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)
2025 SVHD Leaders
Weekly SVHD Leaders
Weekly BS+L Leaders :'(
Leading off with a bit of good news this week. Emmanuel Clase bagged 1 W and 3 SV, striking out four and dispelling any trepidation his owners may have had. Was looking a little dicey there, not gonna lie. Just hope he can continue on this path of righteousness, because right now that 5.87 ERA and 1.76 WHIP are ugly stains that still need washing out. His cutter and slider show some signs of positive regression on the way, but the quality is still down from last year. Interestingly, the whiffs are higher this year but the overall K numbers are down. His rolling xwOBA chart has been pretty wonky all season. The good news is that he’s been below the league average for about the last 20 plate appearances. Let us hope this trend keeps pace.
For the second straight week, we’ve got one shiny starlet who earned 4 SV: Robert Suarez.
- Suarez was able to keep runs off the board while striking out 4 in 4 IP. Did have an unsightly 15.4 BB%. Been an absolute monster all year, though, leading the league with 14 SV already in 2025. 14! By the first week of May!
Two guys had 3 SV: Clase and Carlos Estevez.
- Estevez had a nice 0.00 ERA but a very pedestrian 1.33 WHIP. Metrics were wholly unimpressive. More often than not he finds a way, despite blue metrics all over my spreadsheet. I’m torn between recommending you sell high and just holding onto him because I know you didn’t pay all that much to get him. Could realistically end the season in the top five for saves.
Switching gears to holds, here were the weekly leaders with 3 HLD: Jeremiah Estrada, Kyle Leahy, Kevin Ginkel, and Lucas Erceg.
- Estrada looks phenomenal so far in 2025. Struck out 9 in just 4 IP — 21.2 SwStr% and 35.2 CSW%. Up to 25 K on the year, trailing only a handful of others for the league lead among RP. And of those with 25+ K, he’s tops with only a 5.9 BB%.
- Leahy is definitely in must-own territory now for holds leagues. My man is very boring but still managing to keep those ratios cleaner’n a new horseshoe on Monday mornin’.
- Ginkel came back from injury and got thrust directly into high-leverage usage. On one hand, he converted all his hold opps and struck out 5 in just 2.1 IP; on the other hand, it came with a 7.71 ERA and 2.57 WHIP. I reckon that’s some rust he’s still yet to shake. Gotta like him ROS as long as he’s healthy.
- Erceg is that dude. One of those “set it and forget it” types. No one has more SVHD in the past two weeks than his 6.
Just one combo 3 SVHD feller this week: Ryan Thompson (1 SV, 2 HLD).
- In deep leagues with holds, I guess you can roster him. There ain’t much to like as far as I’m concerned. Only worth talking about because of injuries. Miller and Ginkel are both better.
Other standouts, for better or for worse:
- Jake Bird of all people leads the league in strikeouts among relievers with 29. Also damn near a 15% walk rate, and there are only 3 HLD to his name. Buuuut I reckon if you really need some SVHD and some extra K, might could take a gander at him. I don’t give a flip about Kinley and Halvorsen any more.
- Another Rockie I guess I gotta give a flip about for now is Zachary Agnos. Had 2 SV this week. Ratios are pristine for now…figure that changes sooner or later. Ain’t gonna help you with strikeouts, either.
- Felix Bautista had 2 SV this week, making him 4/4 in save opps over the last 14 days. Metrics have been delicious in that span, especially that there 38.5 K-BB% (spoiler alert, that’s all K% because he hasn’t walked anyone).
- Pete Fairbanks is starting to get nice and comfy. Two more saves this week, giving him 5 SV over the past couple weeks. No runs and a paltry 0.35 WHIP in that time.
- Edwin Uceta had 2 HLD but 0 K. Thanks to Mason Montgomery suddenly sucking it up, Uceta is still lingering around in the fantasy relevancy department. I continue to choose to believe!
- Camilo Doval has strung together some good outings, collecting 1 W, 2 SV, and 2 HLD over the past two weeks. Thing is, he only has a 16.7 K% in that time. If ditching K is what it takes for him to succeed, then so be it, I say!
- David Bednar earned 1 SV but also 1 L. Metrics were healthy, at least. I’m not terribly worried about him at present.
- Jhoan Duran converted both save opps and struck out 7 in 4 IP. Grody 24.2 SwStr%, as well. Only Estrada’s 9 K were better.
- Right behind him was Abner Uribe with 6 K. He secured 2 HLD and is entrenched as primary setup option in Milwaukee.
- Woo boy. Justin Slaten, my man, what happened?! Dude took three losses this week, plus a blown save — 19.29 ERA and 4.29 WHIP. No strikeouts. Boy howdy. Garrett Whitlock wasn’t much better. Hopefully they just had some bad Wheaties for breakfast or something.
- Orion Kerkering seems broken. Think you gotta drop him everywhere if you haven’t already.
Injury Updates:
- Justin Martinez‘s shoulder landed him on the IL. Good news is there’s no structural damage and he’ll begin throwing again soon. Hoping for the best, but in this line of business I’m always expecting the worst.
- Ben Joyce is progressing very slowly. Sounds like he’s got a long way to go.
- Matt Brash has been activated. Gotta scoop him in all holds formats. Elite upside, but I’m sure there will be some cobwebs to clear away first.
- Blake Treinen and A.J. Minter were put on the 60-day IL. Pretty much cooks their fantasy value in 2025.
- Andrew Kittredge is rehabbing, so he’s not far away. Will probably be worth a look for holds when he’s back in action.
- Beau Brieske still has a modicum of value in deep SVHD leagues. He’s back off the IL.
- Hunter Harvey could start rehabbing later this week/weekend.
- Fraser Ellard is back on the IL. Barely worth a flip anyway, even in AL-Central-only SVHD leagues.
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.
Iglesias is failing
What’s your feel for closer in waiting for Braves?
Don’t know that they’d have one. I would imagine a committee led by Lee and Johnson if anything.
Sv+Hd points league: Jhoan or Leahy? Sv/Hd/Win’s all worth 5 points.
I figure that Leahy might get more opportunities/innings but Jhoan will give me SO’s when he plays.
Both could be temporary; just waiting for a notoriously itchy manager to drop Jax, and then I will pounce.
Duran should be owned everywhere. Keep him and also scoop Jax when you can.
JKJ
Dynasty lg: Sv/hd one cat
Would it make sense to drop A Chapman for Montgomery? Seems he’s back on track…. About as many holds as chap has saves and the age difference! Thoughts?
Yeah I’d rather have Montgomery. But could you add him another way and try to trade Chapman to a team needing saves?
Redraft, Sv+Hld. Drop one: Strahm or Yimi Garcia? Thanks.
Can’t recommend dropping either. You’d be hard-pressed to convince me those two are your worst assets.
My other RPs are Munoz, Cade Smith and Gaddis.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I’d say lose a bench bat if you can.
If you can’t, then I don’t rightly know which of these RP is the weakest link. Since it seems your personal preference is to lose Strahm or Yimi, I’d say flip a coin tbh. They’re all good options.
Tyler Ferguson was dropped would you drop any of the following for him
Uceta
B. Little
B. King
Kahnle
Whitlock
Slaten
Nah. Keep an eye on Slaten though.
Hi JKJ, Thanks for the update! Would you roll the dice and add Mey at this point?
Don’t know that he garners much attention at this point. Bound to be a safer option on your wire.
JKJ, I miss our talks, since you spurred Elon, where can we find you?
Link to Bluesky is right up above this comment section!
No love for Jax?
I’ve done nothing but give love to Jax all year! I was never concerned about him.
Got you! I’m playing catch up!
As a follow up…
You like Jax or Leahy ROS for Holds?
For pure hold totals it’s a toss up. For overall quality it’s Jax by leaps and bounds.
I was expecting to see Luke Weaver
Eh just one blowup doesn’t raise any red flags for me.
Cade Smith, sometimes closer mostly Holds specialist, getting his jock strap stuck where the sun don’t shine in b2b outing v the Nats. Are we looking at an injury or just good old fashioned suckism?
I’m just chalking it up to poo poo vibes for now. Same with Yimi.
Yimi Garcia! What the hell happened there? Only two blow ups after a good start but they were big ones. Continue to hold?
Brutal past couple outings. Definitely holding, however.