ITP 160 - Relievers With New Pitches

In this episode of Pitcher List Fantasy Baseball's 'In The Pen,' hosts Jake Crumpler and Rick Graham dive deep into the evolving landscape of MLB relievers, spotlighting pitchers whose performance has been reshaped by dramatic changes in pitch mix or velocity. The episode kicks off with a flurry of transactions and injuries, including Jordan LeClair’s demotion by the White Sox, Ryan Walker’s optioning by the Giants, and Emilio Pagan’s hamstring strain, all of which have reshaped bullpen hierarchies. The duo then spotlight a wave of relievers who’ve found success through strategic adjustments: Brian Baker’s shift to a dominant changeup, Robert Suarez’s addition of a cutter, and Rysel Iglesias’s radical simplification to just fastballs and a changeup—defying conventional wisdom. Notably, Daniel Lynch’s velocity and sinker usage spike have transformed him into a 33% strikeout reliever, while Mason Montgomery’s new curveball offers hope for his long-anticipated breakout. The episode also examines pitchers like Keaton Wynn and Gregory Soto, whose splitter and sweeper innovations have made them unexpectedly dominant despite being under-rostered in fantasy leagues. Ultimately, the episode argues that the most sustainable reliever success isn’t always about having the most elite stuff—but about mastering a few high-impact pitches with precision and consistency.