Eric Karabell, ESPN Senior WriterJul 2, 2024, 01:00 PM ET
CloseESPN contributor on TV, radio, podcasts, blogs, Magazine
Charter member of FSWA Hall of Fame
Author of “The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments”
Nobody said life is fair when it comes to investing in relief pitchers for fantasy baseball (or, really, for other matters, too). St. Louis Cardinals RHP Ryan Helsley saved 12 wins in June. The Miami Marlins have 14 saves this season. Texas Rangers RHP Kirby Yates, pitching better than Helsley (and certainly the Marlins), earned only three June saves, and he still has yet to blow a save this season. Opportunity matters, and often it is unpredictable.
The top relief pitchers by WAR in June were Chicago White Sox setup man RHP John Brebbia, Milwaukee Brewers LHP slinger Bryan Hudson and Los Angeles Angels RHP Carlos Estevez, who saved eight wins and issued nary a free pass. He has gone from a 4.4% walk rate in 2023 to walking three hitters all of 2024. Unpredictable is definitely the word, and there is little we can do about it. Estevez may walk three hitters this week. He remains available in 65% of ESPN standard leagues.
Welcome to July, and our latest relief pitcher Stock Watch, and remember that stock may be changing shortly and without warning.
Stock rising
Kenley Jansen, Boston Red Sox: Keep an eye on the Red Sox this month because rumors abound about Jansen’s availability, even though the team is a wild-card contender. The Red Sox signed veteran RHP Liam Hendriks to a two-year contract, presuming he would miss this season recovering from Tommy John surgery, but be healthy enough to replace Jansen as the 2025 closer. Hendriks is on the mend and already throwing bullpen sessions, and perhaps we see him pitching in August. It does not mean we should stash him on redraft rosters, though. Jansen produced a stellar June, saving seven wins, allowing one run. It seems unlikely he pitches elsewhere this season, but one never knows. Unpredictable.
