What’s poppin, Razzpimples? Bullpen update time!

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 (in both 5×5 standard leagues and 6×6 saves/holds leagues) via our Player Rater. Subscribers also get access to the incredibly handy Relievonator Game Log, which tracks every single relief appearance from the last 14 days, including what inning they were called upon and how many batters/pitches they faced/threw.

Alrighty, let’s do it to it. (Note: Monday’s games do not factor in)

Player Rater Top 15 (5×5 Standard)

#	Name	Team	Pos	$	$/G	PS	PA/IP	$W	$SV	$ERA	$WHIP	$K	R%
1	Jordan Romano	TOR	RP	24.3	7.7	9.3	8	9	18.6	-2.5	-2.2	0.4	100
2	David Bednar	PIT	RP	21.6	9.1	8.3	7	9	11.4	1.4	-1	-0.2	100
3	Felix Bautista	BAL	RP	19.6	5.2	7.5	8	2.4	11.4	1.9	-1.3	4.3	100
4	David Robertson	NYM	RP	17.3	4	6.7	8	-4.2	11.4	4.6	4.8	-0.2	100
5	Paul Sewald	SEA	RP	14.5	0.6	5.6	9	2.4	11.4	-1.8	0.5	1.1	100
6	Devin Williams	MIL	RP	14.5	12	5.6	5	9	4.2	2.4	-1.2	-0.9	100
7	Emmanuel Clase	CLE	RP	13.6	0.1	5.3	9	2.4	15	-1.8	-2.1	-0.9	100
8	Kenley Jansen	BOS	RP	13.1	10.8	5.1	5	2.4	11.4	2.4	-2.6	-1.5	100
9	Josh Hader	SD	RP	12.2	3.3	4.8	7	-4.2	11.4	1.4	0.3	2.3	100
10	Andrew Chafin	ARI	RP	11.4	2.7	4.4	6	2.4	4.2	3.1	1.6	-0.9	72
11	Jorge Lopez	MIN	RP	9.9	1.8	3.9	7	2.4	0.6	3.6	3.9	-1.5	95
12	A.J. Minter	ATL	RP	9.9	-0.1	3.9	8	2.4	7.8	-0.2	0.4	-1.5	100
13	Giovanny Gallegos	STL	RP	9.7	7.8	3.8	5	2.4	0.6	2.4	4.2	-0.9	43
14	Nick Anderson	ATL	RP	8.6	1	3.4	8	2.4	0.6	-0.4	3.9	1.1	0
15	Steven Wilson	SD	RP	8.2	-2.4	3.2	11	2.4	-3	3.9	1.5	2.3	1

Player Rater Top 15 (6×6 w/ Holds)

#	Name	Team	Pos	$	$/G	PS	PA/IP	$W	$SV	$ERA	$WHIP	$K	$HLD	R%
1	Jordan Romano	TOR	RP	25	15.4	12.7	8	6.6	21	-1	-0.6	1	-3	100
2	David Bednar	PIT	RP	19.4	14.8	9.3	7	6.6	12.4	1.6	0.2	0.6	-3	100
3	Felix Bautista	BAL	RP	18.1	11.4	8.6	8	2.3	12.4	1.9	0	3.5	-3	100
4	David Robertson	NYM	RP	17.8	11	8.4	8	-2	12.4	3.7	3.9	0.6	-1.8	100
5	Emmanuel Clase	CLE	RP	16.1	8.5	7.4	9	2.3	16.7	-0.6	-0.5	0.2	-3	100
6	Paul Sewald	SEA	RP	14.7	7.8	6.5	9	2.3	12.4	-0.6	1.2	1.4	-3	100
7	Kenley Jansen	BOS	RP	14	18.1	6.1	5	2.3	12.4	2.3	-0.8	-0.2	-3	100
8	Josh Hader	SD	RP	13.4	10.8	5.7	7	-2	12.4	1.6	1.1	2.2	-3	100
9	Devin Williams	MIL	RP	11	15.2	4.3	5	6.6	3.8	2.3	0.1	0.2	-3	100
10	Jorge Lopez	MIN	RP	10.7	7.5	4.1	7	2.3	-0.5	3	3.3	-0.2	1.7	95
11	Andrew Chafin	ARI	RP	10.1	8.2	3.8	6	2.3	3.8	2.7	1.9	0.2	-1.8	72
12	A.J. Minter	ATL	RP	9.8	6.7	3.6	8	2.3	8.1	0.5	1.1	-0.2	-3	100
13	Nick Anderson	ATL	RP	7.4	6.1	2.1	8	2.3	-0.5	0.4	3.4	1.4	-0.6	0
14	Jesse Chavez	ATL	RP	7.1	3.5	2	7	-2	-0.5	3.1	2.8	-0.2	2.9	0
15	Giovanny Gallegos	STL	RP	7	11	1.9	5	2.3	-0.5	2.3	3.5	0.2	-1.8	43

Top 10 Last 7 Days

#	Name	Team	ESPN	YAHOO	$	$/G	G	W	SV	HLD	IP	H	ER	K	BB	ERA	FIP	WHIP	BABIP	R%
1	Mike Baumann	BAL	RP	RP	20.5	6.2	5	2	0	0	6.7	2	0	7	3	0	2.28	0.75	0.167	0
2	Giovanny Gallegos	STL	RP	RP	16.8	7.5	4	1	1	1	4	0	0	6	0	0	0.03	0	0	43
3	Dylan Lee	ATL	RP	RP	15.9	3.9	5	1	0	2	5.7	1	0	6	0	0	0.91	0.18	0.083	0
4	David Robertson	NYM	RP	RP	14.3	3.1	5	0	3	1	5.3	3	0	6	0	0	1.34	0.57	0.231	100
5	Felix Bautista	BAL	RP	RP	14.1	5.8	4	1	1	0	4	2	0	9	1	0	-0.72	0.75	0.4	100
6	Paul Sewald	SEA	RP	RP	12.9	2.4	5	0	3	0	5	2	1	8	1	1.8	3.03	0.6	0.125	100
7	David Bednar	PIT	RP	RP	12.2	4.7	4	2	1	0	4	4	1	4	1	2.25	1.78	1.25	0.308	100
8	Kyle Nelson	ARI	RP	RP	11.1	4	4	2	0	0	3.7	3	0	4	2	0	2.48	1.35	0.333	0
9	Tanner Scott	MIA	RP	RP	10.5	7.7	3	1	1	0	3.3	0	0	3	1	0	2.13	0.3	0	1
10	Devin Williams	MIL	RP	RP	10.1	7.4	3	1	1	0	3	1	0	7	2	0	0.36	1	0.333	100

Saves Daddies

Jordan Romano wasn’t the sexiest RP this week, but I made him the headliner for two reasons: 1). I wanted to use that great pun, and 2). he leads the league with 6 SV at the time of writing. Not to mention he also has 2 W on the year (both came this week), so his 8 WSVHD also is tops in the Majors. Overall, his counting stats and metrics are looking great. Gotta like an O-Swing% north of 40, as well as a 36.7 CSW%. You can also be encouraged that his 3.38 ERA doesn’t match his 1.87 xERA. Scared us a little with a rib contusion earlier in the week but doesn’t look like he’ll have to miss any time as a result.

The actual sexiest, at least as far as closers go, was Kenley Jansen, who had 3 SV with 5 K in three scoreless. Take it at face value this early, but at the moment Jansen is your leader among all qualified RP with 125 Pitching+. Some fancy metric that tries to quantify both quality and effectiveness of both pitch arsenal and sequencing/locating.

Right behind Jansen in Pitching+ is Emmanuel Clase, who sits at 120. Clase also had 3 SV this week but gave up some hits and runs and a walk along the way. It hasn’t been the prettiest start for Clase, who seems to be having trouble with command. He’ll most likely iron things out and return to dominance sooner rather than later. Wouldn’t be the worst idea to see if whoever has him in your league is willing to listen to offers before that happens.

David Robertson has climbed up to #4 on the Player Rater in both 5×5 and 6×6 formats, and I suspect he’ll remain there just about all year unless he gets injured. DRob had 2 SV and 1 HLD this week, striking out 5 in 4.1 scoreless.

Kyle Finnegan was effective, notching 2 SV in two scoreless. Averaged 97.4 on the fastball and had 32.4 CSW%, which is a good range to be in. We all remember Finnegan’s season debut against Atlanta and then his 3-HR, 5-ER outing a few days later…but since then he’s gone four straight without allowing a run, scattering 2 H and 1 BB with 4 K in that span. Elite? Narp. Good enough? Yarp.

Ryan Helsley had 2 SV with 8 K in 4.1 scoreless. Hasn’t been quite as good as 2022 Helsley yet, and he’s not out there firing off 104-MPH heaters, but that’s probably for the best tbh. I’ve been afraid his arm is gonna fall off for years now as a Cards fan. His 2 BS strike me as more unlucky than worrisome, but I’m also not loving 8 H allowed in 7 IP.

Pete Fairbanks had 2 SV in two scoreless, with a 42.1 CSW% this past week. That’s a real good mark, folks. Small sample and all, but still quality stuff. He’s got virtually zero whiffs to speak of to this point, though. I expect that number will climb in short order.

Clay Holmes had 2 SV but allowed 2 H, 2 ER, and 3 BB in 3 IP. His save totals are good so far (4), though the ratios leave much to be desired (5.40 ERA and 1.50 WHIP). I’m not ready to be worried…yet. Don’t forget how bad he was in the second half last year.

Paul Sewald figures to see the majority of save chances while Munoz is injured. Had 2 SV this week and struck out 7 in 4 IP, with his only blemish being a solo HR. Didn’t even walk anyone.

Alex Lange finally got a save! And a hold! Struck out 4 in 4 IP, allowing 1 H, 1 ER, and 2 BB.

Felix Bautista is already dominating. Only 1 SV this week but K’d nine in four scoreless. Dude is up to 16 K and just 1 ER allowed in 7.2 IP. Bonkers stuff. If we throw out Luis Ortiz’s one inning of work, Bautista leads all RP with 26.9 SwStr%, and his splitter is far and away the nastiest pitch in the Majors right now, getting whiffs 92% (!!!!!!!!!!!!) of the time (second place is Drey Jameson’s slider at 73.1%). That’s just goofy.

Pierce Johnson struggled, because of course he did after I highlighted him in last week’s report. Pierce “Brosnan” Johnson coughed up 3 H, 3 ER, 1 HR, and 4 BB in just 2.2 IP this week. Got his owners 1 SV, at least. Is it just me or does the box art for Goldeneye 007 on N64 pop into your head whenever you see this guy’s name, too?

Jhoan Duran picked up 2 SV (and 1 BS) this week, while Jorge Lopez had 2 HLD (and looked better stats-wise). Duran has pulled ahead as the primary saves guy even though reports had always indicated he might be more of a fireman, so it’ll be interesting to see how this deployment develops in the coming days/weeks.

Holds Daddies

James Karinchak more like James Backontrak, amirite? Pretty ugly start to 2023 for one of baseball’s best setup men, but this week looked vintage: 3 HLD, 0 ER, 0 BB, and 10 K in 5 scoreless.

Mark Leiter Jr. had 3 HLD and 7 K in 3.1 scoreless innings this week. He’s quickly risen to fantasy relevance as the best actual arm in the Cubs pen early on. I mean, we’re talking 12 K and 0 ER in 6.1 IP thus far even with a fastball that’s averaging under 91 MPH. Already has 4 HLD, and I wouldn’t be terribly surprised if he works his way into saves consideration before long.

Jesse Chavez had 3 HLD and 2 K in 2.1 scoreless. Iglesias’s injury has led to a shift from Minter to Chavez as one of the main setup men in Hotlanta. His 5 HLD on the year has him tied for #3 in baseball. Teammate Dylan Lee is tied with him, and the two have combined for 17 K, 3 BB, and 0 ER in 17.1 IP. Not bad, not bad.

Erik Swanson had 3 HLD as well, getting up to 6 HLD on the year, good for #2 in the MLB. Dude was superb last year for Seattle and is doing it again this year for Toronto for the most part. Don’t love to see 5 BB in 8.1 IP, so hopefully he can figure that out and get closer to where he was last year (4.9 BB%).

Will Smith picked up 3 HLD, with 7 K and just 1 ER in 4.1 IP. Rangers added him hella late in the offseason and he’s immediately become a stalwart for them in the late innings. Didn’t think I’d ever see him be fantasy relevant again, but here we are! He’s got 5 SVHD and 9 K in 6.2 IP.

Colin Holderman added two more holds this week, striking out six in five scoreless. At this point, I guess I’m ready to say he’s a must-own in formats that count holds. I’m sure that since I’ve said that it’ll mean the Pirates start to look like the Pirates and the holds start drying up.

Giovanny Gallegos has been as good as ever this year, and he bagged a trifecta this week! 1 W, 1 SV, and 1 HLD, all while spinning four perfect innings and striking out six. His slider is the fourth-most whiffed on pitch in the entire league. He’s thrown it 38 times and gotten a swing and miss 69.6% of the time.

If you’re quite desperate for holds, Drew VerHagen might be worth a look. He’s not all that good at all, but Jordan Hicks has been much, much, much, much worse and has earned himself a demotion to low-leverage duties. DVH had 2 HLD and 1 W this past week.

Chris Martin has hit the IL, so John Schreiber figures to be the #1 setup man in Boston for the time being. Ryan Brasier should see a bump in value as well; he picked up 1 W and 1 SV this past week.

Brandon Hughes came off the IL and could figure into some holds for the Cubs. Maybe even a save here or there?

I do some fantasy baseball as well as some fantasy hockey here at Razzball. Find me on Twitter: @jkj0787. DMs are always open for questions, comments, concerns, complaints, etc. Odds are good I’m drinking black coffee, dark beer, or some form of bourbon at any given time.