I hope your holiday weekend is off to a great start. Please be safe out there if you are travelling to see friends and family. For now, let’s celebrate the greatest game in the world: baseball.
Do you like numbers? You must if you play fantasy baseball.
Here are some numbers:
- 144 pitchers have saves as of 7.1.23.
- 239 pitchers have at least one save opportunity.
- We have a three-way tie for the MLB lead in saves: Jordan Romano, Emmanuel Clase and Camilo Doval each have 24 saves.
- Looking over the last 15 days, these guys lead MLB in holds: Tyler Rogers and Lucas Sims have five holds during that time span.
- Felix Bautista has 76 strikeouts in 37.2 innings. He’s ridiculous in the best way!
More great fantasy baseball advice and analysis: Waiver Wire & FAAB Recommendations | Daily MLB Injury Report | MLB DFS Picks | Line-up Analysis | Dynasty Rankings and Strategy | MLB Bullpen Updates | MLB Player Props | Prospect Rankings & Analysis | Fantasy Baseball Risers and Fallers
Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report
AL East
Manager Aaron Boone has used the bullpen well this season, despite the near daily criticism of the New York media. Clay Holmes looks to be the guy who will get the most opportunities right now. The Yankees also get quality innings from Wandy Peralta, Michael King, Tommy Kahnle and Ron Marinaccio. I would not be surprised if the Yankees became a player should top-level closers become available at the trade deadline. Pure speculation here (no rumors yet), but Liam Hendriks (if healthy), Devin Williams (if the Brewers decide to rebuild on the fly), David Bednar or Josh Hader could all become available. Or the Yankees could look at other relief arms who could be trade targets to add to their impressive stable: Kendall Graveman, Kyle Finnegan, Scott Barlow, etc.
AL Central
I have been suggesting (not that you need an advanced degree to figure it out) that you avoid the Detroit Tigers bullpen all season. Alex Lange has struggled lately, mostly with his control. The walks and allowing them to score has ruined Lange’s June: 12 runs to go with 11 hits and 10 walks for an unsightly 11.57 ERA last month. Look for Jason Foley to potentially get a chance here soon. My friend Michael Simione (@SPStreamer) coined the term “painful saves” to describe saves that come at great cost to ratios. One thing we know for sure: do not roster relievers who can crush your carefully protected ratios.
The Minnesota Twins are in first place in the lackluster AL Central, but they are facing some injury woes in their bullpen. Setup guy Brock Stewart, who has been excellent this year, hit the IL this week with tendinitis. Jorge Lopez is also on the IL coping with mental health issues. Best wishes to him as he begins his recovery. This should push Griffin Jax and perhaps Jovani Moran and Emilio Pagan back into higher leverage roles. If you have been spot-using Jhoan Duran, now would be the time to have him in your weekly lineups as there is no competition for saves here right now.
AL West
Sam Moll earned his first save this week in a game where Trevor May pitched the eighth. Lucas Ecerg continues to be a revelation for Oakland in a setup role. The job still belongs to May; he was brought in to face the top of the New York Yankees’ order in this particular game.
While Paul Sewald has been very good in Seattle all season., he pitched the eighth inning on Tuesday, leaving the ninth for the electric Andres Munoz. Manager Scott Servais seems to always push the right button for the Mariners when it comes to the bullpen. I still feel this is Sewald’s job, but perhaps a timeshare is coming? Will be watching this one carefully in the come days and weeks.
Aroldis Chapman was traded to the Texas Rangers last night for lefthanded pitcher Cole Ragans and outfielder Roni Cabrera. Speculation seemed to immediately center on whether the Rangers acquired Chapman to close. While having a wealth of closing experience, fellow lefty Will Smith has been the lockdown guy with 14 saves all for Bruce Bochy. I do not expect that to change now. Chapman had two saves for the Kansas City Royals this year and a video game-like 53 strikeouts in 29.1 innings, but has only pitched back-to-back games four times all year. A closer needs to be able to pitch daily. The Royals hit on a winning formula with him in a setup role and that should continue in Texas, where he joins Josh Sborz and Brock Burke as key cogs on a team with playoff aspirations.
NL East
It would appear that Hunter Harvey has the top job in Washington right now. As we discussed with Greg Jewett and Joe Orrico on the Fantasy MLB Today podcast yesterday (give it a listen; Joe is a terrific host grinding every day in fantasy baseball), manager Davy Martinez suggested in spring that he would use a committee approach, making Harvey and Kyle Finnegan essentially co-closers. With the trade deadline looming, both relievers could be traded to contenders looking for some relief help. Keep in mind that neither would close on a team with playoff hopes. Harvey has four saves since 6.21.23.
NL Central
The Cardinals have a weird situation: they are the worst team in the National League right now. Ryan Helsley was lost to injury, Giovanny Gallegos got a “kind of” opportunity, and then Jordan Hicks and his 100+ MPH sinker have seized the day. Hicks has five saves since 6.17 and is the guy on a moribund team right now. Caveat emptor here; beware. Hicks will give you saves and punchouts, but he has been prone to blowups when his command betrays him.
NL West
Scott McGough has become the clear option in Arizona; the committee appears to be done for now. I hope those of you that rostered Andrew Chafin (as I did in some leagues) saw the writing on the wall here and have made some choices that will help you roster saves.
Daniel Hudson was activated from the IL last night, fully recovered from his torn ACL. Remarkably, that return was almost a year to the day from the injury. Hudson was having a great year in 2022 when he injured his knee trying to field a squib shot in front of the mound. Much has been made about the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen, but as of now, Evan Phillips is the closer. Phillips has four saves in the last ten days, which outs him ahead of teammate Brusdar Graterol. Do not be surprised if Hudson eventually ascends to the closer role again which would push Phillips back into a possible multiple inning high leverage role. It might take Hudson a few outings to get his feet under him. I would stash Hudson in deeper leagues now if you can.
The Padres’ Steven Wilson, quietly one of the best sources for holds in all of baseball, hit the IL with a pectoral strain. There is no timeline for his return. I would bump Luis Garcia into Wilson’s high-leverage role.
Remember you can contact me @mdrc0508 on the Twitter machine if you have any questions on bullpens. I am grateful that I have an opportunity to do this week weekly and I hope it is helpful to you if you read this. Mental health is so important; take care of yourselves and if you need someone to talk to in a pinch, reach out to me. Have a great weekend!