This article is part of our The Z Files series.
I recently ran a Twitter poll, asking how many responders played in a league with an elongated transaction period coming out of the break. I was surprised to learn 63 percent are in a league with a July 15 - July 25 period. This doesn't mean 63 percent of leagues are like this, only that 63 percent of those that replied play in at least one league of this nature. It's very likely far fewer leagues are like this; it's just that the poll participants play in multiple leagues.
The purpose of the query was to gauge the need for two sets of Weekly Pitcher Rankings coming out of the break. Suffice it to say there will be two sets of rankings: July 15 – 18 and July 15 – 25.
The poll also served to provide a topic for this week's Z Files, as thinking about the short week reminded me of an underutilized approach, assuming league rules allow. With only three full slates of games, most rosters will have a couple of available pitching spots. If you have the ability, a great ploy is to pick up a couple dominant relievers, then jettison them for more typical reserves afterward.
An added boon this year is six teams play an extra game in the abbreviated period, so targeting relievers from those clubs yields an extra chance to collect some punchouts and possibly a win or save. The Yankees and Red Sox begin the pseudo-second half festivities with a standalone
I recently ran a Twitter poll, asking how many responders played in a league with an elongated transaction period coming out of the break. I was surprised to learn 63 percent are in a league with a July 15 - July 25 period. This doesn't mean 63 percent of leagues are like this, only that 63 percent of those that replied play in at least one league of this nature. It's very likely far fewer leagues are like this; it's just that the poll participants play in multiple leagues.
The purpose of the query was to gauge the need for two sets of Weekly Pitcher Rankings coming out of the break. Suffice it to say there will be two sets of rankings: July 15 – 18 and July 15 – 25.
The poll also served to provide a topic for this week's Z Files, as thinking about the short week reminded me of an underutilized approach, assuming league rules allow. With only three full slates of games, most rosters will have a couple of available pitching spots. If you have the ability, a great ploy is to pick up a couple dominant relievers, then jettison them for more typical reserves afterward.
An added boon this year is six teams play an extra game in the abbreviated period, so targeting relievers from those clubs yields an extra chance to collect some punchouts and possibly a win or save. The Yankees and Red Sox begin the pseudo-second half festivities with a standalone tilt Thursday. Since these will all be of the nine-inning variety, relievers from these AL East rivals are prioritized. The Tigers and Twins along with the Marlins and Phillies commence the post-break schedule with a Friday doubleheader. This does not preclude relievers from appearing, but each bullpen loses four innings of potential appearances. That said, most managers are not using their primary closer in both ends of a twin bill, so grabbing the secondary closer may reap benefits.
With that as a backdrop, he is an extensive list of dominant relievers to churn and burn, with a focus on the aforementioned six bullpens.
Josh Taylor, Boston Red Sox: As of the time this piece was sent to the editors, Taylor last allowed an earned run April 24. To that point, Taylor had registered a 9.72 ERA and 2.64 WHIP. Since, he's recorded a silly 0.00 ERA and 0.81 WHIP, with 28 punchouts to only seven free passes in 21.2 innings. He's probably not available in leagues scoring holds, but to demonstrate he's working in high-leverage scenarios, Taylor has collected 13 holds in this span.
Garrett Whitlock, Boston Red Sox: The Yankees likely assumed nobody would be willing to stash Whitlock on their roster all season when they exposed him to the Rule 5 draft. Not only was he picked, it was by Boston as the Red Sox were undaunted by the reliever missing 2020 while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. As it turns out, Whitlock is far more than a stash as his 42 innings out of the bullpen through Thursday's action is tied for 12th most in MLB. The Red Sox have used Whitlock for at least two frames a dozen times. In those 27.1 innings, the righty has compiled a 0.66 ERA and 0.84 WHIP, fanning 31 along the way.
Chad Green, New York Yankees: Green is one of the 11 relievers tossing more innings than Whitlock. Plus, he garnered a save earlier this week as Aroldis Chapman is in a rut. Chances are, Chapman is not losing his grip on the closer job, but that won't stop Green from being one of the primary targets in your league's next FAB run, even without the bonus of filling a roster spot with a dominant reliever next weekend. To that end, Green offers both quality and quantity with 48 whiffs in 44 .1 innings through Thursday's slate.
Lucas Luetge, New York Yankees: Luetge is quietly providing the injury-riddled Yankees staff with quality innings as he's punched out 45 in 41.2 stanzas. The 34-year-old journeyman has only two holds, so he's working in primarily low-leverage situations. However, for the purpose of this discussion, who cares? Amassing a strikeout or two in the sixth counts as much as it does later in the game. It should be noted Luetge's ERA over his last four outings is 14.73 with a 3.27 WHIP. However, his peripherals are on par with season-long marks, so it's just a matter of variance.
Jonathan Loaisiga, New York Yankees: Loaisiga is responsible for only 11 runners crossing the plate all season, with eight coming in a pair of four-run outings. He's been especially dominant lately, fanning 18 over his previous 10.2 frames while issuing just two bases on balls.
Anthony Bender, Miami Marlins: Like Green above, Bender has recently emerged in speculative closer chatter. The 26-year-old rookie is 1-for-2 in save opportunities this week, though he managed to collect his first career win after blowing Wednesday's save. Perhaps there will be more clarity after the weekend's ledger of games, but chances are Bender will be highly sought after by those trawling for saves. A 0.99 ERA and 0.73 WHIP with 37 whiffs in 27.1 stanzas earned him a shot at ninth-inning work. Bender has been even more effective lately, accruing 14 strikeouts over his prior five appearances, covering six frames.
Bailey Falter, Philadelphia Phillies: Yes, as poor as they've been (seventh-worst bullpen ERA), there are a couple of Phillies relievers to pick up for the extra game. Falter was called up briefly in April before being sent back to the alternate training site. He returned in the middle of June, providing more than one inning during four of his six appearances. Falter's 5.17 ERA is bloated by a five-spot against the Cubs in his last appearance. Overall, he's fanned 17 in 15.2 innings. To be honest, Falter may not have made the cut if he didn't have the allure of the added game.
Ranger Suarez, Philadelphia Phillies: Suarez, on the other hand, would have been included regardless. In fact, he's the third reliever thumbnailed with current closer aspirations. Suarez closed out the Phillies win June 3 but since their subsequent three wins were all by at least five runs, there have been no more save chances. While it isn't odd Philadelphia handed the ball to Suarez considering his elite 0.88 ERA and 0.72 WHIP at the time, it is curious he had yet to be entrusted with a hold, let alone a save. But now, he'll be another hot commodity.
Joe Jimenez, Detroit Tigers: The next two Tigers are included more out of courtesy in deference to the doubleheader than as a product of their merits. Jimenez, Detroit's former erstwhile closer, opened the campaign by allowing eight runs over his first three outings, lasting just 1.2 innings. He walked nine in that short span. Since that horrible beginning, Jimenez has posted a respectable 3.00 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 18 innings, collecting 21 whiffs but walk nine more batters. The still-high walk rate renders Jimenez more of a risk than the others discussed.
Buck Farmer, Detroit Tigers: On May 6, Farmer was demoted after starting the campaign with a 12.66 ERA and 2.25 WHIP in 10.2 innings. He was recalled June 13 and proceeded to allow runs in his first two outings. However, he's been effective since, recording a 1.86 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in the ensuing 9.2 stanzas over eight appearances, featuring nine whiffs with just one walk. Farmer's longer history of struggles signals this stretch is likely an outlier, but he's in the mix if you want a weekend's worth of lightning in a bottle.
Caleb Thielbar, Minnesota Twins: Just as Adam Ottavino isn't included because he's been garnering a handful of saves and is thus likely not available in most leagues, the Twins' Taylor Rogers is in the same boat. Ergo, Thielbar gets the nod as Minnesota's representative before we move onto the options with just three games. He's another example of a guy with numbers marred by a recent blowup, as he was torched by the White Sox earlier in the week, surrendering four runs in one frame. However, since another four-spot allowed May 11, also to the Pale Hose, Thielbar has pitched effectively with a 3.32 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 21 punch outs in 19 stanzas.
Tyler Wells, Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles open the second half in Kansas City, so the matchup is favorable. Wells is often used in a multiple-inning capacity with just nine of his 26 appearances measuring one inning or fewer. Even so, it's impressive to note Wells has at least one strikeout in 24 outings, totaling a health 49 in 39.2 innings.
Art Warren, Cincinnati Reds: Yes, there is a Reds' reliever worth mentioning despite their 5.19 bullpen ERA, the second worst in the league. Imagine where they'd be without Warren's 1.93 mark in 14 stanzas. He's also posted a 1.07 WHIP with 21 strikeouts. Cincinnati draws the Brewers in a rare back-to-back series, though this time the NL Central foes will meet in The Great American Ball Park.
Nick Sandlin, Cleveland: Sandlin has provided Cleveland with much-needed relief, especially considering how beat up their starters have been the last month. The 24-year-old rookie righty has let in just two runs since May 15, recording a 1.04 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in that span. He's whiffed a healthy 30 hitters in those 17.1 innings. Cleveland visits Oakland next weekend, and while the park favors pitchers, the Athletics boast some powerful bats.
Phil Bickford, Los Angeles Dodgers: Bickford began the season with Milwaukee but was designated for assignment in late April. Despite allowing six runs in just two innings of major-league work, the Dodgers liked something and claimed him, assigning him to Triple-A Oklahoma City. The move has proven prescient as Bickford has a 2.25 ERA and 1.00 WHIP for the Dodgers since being called up in late May, fanning 28 in 20 frames. Warning: The Dodgers start the post break schedule in Coors Field.
Aaron Loup, New York Mets: Loup has surprisingly managed to thrive despite the three-batter rule as he's held his own against right-handed hitters after primarily serving as a lefty specialist. He's not a volume guy, throwing just 25 innings in 29 appearances, but he's whiffed 31. His forte is keeping the ball in the yard, helping to prevent disaster outings. His 1.80 ERA and 1.00 WHIP have helped him collect eight holds. The Mets open on the road in Pittsburgh, a prime matchup.
Paul Sewald, Seattle Mariners: Sewald usually does a good job preventing homers, but he's still a bit fortunate not to have been taken deep yet this season. He's racked up an impressive 41 punchouts in 23.2 innings, though he's walked 11. The Mariners visit Anaheim next weekend, so while the park is in his favor, the Angels offense is surprisingly potent despite heading into the break without Mike Trout, Justin Upton or Anthony Rendon.
