The Milwaukee Brewers placed right-hander Joel Payamps on the bereavement list on Friday. In other moves, the Brewers selected left-hander Robert Gasser's contract from Triple-A Nashville, recalled right-hander Janson Junk from Nashville, optioned right-hander Tobias Myers to Nashville and moved right-hander J.B. Bukauskas (triceps) to the 60-day injured list. Payamps could be away from the team for as long as a week, but it's more likely that he's away for around two to three days. With Abner Uribe in the minors and Payamps away from the team, Trevor Megill is the clear favorite for saves in Milwaukee. That should be the case until regular closer Devin Williams (back) is ready to return around the All-Star break. Payamps currently has a 5.25 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP, a career-high four saves, three walks and nine strikeouts in 12 relief innings for the Brewers this year.
Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Joel Payamps locked down the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, helping the Brewers secure a 2-0 win. Payamps didn't allow a baserunner and struck out one in his inning of work. While the Brewers bullpen situation without Devin Williams doesn't seem to be fully solved, Payamps appears to be at the top of the list for saves at the moment. He may not get every opportunity, but he should get more than anyone else for as long as he is pitching well. He should be added in most leagues where saves matter.
Milwaukee Brewers reliever Joel Payamps picked up the save on Sunday during a 4-1 win over the New York Mets. Payamps retired the side in order and struck out one. Abner Uribe recorded saves in each of the Brewers previous two games. While Uribe was unlikely to pitch three days in a row, the Brewers may have a potential closer by committee situation on their hands. Uribe is the preferred pickup at this point in time, but this bullpen is one to monitor until Devin Williams returns.
Joel Payamps, Abner Uribe Could Be Candidates For Saves In Milwaukee
With Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams (back) expected to miss three months due to stress fractures in his back, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Curt Hogg writes that relievers Joel Payamps and Abner Uribe are among the most obvious early candidates to see save chances for the Brewers until Williams is able to return. There isn't anyone with significant closing experience in the bullpen for Milwaukee, but Payamps, Uribe, Hoby Milner, Elvis Peguero, Bryse Wilson and Trevor Megill are all among the key returners from a bullpen that was second in ERA in 2023. Payamps, 29, had a 2.55 ERA with three saves and 28 holds in 70 2/3 innings last year and should be considered a top speculatory closer for fantasy managers late in drafts. Uribe, 23, lights up the radar gun and can whiff batters with the best of them, but his elevated walk rate is a cause for concern.
Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Joel Payamps is off to a rough start this spring, giving up six runs (five earned) and two home runs in just 2 2/3 innings of work, but he remains next in line for save opportunities in the team's bullpen. With All-Star closer Devin Williams (back) heading for a second opinion from a spine specialist on his sore back this week, Payamps is a name to watch late in fantasy drafts while Williams' status is unclear. The 29-year-old Dominican right-hander has been a solid high-leverage arm throughout his career, and he most recently delivered a strong 2.55 ERA (3.48 FIP), 1.04 WHIP, and 77:17 K:BB through 70 2/3 frames for the Brew Crew in 2023. After collecting 27 holds a year ago, Payamps may be needed for ninth-inning duties if Williams ends up needing to miss time to begin the campaign and is worth rostering in deep fantasy leagues until the latter is cleared to return.
Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Joel Payamps threw a clean ninth inning with one strikeout to net his second save of the season in Saturday's 11-8 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. After the Brewers bullpen sputtered and nearly squandered a wonderful Corbin Burnes starting effort, Payamps was summoned to extinguish the fire and did just that. Devin Williams was not called upon for this one after working four of the prior seven days, last pitching on Thursday against the New York Mets for 26 high-pressure pitches. It should be relieving for Milwaukee to see another arm step up in an occasion where their All-Star closer seemed to be unavailable. The 25-year-old Payamps features a 2.11 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with 42 punchouts over 38 1/3 innings this year.
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Joel Payamps notched his first save of the season on Thursday when his club defeated the San Diego Padres 4-3 in 10 innings. He went one inning, allowing a hit and striking out one batter. The Brewers were without Devin Williams, who pitched the ninth inning, and Matt Bush, who blew a lead in the eighth inning. Payamps now owns a 3.38 ERA, 20.0% strikeout rate and 1.69 WHIP over 5.1 innings. Fantasy managers shouldn't count on the 29-year-old factoring much into save situations moving forward, as he probably isn't even the third option for manager Craig Counsell.
Oakland Athletics outfielder Skye Bolt (knee) suffered a right knee contusion after being hit by a pitch in the seventh inning on Thursday against the New York Yankees, according to manager Mark Kotsay. Bolt said X-rays came back negative, but he was still walking gingerly after the game. Reliever Joel Payamps (calf) suffered a left calf contusion. Bolt was 0-for-2 with a run scored in the game, while Payamps had to be helped off the field after being hit by a comebacker. It was only his second appearance for the A's after being claimed off waivers from the Kansas City Royals last week. Payamps' injury appears more serious than Bolt's, but fantasy managers should consider them both day-to-day for now.
Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Joel Payamps was traded to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday for cash considerations, the team announced on Twitter. After acquiring Payamps, the Royals then optioned him to Triple-A Omaha. Payamps has been having a solid year as a middle reliever, going 0-2 with a 2.70 ERA, 1.067 WHIP and 18.5 percent strikeout rate over 30 innings of work. In terms of fantasy however, Payamps hasn't done much to warrant being rostered even in SV/HLD formats as he has not recorded a single save or hold this season. If he joins the Royals bullpen and starts recording some holds, he could be an option in SV/HLD formats. Otherwise managers can leave him on the waiver wire.
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Joel Payamps threw 2.2 innings of shutout baseball during the club's 7-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night. He allowed two hits and struck out three batters. The young pitcher had been added to the active roster just hours before after the club lost two relievers Tyler Chatwood (biceps) and Ryan Borucki (vaccine side effects). Payamps has now made two appearances this season and has thrown four shutout innings with two hits allowed and a K-BB of 4-1. He's been unfazed by his uncertain role as a member of the club's taxi squad. The 27-year-old hurler was claimed off waivers in the offseason after pitching sparingly for the Arizona Diamondbacks over the previous two seasons.
