All articles tagged with #relief pitchers
Dodgers' relief pitcher Alex Vesia is absent from the World Series roster due to a family matter, marking a significant loss for the team's bullpen, which has been bolstered by new additions Edgardo Henriquez and Will Klein. Vesia's absence is expected to be permanent for the series, as he is not on the Family Medical Emergency List, and the team has made other roster adjustments.
The Minnesota Twins made a series of significant trades at the MLB trade deadline, including trading star Carlos Correa and several top relief pitchers, in a move that signals a rebuild or reset for the franchise. The trades received mixed grades, with some viewed as strategic and others as puzzling, reflecting a tumultuous season and uncertain future direction.
The St. Louis Cardinals signed right-handed reliever Keynan Middleton to a one-year contract with a club option for 2025, aiming to bolster their bullpen's strikeout rate and limit hard contact. Middleton's high strikeout rate and ability to pitch in different innings and leverage situations make him a valuable addition. The Cardinals hope to revamp their bullpen, which lagged behind in swing-and-miss ability last season, and have also added other pitchers to strengthen their relief options.
Billy Wagner, a highly regarded reliever, narrowly missed out on being elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, receiving 73.8% of the vote, just shy of the required 75%. Joe Mauer, Adrian Beltre, and Todd Helton were elected, with Wagner having one more year left on the ballot. Wagner expressed disappointment but also congratulated the inductees, while the baseball community voiced frustration over his exclusion. With an impressive career and statistics, Wagner is expected to have a strong chance of induction next year.
The 2024 relief pitcher tiers for fantasy baseball draft prep emphasize the stability of the closer scene, with a focus on closers and their alternatives. The top three tiers feature robust options, including Devin Williams, Josh Hader, and Edwin Diaz in the Elite tier, while the Near-Elite and Next-Best Things tiers offer strong choices like Emmanuel Clase, Camilo Doval, and Craig Kimbrel. The article provides a strategic approach to maximizing draft picks by targeting positions nearing drop-offs and waiting on others, ultimately aiming to guide fantasy baseball players to victory.
The Miami Marlins have acquired reliever Jorge López from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Dylan Floro. López, who was an All-Star in 2022, had a 4.81 ERA and seven saves in 60 appearances for the Twins last season. Floro, on the other hand, has a 4.54 ERA, seven saves, and 41 strikeouts in 43 relief appearances for the Marlins this season.
The Boston Red Sox, who find themselves back in the postseason conversation, may consider buying at the trade deadline to strengthen their chances. Acquiring quality pitching should be their top priority, with several potential trade targets including Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn from the Chicago White Sox, Marcus Stroman and Kyle Hendricks from the Chicago Cubs, Jordan Montgomery and Jack Flaherty from the St. Louis Cardinals, and Eduardo Rodriguez and Michael Lorenzen from the Detroit Tigers. Additionally, relievers Joe Kelly from the White Sox, Brooks Raley and David Robertson from the New York Mets, and shortstop Paul DeJong from the Cardinals are also worth considering.
The Arizona Diamondbacks focused on college pitching on Day 2 of the MLB Draft, selecting five pitchers, four of whom were relief pitchers. The team's director of amateur scouting, Ian Rebhan, stated that the selection of relievers was not a deliberate strategy but rather a result of the draft process. The Diamondbacks also added outfielder Jack Hurley from Virginia Tech, who is expected to have an impact on both offense and defense. The team aims to build for long-term competitiveness with their draft picks.
Baltimore Orioles teammates Félix Bautista and Yennier Cano have emerged as an elite late-game relief duo, helping the team to a strong record. Bautista, a former international signee, has been dominant with a 1.07 ERA and a league-leading 50.9% strikeout rate. Cano, who didn't reach the majors until after his 28th birthday, has excelled by limiting contact quality and inducing ground balls. The unexpected success of these two pitchers highlights the Orioles' scouting staff and their push for a postseason berth.
This article provides a breakdown of key bullpen usage from yesterday's slate of games, including notable performances from closers Ryan Pressly, Devin Williams, Alexis Díaz, Raisel Iglesias, and A.J. Puk. It also highlights bullpen transactions and schedule notes, as well as updates on various relief pitchers and their performances. The article concludes with bullpen depth charts and rankings for holds and saves in fantasy baseball.
The Seattle Mariners have traded relievers Chris Flexen and Trevor Gott to the New York Mets in exchange for left-hander Zach Muckenhirn. Flexen, who had a successful stint with the Mariners in 2021 and 2022, was designated for assignment by the team after struggling this season. The Mets will pay the remaining salary for Flexen and Gott. The trade comes as both teams have fallen short of their expectations for the 2023 season.
The San Diego Padres' bullpen has been performing better than their offense this season, despite recent losses due to bullpen failures. Padres relievers have a collective ERA of 3.37, which is third best in the major leagues. In contrast, the Padres' offense continues to struggle, especially in close-and-late situations, with an MLB-worst .173 batting average. The team's record in one-run games is also the worst in the major leagues. Meanwhile, relief pitcher Josh Hader emphasizes the importance of pacing oneself in a long season, and the Padres say goodbye to Nabil Crismatt, a beloved teammate.
This article provides fantasy baseball players with potential waiver wire pickups at catcher, outfielder, starting pitcher, and relief pitcher positions. The article highlights players such as Danny Jansen, Bo Naylor, Henry Davis, Spencer Torkelson, Leody Taveras, Luke Raley, Jack Suwinski, Luis Matos, Emmett Sheehan, Aaron Civale, and Jason Foley, and provides brief explanations for why they could be valuable additions to fantasy rosters.
This week's fantasy baseball waiver wire advice focuses on players who can provide immediate help, including catchers Francisco Álvarez and Connor Wong, outfielders Luke Raley and Jake McCarthy, and starting pitchers Bobby Miller, Michael Kopech, Kyle Gibson, and Jared Shuster. Relief pitcher Kyle Finnegan is also recommended as a potential closer option.
The latest edition of Reliever Ranks provides up-to-date bullpen depth charts for all 30 teams, making it an excellent tool for those looking to stream saves or wins. The article also includes notes on recent transactions and schedule updates, as well as a rundown of yesterday's bullpen performances. The article concludes with bullpen depth charts and links to additional resources for ranking relievers.