While Julio Rodríguez is pulling away in the rookie of the year award, there was a point where I thought Jhoan Duran might have an outside chance to win the award as a reliever. Right now Duran ranks in the top ten amongst all relievers this season in xFIP (2.46), SIERA (2.11), GB% (58.4%), SwStr% (17.1%), Chase rate (38.2%) while his K-BB% rate (26.1%) ranks 15th. The Twins seem reluctant to make Duran the full-time closer, and that’s fair given that he is a rookie and can also work multiple innings if needed, but he is far and away the team’s best reliever right now and should probably have more than 16 SV+HLD’s on the season. The Twins should be a team in the mix for relief help at the deadline (I speculated Daniel Bard as an option on our podcast), but Duran should remain a high leverage factor regardless.
Notes
- Camilo Doval basically has disappeared in the month of July, which is partly due to the Giants not playing well, but it still makes it hard to justify Doval inside the top 20 right now, especially with how Gabe Kapler manages his bullpen. One thing not to worry about however is yesterday’s signing of Trevor Rosenthal, as he likely won’t be ready to contribute until September at the earliest.
- I mentioned it earlier in the week but will do so again as to why David Robertson and Daniel Bard fell in the rankings. It’s simply due to them being dealt at the deadline and neither one is guaranteed to wind up in a spot where they will be closing out games (it’s possible, but odds are against it). Working in set up or middle relief roles for new teams will more than likely dampen their value.
- With Tanner Rainey sidelined for the rest of the season, the Nationals will likely turn to Kyle Finnegan to close out games the rest of the way, but should they? Carl Edwards Jr. has been great for them this season, and while he may actually be the team’s best trade chip (outside of that Soto guy of course), if he stays with the club I’d love to see him get save chances over Finnegan.
- Due to the All-Star break, the week was shortened so instead of mentioning who led the week in SV+HLD’s, I think it would be a good time to go over the season leaders. Only twelve relievers have surpassed 20 SV+HLD’s on the season to this point; Devin Williams (29), Josh Hader (27), Taylor Rogers (26), Clay Holmes (23), A.J. Minter (23), Kenley Jansen (22), Edwin Díaz (21), Rafael Montero (21), Jordan Romano (21), Daniel Bard (20), Scott Barlow (20), and David Bednar (20). While nine of them are closers, we do have three set up guys here, including the league leader in Devin Williams. The biggest surprise here is easily Montero who continues to impress while basically only using a 96 MPH fastball/sinker as his off-speed offerings remain more or less an afterthought.
| PITCHER | TIER | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| Drew Pomeranz | 3-5 | Flexor Tendon. Don’t expect to see him until late August. Progressing to bullpens, but no live hitters as of 7/22. |
| Nick Anderson | 3-5 | UCL. Still out until (at least) August. Could face live hitters in a FCL game as early as 7/26. |
| J.P. Feyereisen | 3-6 | Shoulder. Feeling better but still not throwing. Now on 60 day IL, out until August. |
| Kirby Yates | 3-6 | TJS. Moved his rehab to AA on 7/21 and could be a week or two away from making his Braves debut. |
| Blake Treinen | 3-6 | Shoulder. Now out until August. Began throwing extended bullpens but no live hitters as of yet. |
| Trevor May | 4-7 | Arm. Facing live hitters and could return in the first half of August. |
| Aaron Bummer | 4-7 | Lat. Not throwing off a mound yet (7/7), likely out until mid-late August now. |
| Anthony Bender | 4-7 | Back. Began rehab assignment on 7/15, and could return in early August. |
Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)
Not sure why you have Raisel Iglesias rank so high. His numbers so far aren’t good. The angels can’t score and get him into save opportunities. I know he is very good but unless get traded there are better choices. Saves and hold league we start 3. I have A.J. Minter D.Williams and Ryan Helsley plus Iglesias on my bench but will start next week because I just pick up( must start any ww plckup the following week) Do you think he will be trade before deadline? Where in Boston are you? Weymouth ma for me.