Ray’s Ramblings: 1st Half, Relief Pitchers

In a series of four articles, Ray Flowers will review the first half fantasy baseball performances across the land. He will a series of questions such as – most and least valuable players at each position. There will be four articles in the series, written during the 2024 MLB All-Star Break: Infielders, Outfielders, Starting Pitchers & Relievers.

POSITIONAL VIDEO REVIEW

For my video review of a host of relievers and their first half efforts, here you go.

*Video talks about: Helsley, Kimbrel, Doval, Iglesias, Hader, Clase, Jhoan Duran, Alvarado/Hoffman, Lange/Foley, Yates, Estevez, Finnegan, McArthur, R. Suarez, Mason Miller, Trevor Megill/Devin Williams

THE DAILY SHOW

Don’t forget about FREE show, Fantasy Sports Daily, M-F, 12pm EST. On the show this morning, here is a list of players we touched on.

You’re really missing out if you don’t tune in to the show either on the website, on YouTube, or at your favorite podcast service.

Find the show in podcast form on Pandora, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts.

1^st HALF AWARDS

Positional MVP: NL RYAN HELSLEY, STL / AL EMMANUEL CLASE

Helsley enters the break with 32 saves, a massive mark, and just one save less than he posted the last two years (19 and 14). He’s only blown two saves as well.

Clase has three fewer saves and nine fewer strikeouts, but he has a 0.81 ERA and 0.68 WHIP in his 45 outings with a 7.80 K/BB ratio. He’s been fricken phenomenal.

Positional LVP: EDWIN DIAZ, NYM

As I said all preseason, he was being wildly over drafted with an insane ADP inside the top-50 overall – for a closer who didn’t throw an official pitch in 2023 (torn ACL). He’s 10-for-15 in saves this season with a 4.05 ERA and 1.16 WHIP, with a 33.6 percent K-rate that would be a six year low.

Most Disappointing (non-injury): CAMILO DOVAL, SF

Former All-Star Mike Krukow didn’t hold back.

"I'm pissed off. That 2-0 lead and that walk… He's better than this."

Mike Krukow joined @knbrmurph and @MarkusBoucher and didn't hold back on his disappointment with Giants closer Camilo Doval⬇️ pic.twitter.com/qgXsL1NiXD

— KNBR (@KNBR) July 15, 2024

I hoped that Doval could push for 40 saves. He still might get to 30… maybe… as he’s 17-for-21 to date. The ERA has swollen to 4.38 but it the 1.62 WHIP that stands out in a not-ideal way. In 69 outings last season he walked 26 batters, and in just 39 outings this season he’s already walked 24 batters. Other than the strikeouts, he really hasn’t performed as expected – across the board.

Out of nowhere Performer: KYLE FINNEGAN, WAS

He had 28 saves last season, but with a 3.76 ERA and 1.30 WHIP as he ham n’ egged it to success. This season, the ratios are greatly improved (2.45 ERA and 1.02 WHIP and he’s already up to 25 saves. Not only is he on his way to his first 30 save campaign, he’s got a shot at 40. Not bad for a guy who entered the year with just one season of 12.

Best Rookie: MASON MILLER, OAK

Transitioning from the rotation to the pen has been – a spectacular success. Miller has become – the good version of Edwin Diaz – as he has gone 15-for-17 in steals with an insane K-rate of 46.7 percent. He’s struck out 70 of 150 batters he’s faced in a season of pure and utter dominance. As impressive as it gets.

Worst Rookie: NONE

Closer don’t close, and if they do they succeed immediately or they don’t keep closing.

Most Fortunate: TREVOR MEGILL, MIL

Devin Wiliams got hurt.
Abner Uribe flamed out.
Joel Payamps didn’t take the role.
Here comes Megill, the 4^th option when the season began for the Brewers, with 18 saves in 20 chances with a 2.05 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. He’s been every bit effective as Devin Williams, and that is stunning.

Least Fortunate: JHOAN DURAN, MIN

I don’t know how to define this category for relievers, so I will offer up Duran for the following reasons. (1) He missed time with injury. (2) He has 15 saves in 16 opportunities… but Griffin Jax continues to get work in the 9^th inning with 15 holds but seven saves. He’s pitched great, and his numbers are actually better than Duran. Interesting. Is Duran the most, or least, fortunate? Did I get this one wrong? LOL

Biggest Miss: EMMANUEL CLASE, CLE

I was concerned about the seven percent K-rate loss last season as well as the nine loses and 12 blown saves – for a (-21) spot which is horrible. Those worries meant – nothing. The K-rate is still just league average, but he has just one loss, three blown saves and is well on his way to a third straight season of 40 saves.

Biggest Hit: KYLE FINNEGAN, WAS

He was one of our targets as the guy to grab at the end of drafts. He was profiled as a guy you wanted to add. “He needs to continue to lean on his splitter cause he’s not a big bat misser, but the cost is low enough that he should pay off.”

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