SAGNOF Bullpen Report Week 20: Devin Wontiams

Arizona Diamondbacks

So, that’s it for Paul Sewald (24 SV, 44:9 K:BB). He got DFA’d. Kevin Ginkel (1 SV, 11 HLD, 47:15 K:BB) had 1 SV but blew his ERA up and had a 1.48 WHIP. Juan Morillo (1 SV, 15 HLD, 56:16 K:BB) secured 2 HLD in 2.2 scoreless. Brandyn Garcia (3 SV, 13 HLD, 36:7 K:BB) was fine but had no decisions. Morillo seems to be back on the up-and-up for holds at least, but otherwise this pen is in flux and it’s a headache best avoided.

Athletics

Hogan Harris (11 SV, 10 HLD, 70:34 K:BB) mixed bag: 2 SV, 1 BS, 1 L, 9.00 ERA, 3.oo WHIP. He’s fine in SV-only if you’re just grasping at whatever you can. Only hold went to…Brady Basso?

Atlanta Braves

Two Braves saves this week and neither were Raisel Iglesias (24 SV, 48:12 K:BB). One was Tyler Kinley (1 SV, 11 HLD, 40:18 K:BB), the other was Didier Fuentes (2 SV, 12 HLD, 65:15 K:BB). Fun part is Kinley also took an L and Fuentes earned a BS this week. Iglesias is still the closer, of course. All of this was circumstantial. Dylan Lee (26 HLD, 66:12 K:BB) and Dylan Dodd (1 SV, 10 HLD, 39:12 K:BB), the Double Dylans I’ll now call them, each had 3 HLD and allowed no runs. Dodd is probably available in your league and should probably be owned for holds now.

Baltimore Orioles

Yennier Cano (3 SV, 10 HLD, 38:8 K:BB) and Andrew Kittredge (5 SV, 7 HLD, 31:12 K:BB) each had 1 SV and 1 HLD. Cano stood out with a 4:0 K:BB. I’ll fully admit I was wrong that his time in the spotlight had waned. He’s gotta be owned everywhere. Nice to see Rico Garcia (5 SV, 14 HLD, 50:14 K:BB) score 2 HLD as well.

Boston Red Sox

Like with Atlanta, circumstances led to zero saves from the closer and two random saves elsewhere. Aroldis Chapman (25 SV, 50:23 K:BB) took a loss instead. Tyron Guerrero (14 HLD, 34:5 K:BB) had 2 HLD, while Justin Slaten (17 HLD, 39:8 K:BB) continues to infuriate me. He’s untouchable until I pull the trigger to add him, and then he fires off a week with a 10.59 ERA and 2.94 WHIP and zero holds.

Chicago Cubs

Jacob Webb (5 SV, 17 HLD, 51:19 K:BB) had 2 SV and 2:0 K:BB. Clearly the closer until Palencia is back. Ryan Zeferjahn (4 SV, 12 HLD, 80:35 K:BB) had 2 HLD and 4:0 K:BB, allowing a solo homer over 2.2 IP.

Chicago White Sox

Trevor Richards (2 SV, 3 HLD, 11:7 K:BB) and Grant Taylor (7 SV, 9 HLD, 87:21 K:BB) split the two saves this week. Taylor also scored a hold. Jordan Hicks (1 SV, 9 HLD, 37:25 K:BB) had 3 HLD, Sean Newcomb (3 SV, 10 HLD, 59:22 K:BB) and Bryan Hudson (4 SV, 9 HLD, 55:20 K:BB) had 2 HLD, and newcomer Huascar Brazoban (9 HLD, 54:26 K:BB) had 1 HLD (and a BS). Lots to go around in the South Side pen this week. AAAAAND my boy Hagen Smith — former Hog, woo pig! — got the call and earned a dub in his MLB debut. No hits, no runs, 3 K…and 4 BB in 2 IP. He’s always been a wild one, but the strikeout stuff is some of the best in the land. He won’t be a factor for fantasy this year, and he’s really a starter anyway, but I had to give him a shout.

Cincinnati Reds

Emilio Pagan (10 SV, 26:9 K:BB) has been so locked in. Another L…I was convinced last year was a fluke and he wasn’t healthy enough this year to regain that form. He’s only gone and earned 2 W while converting all 7 SV chances since returning from injury: 11.1 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 17 K. My bad. No one here stands out to me for holds.

Cleveland Guardians

Incredibly quiet week by Cleveland bullpen standards. No saves. Hunter Gaddis (1 SV, 22 HLD, 37:13 K:BB) got the only hold.

Colorado Rockies

Jordan Romano (10 SV, 1 HLD, 26:11 K:BB) was bad but still managed 1 SV while blowing another. Wrecked your ratios. That’s what you get for rostering him! Jk, I get it, gotta do what you gotta do.

Detroit Tigers

Well, well, well, if it ain’t former Player Rater standout Tyler Holton (1 SV, 10 HLD, 47:11 K:BB) going ham this week: 5 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 1 SV, 1 HLD. Kyle Finnegan (2 SV, 15 HLD, 43:30 K:BB) earned a BS. That’s the Tigers pen in a nutshell, folks! Gonna need to see more of this from Holton before I buy into him again.

Houston Astros

Josh Hader (15 SV, 41:9 K:BB) had 1 SV and 2 K in two perfect IP. Tatsuya Imai (3 HLD, 30:19 K:BB) randomly kicked ass in 3 IP, also perfect while striking out 5. Only holds went to Steven Okert (18 HLD, 62:16 K:BB) and A.J. Blubaugh. Bryan Abreu (7 SV, 7 HLD, 56:29 K:BB) is looking better lately, and despite no SVHD this week, he’s probably worth adding again. I made the plunge in one league.

Kansas City Royals

Steven Cruz (5 SV, 2 HLD, 50:18 K:BB) has emerged as the primary saves share in KC. He was solid this week: 1 SV, 1 HLD, 3.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP. Nate Pearson (1 SV, 2 HLD, 28:13 K:BB) randomly got a save. Annoyingly there were some scattered holds that Daniel Lynch IV (2 SV, 13 HLD, 43:16 K:BB) wasn’t a part of.

Los Angeles Angels

Samy Natera Jr. (1 SV, 2:1 K:BB) had a save and 2 K in 1.1 scoreless. Ben Joyce (2 HLD, 5:3 K:BB) is back and got a hold, allowing one baserunner in each outing. I gotta figure Joyce works his way into closing if he’s healthy. That’s why they drafted the guy. But then again, the Angels don’t do anything the right way anymore, so who really knows.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Only save this week went to Jack Dreyer (7 HLD, 54:14 K:BB). Tanner Scott (18 SV, 10 HLD, 61:11 K:BB) secured 2 HLD but had 3:3 K:BB. Edwin Diaz (3 SV, 33:14 K:BB) was terrible. He’s been terrible all year, before and after injury. Something is clearly very wrong. I don’t know that holding him is even worth it…we’re not far from fantasy playoffs starting. He’s so, so, so bad.

Miami Marlins

No SVHD from a Marlin this week. Michael Petersen (1 SV, 18 HLD, 58:19 K:BB) is still okay in my book.

Milwaukee Brewers

Trevor Megill (20 SV, 7 HLD, 54:11 K:BB) had 3 SV and 3 K across four perfect IP. Abner Uribe (6 SV, 20 HLD, 47:19 K:BB) had 2 HLD and 4:3 K:BB. Same ol’, same ol’. Those two are great and nobody else really matters.

Minnesota Twins

Welp, I (and others) figured Jeff Hoffman (5 SV, 14 HLD, 81:18 K:BB) would take the closing gig from Yoendrys Gomez (4 SV, 6 HLD, 48:11 K:BB). Seems that was all for naught. Gomez had 2 SV (and a loss) this week, while Hoffman had 1 HLD and (and also a loss). I thought Andrew Morris (3 SV, 8 HLD, 41:14 K:BB) would take a step back, but he led the team with 2 HLD this week despite a poor 1:3 K:BB. All three are pretty viable options in SVHD formats. Gomez has retained his SV-only value after all.

New York Mets

Boyyyyyyyyyyyy howdy what a cluster we’ve got in Queens now. Devin Williams (16 SV, 51:20 K:BB) is down with a shoulder injury, and it’s not like he’s been very good anyway. Daniel Duarte (1 SV, 3 HLD, 21:7 K:BB) snagged the only Mets save this week while also picking up a hold. Nate Lavender (1 SV, 3 HLD, 19:4 K:BB) led the team with 2 HLD. And then I’m seeing some buzz that Kodai Senga might be the favorite to gets some saves in the interim. I dunno, it’s truly impossible to say right now. Throw a dart if you’re desperate for some saves. For what it’s worth, of those three, Duarte has gotten his named called the most over the last two weeks.

EDITOR’S NOTE: It was Senga with the save last night, might be a kickstart for former starter.

New York Yankees

David Bednar (24 SV, 57:15 K:BB) had 2 SV and 4 K. He’s overall had a great year, evidenced by his Player Rater rankings up top. For holds, you want Brent Headrick (19 HLD, 77:18 K:BB) right now. Had two this week and leads the team with 4 HLD over the last 14 days.

Philadelphia Phillies

Jhoan Duran (26 SV, 64:8 K:BB) with 1 SV and 6 K, adding to his monster year. Orion Kerkering (1 SV, 14 HLD, 52:26 K:BB) had 2 HLD. Ratios weren’t good, though.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The new Pirates pen was very busy this past week, but there were only 3 SVHD to go around: Mason Montgomery (4 SV, 12 HLD, 75:22 K:BB) had the only save, and then Gregory Soto (14 SV, 8 HLD, 62:23 K:BB) and Camilo Doval (1 SV, 5 HLD, 43:20 K:BB) each had a hold. Soto had a nice 7:1 K:BB. Luke Weaver (1 SV, 16 HLD, 49:12 K:BB), who’s supposed to be the best of the bunch, only got one inning, allowing a hit and a walk but no runs.

San Diego Padres

Mason Miller (29 SV, 91:16 K:BB) had a save and 3 K. Holds were sprinkled across four different dudes. Adrian Morejon (2 SV, 13 HLD, 45:10 K:BB) and Jeremiah Estrada (1 SV, 11 HLD, 46:9 K:BB) stood out with 5 K apiece.

San Francisco Giants

Dylan Smith (3 SV, 7 HLD, 32:9 K:BB) is the only guy I’m paying anything more than a passing glance toward right now. He had 1 SV and 4 K.

Seattle Mariners

Andres Munoz (20 SV, 65:15 K:BB) looked like his old self this week: two perfect innings with 4 K and a save. Gabe Speier (16 HLD, 43:12 K:BB) and Eduard Bazardo (22 HLD, 49:15 K:BB) each had 1 HLD.

St. Louis Cardinals

Great week for the Riley O’Brien (29 SV, 1 HLD, 48:20 K:BB) faithful: 3 SV and pristine ratios. Ryne Stanek (1 SV, 22 HLD, 48:27 K:BB) and Justin Bruihl (8 HLD, 40:21 K:BB) each had 3 HLD. All well and good, but outside of NL-only I’m not touching those dudes. George Soriano (2 SV, 16 HLD, 51:19 K:BB) and sliding backwards, too, earning 2 BS. Remember, I told y’all to pay some attention to Caleb Ferguson (1 SV, 4 HLD, 26:11 K:BB), and he tallied a hold with 3 K and no walks across three scoreless. Probably not worth adding just yet, just something to keep tucked away. Stanek is doo doo.

Tampa Bay Rays

Bryan Baker (34 SV, 2 HLD, 51:15 K:BB) being the MLB leader in saves at any point ever was never on anyone’s bingo card. Not even halfway through August and he’s at 34. That’s just crazy. Kevin Kelly (5 SV, 24 HLD, 43:8 K:BB) and Garrett Cleavinger (3 SV, 21 HLD, 49:17 K:BB) each had 2 HLD. Tyler Wells (4 SV, 13 HLD, 57:15 K:BB) is pitching well with his new team, but he really never was going to rise above those two.

Texas Rangers

Jacob Latz (22 SV, 3 HLD, 55:12 K:BB) had a save and 4 K. Did also blow one.

Toronto Blue Jays

Weird week for Tyler Rogers (2 SV, 24 HLD, 30:19 K:BB): 2 SV, 5 BB, 0 K, 0 HLD. Louis Varland (24 SV, 5 HLD, 75:17 K:BB) earned a BS but still pitched four pretty good innings. Brendon Little (1 SV, 5 HLD, 28:13 K:BB) and Braydon Fisher (1 SV, 11 HLD, 58:28 K:BB) each had 2 HLD

Washington Nationals

Clayton Beeter (12 SV, 6 HLD, 39:23 K:BB) converted one save and blew another. Still the only name worth a flip back there.