I feel like it’s worth taking a minute to try and break down the Dodgers bullpen. They just added two relievers from the IL this week and may even get Brusdar Graterol back in a week, which would put them at full strength for the first time. Michael Kopech and Evan Phillips are at the top of the pecking order here and don’t need much selling. Daniel Hudson is out of the closer role and has a 5.0% K-BB rate over his past 14 IP with a 5.06 SIERA and 24.3% CSW. The velocity has been on the decline for Hudson for a while now, and I wonder if we eventually see an IL stint for him before the playoffs.
Blake Treinen returned this week and has been okay for the most part this year but has just an 18% K-BB rate, 1.37 WHIP, and 4.00 xFIP going back to June (22.2 IP). Ryan Brasier also returned this week but with limited innings on the year and stuck in a deep bullpen, it’s hard to judge what his holds-league value just may be. Joe Kelly has struggled most of the year but he’s coming off a strong week in which he picked up two holds and a win (and the upside is always enticing).
As far as the lefties go, Anthony Banda over his past 16.1 IP holds 29.7% K-BB, and 21.5% SwStr rates to go with a 0.86 WHIP and 2.10 xFIP. Alex Vesia has had some command issues since the All-Star break, with an 11.1% K-BB and just a 6.3% SwStr rate, plus a 1.71 WHIP and 4.48 SIERA over his past 9.1 IP. There is certainly an argument to be made that Banda should overtake Vesia here, but they both have been seeing the same amount of hold chances, and I personally believe in Vesia’s stuff more so than Banda’s.
Notes
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Trevor Megill returned from the IL earlier this week and went on to allow four runs in his first outing back. The good news is the velocity looked good, but his command was off as he was missing up a lot. I’m not too worried about him struggling down the stretch, as every one of the Brewers’ top relievers had issues last night.
- Drew Rasmussen has looked great since returning from the IL this year, with a 1.00 WHIP, and 11/1 K/BB ratio over eight innings. His fastball velocity is up 1.6 mph pitching out of the bullpen and picked up his first hold yesterday.
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It was a tough week for Andrew Kittredge, but it’s really been an up-and-down season for him going back to May. Over his past 31 IP Kittredge holds a 4.35 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 4.06 SIERA, and 11.8% K-BB rate. The holds are still keeping his value afloat, but there are a lot of other relievers with higher upsides to take a chance on.
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Kyle Nicolas moves up the list this week and while the stuff is better than the results, the results have been better lately with a 24% K rate, 0.94 WHIP, and 2.73 SIERA over his past 10.2 IP (plus two holds). He feels like he is a few tweaks away from breaking out. Speaking of breakouts, A’s reliever Tyler Ferguson has been fantastic since being recalled in July, with a 26.4% K-BB, 0.88 WHIP, and 2.57 SIERA over 24 IP. He and Michel Otanez have really turned into an impressive setup duo in front of closer Mason Miller.
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. Dominant stuff |
| 2. | Ryan Walker | SF | Fastball/slider combo from funky slot plays up in pen |
| 3. | A.J. Puk | AZ | Velo is back up in the bullpen |
| 4. | Michael Kopech | CWS | Closer in Chicago… for now |
| 5. | Hunter Gaddis | CLE | Been impressive in a bullpen role |
| 6. | Matt Strahm | PHI | One of the best middle-relief fantasy options |
| 7. | Luke Weaver | NYY | Top setup option in New York now? |
| 8. | Tyler Holton | DET | One “start” away from SP eligibility |
| 9. | Drew Rasmussen | TB | Velo is way up out of the pen |
| 10. | Calvin Faucher | MIA | Might be Miami’s closer now? |
I’m surprised Jeremiah Estrada is still so high – he’s been pitching in like 10-4 deficits lately with the additions SD made during the deadline.
It says Michael Kopech is still with CHW on here. JSYK :)