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.

Also! There’s a very dope new tool for subscribers: the Relievonator Game Log. This thing is fire, y’all. Mad props to Rudy for molding this beauty this past week. The “IPStart” field is especially sexy, and I don’t know of a single other source that offers that feature. The absolute best way to track exactly how relievers are getting deployed and how effective they’ve been is through this tool. I am seriously in love with it. It tracks every single relief appearance from the last 14 days with all sorts of goodness. Fully sortable/filterable. Tossed in a screenshot sneak peek for ya’s.

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

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Relievonator Game Log

Player Rater Top 15 (5×5 Standard)

#	Name	Team	Pos	$	$/G	PS	PA/IP	$W	$SV	$ERA	$WHIP	$K	R%
1	David Bednar	PIT	RP	21.2	10	8	4	-3.2	19.1	2.9	0	1.4	100
2	Jorge Lopez	MIN	RP	20	4.4	7.6	5	7.2	2.3	3.7	6.6	-0.8	98
3	Eli Morgan	CLE	RP	19.2	4	7.3	6	7.2	2.3	5.2	-0.1	3.6	0
4	Josh Hader	SD	RP	16.7	6.9	6.4	4	-3.2	13.5	2.9	0	2.5	100
5	Jordan Romano	TOR	RP	15.3	1.7	5.9	5	7.2	19.1	-10.8	-2.5	1.4	100
6	A.J. Minter	ATL	RP	13.7	1	5.3	5	7.2	2.3	4.1	-0.1	-0.8	99
7	Jakob Junis	SF	RP	12	22.4	4.7	6	17.6	-3.3	0.7	-4.3	0.3	0
8	David Robertson	NYM	RP	11.7	3.6	4.6	4	-3.2	7.9	2.9	5	-1.9	100
9	Andrew Chafin	ARI	RP	11.5	3.4	4.5	3	7.2	2.3	2.1	0.8	-1.9	37
10	Andrew Bellatti	PHI	RP	10.3	-3.1	4.1	5	7.2	-3.3	4.4	0.6	0.3	0
11	Danny Coulombe	BAL	RP	9.8	2.4	3.9	4	7.2	-3.3	2.6	4.2	-1.9	0
12	Dylan Floro	MIA	RP	9.8	8	3.9	4	7.2	-3.3	2.6	4.2	-1.9	78
13	Kenley Jansen	BOS	RP	8.4	6.9	3.4	3	7.2	7.9	1.7	-7.5	-1.9	100
14	Jose Alvarado	PHI	RP	8.2	1.3	3.4	4	-3.2	-3.3	2.9	5	5.8	9
15	Devin Williams	MIL	RP	8.2	6.6	3.3	3	7.2	2.3	1.7	0	-4.1	100

 

Player Rater Top 15 (6×6 w/ Holds)

#	Name	Team	Pos	$	$/G	PS	PA/IP	$W	$SV	$ERA	$WHIP	$K	$HLD	R%
1	David Bednar	PIT	RP	22.3	17.1	13.5	4	-0.7	20	2.9	1.2	1	-3.2	100
2	Jordan Romano	TOR	RP	20	11.1	12.1	5	5.7	20	-4.4	-0.1	1	-3.2	100
3	Josh Hader	SD	RP	16.8	13.1	10	4	-0.7	13.8	2.9	1.2	1.7	-3.2	100
4	Jorge Lopez	MIN	RP	16.3	8.1	9.7	5	5.7	1.5	3.4	4.9	-0.2	0	98
5	Eli Morgan	CLE	RP	12.7	7	7.4	6	5.7	1.5	4.2	1.2	2.3	-3.2	0
6	David Robertson	NYM	RP	10.8	8.9	6.2	4	-0.7	7.7	2.9	4	-0.9	-3.2	100
7	Pierce Johnson	COL	RP	10.7	8.9	6.2	4	-0.7	13.8	0.3	-1.5	1	-3.2	80
8	Felix Bautista	BAL	RP	10	8.4	5.7	4	-0.7	13.8	0.1	-2	1	-3.2	100
9	Kenley Jansen	BOS	RP	9.6	13	5.5	3	5.7	7.7	2.3	-3	-0.9	-3.2	100
10	A.J. Minter	ATL	RP	9.6	5.2	5.4	5	5.7	1.5	3.6	1.2	-0.2	-3.2	99
11	Clay Holmes	NYY	RP	9.5	5.1	5.4	5	-0.7	13.8	-1.9	-0.6	1	-3.2	100
12	Jesse Chavez	ATL	RP	8.6	3.7	4.8	5	-0.7	1.5	3.4	3.5	-0.2	0	0
13	Andrew Chafin	ARI	RP	8.2	7.1	4.6	3	5.7	1.5	2.5	1.6	-0.9	-3.2	37
14	Aroldis Chapman	KC	RP	7.4	6	4.1	4	-0.7	1.5	2.9	2.6	1.7	-1.6	83
15	Evan Phillips	LAD	RP	6.9	6.2	3.8	3	-0.7	7.7	2.3	2.6	-2.7	-3.2	99

 

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	Josh Hader	SD	RP	RP	14.1	5.4	4	0	0	0	0	3	0	4	2	0	8	1	0	-0.22	0.75	0.333	100
2	Jorge Lopez	MIN	RP	RP	13.5	5.1	4	0	0	1	0	1	1	4	1	0	4	0	0	1.03	0.25	0.111	98
3	David Bednar	PIT	RP	RP	11.4	7.1	3	0	0	0	0	3	0	3	2	0	5	0	0	-0.3	0.67	0.286	100
4	Eli Morgan	CLE	RP	RP	11.3	3.8	4	0	0	1	0	1	0	5	3	1	6	0	1.8	0.63	0.6	0.25	0
5	A.J. Minter	ATL	RP	RP	10.6	3.5	4	0	0	1	0	1	0	4	2	0	4	1	0	1.78	0.75	0.222	99
6	Danny Coulombe	BAL	RP	RP	10.2	3.3	4	0	0	1	0	0	1	3.7	1	0	4	0	0	2.48	0.27	0.125	0
7	Jakob Junis	SF	RP	RP	10.1	11.8	2	0	0	2	0	0	0	6.3	5	1	6	2	1.42	2.08	1.11	0.278	0
8	Dylan Floro	MIA	RP	RP	9.6	11.1	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	2.7	0	0	4	0	0	0.03	0	0	78
9	Brent Honeywell	SD	RP	RP	9.2	5.4	3	0	0	1	0	0	0	5.7	2	1	7	2	1.59	3.91	0.7	0.091	0
10	Jose Alvarado	PHI	RP	RP	9	2.6	4	0	0	0	0	0	2	4	1	0	11	0	0	-2.47	0.25	0.5	9

 

Saves Daddies

Pierce Johnson picked up 2 SV and added 5 K this past week, giving him 3 SV so far in 2023. The metrics aren’t astounding in many respects but his 116 Stuff+ rating is pretty ding dang solid (for reference, Hader is at 108). Safe to say he’s the closer while Daniel Bard remains on the IL battling anxiety issues. Wishing Bard the best.

Clay Holmes had 3 SV and 7 K, allowing just 1 H and 1 BB in four scoreless. I’ve mentioned before how bad his second half last year was, and his start this year wasn’t the most encouraging, but he’s turning the corner with 41.5 CSW% and 15.1 SwStr% in the last week.

Josh Hader recorded 3 SV with 6 K. He was averaging 95.5 MPH with his heater this week, getting whiffs 18.3% of the time. With just 1 BB to his 8 K in four scoreless innings in 2023, Hader owners gotta be pretty stoked so far.

David Bednar also had 3 SV, adding 5 K without allowing a walk or run. Tied for the league lead in saves (4) with Romano. The metrics are bonkers for this dude right now: 53.3 O-Swing%, 24.1 SwStr%, 38.9 CSW%, 0.57 xERA, 126 Stuff+, 108 Location+, and 118 Pitching+. He’s among the league leader (if not the outright leader) in like all of those.

Jordan Romano had a kind of hit or miss week. Had 1 W, 3 SV, and also 1 BS. Allowed 3 ER and 2 BB in 4 IP. Of course, he’s a fantasy badass and you should be happy he’s on your team if he is.

Felix Bautista was pretty ding dang filthy: 2 SV, 4 K, 23.1 SwStr%, and 38.5 CSW% this past week. Pretty much looking like the dominant breakout version of the guy we saw in 2022.

Evan Phillips has apparently been labeled the favorite to see majority chances in the ninth for the Dodgers, contradicting reports from not that long ago that it’d be Graterol. Phillips bagged 2 SV in 2.2 scoreless this week but had just one K to show for it. Only 5.6 SwStr%, too. Woof. Probably just a blip on the ol’ radar.

Jhoan Duran got just 1 IP this week but recorded all three outs via strikeout. Averaged 101.1 with the fastball. Whiffed dudes 27.3% of the time. Got 1 SV.

Craig Kimbrel struggled to the tune of 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, and 1 HR in 3 IP. Did record 1 SV and 1 HLD at least, I guess?

Emmanuel Clase also struggled: 3 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 1 HR, and just 1 K in 3 IP. Had 1 W, 1 SV, and 1 BS. Also down from his usual triple-digit stuff, averaging just 98 MPH. Something to keep an eye on.

Kyle Finnegan sucks lol. I’m sorry I pumped those tires so hard. He did record a save, but also picked up a BS+L, getting smacked around for 6 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, and 3 HR in 3.1 IP.

Scott McGough had 1 SV, 1 HLD, 1 L, and 1 BS. Like Finnegan, he got shelled for 3 HR but in just 2 IP. Yikes. If he regains form, though, don’t sleep too hard on him. Chafin pitching well but being a lefty could mean McGough might still get save chances.

Alex Lange has yet to record a save or a strikeout. Has blown one chance this year and has walked three, but at least one of those walks was intentional? I still believe in him. The Tigers are just terrible. Chances will come, don’t worry, and along with ’em there’ll be strikeouts aplenty.

 

Holds Daddies

I plugged the Relievonator Game Log tool in the intro. If you’re one of those dingleberries who skips intros, go back up there and read about it. Then go ahead and subscribe so you can use it. Legit amazing value for all the tools that would be at your disposal. Anyway, it can lead to determine that the leader in 8th-inning holds over the 14 days (which obviously at this point means the entire season) is none other than Pirates legend Colin Holderman. His name says it all, folks! The fact that all his holds have come in the 8th is pretty telling. He’s your setup man for actual Pirates legend David Bednar.

If it’s Holderman for Pittsburgh, then it’s Chris Martin for Boston. Martin had 3 HLD this week, allowing no runs and no hits in 3 IP. He also didn’t strike anyone out and had just 7 SwStr%. Still, he’s been effective and is getting consistent late-inning looks.

His teammate John Schreiber also had 3 HLD and even had 6 K while doing it. Flip side is he also had 3 BB and allowed a run. See, I’d look at this and be like “Oh yeah, Schreiber’s the dude” until I hop on Relievonator and see that he’s getting a lot of 6th-inning calls. Other than going and looking at individual box scores or watching every Red Sox game, you’re not gonna know these things. Use the tool!!

Erik Swanson had 3 HLD and is clearly the main setup man for Toronto. He’s been good and is currently #7 among all qualified RP with 117 Pitching+. If you don’t know diddly about Pitching+ (and I don’t know much), I can tell you it’s basically a number that represents quality of pitches, location, and effective sequencing. Kind of. I think.

Jose Alvarado might be in the section above this one next week. Surely he gets a chance to close with the way Kimbrel and Dominguez have opened the year. Alvarado has been the polar opposite of those two. Me oh my, what a start. He’s struck out the side in three straight outings. Dude has 11 K and 0 BB and in just 4 IP. Weirdly, the Stuff+ isn’t up there with the best. Don’t ask me why; I’m not smart enough. I just know Alvarado’s been the best RP in the game so far and should see the ninth if the Phils know what’s good for ’em.

Ron Marinaccio had 2 HLD for the Yanks, striking out six in 3 IP. Had good swing-and-miss stuff this past week (19.2 SwStr%) and figures to see more holds chances moving forward.

Aroldis Chapman had 1 SV and 1 HLD. Struck out five and average 100.3 with the heater. Looking like vintage Aroldis so far. I thought the man was cooked, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. The save did come on a day where Barlow had pitched in the previous two, so I’m not ready to call this a committee yet. With the way Chapman is slingin’ it, that could change. Would be mighty good trade bait…

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