Silly question, I know, but is your headache caused by changing spring weather and barometric pressure, or by closers blowing save opportunities? Maybe both? If you are an educator like me, congratulations on wrapping up the spring testing season. Happy Saturday to all that may read these words. May your donuts and coffee be warm and fresh! Let’s get to it.
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Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report
AL East
Boston: I know Garrett Whitlock has not pitched out of the bullpen this year, but he hits the IL this weekend with neuritis. Whitlock reported tingling in the arm but was quick to point out that he did not feel he was heading towards Tommy John surgery, which the righty already had in 2019. This is pure speculation on my part, but wondering if upon return, he could opt back to the bullpen.
The small sample size of three starts has not been great with an ERA over 6.00. By comparison, he’s been outstanding in the bullpen in 2021 and 2022. With lefty James Paxton due back soon and the possible usage of prospect Brayan Bello in the rotation, Whitlock could return to not having a role even if the Red Sox choose a six-man rotation. Time will tell. In other news, Kenley Jansen has six saves and has yet to surrender a run in eight outings this season. Ho hum.
While beating up on the beleaguered White Sox, Tampa Bay closer Pete Fairbanks left the game in a save situation due to possible injury. He did take a comebacker off the leg in that ninth inning and stayed in the game, but two batters later, manager Kevin Cash came and removed an agitated Fairbanks from the game. It sounds like Fairbanks’ issue that led to his removal from Friday night’s game was a recurrence of his Raynaud’s disease that flares up in the cold. Welcome to Chicago in spring, Pete.
AL Central
Liam Hendriks is in extended Spring Training for the White Sox. And wow, do they need him. They need any boost they can get at 7-20. Moribund. Hendriks struck out four yesterday in Arizona. A remarkable comeback story from his non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis in January. How can you not be romantic about baseball? Hoping for a full recovery and a return to the closer’s role in Chicago, even though the hapless White Sox don’t seem to need a closer at this point, because you only need a closer when you are ahead in games, and they never are.
AL West
Houston: There was quite a bit of concern earlier this month about Ryan Pressly. But since a terrible outing on April 11 where he gave up three runs, Pressly has only surrendered one hit and one walk and earned two saves in the last eight days. One concern is a dip in strikeouts. Given his checkered injury history, and if you have roster space, consider grabbing Bryan Abreu in deeper leagues, if he is available. He is electric and has jumped into a “stopper” role as well as pitching in the eighth in setting up Pressly. Pressly is still the closer and should be based on his pedigree and work history; his current 4.35 ERA has a 3.06 xERA. So nothing emerging yet, but a bullpen to watch.
In Los Angeles, Carlos Estevez seems to be in full control of the closer role. I received some DMs from friends asking about Jose Quijada emerging, but Estevez earned his fifth save Thursday night in a game in which Quijada surrendered two runs. Continue to run with Estevez. This morning we learned that Quijada will hit the IL with elbow discomfort upon waking up Friday morning. He underwent an MRI that is to be studied this weekend. Veteran Chris Devenski looks to be added to the bullpen mix this weekend. Look for Matt Moore and maybe Aaron Loup and Andrew Wantz to have bigger roles in the next few weeks.
We continue to wish Trevor May all the best as he works through his mental health and anxiety. Kudos to him for being so open about his mental health and not designating some other reason for his time missed. The Oakland situation in the bullpen is the only situation worse than my beloved, terrible White Sox. Mentioned Jeurys Familia as a veteran arm who could be the last man standing here, and he’s earned two rocky saves this week to lead this committee. Zach Jackson is in the mix too, but I couldn’t tell you who gets the next chance here. Personally, I would stay away from here unless I was desperate for saves; I’d argue no one is that desperate yet for what my friend Michael Simione (@SPStreamer) calls “painful saves.”
NL East
For those who have been following, A.J. Minter has run into some trouble in Atlanta. Raisel Iglesias is on rehab assignment now and made an appearance for Gwinnett on Thursday. The Braves have to be hoping for a return soon from Iglesias, as Minter has given up 10 earned runs in his last four appearances. Maybe Nick Anderson gets some chances in the short term? Have to speculate that manager Brian Snitker might be looking for other options the next time there is a save opportunity?
Is Philadelphia getting interesting again? Jose Alvarado was running away with this one, and then Craig Kimbrel reemerged on Thursday night and earned his third save. No reason to think there is a changing of the guard, but this is an interesting one to watch. I would speculate that the Phillies will have three guys with double digit saves before the season is over. Who gets them and when will be an interesting proposition all year, as manager Rob Thomson likes to play matchups.
Washington: Much has been written about the awful start of closer Kyle Finnegan, but looking more deeply at the last three weeks, we see five saves, three hits and three walks covering seven outings, and peripherals starting to normalize. If he has been dumped in your league and you have room to speculate, could be worth a grab. We have talked about Carl Edwards Jr here and Hunter Harvey, but another name to watch is Mason Thompson.
Recently on The Fantasy Baseball Beat podcast, I discussed the idea of adding Brandon Hughes if he was available in your leagues. While the Cubs have played surprisingly good baseball, their bullpen, especially the closer situation, has been a source of consternation. Neither Michael Fulmer nor Brad Boxberger has provided much relief. The Cubs could turn this into a committee, or ride the hot hand, and maybe Hughes gets a chance after doing well in a brief opportunity in 2022. Boxberger is slightly ahead of Fulmer at this point, but don’t count out Hughes either.
NL Central
NL West
