SAGNOF Week 9: Damn, Daniel!

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.

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Player Rater Top 20 (5×5 Standard)

Player Rater Top 20 (6×6 w/ Holds)

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2025 Leaders

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Weekly Leaders

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Weekly Losers

Weekly Notes:

Arizona Diamondbacks:

Justin Martinez 1 HLD, 1 BS, 1 L. Looked pretty good overall and velo was nice. Kevin Ginkel did horribly but the metrics like his 1 IP at least? This pen is in pretty bad shape without Puk.

Athletics of Sacramento?:

Mason Miller 1 SV, 1 BS, 5 K. Metrics, as always, looked great. He’s great. Only hold went to Michel Otanez but it came with terrible ratios. Justin Sterner earned a BS.

Atlanta Braves:

Another loss for Raisel Iglesias. I know he’s been frustrating as hell, but I’m holding. Had a good season, all things considered. Wasn’t a single SVHD from anyone this week, but I do like what Dylan Lee did in 2.1 IP: 16.7 SwStr% and 36.1 CSW%.

Baltimore Orioles:

Bryan Baker was awesome the week prior to this past one, and so naturally I shouted him out and he was about as appetizing as a bowl of dog water. Felix Bautista and Seranthony Dominguez each had 1 SV. Gregory Soto led everyone with 3 HLD, adding 5 K. Metrics were great. He’ll do this from time to time but I don’t really like him ROS.

Boston Red Sox:

Aroldis Chapman blew a save. Shucks. Justin Slaten had 2 HLD and 2 K. Been more like his sexy self lately.

Chicago Cubs:

Daniel Palencia earned headline honors this week, picking up 3 SV while posting great ratios. Only a 25.5 CSW% isn’t exactly encouraging, but it’s pretty clear he’s the guy for the Cubs now. Nice fastball/slider combo. Brad Keller had 1 W and 2 HLD, striking out 3 and also putting up nice ratios. He’s turned into a stud reliever and needs to be owned in all setup-men-friendly formats.

Chicago White Sox:

Cam Booser had 2 HLD and 1 BS. Struck out 4. Excellent metrics. Steven Wilson had the only White Sox save. Took a loss as well and had no strikeouts lol. Impossible to suggest rostering anyone here. Hard-pressed even in AL-only.

Cincinnati Reds:

Emilio Pagan had 1 SV. No one else had a SVHD. Tony Santillan earned a BS+L and didn’t look sharp. No one did. This pen sucks.

Cleveland Guardians:

Emmanuel Clase 1 SV, 2 K. Hunter Gaddis 2 HLD, 5 K. Pretty strong metrics. Very strong metrics from Cade Smith, who had 1 HLD and 6 K in just 2 IP. Yarp, that’s all six outs via strikeout.

Colorado Rockies:

Zachary Agnos 1 SV, 1 K, but really good ratios across four scoreless. Seth Halvorsen and Jake Bird each had 1 HLD. I do actually kind of like Bird right now. Here’s his 2025 line so far: 32.1 IP, 1-1, 5 HLD, 1 BS, 1.67 ERA, 3.09 SIERA, 1.21 WHIP, 39 K. Only Mr. Jax for the Twins has more K (41) among RP.

Detroit Tigers:

Both Tigers saves went to Will Vest. Struck out 2. Tyler Holton and Brenan Hanifee each had 2 HLD and very healthy strike-throwing metrics. Hanifee actually leads the team with 4 HLD over the last two weeks. Hmmmmmmm…also earned 2 L in that time, with bad ratios to boot. Can’t say he excites me much at all. But if’n you’re desperate…

Houston Astros:

Josh Hader 1 SV, 3 K. Looked dominant. Bryan Abreu 1 HLD, 1 BS, 1 L. Struggled with walks again but had great stuff otherwise. Bryan King had 1 W and 1 HLD, striking out 3.

Kansas City Royals:

Random save for Taylor Clarke, and it was the only one by a Royal all week. Carlos Estevez earned a win. Lucas Erceg took a loss. FIP agreed with his 15.43 ERA, but SIERA said it shoulda been 3.50, for whatever that’s worth.

Los Angeles Angels:

Two more holds for Ryan Zeferjahn, who’s really rackin’ ’em up lately. Kept runs off the board even though he posted a 1.50 WHIP. Kenley Jansen had 1 SV, working around a 2.00 WHIP. And I know I said Hector Neris sucks, but dammit if he doesn’t have me a tiny bit intrigued right now. Earned 1 W and 1 HLD, striking out 4 in 2.2 IP. Pretty nice whiffs, including a dominant sequence against Aaron Judge. Fun fact: Judge is now 0-9 with 8 K in his career against Neris. Wouldn’t rush to add Neris, but I’d keep him on the radar for another week.

Los Angeles Dodgers:

Tanner Scott 1 SV, 3 K. Bad Ratios. He’s still the man. Ben Casparius and Jacob Dreyer had 2 HLD. Casparius absolutely beasted with 9 K in 4.2 IP, backed up by 22.7 SwStr% and 37.9 CSW%.

Miami Marlins:

Okay, I’m officially on the Ronny Henriquez train. 1 W and 1 SV this week, striking out 5 in 2.2 scoreless. Also had 62.5 K-BB%, 37.5 SwStr%, and 56.3 CSW%. For the past month, his metrics have been awesome and he’s been awesome: both ERA and WHIP under 1.00, with 17 K in 11.1 IP. I say I’m on the train…but he’s still on the Marlins and thus will struggle to collect SVHD. If they make him the closer, though, I’m very interested indeed.

Milwaukee Brewers:

Trevor Megill 3 SV, 3 K. Wasn’t his best week but he got you the stats that matter most. Abner Uribe 2 HLD, 3 K, also earned a BS+L. Nick Mears was cool for a while but he’s total garbo again. I had him at the tail end of his nice run, but three of his last four outings being blown saves means “see ya, bucko.”

Minnesota Twins:

Jhoan Duran 1 W, 1 SV, 1 L, 4 K. Griffin Jax 1 HLD, 9 K in 4 IP. That gunslinger fired bullseye after bullseye. I hope you listened and got him while you could. Said above he leads all RP now with 41 K.

New York Mets:

Reed Garrett, not Edwin Diaz, led the team with 2 SV this week. Diaz had 1 SV. Both looked really good, in fact, combing for 13 K in 10 scoreless. Garret had 8 of those strikeouts, being just shy of 40% CSW. Diaz also had a win.

New York Yankees:

Luke Weaver 1 W, 2 SV, but just 1 K. Devin Williams 1 SV, 2 HLD, 4 K. That save was mighty, mighty close to being a disaster. I happened to stay up and watch that one, and I couldn’t believe I was about to tune into another botched save. He got out of it alive, luckily. Got smacked hard except for that final harmless popout in foul territory by O’Hoppe.

Philadelphia Phillies:

Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering each had 3 HLD. Also, each had a 1.50 WHIP. I like Strahm a good deal more, but Orion is back in my good graces after stringing together some pretty good outings. Was looking real rough there for a while, and I don’t fully trust him. Think he’s worth rostering again, however. Jordan Romano had 2 SV and 5 K in just 2.2 IP. Bad news is the ratios were poopy.

Pittsburgh Pirates:

David Bednar 2 SV, 3 K. Dennis Santana 1 SV, 2 HLD, 9 K in just 4 IP. Bro looked like Jax out there.

San Diego Padres:

Robert Suarez 2 SV, 1 BS. Overall was plenty good enough. Jeremiah Estrada 1 W, 1 SV, 1 BS, 1 L. Struck out 6. Jason Adam 1 W, 1 HLD, 2 K.

Seattle Mariners:

Andres Munoz 2 SV and nice metrics but 0 K. Carlos Vargas 2 HLD, while Matt Brash had just 1. Brash also went K-less.

San Francisco Giants:

Ryan Walker added another save while not looking very good doing it. He’s gotta be running out of time as closer. Just gotta be. Randy Rodriguez had 2 HLD and 2 K. That guy’s been money all year. Just a matter of getting more high-leverage looks before he’s must-own everywhere.

St. Louis Cardinals:

Ryan Helsley 1 W, 2 SV, 5 K. Not good ratios but at least good metrics. Phil Maton had 1 SV and 1 HLD, while Kyle Leahy and JoJo Romero each had 2 HLD. Maton looked the best, and I do declare he is the best non-Helsley RP in the STL pen. And really, technically speaking, this year I’d argue he’s been the best, period.

Tampa Bay Rays:

Manuel Rodriguez and Garrett Cleavinger with 3 HLD. Cleavinger’s metrics were much better, and really he’s been “that dude” all season long. If the holds keep coming like this, he’s gonna need to be rostered everywhere. Pete Fairbanks had 2 SV and 4 K. Edwin Uceta managed 2 HLD, yet again not pitching very sharply.

Texas Rangers: 

Welp, this week it was another dude picking up both Rangers saves: Robert Garcia Also had a hold, striking out 4 in 2.2 IP. I feared this day would come: Luke Jackson looks like a drop in all formats. Just ain’t worth the headache. Until Martin’s back, Garcia looks like the bull to wrangle.

Toronto Blue Jays: 

Jeff Hoffman 1 SV, 1 BS, 2 K. Another less-than-ideal week, I’m afraid to say. Gotta hold him, though. Yimi Garcia hit the IL so there’s that. Yay. Guess for holds I’m looking at Brendon Little and Chad Green, the latter of whom earning one of those. Little is way sexier, though.

Washington Nationals:

Only Nationals save went to Jorge Lopez. Tallied 1 HLD, too. Jose Ferrer also had a hold. Kyle Finnegan been banged up and nursing some shoulder fatigue. Day-to-day for now.

 

That’s all for this week! Thanks for reading. Leave me a comment below so I feel all warm and fuzzy.

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