Joel Kuhnel Fantasy Stats

Athletics right-hander Joel Kuhnel has been excellent in the early portion of the 2026 season, as he's yet to allow an earned run or a walk and has given up just one hit over his first five appearances (4 2/3 innings) of the year. The 31-year-old right-hander appears to have settled into his team's primary closer role, as he's logged saves in three out of his last four outings. Kuhnel's rise to the ninth-inning role comes as a bit of a surprise, as he had recorded just one save across 93 2/3 career MLB innings entering 2026. Kuhnel also owns a career strikeout rate of 18.7%, so he does not possess the swing-and-miss stuff of a prototypical closer. Still, he's been effective in the role so far this season, and as such is worth targeting on the waiver wire.

Athletics relief pitcher Joel Kuhnel got a four-out save on Wednesday night, picking up two strikeouts and retiring all four Rangers he faced to secure his third save of the year. The 31-year-old righty has given up just one hit and no runs in 4 2/3 innings this season and is a very solid option at the end of the game for the A's. With such a strong start to the year, he's a great addition from the waiver wire if you are searching for saves, even though there's no apparent reason the journeyman has been so effective after joining the team on a minor-league contract. He has been so effective, though, that he's a great grab for as long as he keeps the closer role for the Athletics.

Athletics reliever Joel Kuhnel picked up his first save of 2026 on Wednesday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning with a strikeout in his team's 3-2 win over the New York Yankees. The 31-year-old was just recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday, but he's already made two high-leverage appearances for the A's. Kuhnel spent the entire 2025 season at Triple-A, bouncing from the Philadelphia Phillies organization to the Yankees'. While Kuhnel's save on Wednesday was just the second of his MLB career, he picked up seven minor league saves in 2025. The Athletics do not have an obvious ninth-inning option currently on their roster, with Mark Leiter Jr., Hogan Harris, and Justin Sterner profiling as Kuhnel's stiffest competition for the closer role. For deep-league managers in need of saves, Kuhnel could be a player to monitor on the waiver wire.

The Philadelphia Phillies have signed free-agent right-hander Joel Kuhnel to a minor-league deal. Kuhnel will join the Phillies after allowing five earned runs on eight hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out five in only 10 relief innings with the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays in 2024. The 29-year-old reliever was originally drafted in the 11th round in 2016 by the Cincinnati Reds out of the University of Texas at Arlington. He made his big-league debut in 2019 with the Reds and has posted a 5.86 ERA (4.46 FIP), a 1.36 WHIP, one save and a 76:24 K:BB in 93 2/3 innings over 82 relief appearances in his five seasons in the majors. Kuhnel will bring experienced relief depth to the Phils after pitching at four different Triple-A levels in 2024 with the Rays, Astros, Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers.

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel has been designated for assignment, according to Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. In a corresponding move, the Brewers promoted right-handed pitcher Joel Kuhnel from Triple-A Nashville. Keuchel posted a poor 5.40 ERA, 1.86 WHIP, and an 8:11 BB:K ratio across his four starts as a Brewer. Kuhnel has operated exclusively out of the bullpen in his minor league career and posted a 2.30 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in Triple-A Nashville earlier this season. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to the Milwaukee rotation after the mid-summer classic, as there is currently an open spot. Joe Ross (back) and Bryse Wilson are candidates to claim the open rotation spot and could be worth a look in deeper leagues.