Outlook Bryan Baker
Bryan Baker has solidified himself as the primary closing option for the second-place Rays, offering elite ratios and consistent save production.
Baker has been nearly untouchable for the 45-33 Rays, posting a dominant 1.00 ERA and 0.67 WHIP over his last 30 days. Currently leading the bullpen as the primary closer on the depth chart, he has already secured 20 saves this year and recently closed out a victory against the Royals on June 24. With several relief teammates like Edwin Uceta and Steven Wilson on the 60-day injured list, Baker's job security in high-leverage spots remains firm as the team looks to extend its current two-game win streak.
His 2.07 ERA and 0.92 WHIP are substantial improvements over his career averages, yet his 10.36 K/9 suggests this breakout is supported by elite swing-and-miss stuff. While our season model originally projected more regression with a 3.88 ERA, Baker's ability to limit walks to just 11 through 30.4 innings marks a significant step forward in efficiency. He has transitioned from a volatile middle reliever into a reliable source of saves and ratio stabilization for fantasy managers.
The Rays finish the week at home against the Diamondbacks, with Baker projected for nearly two more save opportunities. Arizona's upcoming starters, Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, are capable of keeping games tight, which creates the ideal environment for Baker to enter in the ninth inning. Given his elite form and the Rays' strong position as the top Wild Card seed in the American League, he remains a must-start option. Start.
Updated 2 days ago
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Outlook Cade Smith
Cade Smith remains a premier saves source despite recent ratio turbulence
The first-place Guardians continue to rely on Smith as their primary closer, a role he has flourished in with 24 saves already on the season. While he was recently honored as the AL Reliever of the Month for May, his form has dipped over the last seven days, where he surrendered five hits and two walks in limited action. Despite this recent traffic, his job security is ironclad with the team currently sitting at 42-39 and leading the division.
Under the hood, Smith’s 6.14 ERA over the last 30 days is a significant departure from our season projection of 2.92. However, his underlying dominance is still evident through an elite 14.56 K/9 rate and a career-best strikeout-to-walk ratio. Given that his season-long WHIP remains a respectable 1.26, the recent volatility appears to be a small-sample fluctuation rather than a loss of command or stuff.
Looking at the week ahead, the Guardians host the Mariners for a three-game series featuring difficult opposing starters like Logan Gilbert and George Kirby. These low-scoring matchups are ideal for creating save opportunities, and our projection expects Smith to remain busy in high-leverage spots. With his elite strikeout upside and heavy save volume, he must remain in all active lineups. Start.
Updated 2 days ago
