Brewers' Joel Payamps: Gets back on track with save
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Payamps picked up the save after throwing a clean ninth inning Thursday against the Reds. He struck out one.
With closer Trevor Megill having worked each of the past two days, Payamps got the call to preserve a narrow 1-0 lead in the ninth inning and made quick work of Cincinnati on just 11 pitches (nine strikes). It was the first save of the year for Payamps, who got back on track Thursday after yielding five runs in his first three frames of the campaign. The right-hander is likely to remain a setup man for the Brewers throughout 2025, but he appears to be the next man up for ninth-inning work on occasions when Megill is unavailable.
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Brewers' Joel Payamps: Remains in key role
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Payamps allowed two earned runs over an inning of relief in Monday's Cactus League loss to the Padres.
Payamps opened the exhibition season with three straight scoreless outings, but he was touched up for a couple runs in his fourth appearance. Payamps was a steady presence near the back end of Milwaukee's bullpen the last two years, over which he racked up 10 wins and nine saves. He figures to fill a similar role in 2025 and will likely open the campaign as the setup man in front of closer Trevor Megill.
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Brewers' Joel Payamps: Settles with Crew
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Payamps agreed to a one-year, $2.995 million contract with the Brewers on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Payamps gave up just three runs (two earned) in 21 innings over the final two months of the 2024 regular season, allowing him to finish the year with a 3.05 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. With Devin Williams now in the Bronx, Trevor Megill is likely the Brewers' new go-to option for saves, though Payamps may be asked to handle the ninth inning at times over the course of the season.
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Brewers' Joel Payamps: Moves past forearm injury
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Payamps (forearm) made relief appearances Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, covering a scoreless inning in each outing while racking up six strikeouts and allowing one hit and one walk.
Payamps exited a relief appearance Sept. 15 against the Diamondbacks due to right forearm tightness, but he quickly dispelled any concern about his health by playing catch a day later. He's since gone on to deliver three dominant appearances in a row and has yet to allow an earned run in any of his last nine outings out of the Milwaukee bullpen. Payamps will be locked into a key setup role in front of closer Devin Williams heading into the postseason.
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Brewers' Joel Payamps: Nursing forearm tightness
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Payamps was able to play catch Monday, one day after exiting an appearance versus the Diamondbacks with right forearm tightness, Jack Stern of Brewer Fanatic reports.
The Brewers have yet to decide whether Payamps will be available for Monday's game against the Phillies, but it's a good sign that he's already throwing again. Payamps boasts a 1.15 ERA since the beginning of August, having allowed an earned run in just one of 18 appearances over that stretch.
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Brewers' Joel Payamps: Collects fifth save
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Payamps picked up his fifth save of the season Wednesday against the Cubs, pitching a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts.
Brewers closer Trevor Megill had pitched two of the previous three days leading up to Wednesday's game, resulting in Payamps coming on for the ninth inning. The 30-year-old held his own, striking out two batters while not allowing a baserunner. With Devin Williams (back) on the cusp of a return and Trevor Megill still in the mix, save chances for Payamps will be few and far between moving forward. The right-hander owns a 4.14 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP while converting five of seven save chances this season.
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Brewers' Joel Payamps: Pitches eighth inning Thursday
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Payamps pitched a scoreless eighth inning of Thursday's 7-5 win over the Pirates, giving up one hit and one walk en route to claiming his third hold of the season.
Just one day after notching his fourth save of the season, Payamps moved to a setup role Thursday, with Trevor Megill coming on in the ninth inning to nab his first save. Brewers manager Pat Murphy hasn't clarified that Megill will be the team's top option for save chances moving forward, so Payamps could end finding himself as part of a committee at closer with Megill and perhaps Abner Uribe.
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Brewers' Joel Payamps: Grabs fourth save
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Payamps recorded the save in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Pirates, striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.
The Pirates made things interesting in the ninth, getting the tying and go-ahead runs on base on a pair of Milwaukee errors. However, Payamps got Jared Triolo to fly out before striking out Andrew McCutchen to seal the 3-2 victory, notching his fourth save of the year. The 30-year-old Payamps has three saves in his last four outings as he lowered his ERA to 3.72 with a 0.62 WHIP and 9:1 K:BB through 9.2 innings. Payamps appears to be the current favorite for saves but is hardly locked in as Milwaukee's closer, with Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill also in the mix.
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Brewers' Joel Payamps: Picks up first save
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Payamps earned the save in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Mets, retiring all three batters he faced with one strikeout in the ninth inning.
The 28-year-old notched a hold with a scoreless eighth inning Opening Day while Abner Uribe secured a save, but Uribe wasn't used Sunday after throwing the previous two days. Uribe already has two saves this season and appears to be manager Pat Murphy's first option for the ninth inning, but Payamps remains firmly in the mix for now, though it is too early to declare this closing situation settled.
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Brewers' Joel Payamps: Avoids arbitration
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Payamps agreed to a one-year deal with the Brewers on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Payamps, a 29-year-old righty, emerged as the Brewers' top setup man for stretches of last season. He logged a 2.55 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 77 strikeouts in 70.2 innings while also chipping in seven wins and three saves.
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Brewers' Joel Payamps: Takes second loss
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Payamps (4-2) took the loss in Sunday's 8-6 loss against Atlanta. He allowed two runs on two hits while striking out two over an inning.
Payamps saw his 19-inning scoreless streak end on Matt Olson's two-run homer in the eighth inning Sunday, tagging the right-hander with his second loss of the year. Payamps had pitched to a pristine 0.58 WHIP during his 18-game streak, striking out 22 in that span. He still sports an impressive 2.01 ERA with a 0.89 WHIP and 57:8 K:BB across 49.1 innings this season while serving as Milwaukee's primary set-up option ahead of Devin Williams.
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Brewers' Joel Payamps: Picks up fourth win
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Payamps tossed a scoreless eighth inning and picked up his fourth win of the season in Saturday's 4-3 victory over Atlanta.
Payamps entered Saturday's contest with the two teams knotted on the scoreboard, and he wound up with the win after the Brewers plated a run in the bottom of the eighth and prevented Atlanta from doing any further scoring. Payamps has been on a major roll of late, tossing 15 straight scoreless appearances and posting a 0.50 WHIP and 21:2 K:BB in 16.0 innings over that span. He is locked into the setup spot in front of closer Devin Williams.
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Brewers' Joel Payamps: Secures second save
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Payamps had one strikeout and didn't allow a baserunner during a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Saturday against the Pirates.
The 29-year-old picked up his second save of the season Saturday, as manager Craig Counsell opted to stay away from closer Devin Williams after his busy finish to June. Payamps has earned his way into the setup job for the Brewers and has 15 holds with a 2.11 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 42:8 K:BB over 38.1 innings, and he hasn't given up an earned run in his past eight outings.
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Brewers' Joel Payamps: Breaks camp with Brewers
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Payamps, per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, secured a spot on the Brewers' Opening Day roster.
Payamps was not sharp during the spring, allowing five earned runs over 5.1 innings, but he is out of options and the Brewers want to take a longer look at him after acquiring him from the A's over the offseason. He figures to open in a low-leverage role.
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Brewers' Joel Payamps: Dealt to Brewers
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The Brewers acquired Payamps from Oakland on Monday in a three-team deal with Atlanta, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Monday's trade also involved Sean Murphy to Atlanta and William Contreras to Milwaukee, among other components. Payamps was an effective reliever in 2022, posting a 3.23 ERA and 41:16 K:BB in 55.2 innings between Kansas City and Oakland. He figures to handle low-leverage work in the Brewers' bullpen in 2023.
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Athletics' Joel Payamps: Hurt by comebacker
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Payamps was hit by a comebacker in his leg and had to be helped off the field Thursday against the Yankees, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Payamps completed an inning of work in the midst of a 13-4 deficit prior to being forced to exit. It's unclear whether the injury will force Payamps to the injured list.
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Athletics' Joel Payamps: Joins major-league roster
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Payamps was activated by the Athletics on Monday.
Payamps was claimed off waivers by Oakland on Saturday, and he'll join the major-league roster after Austin Pruitt was designated for assignment Monday. Payamps made 29 relief appearances for the Royals earlier in the season and posted a 3.16 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 42.2 innings.
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Royals' Joel Payamps: DFA'd by Kansas City
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Payamps was designated for assignment by the Royals on Thursday.
Payamps was reinstated from the bereavement list Wednesday but has now lost his spot on the 40-man roster. The 28-year-old has a 3.16 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 33:16 K:BB across 42.2 innings this year.
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Royals' Joel Payamps: Reinstated from bereavement list
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Payamps was reinstated from the bereavement list Wednesday.
Payamps had been away from the team since Saturday while tending to a personal matter, but he'll be available out of the bullpen for Wednesday's series finale in Minnesota. He's made five appearances since the All-Star break, posting a 3.00 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in nine innings.
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Royals' Joel Payamps: Away on bereavement leave
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Payamps was placed on the bereavement list Saturday.
Players may spend between three and seven days on the bereavement list, meaning Payamps should return between Tuesday and next Saturday. Carlos Hernandez will take his place in the bullpen.
