Ottoneu Drip: Finding Under-rostered Pitchers: June 19, 2025

The seek for pitching assist is rarely ending. Between accidents and ineffectiveness, fantasy gamers are at all times looking out for pitchers who’re performing effectively who can present some reinforcements. Final time I ran this column, I centered on eight beginning pitchers who had been pitching effectively on the time. This time round, my focus will shift to the bullpen — with three starters sprinkled in for good measure.

Over his first seven appearances (six begins and one bulk reduction look) for the Brewers this yr, Quinn Priester’s stroll charge was an untenable 14.2%. In his six appearances since then (three begins, three bulk outings), his stroll charge has been an excellent 3.8%. He’s been pitching within the zone a bit extra typically — he had a 50.9% zone charge throughout that first stretch and a 55.2% zone charge throughout the second — whereas nonetheless sustaining an appropriate strikeout charge and an elite groundball charge. The groundball charge alone ought to give him a high-ish ground for Ottoneu, and the improved command makes him an attention-grabbing dart throw. Simply ensure that to watch his utilization as a standard starter or a bulk reliever.

Accidents to George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, and Bryce Miller have pressured Emerson Hancock into a way more distinguished position within the Mariners rotation than the workforce most likely anticipated. His season stats are being dragged down by two very ugly begins: a six-run, two-out catastrophe in his first begin of the season and a seven-run, five-inning clunker towards the Yankees on Might 12. I don’t advocate doing this as a frequent apply, however should you take away these begins from his total stats, his ERA drops from 4.48 to 2.60, his FIP from 4.81 to 4.09, and his Pts/IP rises from 3.05 to 4.26. That may be a completely cromulent starter in Ottoneu so long as you’re benching him in notably troublesome matchups.

Mike Burrows isn’t the Pittsburgh pitching prospect we’ve all wished to see within the huge leagues (that will be Bubba Chandler), however he’s obtained a few attention-grabbing attributes that might make him an attention-grabbing choose up in Ottoneu. To begin with, his changeup is presently returning a 51.7% whiff charge and a .252 xwOBA allowed. His slider’s xwOBA allowed is even decrease at .221, although it’s not getting the swings and misses like his change is. The issue is that his fastball is way too hittable, which implies his ceiling is capped fairly low. Nonetheless, he’s allowed simply three runs whole in his final three begins and is working a wonderful 6.67 strikeout-to-walk ratio throughout this stretch. So long as the changeup continues to be a plus plus bat lacking weapon and the slider continues to suppress contact, he’ll probably have stretches like this the place he seems to be dominant. The run-of-the-mill fastball will convey him again to earth ultimately.

Let’s deal with all these relievers by workforce. The Orioles have had a very robust time discovering a constant setup man to pitch in entrance of nearer Félix Bautista. Six totally different pitchers have recorded a maintain over the past week however the three pitchers listed within the desk above seem like probably the most attention-grabbing of the bunch. Bryan Baker has elevated his strikeout charge 10 factors this yr whereas concurrently reducing his stroll charge to a profession low. Fueled by a fully devastating changeup, he’s the man I’m focusing on out of this ‘pen. Seranthony Domínguez is not any stranger to high-leverage work, although his inconsistent command means he’s been fairly unstable all through his profession. He’s on a heater proper now, permitting simply 5 baserunners over his final 9 outings whereas placing out 16. Performing because the left-handed specialist within the bullpen, Gregory Soto is incomes holds at a constant tempo whereas additionally offering strong charge stats.

It seems to be like Garrett Whitlock and Greg Weissert have settled in because the setup choices in entrance of nearer Aroldis Chapman within the Pink Sox bullpen. Curiously, each setup guys have earned saves within the final week after Chapman was unavailable for a couple of days after which used within the eighth inning on Wednesday to face the highest of the Mariners lineup. Whitlock has overcome a protracted harm historical past and a failed try and convert him to a starter to settle in as a high-leverage reliever this yr, a job he was conversant in again when he first broke into the large leagues. His strikeout charge has jumped as much as 30.1%, although his stroll charge continues to be slightly excessive at 9.2%. Weissert hasn’t been as dominant as Whitlock, however he’s getting high-leverage alternatives and has completed effectively to transform these alternatives into holds and saves.

Throughout three outings from April 30–Might 7, Reid Detmers allowed 12 runs whereas recording only a single out. Since that low level, he’s allowed a single run in 16 appearances and is all of a sudden trying like a dominant high-leverage reliever. His strikeout charge is sort of 40% throughout this stretch and he’s earned six holds and two saves for the Angels. He has been throwing his fastball about two ticks more durable than earlier within the season.

His pitch combine seems to be the identical and there haven’t been any huge adjustments to his strategy: his zone charge and chase charge are ever so barely larger throughout this sizzling streak, however batters are swinging and lacking at his pitches much more typically. His success would possibly simply come right down to a more durable fastball and higher execution.

I included Nick Mears on this column again on Might 13 and he had a little bit of a hiccup proper after that write up; throughout his subsequent seven appearances after that article posted, he allowed six runs in 7.1 innings whereas placing out simply three. Throughout his subsequent seven appearances, he’s been quite a bit higher, holding his opponents scoreless whereas permitting simply two baserunners and placing out eight. He’s firmly behind Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe within the pecking order, however he may very well be working his approach again into high-leverage alternatives within the sixth or seventh inning.

The Twins bullpen has been a little bit of a large number just lately — they’ve misplaced three video games for the workforce previously week — however that simply means there are new alternatives for relievers to realize the belief of supervisor Rocco Baldelli. Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax are most likely secure of their roles, however Louis Varland and Brock Stewart may very well be sneaking into high-leverage work forward of these two. Varland has transitioned from the rotation to the ‘pen this yr and has appeared fairly strong as a reliever. He’s obtained the large fastball and devastating curveball to thrive within the late innings. Stewart has what Stuff+ thinks is without doubt one of the best possible sliders in baseball. He’s been notably harm susceptible throughout his profession and his command will be spotty at occasions, resulting in some volatility. Nonetheless, the 35% strikeout charge is nothing to scoff at, and so long as he’s wholesome, he must be a high-leverage possibility for the Twins.