SAGNOF: Brewers Say See Ya Later, Hader

What’s poppin, Razzpimples? Bullpen update time!

And not just bullpen updates, but trade updates! Maybe even more action will go down today. It’s the trade deadline, if’n ya didn’t know’d it, but I betcha know’d it, didn’t ya?

Don’t forget, the Razzball Bullpen Chart is manned by yours truly and updated like every single second (not really, but I stay on top of thangs for the most part). And directly below are your Top 10 most valuable RP over the last week, courtesy of our super cool and filterable Last 7 Days pitching stats page you should be using all the time, as well as a current look at the Top 15 RP via our Player Rater.

Here’s what stood out to me this week (Note: Monday’s games do not factor in):

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Player Rater Top 15

#	Name	Team	Pos	$	$/G	PS	PA/IP	$R	$HR	$RBI	$SB	$AVG	$W	$SV	$ERA	$WHIP	$K	R%
1	Edwin Diaz	NYM	RP	20.3	6.2	6	42						-2	12.9	2.2	1.4	4.7	100
2	Ryan Helsley	STL	RP	18.2	10.8	5.4	42						3.7	2.6	4.1	5	1.8	100
3	Emmanuel Clase	CLE	RP	18.1	4	5.4	43						-2	12.9	2.9	4.2	-0.9	100
4	Kenley Jansen	ATL	RP	17.3	6.6	5.1	39						3.7	13.6	-1.7	0.4	0.4	100
5	Jorge Lopez	BAL	RP	16.4	3.4	4.9	48						1.8	10	2.3	0.9	0.4	100
6	Clay Holmes	NYY	RP	16.1	2.8	4.8	46						3.7	8.5	1.9	1.5	-0.5	100
7	Jordan Romano	TOR	RP	13.3	4	4	39						-0.1	13.6	0.4	-0.4	-1.2	100
8	Daniel Bard	COL	RP	13.2	3.9	4	39						-0.1	12.1	1.3	-0.1	-1	100
9	Josh Hader	MIL	RP	11.5	3.9	3.5	34						-3.8	17.3	-3	-1	1.1	100
10	David Bednar	PIT	RP	10.5	1.6	3.2	47						-0.1	8.5	-0.1	-0.5	1.7	100
11	Scott Barlow	KC	RP	9.8	-0.5	3	48						1.8	7.8	0.5	-0.4	-0.8	100
12	Ryan Pressly	HOU	RP	9.7	4.9	3	32						-0.1	11.4	-1.1	0.4	-1.9	100
13	Paul Sewald	SEA	RP	8.8	0.1	2.7	41						-0.1	5.6	-0.2	3.4	-0.9	100
14	Taylor Rogers	SD	RP	8.6	-0.5	2.6	41						-3.8	16.5	-3.6	-1	-0.5	100
15	Liam Hendriks	CHW	RP	7.8	2.3	2.4	36						-2	10.7	-1.4	-0.8	0.3	100

 

Top 10 Last 7 Days

#	Name	Team	ESPN	YAHOO	$	$/G	G	GS	QS	W	L	SV	HLD	IP	H	ER	K	BB	ERA	FIP	WHIP	BABIP	R%
1	Seranthony Dominguez	PHI	RP	RP	14.4	8.8	3	0	0	1	0	2	0	2.7	0	0	2	0	0	1.53	0	0	100
2	Erasmo Ramirez	WSH	RP	RP	13.5	8.2	3	0	0	2	0	0	0	5	3	0	2	1	0	2.83	0.8	0.214	0
3	Edwin Diaz	NYM	RP	RP	13	7.8	3	0	0	0	0	3	0	3.3	1	0	8	0	0	-1.78	0.3	0.25	100
4	Will Vest	DET	RP	RP	12.7	7.6	3	0	0	2	0	0	0	4	3	0	4	1	0	1.78	1	0.273	0
5	Emmanuel Clase	CLE	RP	RP	12.5	3.9	4	0	0	0	0	3	0	4	1	0	4	0	0	1.03	0.25	0.125	100
6	Kirk McCarty	CLE	RP	RP	12.4	14.5	2	0	0	2	0	0	0	7.3	5	1	6	3	1.23	2.62	1.1	0.263	0
7	Corey Knebel	PHI	RP	RP	12.2	3.8	4	0	0	1	0	0	0	5	0	0	4	1	0	2.63	0.2	0	64
8	Tim Mayza	TOR	RP	RP	12	1.5	5	0	0	2	0	0	2	3.7	1	1	2	1	2.45	6.3	0.54	0	2
9	Kyle Finnegan	WSH	RP	RP	10.4	6	3	0	0	0	0	3	0	4.3	1	0	1	0	0	2.57	0.23	0.083	93
10	Erik Swanson	SEA	RP	RP	9.9	0.6	5	0	0	2	0	1	1	4	5	1	3	1	2.25	2.28	1.5	0.385	2

 

Daddies On New Teams

The big bombshell move was the Brewers and the Padres swapping struggling lefthanded closers: Josh Hader is now a Padre and should immediately close, while new Brew Crew Taylor Rogers may or may not close. That Devin Williams guy is pretty darn good. Mr. Bow-tie Ken Rosenthal tweeted yesterday that Williams, Rogers, and Brad Boxberger all could see save chances. I’m not really gonna count on Boxberger saves, if I’m being honest, but I could definitely see Rogers and Williams sharing things. I could also see Rogers slotting right in for Hader so that Williams can continue to be the best setup man in baseball.

Scott Effross and Lou Trivino were both acquired by the Yankees. Gotta think the A’s were like “Hey, listen, you can have Montas, but you really gotta take this Trivino guy. Please.” So yeah, Trivino becomes a non-factor in that pen while Effross could viably see some regular holds. The real fantasy impact here is that both A.J. Puk and Zach Jackson should see save chances for the A’s until Dany Jimenez is back. Maybe even after he’s back. They both be good.

Chris Martin was traded to the Dodgers. He was a non-factor for the Cubs and he’s an extra non-factor for the Dodgers.

Daniel Bard was…not traded lol. I mean, part of me is really happy for the guy that his team believes in his 37-year-old ass, but the bigger part of me is like…wyd Rox??? In a pen-strapped market, they surely could have gotten a nice haul. I guess the one bit of good news for his fantasy owners is that his stock remains exactly the same. Coulda gone to a contender and not closed at all.

Chris Stratton traded to the Cardinals. Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. Don’t even care. Won’t be a fantasy factor unless there are injuries.

That’s all that happened at the time of writing this. Hopefully more fun happens today! *constructs prayer circle and chants Soto to the Cardinals Soto to the Cardinals Soto to the Cardinals*

Saves Daddies

Edwin Diaz had 3 SV and 8 K in just 3.1 IP. What else to say about him anymore? He’s #1.

Kyle Finnegan also had 3 SV in 4.1 scoreless innings. Only 1 K, but hard to complain about 0.23 WHIP and 0.00 ERA I suppose. He’s the guy to own in that pen, obviously.

Jordan Romano was effective: 3 SV, 0.00 ERA, 0.30 WHIP, and 3 K. Should be one of the better guys the rest of the way, but his K% holds him back from elite status. I mean if you ain’t around at least 30% these days, who even are you?

Emmanuel Clase is elite. I’ll admit I was skeptical, but you’re just a goober if you’re not in on this guy at this point. Well above average in the K department, 100th percentile (that’s the best, by the way) in chase rate and FB velocity, 99th in xwOBA and xERA, 98th in xSLG, 97th in BB%…you get the idea. He’s the real deal. He’ll be in my Tier 1 next year unless he completely implodes.

Pete Fairbanks had back-to-back saves, which probably just means it’ll be September before he gets another. He was quite effective despite allowing 3 H and 3 IP. Didn’t allow any walks or runs, struck out four, and generated whiffs 20% of the time.

Lou Trivino got probably his last two saves of the year and struck out three in 3 IP. I would just drop him if I had ever even bothered to add him.

Garrett Whitlock had 2 SV and 1 HD in a busy 7-inning week. Struck out six but did allow five hits, a run, and a walk.

Seranthony Dominguez with 1 W and 2 SV in 2.2 perfect innings. It was good enough to earn him the #1 spot over the last week of action via our Player Rater. Phillies would probably be wise to just let him continue to close, even it means sharing duties with Hand. I dunno if Knebel is gonna happen again, but it’s definitely not out of the question.

Jonathan Hernandez bagged a save for the Rangers. Anyone remember him? No? That’s okay, it’s been ages since he’s been healthy enough to be on anyone’s radar. Kinda made a name for himself back in 2020, putting up a 2.90 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 31 IP. Then had to get Tommy John, and now he’s got 5 IP to his name in 2022. They’ve been effective but he’s averaging a baserunner per inning, so we’ll see how that brand new elbow holds up. With Brett Martin falling flat on his face, Hernandez has a real shot to see regular chances moving forward.

A.J. Puk earned 1 SV and 2 HD this week, striking out four and allowing no hits or runs in 3.2 IP. The catch is he walked three batters. As mentioned above, I figure he and Jackson see the save chances for now.

 

Holds Daddies

Zach Jackson had 3 HD and 1 L this week, piling up four decisions despite just pitching two innings. He only allowed one hit/run, so it’s not like he got demolished in that loss.

Luis Garcia had 1 SV and 2 HD and looked primed to be the main guy while Rogers was given a break. Buuuuuuuuuuut then Hader happened, so that’s out the window. Still a very nice SVHD guy, though!

Shoutout to Jose Cuas for 3 HD and 5 K this week, but he’s not one I’d roster outside of very deep leagues.

Ditto for Lucas Gilbreath, who also had 3 HD but ugly ratios along the way.

Scott Effross must have really impressed the Yanks this week with his 1 SV and 2 HD. Did allow six baserunners…not great, Bob. But in all seriousness, Effross has been very good this year and is a solid addition to this bullpen.

More yummy counting stats from Rafael Montero this week, who continues to be among the best in W+SV+HD: 1 W and 2 HD in three scoreless.

Devin Williams had 2 HD and 4 K in three scoreless. Also didn’t walk anyone, but he did allow three hits. Quite possible he turns into a fantasy clone of Hader (the version before recent struggles) the rest of the season, but it remains to be seen how he and Rogers get utilized, of course.

Alex Vesia had a real nice week: 1 W, 2 HD, 0.00 ERA, 0.12 WHIP, and 5 K in just 2.2 IP. Still think his future holds borderline elite SVHD status someday.

Two wins and two holds for Tim Mayza. Don’t see that much from one guy too often, so kudos to him. More of a deep league option, still.

Also four decisions for Alexis Diaz: 1 W and 3 HD. Had 4 K in 4.2 IP. He remains the best arm by a large margin in the Reds bullpens yet can’t get the closing job to himself. Sigh.

Andres Munoz has had better weeks but still managed 2 HD. Also earned a loss and had as many ER as K (2). It’s not like he was bad, though. Dude has been realllll good over the last month (41.5 K%, 2.4 BB%, 19.9 SwStr% since July 1).

Anyone remember when Trevor Stephan stormed onto the scene early in the year, looking like a holds wizard? Then he fell apart and Eli Morgan took his spot? Well, that’s gone topsy-turvy again, with Morgan falling apart and Stephan stepping back up: 2 HD and 6 K in 2.2 scoreless this week. That’s now 17 K in his last 10.2 IP, with just 1 ER and nary a walk in that time. Vereh nice!

 

Other Notes/Injuries

No significant injuries this week, so I’ll just talk about guys who sucked it up:

Taylor Rogers! He was awful! Had a 16.20 ERA and 3.60 WHIP in 1.2 IP. Despite all that, I’ll again say I’m not counting him out of the saves mix in Milwaukee.

Brett Martin got hit with 2 L and 2 BS, allowing 6 H, 7 ER, 3 HR, and 4 BB (to be fair, three of them were intentional) in 3 IP. His closing days are very likely a thing of the past. Drop him.

Colin Poche blew two saves and earned a loss, but he also earned a win and a hold. His overall line was bad and I think he’s pretty boring overall, but his 18 SVHD on the year aren’t worthless. Raley and Adam are the better options methinks, if you’re of a mind to even bother with the Rays carousel.

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