Trying to stream pitchers or chase wins can inflate a fantasy team’s ratio statistics (ERA and WHIP) along with frustrating owners due to volatile results. Perhaps using relievers to mitigate damage could ameliorate this trend using them to regulate ratios, especially for those needing help in ERA or WHIP. It will not be immediate, but in this sprint of a season, defraying damage to ratios could move a team up in the standings if it’s staff struggled over the first three weeks of the season. After all, not everyone can roster Shane Bieber but they can mine the strikeout upside of one of his teammates. 

Today’s version of category impacts focuses on three types of relievers to deploy using results from the start of 2020 along with underlying data predicting future success. It comes with some inherent risk, but what does not this year. Our dirty dozen of relievers fall under the ratio eraser, hybrid or future closer category in an effort to provide a boost in ERA, WHIP and even strikeouts for forward thinking fantasy players. 

Ratio Erasers

Ross Detwiler , Chicago White Sox

Off to a strong start in relief this year, Detwiler has logged 11.1 scoreless innings over eight appearances with nine strikeouts and zero walks. He’s upped his slider usage and mixing it in effectively with his four-seam fastball and sinker for a 1.45 expected ERA (xERA) and a minuscule 0.35 WHIP facing two batters over the minimum this year. Although Detwiler does not possess the strikeout upside of other pitchers on this list, he’s been deployed very effectively this year by his manager Ron Renteria and provides depth in a revamped bullpen. 

Devin Williams , Milwaukee Brewers

During the off-season, Williams worked on his change-up finding out it moved more with less velocity producing more spin. He’s carried this over into high leverage success with Milwaukee with a 0.93 ERA, 2.24 FIP and 0.93 WHIP through 9.2 innings in nine contests. Unlike Detwiler, Williams provides a bounty of strikeouts with 20 against five walks fueling a 48.8 strikeout percentage and 20.4 swinging strike percentage. According to Statcast, Williams owns a robust 59.5 whiff percentage with the change and a 48.3 put away percent. Whiff percentage accounts for swings and misses of all pitches which produce a swing. Put away percent rates his ability to generate a strikeout with two strikes. 

Adding to his intrigue, Williams owns a 33.3 hard hit percentage allowed this season while cutting his contact percent to 51.9 leading to a .115 expected batting average (xBA). 

Tyler Duffey , Minnesota Twins

Over his last 37 appearances, Duffey’s been scoreless in 35 of them with a 0.79 ERA, 54:5 K:BB and .150 batting average against. In 2020, Duffey owns a 1-0 record with seven holds, 12 strikeouts against zero walks with a 0.90 ERA and 0.50 WHIP. His ability to miss bats while depressing contact keeps him in high leverage for a team projected for the playoffs and trying to defend its division title. 

Jake McGee , Los Angeles Dodgers

Released by the Rockies, McGee may feel revived after landing in Los Angeles. He yielded his first earned run this week, but remains 2-0 this year with two holds in 11 appearances spanning 10 innings. In them, McGee’s recorded a 15:3 K:BB with a 0.90 ERA, 1.07 FIP and 0.60 WHIP. He’s increased his strikeout percentage to 40.5 with an impressive 32.4 K-BB percent and a career best 16.7 swinging strike percentage. It’s a small sample, but McGee has also posted his career low contact allowed of 68.5 percent backed up by a .166 xBA on Statcast. 

Matt Foster, Chicago White Sox

Off to a strong debut with the White Sox, Foster owns two wins over eight outings in 12.1 innings with a 17:3 K:BB, no earned runs, a 1.14 FIP and 0.49 WHIP. He’s racked up a 17.2 swinging strike percentage and only 63.9 contact percent yielding a 33.3 hard hit rate. Foster owns an elite change-up so far generating a 56.3 whiff percentage and 26.9 put away rate. His four-seam also rates well with a 31.8 whiff and 29 put away benefiting his 41.5 strikeout percentage this season. 

Hybrid Arms

Freddy Peralta , Milwaukee Brewers

Unable to remain in the rotation, perhaps the Brewers found him a sweet spot working as a bulk reliever or multiple innings arm as a bridge to high leverage. As a reliever, Peralta has logged 11 innings with a 1.64 ERA, 1.17 FIP and 0.75 WHIP striking out 52.4 percent of batters faced. His K:BB jumps to a very impressive 22:2 in relief and it unlocks his potential. For owners with a low strikeout pitcher like Dallas Keuchel , owning a pitcher like Peralta boosts strikeouts without sacrificing ratio statistics instead of living on the stream. 

Jalen Beeks , Tampa Bay Rays

Targeting one of the left-handed relievers on one of the most forward thinking franchises in baseball makes sense. As of this writing, the Rays are in the midst of winning 11 of its last 12 games taking over first place in the American League East. Beeks notched his first save of the season on Wednesday and then pitched 1.1 clean innings with a strikeout on Thursday for his second hold. Beeks can also work as a bulk reliever or on back-to-back days adding to his appeal. His 3.71 ERA reflects some early struggles but focus on the 1.64 FIP and 10:1 K:BB in 10 innings this month. Armed with his career best 16.1 swinging strike percentage and an impressive 28.9 hard hit percentage allowed so far, Beeks could be a sneaky play going forward for cheap wins, an occasional save and ratio help in his 24:5 K:BB. 

Future Closers

Jordan Romano , Toronto Blue Jays

Riding the wave of his improved slider, Romano owns a 0.75 ERA and 0.67 WHIP through his first 12 innings this year with an 18:4 K:BB. His slider owns a 41.8 whiff percentage and 28 put away percent but throwing fewer four-seam fastballs helps its effectiveness with a 47.1 whiff and 44 put away. Romano’s upped his swinging strike percentage over seven points to 19.7 percent this year while reducing contact to 58.4 percent. Both Ken Giles and Anthony Bass will be free agents at the end of this season but Romano may be recording saves sooner rather than later based solely on performance. 

James Karinchak, Cleveland Indians

With his role already growing, Karinchak pitched the eighth inning on Thursday for his fourth hold striking out two in a clean outing. Through 13.2 innings this season, “Special K” has a strikeout percentage of 52 with 26 in them and a 15.7 swinging strike percentage. He owns a filthy curve which can be seen here:

Armed with a 0.66 ERA, 0.68 FIP and 0.73 WHIP, Karinchak could receive a couple of ancillary save chances going forward along with strikeout upside if he’s still available in your league. Key on his .086 xBA and 1.05 xERA along with a 41.7 whiff percentage on his curve for continued success. 

Tanner Rainey , Washington Nationals

Lost in the struggles of Sean Doolittle and some late inning hijinx of late, Rainey continues his breakout season. Rainey’s appeared 10 times this year working 10.1 innings with 17 strikeouts against four walks with a 0.87 ERA and 0.58 WHIP in them. His swinging strike percentage jump to 20.4 percent represents a career best and he’s cut his contact rate to 56.5 percent. Propelled by a filthy slider, Rainey owns an 87.5 whiff percent so far and a 45.5 put away percentage with the pitch. If anything happens to Daniel Hudson , Rainey will be next in line for saves for the defending champs. 

Josh Staumont , Kansas City Royals

Whether he’s lighting up the radar gun (max 102 MPH) or racking up strikeouts, Staumont should be an arm fantasy owners looking to mine saves stash now rather than later. Trevor Rosenthal has looked terrific to this point with six saves but he’s on a one-year contract and if the Royals decide to cash him in for help in the future, Staumont may take over the ninth inning. Over 10.1 innings this year, Staumont owns a 0.87 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP striking out 21 against five walks. Yes, the WHIP needs improvement but Staumont’s curve generates a 65 whiff percent with a 46.2 put away percentage. His 17.7 swinging strike percentage and .130 xBA should translate well to future high leverage events. 

Lucas Sims , Cincinnati Reds

Going out on a limb here, but Raisel Iglesias grips to a tenuous hold on closing for the Reds. His loss on Thursday only exacerbates it. Sims continues to shine in relief this season with a 1-0 record, 0.82 ERA, 2.78 FIP and 0.64 WHIP. He’s recorded 16 strikeouts versus four walks with a curve producing a 61.9 whiff percentage and 38.1 put away percent. Over 11 innings this year, Sims .131 xBA and 2.32 xERA may put him in more high leverage moments going forward for a team desperate to win this year. 

It’s been a crazy start to this season already, so pay attention to the standings and see where points can be made up. If ratio statistics need to be addressed, hopefully this week’s list helps provide a boost going forward. As always, be sure to stay with Fantasy Alarm to remain ahead of the competition and Colby will be back next week. Stay well. 

 

Statistical Credits: 

Fangraphs.com

BaseballSavant.co