Hi Reliever Rats,

We’re truly in the dog days of August for fantasy baseball, but that means it’s time to put the pedal to the metal and out hustle your league mates. As the season wears on with most bullpens being set, there is still value to be found on the wire. Let’s hop right into some K rate, Saves, Swingman, and Opener plays. For more RP content, come engage with me on twitter @BackPickFantasy. Let’s get into the game.

K Rates

Angel Perdomo RP (Pirates)

Here’s your K rate guy that’s underowned. Perdomo is a sneaky RP to roster to help put you over the top in category leagues with Ks as a cat. Perdomo has 42 Ks in 28 innings in 2023 and has added in 3 wins with a 3.21 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. His expected BA is. 181 and over the last 30 days, he’s gotten downright filthy on the bump. In that time span, he has  20 Ks in 13 innings with 2 wins, a 2.03 ERA and an insane 0.90 WHIP. If you need someone to boost your K rate in roto, or find yourself losing out on ratios and/or Ks in head to head formats, he’s a strong boost to strike while the iron is hot.

Abner Uribe (RP Brewers)

Uribe throws 103 MPH and he’s a guy to look at, as his leverage role is starting to gain more trust for manager Craig Counsell. Uribe has closer stuff, but it’s of note that Devin Williams and even Joel Payamps have his path to saves blocked. However, the K upside here is immense and he’s a great deep league RP to slot in over an excess bench bat or middling starting pitcher. Uribe holds a fastball velocity in the 99th percentile on Statcast, and he hasn’t disappointed since his heralded call up. Uribe owns a sublime 15 Ks, 1.26 ERA and 0.98 WHIP so far in his 13 games in the MLB. I trust his stuff, and in deeper settings, he definitely can have ROS value, even without a closer role. It is of note that he does have 1 save in those 13 games, so the trust has been there at times for fireman or closing situations when Payamps or Williams are unavailable. I wouldn’t blame anyone for adding Uribe to standard leagues where a handful of Ks can really push you over the top.

Openers and Swingmen

Ryan Walker (RP/SP Giants)

For those looking for RP-build player to slot in a daily SP slot to supplement your other arms, definitely take a look at the Giants’ Ryan Walker. Walker opened against the Rays on Monday and struck out 4 in 2 shutout innings. Walker has been a top 60 player in standard category leagues over the last month by offering a 1.33 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 2 wins and 21 Ks in 20 innings. His Statcast is lit up red with average exit velocity, hard hit%, xERA/xwOBA, xSLG, and Barrell% in the 96th percentile or higher on statcaset. His xBA is in the 89th percentile, chase rate in the 81st percentile, BB% in the 77th percentile, and whiff rate in the 72nd percentile. I’m running to the wire to ride this wave hoping for replicated success in leagues that have SP and RP designations. He does have a 1.20 WHIP on the year, so that’s something to monitor, but as mentioned above, the ratios have been there over the last month. He also holds a 2.28 ERA and has 48 Ks in his 43 innings in 2023.

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