SAGNOF: Evan Phill-oops!

What’s poppin, Razzpimples?!

Remember to bookmark that Razzball Bullpen Chart, y’all! I update it obsessively.

Also, if you’re a sub (you should be a sub…it’s great value), you get access to RP Projections and the super badass Relievonator Game Log tool, in addition to all the other awesome tools we have to offer. Hittertron and Streamonator, etc.

Let’s do it to it.

Note: All stats and Player Rater values are accurate through Sunday’s games.

Player Rater Top 20 (5×5 Standard)

Player Rater Top 20 (6×6 w/ Holds)

2024 SVHD Leaders

Weekly Saves Leaders

Weekly Holds Leaders

Weekly Blown Saves Leaders :'(

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Alrighty, pards, back to recapping the week that was, abbreviated as it was. If you missed my article last week, I basically did a vibe check on the entire first half, and I made note of teams who might be buying and who should be selling relievers at the deadline.

Arizona Diamondbacks:

• Looks like Paul Sewald is trending the right way once again. Might not be mega elite or anything, but this dude is still a well-above-average fantasy closer. Already has 2 SV after the break, striking out 3 and keeping zeroes in the ER and BB columns. Ryan Thompson 2 HLD. He’s got great ratios. Kevin Ginkel 1 HLD. He’s better for K. Both fine SVHD guys ROS.

Atlanta Braves:

• Nothing much to report here from the shortened week. AJ Minter pitched a mighty fine inning and struck out two, posting some good metrics. Hopefully his second half makes my preseason ranking look a lil better.

Baltimore Orioles:

• Not a single decision here. Keegan Akin struck out 4 in 2.2 scoreless. If’n you need a bulkier IP type with good numbers, he fits the bill. Up to 62 K on the year with a 1.03 WHIP.

Boston Red Sox:

• Kenley Jansen skipped the trip to Coors Field given his heart condition. Run him with confidence ROS. Justin Slaten played catch over the weekend. We’ll need to see how he responds once activities escalate.

Chicago Cubs:

• Hector Neris earned a win with 1 K and 1 BB in 1 scoreless. Reportedly the Cubs are not buying at the deadline, so Neris could definitely be on the move. Keep a close eye out, but you gotta roll with him for now if you’ve got him. Julian Merryweather is back as well, so he may factor into the SVHD scene ROS.

Chicago White Sox:

• John Brebbia was the first half darling of this ramshackle bullpen, but it’s a different tale to start the second half: 40.50 ERA and 7.50 WHIP. Ruh roh! He’ll look to improve so he can get traded and get the hell outta this mess.

Cincinnati Reds:

• Fernando Cruz only pitched 0.1 IP, allowing a hit and earning a blown save. Shucks. We ain’t seen no Alexis Diaz yet. He’s been nice with 19 SV to this point, but everything else is pretty ding dang disappointing.

Cleveland Guardians:

• Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith each had 1 HLD. Smith K’d 4 in 2 scoreless. Very nice 22.6 SwStr% and 41.9 CSW% to go along with it. Guy has been money.

Colorado Rockies:

• Victor Vodnik 1 SV, 2 K in 2 scoreless. Said last week if you’re keen on a Rockies reliever, Vodnik is probably the pardner you want. Jalen Beeks earned a win in 2.1 scoreless. Solid bet to get traded, opening up more regular opps for Double V.

Detroit Tigers:

• Tyler Holton 1 SV, 3 K in 3 scoreless. Jason Foley (and Chafin/Vest) had 1 HLD. Steer clear if you can, but I guess Holton is rising up the depth chart if you need a SVHD guy from here.

Houston Astros:

• Josh Hader 2 SV, 3 K in 2 scoreless. Came with 21.9 SwStr% and 34.4 CSW%. He’ll be elite af ROS. Bryan Abreu 2 HLD, 4 K in 2 scoreless. Came with 17.4 SwStr% and 52.2 CSW%. Given the walk issues this year, I won’t say he will be elite af ROS, but I’ll say he most definitely probably will be. Ryan Pressly 2 HLD, 1 K in 2 scoreless. Less elite and more “safe.”

Kansas City Royals:

• No decisions over the post-break weekend. New man Hunter Harvey K’d 2 but also had a 3.00 WHIP over 1 IP.

Los Angeles Angels:

• Carlos Estevez 1 SV in a scoreless outing. Walked one and no strikeouts but also no hits. Should get traded and will likely lose most of his SV-only value. Might maintain solid SVHD value depending on his new locale. Ben Joyce kept runs off the board but allowed 2 H and 1 BB in just 0.2 IP. The goods are there, he’s just gotta find a way to do it more consistently. Handcuff worthy nonetheless.

Los Angeles Dodgers:

• Welp, here we are, pards. Headliner Evan Phillips has struggled mightily. In 1.1 IP, he allowed 4 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, and 2 BB. Swinging strikes looked fine at least, but that’s all I can say. It was Daniel Hudson earning both saves, and Joe Kelly is back off the IL and nabbed 1 HLD, striking out 3 over 1.2 scoreless. For the time being, I’ve knocked Phillips out of the closer spot, but that doesn’t mean you need to go and drop him. You do need to bench him, however. Find a short-term replacement or just take your lumps in the SV category. Velocity peaked in May, and we’ve now seen two months of decline. Hmm. Still, hold tight for now. Alex Vesia had no decisions but 3 K in 1 scoreless.

Miami Marlins:

• Tanner Scott 2 SV, 3 K in 2.1 lovely innings. Metrics were poppin. He’s all the way back. Just gotta wait and see what team goes out and gets him. SVHD stock can only go up since he’ll go to a contender, but SV-only may dry up entirely, y’all. Reckon you oughta try to trade that feller to a dumber leaguemate.

Milwaukee Brewers:

• Trevor Megill 1 SV but blah numbers/metrics. Ain’t worried about that guy in SVHD formats. Bryan Hudson has been fading and looked pretty lame again this weekend despite earning a hold. Had no whiffs, a 6.75 ERA, and a 1.50 WHIP in 1.1 IP. Devin Williams has 4 K in 2 scoreless rehab innings across A+ and AAA. Get ready for the Airbender & Megill show.

Minnesota Twins:

• Griffin Jax earned a loss and allowed 2 ER over 2 IP this weekend. Lame. Jhoan Duran had 2 K and zeroes in the ratios, just didn’t get a chance to earn a decision.

New York Mets:

• Edwin Diaz 1 SV, 1 K in 1 scoreless. Metrics were excellent. Dedniel Nunez 1 HLD, 5 K in 1.2 IP. Yarp, that’s all five outs via the strikeout, ladies n gents. Allowed 3 H and 2 BB but whatever. I’m all in on this guy. Probably means he’s gonna get figured out real quick and suck it up after I’ve told everyone to add him. But I mean, even though he doesn’t “qualify” for Statcast percentiles, you can see how dominant he’s been. Basically throws either a slider or a 4-seamer and no one can do much with either one: .184 xBA so far in his MLB career. My favorite part is the 44:7 K:BB in just 32.1 IP.

New York Yankees:

• No one did diddly doo for the Yanks. Well, counting stats-wise at least. Tommy Kahnle did strike out 2 and post some beastly metrics: 66.7 K%, 30.8 SwStr%, and 38.5 CSW%.

Oakland A’s:

• Mason Miller didn’t pitch. A’s are open to trading him, which is pretty damn smart, cuz it just feels like he’ll snap his elbow tendons any pitch now. It’ll take a big package (that’s what she said), so we’ll see if anyone has the stones the offer it.

Philadelphia Phillies:

• Jose Alvarado had one of those weeks where he was both bad (1 L, 1 BS, 13.50 ERA, 3.00 WHIP) and good (0.90 FIP, 3 K, 21.9 SwStr%, 37.5 CSW%). My SV-only shares aren’t nearly as happy as they used to be, but I think he’ll get things back in order. That is if the Phils don’t decide to bolster their pen with someone who could bump him down the depth chart. Jeff Hoffman and Orion Kerkering each had 1 HLD. The former dazzled yet again: 100 K%, 0 BB%, 20 SwStr%, and 46.7 CSW%. He’s truly excellent; last year was no fluke, pards. Matt Strahm got tagged for an ugly 18.00 ERA but still had 2 K and 25 SwStr% in 1 IP.

Pittsburgh Pirates:

• Aroldis Chapman 1 HLD, 3 K in 1 IP. Buncha zeroes everywhere else. Even had a stupid 75 CSW%. What even is that? When dude is on, he’s still one of the best around. David Bednar wasn’t overly impressive in his 1 IP of work.

San Diego Padres:

• Robert Suarez 1 SV, 1 K in 1.1 scoreless. Jeremiah Estrada 1 HLD, 1 K in 1.2 scoreless. Should be great assets ROS.

Seattle Mariners:

• Andres Munoz 1 SV, 3 K in a perfect outing. Only took 12 pitches to strike out the side while registering 50 SwStr% and 66.7 CSW%. Also one of the very nastiest gunslingers around when firing on all cylinders. Ryne Stanek was poopy, and Gregory Santos is back and pitching at least a little better. He got a hold. Could see him bumping Stanek down before long, but we ain’t there yet.

San Francisco Giants:

• Camilo Doval 1 SV, 2 K in 1 scoreless. Metrics were fantastic. Gotta be a better second half in store from him. Just gotta be. Ryan Walker and Tyler Rogers each had 1 HLD. Walker has way more upside but Rogers is always a safe play for an ERA boost. Gives up dinky hits and never strikes anyone out, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

St. Louis Cardinals:

• Cards leaned pretty heavily on Andrew Kittredge and Ryan Fernandez in high leverage, while Marmol chose to leave JoJo Romero sitting in the pen. Hmmmmm. I do declare I am officially worried about Romero’s health and/or just Oli’s confidence in him. For fantasy, it don’t matter — he’s clearly tumbling down the depth chart. You can probably get rid of him, but don’t just drop him for nothin. Ryan Helsley appeared in a non-SV outing and struck out a pair. Aside from a hit and a walk, his metric were strong.

Tampa Bay Rays:

• Pete Fairbanks 1 SV, 1 K. Sad that Crazy Eyes hasn’t been Crazy Elite. Still plenty of time to find a groove. Jason Adam fell victim to an Aaron Judge 3-run bomb, so his week looked bad. Colin Poche had 1 HLD and 1 K.

Texas Rangers: 

• Kirby Yates 1 SV, 2 K in a perfect outing. Peak Padres Yates is fun to watch. Happy for the guy. David Robertson and Josh Sborz each had 1 HLD. Sborz actually looked better. Yates and/or Robertson could be wearing a new hat soon, so keep your eyeballs on Sborz if you need HLD (or maybe even SV??) help.

Toronto Blue Jays: 

• Chad Green 1 SV. Pitched 2.2 IP and had zeroes in every column. So the ratios ruled but 0 K ain’t never fun. Yimi Garcia no decisions and 3 K in a perfect inning. Strong SwStr%/CSW%. Hopefully fully healthy for the remainder of the year.

Washington Nationals:

• Kyle Finnegan ripped off 3 SV to kick of the second half. What a stud. Enjoy em while they last, cuz I reckon he’s off to a contender real soon, and it’s not too likely he’ll remain closer anywhere else. But who knows, he’s converting like crazy, and that holds a lotta water to anyone looking to make a championship run. Robert Garcia had 1 W and 2 K in 2 scoreless. If/when Finny departs, scoop this feller ASAP.

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