half as he has looked like his old self as of late. Over his last 12 games (9.2 IP), Bummer holds a 2.79 ERA (2.26 xFIP), 1.14 WHIP and 41.5% K rate. The walks are still an issue, but if he can bring that walk rate down a little, he could have a big second half.
- Relievers Matt Bush and Ian Hamilton have returned from the IL this past week, with both having a chance to factor into some holds opportunities. I had high hopes for Bush prior to the season and hopefully he can come back healthy. He should slide right into a set up role with Peter Strzelecki being sent down to Triple-A. Hamilton was rising rapidly prior to his injury, but with Tommy Kahnle returning while he was out and other relievers in that bullpen pitching well, we’ll have to wait and see what his role will look like moving forward.
If you would like more daily reliever updates, please check out our Reliever Ranks series.
