Ryan Zeferjahn Fantasy Stats

The Chicago Cubs acquired right-handed reliever Ryan Zeferjahn from the Los Angeles Angels on Monday in exchange for catcher Moises Ballesteros and minor-league pitcher Mason McGwire, the son of former big-league legend Mark McGwire, according to Francys Romero. Just when Zeferjahn was becoming a deep-league saves option in Anaheim, the 28-year-old was traded to a contender to help bolster the back end of their bullpen with regular closer Daniel Palencia (elbow) still on the injured list. Zeferjahn is 4-3 with a 3.66 ERA (3.77 FIP), 1.20 WHIP, a career-high four saves, 75 strikeouts, and 32 walks in 51 2/3 innings pitched in 2026 in his third year in the majors. With the last-place Angels, he wasn't a very convincing pickup off the waiver wire in deep fantasy leagues with save opportunities coming his way recently, but Zeferjahn should be more enticing to managers desperate for saves now that he has a shot for ninth-inning work on the North Side in Chicago. The Cubs have been using a closer-by-committee of late, consisting of Jacob Webb, Trent Thornton, and Caleb Thielbar.

Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever Ryan Zeferjahn continues to emerge at the back end of the team's bullpen in the second half of the season after picking up his fourth save of the year in the team's 3-0 win over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday. Zeferjahn allowed two hits, no walks, and struck out four in his 1 2/3 innings of work in the series finale at Angel Stadium. The 28-year-old former third-rounder by the Boston Red Sox in 2019 from the University of Kansas is 4-3 on the year with a 3.66 ERA (3.77 FIP) and 1.20 WHIP with 75 strikeouts and 32 walks in 51 2/3 innings out of the bullpen in his third year in the majors with the Halos. In 11 outings (12 1/3 innings pitched) since the beginning of July, Zeferjahn has allowed only three earned runs with two walks, 21 strikeouts, two saves, and three holds for the Angels. With Ben Joyce still on the injured list, Zeferjahn has become manager Kurt Suzuki's primary closer of late, giving him waiver-wire appeal in deeper fantasy leagues for managers who are desperate for saves. Zeferjahn is rostered in only 3% of Yahoo leagues.

Right-handed reliever Ryan Zeferjahn earned the save for the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, allowing one run on one hit and no walks or strikeouts to convert his third save of the season in five opportunities. Zeferjahn allowed a solo home run to Riley Greene, but was able to avoid any additional damage. On the season, Zeferjahn has a 4-3 record, 3.91 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, three saves, and seven holds on the season; however, this was his first save since June 12. The underlying data supports Zeferjahn's campaign, evidenced by his 3.14 xERA and .160 xBA, and he has elite swing-and-miss stuff with a 34.2 percent whiff rate and 31.8 percent strikeout rate. His control, on the other hand, has been awful: 15.2 percent (fourth percentile). Zeferjahn's main competition for saves is Kirby Yates, who has converted on three of his six save opportunities and has a 3.74 ERA. Ironically, Jordan Romano, who was cut by the team months ago, still leads the team in saves with four. The Angels have only recorded 12 saves on the season, but as far as who is getting the next one, Zeferjahn is clearly in the mix with Yates. In deeper formats, if you are struggling for saves, Zeferjahn should be on your radar.

Los Angeles Angels right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn picked up his second save of 2026 on Friday, recording the final out of his team's 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Zeferjahn's season-long numbers don't jump off the page, as he's pitched to a 5.06 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with 41 strikeouts across 32 innings (27 games). However, the 28-year-old is averaging 97.5 miles per hour on his fastball and has struck out 27.9% of the batters he's faced this season. The Angels have also begun to trust Zeferjahn in high-leverage roles, as he's appeared in the seventh inning or later in all six of his appearances in June and has allowed just one earned run in that span. In an underwhelming Angels bullpen, Zeferjahn may be the highest-upside option if he can bring down his 17% walk rate to a more respectable figure. For deep-league managers in desperate need of saves, Zeferjahn could be worth targeting on the waiver wire.

Across 30 2/3 innings (25 games) so far this season, Los Angeles Angels right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn has pitched to a 5.28 ERA and 1.40 WHIP with 38 strikeouts and one save. While the 28-year-old's top-line numbers are ugly, he's averaging 97.4 miles per hour on his fastball and has struck out 27% of the batters he's faced. His xERA is 3.92, and his strand rate is a below-average 64.7%, so he may be a victim of some poor luck. Perhaps most importantly for fantasy managers, Zeferjahn may be the leading candidate in the Angels bullpen to assume the closer role from the struggling Kirby Yates. Yates has pitched the ninth inning in eight straight appearances, and in that stretch, he's blown two saves and suffered two losses while allowing four earned runs. Zeferjahn's profile comes with some risk, but he might be the highest-upside reliever in an Angels bullpen that has struggled mightily to fill the closer role in 2026. In deeper fantasy leagues, managers may want to take a chance on Zeferjahn on the waiver wire.

Los Angeles Angels reliever Ryan Zeferjahn is looking like the favorite for ninth-inning duties as of late. The 28-year-old locked up the Halos' most recent save back on May 5, and has been one of the team's only effective arms out of the bullpen this season. Zeferjahn has taken his share of lumps already this season and currently sports a 4.15 ERA, but in his last four appearances has allowed zero runs, one hit, and three walks to eight strikeouts. The hard-throwing righty is striking out batters at a 32.2% clip, and he has excelled at limiting hard contact. Save opportunities for the Angels will come few and far between, but Zeferjahn could be of use for fantasy managers needing help in the category.

Los Angeles Angels right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn notched his first save of the season during a four-out appearance on Tuesday, striking out three batters to limit the damage of two walks and one hit batter. After struggling in April, Zeferjahn appears to be trending positively in May with 3 1/3 scoreless innings tossed so far. This recent success lowered his season ERA to 4.58 and his WHIP to 1.12, and he has now recorded 25 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings. His expected numbers sit much lower than his actual results, signaling he may be facing some bad luck. His expected batting average of .148 sits in the 99th percentile. If these underlying metrics prove true as he continues to find consistency, he can expect more save opportunities for the Angels.

The Los Angeles Angels will go with a bullpen game to open the second half of the season in Friday's series opener in Philadelphia against the Phillies, per The Athletic's Sam Blum. Right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn will get the opening assignment. This will be the first time all season that the Angels have gone outside of their five-man starting rotation, and it will be Zeferjahn's first opening assignment. The 27-year-old will not be a realistic fantasy streamer, as he's thrown just two innings in one of his 40 relief appearances for the Halos in 2025. The former third-rounder by the Boston Red Sox in 2019 out of Kansas does have 41 punchouts in 35 innings this year, but he's also sporting a rough 5.66 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 22 walks while also picking up his first two career saves. Avoid Zeferjahn in Philly.

Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Ryan Zeferjahn filled in for Kenley Jansen on Wednesday afternoon to help his team close out a sweep of the visiting Red Sox. The former Red Sox prospect was traded to the Angels last July and has become a key part of the bullpen for Los Angeles. He threw two hitless innings with just one walk against his former team and secured the 5-2 victory, earning his second save of the season. Overall, he is 4-1 in his 34 appearances with a 4.45 ERA and 4.82 FIP to go with an impressive 11.3 K/9. He has not allowed a run in eight of his last 10 games and has become a solid late-inning option. Jansen will remain the team's primary closer, but he did leave his last game with cramps in his neck. If Jansen misses time or the injury is worse than expected, Zeferjahn could be the next man up for the Halos.