A crazy week with a few slumping top closers has shaken things up as a new name sits a top the closer rankings. You think we as fantasy owners have tough decisions to make? A couple of NL East managers see their decisions blow up on the national stage with their ninth-inning situations in flux. Let’s get right to it as we go team by team in each division breaking down the usage for every closer. Updated depth charts show who the next man up is believed to be for every team.
AL Bullpen Depth Charts and Closer Rankings
+ Injury Concern
* Part of Committee
AL East
Baltimore sent Mychal Givens to the mound with two outs in the eighth inning on Sunday up by one run to attempt a four-out save. Givens struck out Reddick to end the frame then failed to record an out in the ninth, giving up three runs and blowing the save in the process. Richard Bleier completed the inning and was awarded the win after the Orioles scored the game-winning runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Givens has nine saves on the season and really shouldn’t be owned outside of AL-only leagues. The situation as a whole remains one to avoid.
Brandon Workman recorded his seventh save for the Red Sox last Thursday. Workman also pitched the ninth inning of a tie game Sunday against the Angels. Tuesday, Workman again went out for the ninth inning but blew the save against the Indians. Despite the blunder, this is clearly Workman’s job. Nathan Eovaldi will be stretched back into a starter for Boston, taking him out of the picture for the closer role.
Another three saves on the week for Aroldis Chapman, who tied Kirby Yates for the MLB lead on Wednesday with 33 saves. Chapman has now converted his last six save chances after a rough month of July and is established as one of the best closers in baseball. Behind him, Adam Ottavino converted a save Monday as the Yankees played a doubleheader against the Orioles. Dellin Betances should get back into the mix for holds soon as he makes his way back from a lat strain.
Emilio Pagan converted four saves this week. I don’t think anyone has converted that many consecutive saves for the Rays since Jose Alvarado to begin the year. Pagan now his five saves in August, 13 on the season, and is separating himself in this committee as the go-to man in the ninth inning. Jose Alvarado returned from the injured list but has not converted a save since his seventh of the season on July 1.
Derek Law converted his third save for the Blue Jays on Saturday, filling in for an injured Ken Giles. Giles did make his return and recorded his 16th save on Tuesday. Giles has been dealing with elbow issues and with Toronto out of playoff contention I don’t expect them to push Giles this late into the season. Law is the man to own if Giles is shut down or goes to the injured list.
AL Central
Alex Colome recorded his 23rd save on Saturday, only his fifth save since July 1. Colome has provided great value this season as the White Sox closer with a 2.38 ERA, although the lack of opportunities is hurting him at the moment. Aaron Bummer pitched the eighth inning Saturday behind Colome and continues to be the next man up for the White Sox should Colome miss time or be unavailable. Bummer has provided value in holds leagues with a 1.72 ERA and 14 holds.
It was a rough week for one of the top closers as Brad Hand blew two saves in back-to-back nights against the Red Sox. He did convert his 29th save of the season earlier in the week and was awarded the win in both games he blew the lead in. Hand’s numbers look nearly identical to last season with a couple of underlying changes that stand out. Hand’s ground ball rate has decreased from a career 43.3% to 23.6% this season. Hand also has an inflated BABIP against him at .343. Despite those facts, Hand is still an elite closer and there is no concern with his standing with the team. I see this as a bump in the road and he should remain among the top of the closer rankings going forward.
The Detroit situation was one of the only situations where the next man up was clear after the trade deadline, and that was Joe Jimenez. Jimenez recorded his first two saves of the season this week. While the Tigers shouldn’t be expected to give Jimenez many save opportunities, you’ll take what you get if you picked him up in need of saves.
Ian Kennedy does not have a save this month after locking down nine in July. Kennedy has been great but save chances are hard to predict, especially for a team out of contention like the Royals. The Atlanta Braves were reportedly in the mix for Kennedy’s services at the trade deadline, that situation would be a lot better for Kennedy. He’s the clear man in Kansas City though and if you’ve held him for this long you just take what he’ll give you for the rest of the way.
With 18 saves now, a 2.68 ERA, and 11.40 K/9, Taylor Rogers has been great for the Twins. After throwing 31 pitches on Saturday to record that 18th save, Rogers threw 20 more on Sunday and served up a grand slam to Carlos Santana against the Indians to lose the game. Two days later, Sergio Romo picked up his 19th save on Tuesday, before also blowing a save in Wednesday’s game against the Brewers. Sam Dyson made his return from the injured list Tuesday. Rogers should still see most save opportunities, but Sergio Romo will remain in the mix and will find himself in a handful of save situations.
AL West
Roberto Osuna was one of three closers in the top five of my closer rankings to blow a save this week. Although he did convert his 26th save of the season on Friday. Osuna now holds a 3.04 ERA, 3.43 FIP, and 4.00 xFIP, which is slightly concerning given his relatively low strikeout numbers for a closer. Regardless, Osuna is now 26 for 31 in save chances and remains the closer on one of the best teams in baseball. Ryan Pressly returned from the injured list and recorded two holds before giving up four runs on Wednesday and earning the loss.
Hansel Robles recorded four outs on Sunday in Boston and earned the win. Robles did give up a run in a non-save situation Wednesday with the Angels up by four runs. Although no save chances arose for Robles, he’s been otherwise valuable with 16 saves in 18 chances. Cam Bedrosian seems to have leapfrogged Ty Buttrey as the primary setup man after pitching the eighth inning during both games in which Robles appeared.
Two more saves this week give Liam Hendriks 13 on the year. Hendriks has held off Blake Treinen, who has struggled again of late after a strong stretch to end July. Hendriks should remain the ninth-inning man going forward as he’s put together a solid season of a 1.56 ERA, 12.51 K/9, and 13 saves in 63.1 innings of work.
No save opportunities arose for the Seattle Mariners. Closer Anthony Bass was given the loss in Friday’s outing then pitched a clean frame Sunday against the Rays. Bass is the team’s closer after the deadline passed and should see whatever save opportunities the Mariners are able to give him. Bass owns a 7.24 K/9, 3.62 ERA, 4.33 FIP, and 4.13 xFIP, so he wouldn’t be helping your ratios outside of save chances. Unless I really need saves in a roto league, there wouldn’t be any reason to target this situation.
Jose Leclerc enjoyed his first full week back as the Rangers’ closer. Leclerc earned his eighth save on Sunday then struck out the side against Toronto on Wednesday with Texas up by four runs. With Leclerc given the job to run with for the rest of the season, he should be added in most formats. Lercler did lose the job before. Should that happen again, Shawn Kelley should be next in line once more.
NL Bullpen Depth Charts and Closer Rankings
+ Injury Concern
* Part of Committee
NL East
What a mess the Atlanta situation has become. Shane Greene has struggled after he was declared the closer following the trade to Atlanta. Mark Melancon was then given the ninth-inning duties. Atlanta must want to get everything they can out of Melancon after taking on his full contract. Melancon converted the save on Tuesday and was again summoned Wednesday but could not escape the ninth after giving up two runs. Jerry Blevins came in for the one-out save with the bases loaded. It’s anyone’s guess where things can go from here. Luke Jackson picked up a save Sunday and has not allowed a run in his last six outings.
Another week goes by without a save for the Marlins. Tayron Guerrero was placed on the 10-day IL with a torn fingernail on August 8. Ryne Stanek is a likely candidate to see the next save chance but overall, I want no part of this situation.
After stating he’d stick with Edwin Diaz last week, Mets manager Mickey Callaway all but stated Diaz was out. Despite the reports that Seth Lugo could be taking over the closing duties, Lugo was brought out in the seventh inning of Wednesday’s contest during a tie game and gave up four runs while recording only one out. Callaway had been planning to use Diaz or Justin Wilson in the ninth. Lugo was brought out in the seventh to protect a tie game but failed to do so. Where the Mets go from here is up in the air as it could turn into a committee situation based on matchups. Lugo could be a speculative add regardless.
Hector Neris is on a good run with two saves on the week, bringing his total to 21 on the season. Neris has not given up a run since July 18 against the Dodgers. The Phillies bullpen has been otherwise decimated by injury this year. Mike Morin has acted as setup man to Neris.
Sean Doolittle was 2-for-3 in save chances this week. After pitching in three of four days, Doolittle was unavailable Tuesday, allowing Daniel Hudson to pick up a save. Doolittle has a track record of injuries but has stayed healthy this season on his way to 27 saves for the Nationals.
NL Central
We’ve come full circle in Chicago as Pedro Stop is seeing save chances for the Cubs now. Strop picked up his 10th save of the season Sunday with Steve Cishek and Craig Kimbrel on the injured list. Kimbrel is set to throw a bullpen session Thursday and could be activated as soon as Friday. Strop would remain the acting closer should Kimbrel need more time.
Raisel Iglesias recorded his 23rd save of the season Friday and now has eight consecutive scoreless appearances. While his ERA sits at 3.93 on the season, he’s pitched much better of late and has not issued a walk in any of the last eight outings. Michael Lorenzen and Amir Garrett have pitched well in stretches this season and either one of them could be in the mix for saves should Iglesias be unavailable.
Josh Hader no longer holds the top spot in the closer rankings as he’s given up runs in five of the last six outings. Hader has blown three saves in the month, giving opportunity for others to get into the mix for ninth-inning duties. Matt Albers picked up two saves on the week. Everything seems to be strikeout or home run for Hader, and right now everything is going out of the park. I expect things to get right for one of the best weapons in any bullpen, but I don’t expect Hader to see every save situation from here on.
Felipe Vazquez recorded his first save since July 16, his 22nd on the season. Vazquez’s 1.72 ERA and 13.98 K/9 are among the best in baseball for a closer. Despite being on a team that won’t win many more games this season. Vazquez remains one of the best closing options in fantasy.
Cardinals’ closer Carlos Martinez picked up two more saves, bringing his total to 13 on the year. With Martinez resting on Sunday, it was Andrew Miller who was given the save. Things should continue this way going forward with Miller getting an occasional save chance as he would be the next man up should Martinez be unavailable. Giovanny Gallegos has been excellent as well with a 1.96 ERA and 12.44 K/9 in 55 innings.
NL West
Archie Bradley picked up two more saves this week for the Diamondbacks. Unfortunately, he was unable to convert a third on Wednesday in Colorado after hitting Trevor Story and serving up the game-winning home run to Nolan Arenado. Bradley has otherwise been excellent after not giving up a run in 17 innings since June 22. Bradley should be owned just about everywhere at this point.
We just cannot trust the Colorado closer at home no matter who it is, can we? Scott Oberg gave up four runs to the Padres on Friday and another run to the Diamondbacks Wednesday in the ninth inning of a tie game. Oberg was credited with the win Wednesday. Oberg’s season line sits at 2.17 with a 9.33 K/9 and four saves. Oberg should remain the closer going forward but if Leclerc or Bradley are available I might prefer to go with the likes of them over Oberg.
Kenley Jansen blew his lone save chance on the week Friday against Arizona. Jansen has seen moments of vulnerability this season and has certainly declined a bit relative to recent years but remains one of the best relievers on one of the best teams in baseball. Jansen sits at 26 saves on the year.
We have a new closer at the top of the closer rankings and his name in Kirby Yates. Yates has been lights out all season with 33 saves in 36 chances, a 1.15 ERA, and 14.55 K/9. Craig Stammen was credited with two blown saves while Andres Munoz picked up a win in two scoreless outings. Munoz has seemingly replaced Stammen as the reliever in high leverage situations and could close games should Yates be unavailable.
Giants closer Will Smith made three appearances this week recording two saves and a win. Smith is now up to 29 saves on the season and has enjoyed a successful full first year back from Tommy John surgery. Last season, Smith threw 55 innings and recorded a 2.55 ERA. Through 55 innings on the year now, Smith again has a 2.55 ERA. Smith has been consistently solid for San Francisco and should remain one of the better closer options with a secure job for the rest of the season.
Hopefully, you found Jorge’s Closer Rankings and Bullpen Depth Charts useful. For more of his take make sure to follow him on Twitter @Jmontanez.
Jorge Montanez is a lifelong sports fan but new to the fantasy industry, joining Fantrax HQ as a writer in June of 2019. Jorge co-hosts the Bases Loaded Podcast, a fantasy baseball podcast covering everything fantasy baseball on a weekly basis. He was raised in Stockton, CA but now resides in Los Angeles, where you can find him at a ballpark playing catch with his two sons on the weekends. Follow Jorge @jmontanez90 on Twitter where he’ll be happy to give his take and answer questions on all things fantasy.
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