What’s poppin’, Razzpimples?
Bullpen recap time!
Don’t forget to keep that Razzball Bullpen Chart bookmarked. It’s been updated with the latest, and I’m usually quick to get it touched up once any type of news drops. And if you’re not a subscriber, I do highly, highly, highly recommend it. The tools are — how do you say? — bussin’. If’n you’re of the mind to consider it, you can find all the info here. I’m partial to the Relievonator Game Log Tool. Truly a godsend for my nerdy backside.
Welp. Let’s do it to it, pardner.
Player Rater Top 20 (5×5 Standard)
Player Rater Top 20 (6×6 w/ Holds)
2025 SVHD Leaders
Weekly SVHD Leaders
Weekly BS+L Losers
Weekly Notes:
Note: All stats and Player Rater values are accurate through Monday’s games.
Meeeeeeeeee ohhhhhhhhhhhh myyyyyyyyyyyy what a bombshell doozy of a news flash we got this week, eh folks? Honestly hilarious that Emmanuel Clase happens to top the Weekly Losers segment just above this here paragraph for earning a BS+L this week, even though he also tied for the weekly lead with 3 SV. I’m not gonna sugarcoat a thang: it doesn’t get to this point without some hard proof — think those are the last three saves we ever see from Mr. Clase. Small chance he only bet on games he didn’t play in, which would likely result in a very long but non-permanent suspension, but I’ve seen lots of stuff/clips about first-pitch strike bets and how he threw some obviously terrible first pitches. The man is known for his elite control. Ain’t no way these puzzle pieces don’t fit. Also, for the record, the headline credit goes to The Great Knoche. I touched it up a spell, but the genius is all his.
So, with Clase out, that means Cade Smith is the obvious solution to replace the Guardians’ closer vacancy. His stock in every format is currently sky-high. Peak AMC stonks. For SVHD, Hunter Gaddis and Erik Sabrowski move up. Sabrowski wasn’t quite as dominant this past week, so maybe he’s regressing toward the mean, but he’s shown some good strikeout stuff thus far and is worth adding. Walks are a problem though.
Probably some more shiz will have gone down by the time you all read this; however, as things stand, not a lot of deadline action has occurred to shake up bullpens. Gregory Soto and Seranthony Dominguez being traded, plus Felix Bautista‘s injury, open the door for Keegan Akin (fresh off the IL), Andrew Kittredge, and Yennier Cano to have SVHD value ROS for Baltimore. Does Akin pull ahead as saves favorite? Do they give someone like Corbin Martin a shot? Martin only has 6.1 IP to his name, but has a 1.42 ERA and 11.4 K/9 with 1 HLD.
Soto was traded to the Mets, to join that other Soto guy. Has earned a HLD already but then took the loss the very next day. As for Dominguez, he was traded to the Blue Jays between doubleheaders, so he just walked to the other dugout in a new hat lol. Love it. I like him okay in SVHD but wouldn’t go jumping all over him unless you’ve got a struggling guy to let loose and the wire’s thin.
David Bednar pitched well this week: 3 HLD, 5 K. Plenty of teams interested in his services, and they’ve got two days to make it happen. Oh, the suspense! Gotta have a Plan B ready if you’ve got him in SV-only. Destination will determine his role, of course. The Rangers or Tigers or Phillies? He’ll probably close. Anywhere else? Probably not. Maaaybe if Cubs end up prying him away, they’ll bump Daniel Palencia down a peg.
Those teams I just mentioned all want a high-end RP. Ryan Helsley and Raisel Iglesias are other possibilities. Both still have elite upside in my book. Helsley converted both saves this week, striking out 4. Had 27.6 SwStr% and 48.3 CSW%. Real good time for him to look that good. Iglesias converted one save and blew the other, totaling 3 IP this week. Mixed results, but a 0.67 WHIP and 15.8 SwStr% look purty good.
Someone to watch ROS is Luis Garcia, who’s in Washington now. Kyle Finnegan is another probably-gonna-get-traded closer, and teammate Jose Ferrer is rumored to maybe go as well. Garcia had 2 HLD this week and seems to have a firm grasp on late-inning duties, appearing in the 7th inning all but once in his seven outings (the other time was in the 6th, and he got a hold, and the easiest way to knows this stuff is if you subscribed and used my favorite tool ever, which is linked up in the intro paragraph).
Aroldis Chapman left his last outing early (still got a hold!) due to a tight back. Doesn’t sound serious at all, so breathe a lengthy sigh of relief. Doesn’t sound like he’s going anywhere by deadline day, either. Health permitting, he’ll be a rootin’ and tootin’ sonuvagun the rest of the way.
Kevin Ginkel had 1 SV, 1 HLD, and 1 L, striking out 2 in 2.2. Diamondbacks could bring someone in to challenge the 9th I suppose, but it’s looking mostly like Ginkel’s to lose right now, which is very possible. If Kyle Backhus is actually as good as he’s looked in most of his 11.2 IP thus far, he’s worth rostering in SVHD. I can’t recommend anyone else. About the sorriest damn bullpen I’ve ever looked at. I’d rather have the White Sox pen right now, truth be told. The collective K/9 of what Arizona has on tap right now is just…so bad. So, so bad.
Pete Fairbanks has been linked to the Rangers. Nothing definitive, but talks are being had. Rangers have been after basically every available reliever, from the sound of it. Just in case it happens, keep tabs on Edwin Uceta, whose strikeout stuff is whipping back into very fine shape: 28 K in his last 14.1 IP. FINALLY. That’s the Uceta I’ve been waiting for!
Phil Maton and JoJo Romero each had 2 HLD. Both are good bets to get traded as well. Maton much more so, but Romero is a lefty and can handle higher leverage, so there’s interest. And he’s been fantastic for a few weeks now. I could bring up so many other names (in addition to the bunch that I tacked on at the end of last week’s piece), but I mention Maton/Romero since it could be the that Cards blow up shop and leave the likes of Kyle Leahy and Riley O’Brien as the late inning guys. Which is…not exciting.
So much is going to happen between this post and next week’s. Reckon we’ll hear about how the Red Sox, Cubs, Tigers, Dodgers, Yankees, Phillies, Mariners and Rangers all tried their darndest to make bullpen additions. Other teams like the Royals and Angels and Blue Jays maybe as well. Gear up, folks; should be a fun time!
That’s all for this week! Thanks for reading. Leave me a comment below so I feel all warm and fuzzy.
Odds are quite good I was drinking either black coffee, dark beer, or some form of bourbon while writing what you just read. In the daylight hours, I’m a high school English teacher. I have completely left X/Twitter, so you can find me on Bluesky: @jkj0787.bsky.social, where I serve up daily bullpen recaps to my loyal tens of followers.
