Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up
Odds by

    Ryan Zeferjahn slams door on Marlins on Thursday

    Link copied to clipboard!

    CHC Relief Pitcher #56
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    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.
Diaz is a 'massive linchpin' in Rays' lineup
Eric Samulski and James Schiano break down why Yandy Diaz is a crucial piece to the Tampa Bay Rays' lineup in this World Series and how he is one of the most underrated hitters in the MLB.

Related Player News

  • CHC Relief Pitcher #56
    Personalize your Rotoworld feed by favoriting players
    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.
  • CHC Relief Pitcher #71
    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.
  • CHC Relief Pitcher #56
    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.
  • CHC Relief Pitcher #56
    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.
  • LAA Relief Pitcher #56
    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.
  • LAA Relief Pitcher #56
    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.
  • LAA Relief Pitcher #40
    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.
  • LAA Starting Pitcher #70
    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.
  • LAA Relief Pitcher #56
    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.
  • LAA Relief Pitcher #56
    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

  • Personalize your Rotoworld feed by favoriting players
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Rocco Baldelli has withdrawn from the Mariners’ managerial search, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports.

    Baldelli cited family considerations in making the decision. The former Twins manager is currently serving as a special assistant in the Dodgers front office.
  • FA Relief Pitcher #49
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Free agent Michael Kelly is drawing interest from Japanese teams, says MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo.

    When he wasn’t serving a 162-game suspension for betting on baseball, Kelly was effective for the A’s in 2024 and ’25, amassing a 2.92 ERA in 70 innings between the two season. His 2026 was a total bust, though, and he sat out the second half after being released by the A’s. He’ll almost certainly have to take a minor league deal if he remains in the U.S.
  • HOU Designated Hitter #44
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    The Astros are hiring Conner Watson as their director of hitting, The Athletic’s Chandler Rome reports.

    Not having a GM or a manager isn’t keeping the Astros from adding to their staff. Watson has been an assistant hitting director for the Guardians the last two years.
  • Link copied to clipboard!

    Liam Hicks (forearm) told reporters that he was fine after being drilled in the forearm by a pitch during Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday night.

    Hicks was clipped by DL Hall when leading off the sixth inning. He stayed in the game to run the bases for himself and caught another two innings but was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning. The 27-year-old backstop ensures that he’ll be available for Game 3 on Monday in Tampa Bay.
  • MIL Starting Pitcher #46
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Brewers’ right-hander Quinn Priester (shoulder) is expected to be ready for the start of spring training.

    The 26-year-old righty underwent decompression surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome in June and was initially given a recovery timeline of 8-10 months. He has made solid progress in his recovery though and is now expected to land on the shorter side of that estimate, making it so he could be ready for the start of the 2027 season. While he has done a terrific job for the Brewers when healthy, he’ll face stiff competition for a spot in the club’s rotation to open the 2027 campaign.
  • MIN Starting Pitcher #49
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Pablo López (elbow) is on track to be ready for the start of spring training.

    The 30-year-old hurler underwent Tommy John surgery in late February. He has been throwing since late August and should be able to go through a familiar offseason routine. Some inconsistency is always to be expected when pitcher’s return from the procedure, but Lopez could represent a nice value in early fantasy drafts.
  • MIL Shortstop #87
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Cooper Pratt hit the go-ahead single in the Brewers’ 5'4 win over the Rays in Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday.

    Pratt’s day got off to a rough start, as he made an error that allowed Yandy Díaz to reach second base and score one of four runs for the Rays in the first inning. It was all Brewers from that point on, and Pratt made up for the gaffe with an opposite-field single that scored Brice Turang in the seventh that gave the Brew Crew a 5-4 lead and ultimately the victory. Pratt has now made four errors and a few other mistakes in the field, but he has hit .286 in the postseason, and he now has Milwaukee two wins away from their first ever championship. Game 3 will take place Monday with the series moving to Tampa Bay.
    - Christopher Crawford
  • MIL Right Fielder #10
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Sal Frelick hit a game-tying solo homer to help the Brewers to a Game 2 World Series victory over the Rays on Saturday.

    With the Brewers trailing 4-3, Frelick took left-hander Ian Seymour over the center-field wall to tie the game at 4-4. It was the first homer of the postseason for the outfielder, and he’s driven in four runs while hitting a solid .273/.370/.409 thus far. He’ll likely hit near the bottom of the order again in Game 3 as the Brewers are two wins away from their first ever championship.
    - Christopher Crawford
  • Link copied to clipboard!

    Liam Hicks hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Brewers on Saturday in Game 2 of the World Series.

    Hicks extended the Rays’ lead to 4-0, and it came in the first inning on a two-run homer off Logan Henderson. The Rays wouldn’t score another run, and Hicks was thrown out at home plate on a send that was at best aggressive and at (accurately) worst insane. Hicks has been able to drive in eight runs thus far in the postseason, and he’ll try and add to that total in a must-win game for the Rays on Monday in Game 3.
    - Christopher Crawford
  • MIL Relief Pitcher #26
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Aaron Ashby worked the final 1 2/3 innings without giving up a run to pick up a save in Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday against the Rays.

    Ashby got the final two outs in the eighth inning, and the Brewers stuck with the southpaw for the final frame. He did allow a double to Jonny DeLuca to begin that inning, but he fanned Victor Mesa, got Ben Williamson to groundout meekly to second, and struck out Yandy Díaz to end the game. Trevor Megill will likely get a save chance if it’s there in Game 3, but it’s to say that Ashby isn’t the best reliever for the Brewers going right now.
    - Christopher Crawford