Paul’s Call to the ‘Pen: July 31

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  • By Paul Williamson

    Last Updated on July 31, 2026 11:51 am by Paul Williamson | Published: July 31, 2026

    In this Call to the ‘Pen, I am going with a new format.

    I will talk about the bullpen arms that are actually available for you to pick up.

    For saves leagues, I list a number of arms that are likely to get save chances and are under 50% rostered in Yahoo leagues. I list them in order of priority. 

    For the holds league section, my roster% bar is 10% or under. I highlight some of the top arms to consider for your holds leagues. I chose such a small % as many of the top setup men (Abner Uribe, Bryan King, Alex Vesia) all have double digit roster rates. I want to focus on arms that are realistically available.

    NOTE – Read the blurbs for each as I note some speculative adds and describe their value.

    Closers under 50% rostered (Yahoo) – listed in order of priority

    Brandyn Garcia (4%), Juan Morillo (4%) – ARI – The D’Backs have announced that closer Paul Sewald will see some low-leverage work to give him a chance to correct himself as he has allowed six homers in his last 10 outings. Garcia has been great this year with a 31.8% K%, 6.4% BB% and a 2.17 ERA and he locked down the ninth on Wednesday. But that may have been matchup based as he faced lefties in Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn. But he does have good numbers vs. righties this year. Juan Morillo has had closer potential written all over him all year with a 14.5% SwStr% and a 2.68 ERA. I slightly lean Garcia as the priority. But it is essentially a toss-up with a small chance someone like Jonathan Loasiga or Kevin Ginkel get a ninth. PS – Garcia and Morillo are good holds league options as well as my two priority adds.

    Grant Taylor (27%) – CHW – The ONLY reason I have Taylor below Garcia, is that I think there is very little of a chance that the D’backs add a closer and I think there is a moderately legit chance the White Sox look for a more established closer at the deadline and try and take the division this year. There was a report that came out before the Red Sox went on their run that they had a deal in place for Aroldis Chapman.

    Luke Weaver (15%) – NYM – He has the highest ceiling of most of these adds but there is far from a guarantee he will get dealt to a contender to be the closer. Or, will the Mets deal Williams and make Weaver the closer (less likely). Who knows, but he is worth an add to find out. He has the upside and has the best chance of the current non-closers to be thrust into a closer’s role at the deadline.

    Clayton Beeter (14%) – WSN – The former Red Raider (Wreck Em!) continues to improve his SwStr% with a 12.8% mark in July and seems to have settled down some after a rough stretch. The Nats should continue to be at least a near .500 club rest of the year.

    Jacob Webb (16%) – CHC – Daniel Palencia is likely to begin a rehab assignment to kick off the month of August so Webb’s time as the closer is set to come to an end. Which is why he is below Beeter. Trent Thornton is a deep league option.

    Tyler Wells (17%) – BAL – His 16% SwStr% in July and 14.8% SwStr% overall makes Wells the priority add over Andrew Kittredge (who is still a decent add in his own right for saves an a must add for holds). He is lower on the list because the deadline will likely see him go to a team contending for a playoff spot and that may mean he will be a setup man (Same for Kittredge and maybe even Rico Garcia, in fact, while I have you in this parentheses, I would speculatively add (in deeper formats) any of Kittredge, Garcia, Yennier Cano and even Grant Wolfram as the O’s may go full Twins circa 2025 on us and deal their whole ‘pen at the deadline).

    Yoendrys Gomez (31%) – MIN – I put him down here as the Twins are buyers and they seem more likely to bring on a closer that it is likely that Wells is dealt to be a closer. Beeter is likely to remain the Nats closer and Webb will have the job at least beyond the deadline. Add him but beware of the danger.

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    July 31, 2026, 11:51 am