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.
Note: All stats and Player Rater values are accurate through Monday’s games.
Player Rater Top 20 (5×5 Standard)
Player Rater Top 20 (6×6 w/ Holds)
SVHD Leaders
Weekly SV Leaders
Weekly HLD Leaders
Weekly BS+L Leaders :'(
Robert Suarez headlines this week’s bullpen column after catching up to Jackson for the lead in SV. He’s been utterly dominant, perched atop both versions of the Player Rater for RP. Not sure why folks were already thinking about who was next up in San Diego, cuz this pard ain’t goin’ nowhere.
Luke Jackson‘s up-and-down start has steadied out for now. I’d be lyin’ if I said I trust him longterm just given that he hasn’t been a pillar of consistency in quite some time, but the early metrics are coming together. Ratios don’t look great at first glance, though the L7 marks are encouraging.
Both A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez look in fine form to start the 2025 season. Should be a dynamic duo the rest of the way. Deep leaguers might want to look at Shelby Miller for some holds.
Mason Miller rocking that negative FIP again lol. He did this last year, holding on for a real long time. Capital E-L-I-T-E elite, through and through.
Not a single decision from a Baltimore Orioles RP all week. Lame. Buy low on Felix Bautista if you can.
Aroldis Chapman doing his thang. And by his thang I mean racking up positive decisions (2 W, 2 SV) and BB. No runs allowed, yet!
Ryan Pressly still looks kinda poopy, despite 2 SV this week. Wasn’t the best week from Porter Hodge either, despite 2 HLD, but I think we all know what the upside is there. I pretty much expect a changing of the guard at some time or another.
Tony Santillan continues to be the best SVHD option in terms of overall quality, while Emilio Pagan may be emerging as the saves favorite. Alexis Diaz is rehabbing in AAA and is getting closer to a return. Sadly, he’s not guaranteed to close when he comes back. Might have to prove himself in lower leverage before he can convince Tito that he can be trusted in the 9th.
Only Tigers SV this week went to Tommy Kahnle. I probably like him best for consistent-ish saves moving forward. Just can’t get excited about Brieske.
Don’t need to remind anyone about Hader and Abreu, but another Astros RP is starting to sneak onto my radar for the deeper SVHD leagues out there: Bryan King. So far this year, he’s got 2 HLD to the tune of a 0.00 ERA, o.30 FIP, 0.00 WHIP, 42.9 K-BB%, and 37.3 CSW%. It’s still early days, just sayin’ he’s looked particularly good when called upon.
To the surprise of probably no one, Carlos Estevez (2 SV this week) didn’t look overly impressive, while Lucas Erceg and Hunter Harvey (3 HLD apiece, and peep all the red in the Weekly HLD Leaders image) sure did. Don’t think Estevez’s job is in jeopardy; however, in SVHD, gimme the other two. Healthy Harvey is a stud.
Tanner Scott added 2 SV this week, and Alex Vesia 2 HLD. Vesia’s metrics were cuckoo good, too (can see ’em up top). Blake Treinen earned a BS+L and also secured a HLD. It’s looking like these three are the top dogs in terms of SVHD right now. Kirby Yates has been really good, but he’s just not getting the looks. Reckon he will soon enough.
Welp, Calvin Faucher is off to a bust of a 2025 season. Anthony Bender has the only SV for the Marlins all year. Add him if you absolutely have to. In very deep or NL-only SVHD formats, I’d rather take the upside shot on either Anthony Veneziano or Ronny Henriquez than trust Bender to keep it together.
Please don’t worry about Griffin Jax. He’s still the truth.
Woof, Jordan Romano is out as Phillies closer. Go get all the Jose Alvarado you can if it’s not too late — 2 SV and 5 K this week. Matt Strahm led the way with 3 HLD. Love that guy. Still feels so underrated.
Last week I told y’all to check out a couple Bucs desperados in Dennis Santana and Ryan Borucki. The former has been okay (2 SVHD but 0 K this week), while the latter kinda pulled a Bednar. You definitely want Santana in SV-only. He’s fringe in SVHD.
Camilo Doval started hot and then followed up with a dud of a week. Tyler Rogers had 3 HLD. That guy is as safe a lock for 30+ HLD as anyone, it’s just gonna come with bland numbers everywhere else. Randy Rodriguez has been blazin’ hot. So far, he’s racked up 9 K in 5.1 IP, with borderline elite swing-and-miss stuff. Ain’t walked anyone, neither. Only 1 HLD to his name, but he could overtake Doval on the depth chart purty quick.
Mason Montgomery earned 1 L this week. Silver lining is he still looked super sexy: all six outs were via the strikeout (with 27.8 SwStr%). Edwin Uceta is making me very sad, but I’m choosing to believe better days are ahead. Metrics on the year are still in pretty good shape.
Like with Houston, the Blue Jays have a guy who’s crept into my crosshairs: Brendon Little. Had 1 HLD and 1 BS this week, but also had 5 K and Montgomery-esque metrics.
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 ELL teacher (formerly a regular 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.
