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Stats

Ryan Zeferjahn shakes off homer, gets third save

Zeferjahn_Ryan (1).jpg

Ryan Zeferjahn

LAA Relief Pitcher #56

Player Stats

Despite giving up a solo homer to Riley Greene, Ryan Zeferjahn recorded his third save Sunday against the Tigers.

The Angels bypassed Kirby Yates today after his blown save and loss on Friday. That left Zeferjahn for the ninth after Chase Silseth and Sam Bachman set him up with scoreless innings. Zeferjahn gave up the homer to start the inning, making it a one-run game, but he retired the remaining three batters he faced. He’s now gone five straight appearances without allowing a walk, which is pretty big. He’d walked 31 in 40 2/3 innings previously. If he continues to stay away from the free passes, he might be a decent enough closer for the Angels. However, his name has already started coming up in trade rumors as the Halos prepare to sell at the deadline.

- Matthew Pouliot

Recap

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Ryan Zeferjahn

CHC Relief Pitcher #56

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Ryan Zeferjahn slammed the door on the Marlins on Thursday, working a scoreless ninth inning to protect a one-run advantage.

Zeferjahn made it look awfully easy in this one, needing just nine pitches (seven strikes) to retire Agustin Ramirez, Kyle Stowers and Griffin Conine in order. The right-hander now boasts a 3.88 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and a 94/40 K/BB ratio across 69 2/3 innings on the season while recording seven saves.
Ryan Zeferjahn

CHC Relief Pitcher #56

Ryan Zeferjahn retired the only batter he faced for a save Saturday against the Pirates.

Ryan Rolison did the heavy lifting in the eighth and ninth, getting five outs before Zeferjahn came in with one man on and punched out Bryan Reynolds to end the game. Rolison was rewarded with the win for his effort. The save is Zeferjahn’s second for the Cubs after he had four with the Angels. It’s possible he’ll get more opportunities, but there’s enough uncertainty in the Cubs pen right now that no one is particularly appealing.
Jacob Webb

CHC Relief Pitcher #71

Jacob Webb gave up a two-run homer to take his seventh blown save Tuesday against the Brewers.

Jackson Chourio delivered the game-tying homer in the ninth after Christian Yelich singled as a pinch-hitter. It was Webb’s first save chance since he left last Wednesday’s game after getting hit in the forearm by a comebacker. He’s now blown three straight save chances since his last conversion on Aug. 14. The door is wide open for Daniel Palencia to win back the ninth, but since his results have been poor since coming off the IL, the Cubs might choose to mix and match for now. Ryan Zeferjahn would also presumably be in the mix for saves.
Ryan Zeferjahn

CHC Relief Pitcher #56

Ryan Zeferjahn closed out the Marlins on Saturday night, recording the final five outs to preserve a one-run advantage.

Zeferjahn was called upon with the tying run on second base with one out in the eighth inning and he was able to escape that jam unscathed. He then returned for the ninth where he issued a two-out walk to Griffin Conine bot nothing more. On the season, the 28-year-old hurler boasts a 4.06 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and an 87/37 K/BB ratio over 64 1/3 innings while accruing five saves.
Ryan Zeferjahn

CHC Relief Pitcher #56

Cubs acquired RHP Ryan Zeferjahn from the Angels for C/DH Moisés Ballesteros and RHP Mason McGwire.

Zeferjahn has been a lights-out reliever for the Angels since showcasing improved control over the last few weeks. The 28-year-old could easily wind up getting a look in Chicago’s closing mix while Daniel Palencia remains sidelined.
Ryan Zeferjahn

LAA Relief Pitcher #56

The Cubs are acquiring Ryan Zeferjahn from the Angels, sources tell ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

Moisés Ballesteros and right-hander Mason McGwire are going to the Angels. With his exceptional 33.5 percent strikeout rate, the 28-year-old Zeferjahn has overcome his control issues enough to post a 3.66 ERA in 51 2/3 innings this year. He was occasionally closing for the Angels and could do the same in Chicago, at least until Daniel Palencia returns. He won’t be a free agent until 2030. The Angels will rely more on Sam Bachman and Kirby Yates, though Yates is also an obvious candidate to be traded.
Ryan Zeferjahn

LAA Relief Pitcher #56

Ryan Zeferjahn got the final five outs to pick up a save Sunday against the Brewers.

After Sam Bachman left with arm fatigue in the eighth, Zeferjahn was tasked with getting the final two outs in that frame, and after doing so, they let the right-hander continue to pick up his fourth save of the season. The right-hander gave up two hits, but he also struck out four in an impressive effort. It’s certainly possible Zeferjahn will get the limited save looks that the Angels provide, but it’s also feasible he could be moved before Monday’s deadline.
Sam Bachman

LAA Relief Pitcher #40

Sam Bachman took a blown save after retiring only two of the six batters he faced Monday against the Astros.

The Angels again used Ryan Zeferjahn in the eighth tonight, and he allowed one run to narrow the Angels’ lead to 4-2. José Fermin got the ball to start the ninth, but he retired just one of four batters, thanks to a HBP and a Vaughn Grissom error. Bachman took over afterwards and walked two, hit a batter and committed an error on a roller hit right to him. Two ugly flops in two days should take Bachman out of the ninth-inning mix for a spell and perhaps restore Kirby Yates to late-game duty. Zeferjahn remains the Angels’ most interesting reliever, but as long as Kurt Suzuki keeps managing like this, it’s hard to justify playing anyone in the bunch.
Mitch Farris

LAA Starting Pitcher #70

Mitch Farris got his first save Sunday after recording two outs in the ninth against the Giants.

With the heart of the order coming up, the Angels used Ryan Zeferjahn with a three-run lead in the eighth today. He retired three out of four hitters to set up Sam Bachman for the save chance. Bachman, though, walked two of the three batters he faced, throwing just seven of his 18 pitches for strikes. Farris replaced him and gave up a two-run double to Luis Arraez with two outs before striking out Heliot Ramos to end the game. Both runs were charged to Bachman, of course. Farris’s first save came in his 22nd relief appearance this year. Zeferjahn still looks like the favorite for saves in Anaheim right now.
Ryan Zeferjahn

LAA Relief Pitcher #56

Ryan Zeferjahn struck out one of the two batters he faced for his second save Friday against the Rays.

Mitch Farris did the heavy lifting here, coming in with a 4-2 lead to start the seventh and getting eight outs before exiting with the bases loaded in the ninth. Zeferjahn walked the first batter he faced, forcing in a run, before striking out Cedric Mullins to end it. Unused tonight was nominal Angels closer Kirby Yates, even though he hadn’t pitched since Tuesday. The walk Zeferjahn issued was his 25th in 32 innings, which is why he isn’t serving as the Angels’ closer right now. Still, he’ll be a candidate for more saves if he’s able to cut down on the free passes.

Rotoworld

Pete Crow-Armstrong

CHC Center Fielder #4
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Pete Crow-Armstrong on Sunday was awarded his second NL Gold Glove for his play in center field.

The other NL winners were P Nolan McLean, C Gabriel Moreno, 1B Matt Olson, 2B Brice Turang, SS Geraldo Perdomo, 3B Alex Bregman, LF Jackson Chourio, RF Corbin Carroll and UT Mauricio Dubón. Crow-Armstrong and Olson are the only two returnees here from last year, though Dubón did win the AL utility Gold Glove last year. Fernando Tatis Jr. probably would have won again if left alone in right field, but his time at second base ruled him out there. Masyn Winn also had a really good case for repeating, but Perdomo got the nod at short.
- Matthew Pouliot
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Ceddanne Rafaela

BOS Center Fielder #3
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Ceddanne Rafaela won his second Gold Glove in center field, joining third baseman Caleb Durbin and right fielder Wilyer Abreu as Red Sox to win the award.

Abreu has won all three years since becoming Boston’s right fielder. The other AL Gold Glove winners were P Tanner Bibee, C Dillon Dingler, 1B Christian Walker, 2B Cole Young, SS Taylor Walls, LF Cody Bellinger and UT Ezequiel Duran. The win by Walls snaps Bobby Witt Jr.'s two-year streak at shortstop.
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Cole Young

SEA 2nd Baseman #2
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Cole Young won his first Gold Glove at second base in balloting announced Sunday night.

Second base seemed like the AL’s most interesting call, being that DRS thought Young was far-and-away the AL’s best, whereas OAA had him below average. Jazz Chisholm Jr., who didn’t finish in the top three, had the top OAA and a below average DRS. Kansas City’s Michael Massey was the only player deemed clearly above average by both.
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Nate Furman

WSH 2nd Baseman #56
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Nationals acquired 2B Nate Furman from the Giants for LHP Tony Neubeck.

The lefty swinging Furman is a contact hitter with limited pop who is currently limited to second base on defense. He hit .293/.377/.414 with seven homers and 19 steals in 102 games for Triple-A Sacramento before struggling in a late-season audition with the Giants. There’s the chance the Nationals could carry him next year if they keep CJ Abrams at shortstop, but it seems more likely that he’ll be Triple-A depth initially.
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Giants acquired LHP Tony Neubeck from the Nationals for 2B Nate Furman.

Neubeck, 23, signed with the Nationals and made two A-ball appearances last season after going undrafted out of Indiana. This was mostly about clearing a spot on the 40-man for the Giants.
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WSH Relief Pitcher #55
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Nationals designated LHP Richard Lovelady for assignment.

The well-traveled Lovelady had a 4.11 ERA in 35 innings for the Mets and Nationals last season. He’ll likely be invited back for next year on a minor league deal if he’s interested.
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SF 2nd Baseman #56
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The Nationals are acquiring Nate Furman from the Giants for left-hander Tony Neubeck, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

That’s one more 40-man roster spot cleared for the Giants ahead of Monday’s deadline. Furman, 25, debuted for the Giants in August, going 4-for-32 with no extra-base hits in 22 games before landing on the IL with an oblique strain. The 25-year-old hit .293/.377/.414 with just a 12 percent strikeout rate in Triple-A prior to his callup. He doesn’t really project as a starter at second base, and he also hasn’t developed any versatility with the Giants never playing him anywhere else the last two years. He does have three option years left, so the Nationals can work on moving him around some in Triple-A next year.
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Ryne Stanek

STL Relief Pitcher #55
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The Cardinals are declining Ryne Stanek’s $6 million option for 2027, says Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Stanek’s 4.02 ERA in 70 appearances last season was his low mark since he came in at 1.15 for the 2022 Astros. The Cardinals, though, are going to buy him out for $1 million instead of paying him $6 million for 2027.
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Miguel Andujar

FA Designated Hitter #41
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Padres announced that INF Miguel Andujar declined his half of a mutual option for 2027.

The Padres obviously weren’t picking up their half of Andujar’s $8 million option, and he was getting a $2.5 million buyout either way. Initially the Padres’ top option at DH, Andujar wound up missing most of the final 3 1/2 months with a hamstring strain and then a wrist fracture. He did return for the postseason, going 0-for-3 with a walk off the bench. He hit .259/.303/.423 in 74 games while healthy. It’s possible he’ll get a major league deal as a platoon starter against lefties.
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FA Starting Pitcher #55
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Padres declined RHP Lucas Giolito’s mutual option for 2027.

A late addition as he tried to overcome his late-season elbow issue with the Red Sox in 2025, Giolito signed one-year, $3 million deal with an $8 million mutual option in late April. With his velocity down 2-3 mph, he pitched a total of seven times for Padres in the first half, amassing a 5.16 ERA and an ugly 18/23 K/BB in 29 2/3 innings. He then went on the IL with elbow inflammation and never returned, leaving his future very uncertain.
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