Sorry for the delay, but the four-game slate provided time for research this morning. After our recaps, we’ll take a look at our bullpens, which are designated as committees for stash candidates or diamonds in the rough. In Thursday’s games, relievers recorded two wins, a save, and two losses.
Here are the leverage events of interest from the slate.
Leverage Ledger
Atlanta Braves – Locking down his 15th save, Raisel Iglesias retired the side and recorded two strikeouts while preserving a two-run lead against the Marlins. He threw 15 pitches (60% strike rate) and produced four whiffs (26.7 SwStr%) while extending his scoreless streak to six games.
Iglesias has converted his last four saves in this stretch, posting a 0.50 WHIP with six strikeouts and zero walks (28.6 K-BB%) through six innings.
- Dylan Lee notched his 11th hold, firing a clean top of the eighth, striking out two.
- Pierce Johnson collected his third win, allowing a hit and striking out one during a scoreless seventh, ahead of his team’s two-run rally at the bottom of the inning.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Dylan Lee | Pierce Johnson
Chicago White Sox – With the score tied at the bottom of the 11th, Brandon Eisert recorded a strikeout, intentionally walked Mitch Garver, and allowed a walk-off RBI single by Dominic Canzone, resulting in his third loss. Steven Wilson retired his three batters faced at the bottom of the tenth, striking out one.
- Tyler Gilbert worked a scoreless ninth, but the “place” runner scored on a throwing error during a bunt at the bottom of the tenth, putting an unearned run on his ledger before his removal.
- Grant Taylor navigated around a hit and two walks with two strikeouts for a scoreless eighth.
- Bryan Hudson walked one and struck out one during his two-thirds of the seventh.
- Jordan Leasure fired 1.1 clean frames between the sixth and seventh innings, striking out two.
Hierarchy Remains: *Jordan Leasure | *Grant Taylor | *Steven Wilson
*= closer-by-committee
Miami Marlins – In order of appearance, Ronny Henriquez stranded a runner at the bottom of the sixth, giving up a hit and striking out one while retiring two batters for his 17th hold.
Josh Simpson struggled in the eighth, allowing a hit, two runs (one earned), a walk, and a hit-batter while striking out one. This outing resulted in his first loss and a first blown save.
- Anthony Bender stranded one of two inherited runners, giving up a hit and a walk during two-thirds of the eighth.
- Cade Gibson gave up two hits and an earned run at the bottom of the eighth while striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: *Calvin Faucher | *Ronny Henriquez | *Anthony Bender
*= closer-by-committee
Seattle Mariners – After stranding the “place” runner at the top of the 11th, Jackson Kowar collected his second win courtesy of a walk-off rally at the bottom of the inning.
- Eduard Bazardo allowed a walk and an unearned run while striking out one at the top of the tenth.
- Andrés Muñoz fired a clean ninth, striking out one on ten pitches (70% strike rate) and inducing one whiff.
- Matt Brash navigated around two hits and recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless eighth.
- Gabe Speier retired both batters, striking out one at the top of the seventh.
- Carlos Vargas stranded two runners at the top of the sixth, but allowed Brooks Baldwin’s game-tying solo home run at the top of the seventh, resulting in his sixth blown save.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Matt Brash | Gabe Speier
Quick Hits
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Finishing a combined shutout, Kyle Nicolas allowed Gavin Lux’s lead-off single, then retired the next three batters while striking out one. Ryan Borucki gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless top of the eighth. Cam Sanders retired the side on ten pitches at the top of the seventh.
- The Athletics: Completing a combined shutout, Justin Sterner retired all four batters faced, two via strikeout, throwing 11 pitches (72.7% strike rate) and inducing two whiffs (18.2 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in his last two appearances.
- Washington Nationals: Tossing 1.1 scoreless frames during a shutout loss, Jackson Rutledge allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts. He threw 20 pitches (70% strike rate) and produced two whiffs.
Noting there are 11 teams designated with a committee after the trade deadline, our next phase of this post will focus on relievers of interest in some situations for potential saves for the rest of the season. However, this remains fluid based on performance and usage patterns.
Post-Trade Deadline Relievers on the Rise
Phil Maton (TEX)
- Season Statistics: 43 appearances, 41.1 innings, 1-3 record, three saves, 21 holds, two blown saves, 2.18 ERA, 2.90 SIERA, 2.61 xERA, 1.09 WHIP, 14 swinging strike percentage, 69.2 contact percentage, 28.1 percent hard hit rate
He recorded his first save for Texas on Tuesday and has been scoreless in his last six appearances with a 0.50 WHIP, six strikeouts versus two walks (20 K-BB%), and a 10.3 swinging strike percentage. He has used four pitches this year, but two have been the most effective:
- Maton’s curve: 20.6 swinging strike percentage, 29.2 K-BB percentage, .224 weighted on-base average (wOBA)
- Maton’s cutter: 11.2 swinging strike percentage, 23.6 K-BB percentage, .265 wOBA
Although his manager suggested there are multiple relievers capable of closing games, Robert Garcia’s appearance in the seventh inning on Wednesday, combined with his recent struggles, opens the door for Maton to emerge as the leader in saves for the remainder of the season.
David Bednar (NYY)
It’s a crowded bullpen, but the fan base has grown weary of Devin Williams. Bednar stepped up in a colossal way, securing his first save for New York, grinding out 1.2 scoreless frames during a one-run win in Texas. From being demoted to possibly becoming the primary save share for the Yankees, it would make for one heck of a documentary. Here are his splits this year:
Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Kw5cR/4/
Kyle Finnegan (DET)
It’s a small sample, but in two games with the Tigers, Finnegan has tweaked his pitch mix with eyes on generating more whiffs. First, his pitch usage trends:
- 2025: Four-seam fastball (64.6 percent use), split-finger (30.2 percent use), slider (5.1 percent use)
- With Detroit: Four-seam fastball (45.2 percent use), split-finger (41.9 percent use), slider (12.9 percent use)
Here are the splits from his 31 pitches for Detroit:
- Four-seam fastball: 14 pitches, .130 xBA, .121 x2ObA, 66 hard-hit percentage of three batted ball events
- Split-finger fastball: 13 pitches, 23.1 swinging strike percentage, .232 xBA, .214 xwOBA, 50 percent whiff rate, zero hard hit percentage on one batted ball event
While he has notched two saves, Will Vest has struggled in the second half. Through six appearances, he has a 1.69 WHIP with six strikeouts versus zero walks across 5.1 innings. His underlying data yields more concerning information. He has recorded a 10.3 swinging strike percentage, an 81 percent contact rate allowed, and a 44.4 hard-hit percentage. How each reliever gets deployed over the next week may determine their respective fantasy relevance through the end of the season.
JoJo Romero and Riley O’Brien (STL)
Shared save situations may not be ideal, but the Cardinals have found success utilizing Romero for save opportunities when possible, as well as against an opponent’s toughest left-handed hitters or in key situations to preserve a lead. He has converted two saves and recorded a win in the second half with a 1.07 WHIP, 2.21 SIERA, and 23.7 K-BB percentage. He’s also posted a 14.3 swinging strike percentage, a 69.8 percent contact allowed, and a hard-hit percentage of 28 through 9.1 innings through eight outings.
O’Brien had a memorable series against the Dodgers, recording his first career win and save. In seven games during the second half, he has a 1.00 WHIP with a 3.76 SIERA and a 6.9 K-BB percentage. His walks and low swinging strike percentage (9.6 percent in the second half) should provide fantasy managers with some caution. His velocity and 56 percent ground ball rate will benefit him during save chances when provided, but he has to reduce the free passes (four walks of 29 batters faced in the second half).
Justin Topa (MIN)
Noting the Twins have only produced three saves, by three different pitchers in the second half, should be the first red flag, but for some, saves are saves. Topa has been surprisingly good since the All-Star break, logging eight appearances with a 1.22 WHIP, ten strikeouts versus two walks (21.6 K-BB percentage), and a 2.29 SIERA. He does allow contact (79.7 percent) and hard-hits (52 percent), but relies on his 48.6 ground ball percentage to stay out of trouble. Minnesota has been trying to get Ryan Pressly to sign a free-agent deal, but for now, it appears Topa should be the preferred option in this leverage ladder. If he gets the next save chance, the committee designation will be removed.
Unsettled Bullpens
Arizona Diamondbacks
- In the second half, the team has four saves by four different pitchers. One was placed on the 60-day injured list (Kevin Ginkel), one was moved into the rotation (Anthony DeSclafani), one was demoted (Kyle Nelson), and one remains in the current bullpen (Kyle Backhus).
However, the options have not distinguished themselves, although Backhus has some intrigue but needs more outings to move toward his 2.75 SIERA, not his current 8.44 ERA.
Baltimore Orioles
- Keegan Akin has been the preferred option for saves, but he’s posted a -14.3 K-BB percentage, a 2.00 WHIP, and a 7.58 SIERA. Of more significant concern, he has an 8.1 swinging strike percentage, 85.3 percent contact rate allowed, and a 37.5 hard-hit percentage since his return from the injured list.
- Yennier Cano has a 1.35 WHIP with a 5.20 SIERA in the second half: his 9.4 swinging strike percentage, a 79.1 percent contact rate allowed, and a 40.9 hard-hit percentage.
Chicago White Sox
Because saves have been so fluidly dispersed and sporadic, it’s tough mining this bullpen for them. Here are the splits for three relievers, which, after reviewing them, changed our team hierarchy.
- Jordan Leasure: nine innings, 12:2 K:BB (29.4 K-BB percentage), 0.78 WHIP, 2.62 SIERA, 16.9 swinging strike percentage, 68.5 percent contact rate allowed, 25 percent hard-hit rate.
- Grant Taylor: 4.2 innings as a reliever, 8:4 K:BB (21.1 K-BB percentage), 1.50 WHIP, 3.66 SIERA, 17.8 swinging strike percentage, 53.6 percent contact rate allowed, 85.7 percent hard-hit rate.
- Steven Wilson: 10.2 innings, 9:3 K:BB (12.2 K-BB percentage), 1.50 WHIP, 4.55 SIERA, 13.2 swinging strike percentage, 74.4 percent contact rate allowed, 38.9 percent hard-hit rate.
Colorado Rockies
- Lost closer Seth Halvorsen to the injured list, putting Victor Vodnik into save situations. However, he has multiple runs in two of his last three and at least a run in four of his previous five games.
- Jimmy Herget has logged six appearances, spanning 11.2 innings since the All-Star break with ten strikeouts versus one walk (19.6 K-BB percentage), a 0.77 WHIP, and a 3.60 SIERA.
- Juan Mejia could be a viable option before the end of the season. He has recorded 11 strikeouts against three walks (30.8 K-BB percentage) with a 1.17 WHIP, and a 2.17 SIERA. He also has a 21.2 swinging strike percentage with a 54.7 percent contact rate allowed, and a 36.4 hard-hit percentage through five games and six innings since the break.
Miami Marlins
Usage patterns have varied under the guidance of Clayton McCullough. Since the All-Star break, the team has recorded seven saves, by five pitchers, with only Calvin Faucher having multiple saves (three). He and Ronny Henriquez have been the only two worth using for fantasy purposes:
- Faucher: seven games, three saves, one hold, one blown save, 7.2 innings, 8:4 K:BB (12.9 K-BB percentage), 1.17 WHIP, 3.88 SIERA, 9.9 swinging strike percentage, 75 percent contact rate allowed, 36.8 hard-hit percentage.
- Henriquez: 11 games, one win, one save, five holds, two blown saves, 10.1 innings, 15:6 K:BB (20.5 K-BB percentage), 1.26 WHIP, 3.20 SIERA, 14.2 swinging strike percentage, 68.4 percent contact rate allowed, 47.8 percent hard-hit rate.
The Athletics
The team has only posted two saves in the second half. One by its traded closer (Mason Miller) and one by a reliever who has entered the rotation, Jack Perkins. Although Michael Kelly projects as the replacement, Sean Newcomb remains an intriguing option.
- Michael Kelly: seven games, 7.1 innings, 6:1 K:BB (16.7 K-BB percentage), 1.23 WHIP, 3.09 SIERA, 14.4 swinging strike percentage, 68.9 percent contact rate allowed, 30.4 hard-hit percentage.
- Sean Newcomb: eight games, 10.2 innings, 14:2 K:BB (33.3 K-BB percentage), 0.66 WHIP, 1.64 SIERA, 12.1 swinging strike percentage, 77.5 percent contact rate allowed, 25 hard-hit percentage. He leads the team in Win Probability added in the second half.
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