If last season was characterized by a sense of stability in MLB bullpens, this week has shown how quickly things can descend into chaos. Let’s get right to it and take a look.
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One caveat to add: be patient with those on whom you spent significant draft capital on this season. Things tend to work themselves out over time. Don’t panic. Yet remain watchful too. How is that for great advice?
Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report
AL East
Craig Kimbrel earned his first save for the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.
Kenley Jansen keeps on ticking despite the weekly reports of nagging body issues, logging three saves this week for a 6-2 Red Sox team.
A concerning issue in New York is the reinjury of Jonathan Loaisiga, who was put on the 60-day IL with elbow discomfort. Sounds like he will miss significant time and may need surgery and be out for the year. Very concerning for the Yankees. Look for Ian Hamilton to take on a higher-leverage role now. Loaisiga cannot buy an injury break. Our thoughts are with him as he hopefully battles back from this latest arm issue.
In Tampa Bay, Pete Fairbanks got lit up like a pinball machine Friday night: three earned runs on three walks, retiring no one. He’s still their closer, so do not sweat it too much, but he has been shaky in three games. Jason Adam would be a good handcuff (although he blew the save in the same game). The whole bullpen has struggled so far, but expect better results in the coming weeks. Patience.
AL Central
The Chicago White Sox have one win on the season, and that was saved by Michael Kopech. Kopech barely held on in that game against Atlanta, a 39-pitch effort that featured two walks and a home run. The Sox look like they may be the worst team in baseball, and saves will be scant here. Kopech could get the chances but buyer beware: he’s only able to throw one pitch for a strike and even that is inconsistent. On Friday night Kopech came in and coughed up the lead against Kansas City with this line: one hit, one earned run, two walks, and three strikeouts. Yep. That is him. Years ago my friend Michael Simione (@SPStreamer) called these “painful saves,” and that name is right on target. If you like walking the tightrope go for it, but know that Kopech is likely best-suited for a multiple-innings role. John Brebbia might be the next guy up, but he reinjured his calf and his availability is unknown right now. Steven Wilson could be the best guy to nab here right now for the scant chances that are coming should the team turn away from Kopech. I will leave it as Kopech for now.
Emmanuel Clase is his usual sturdy self and has earned three saves thus far for the Cleveland Guardians.
We are continuing to monitor the Detroit Tigers bullpen. Many fantasy players spent a boatload of FAAB last weekend on Jason Foley, believing that Alex Lange, Shelby Miller, and Andrew Chafin are behind him in the pecking order. In a tie game that went to extra innings on Thursday, Lange got the seventh, Chafin the eighth, and Foley the ninth. Miller earned his second win in relief by pitching 10th and 11th innings. Foley has two saves on the year thus far. Lange earned his first save on Friday night while Foley earned his second win in a nine-inning game. While the answer seems to be Foley in the short term, what we do know is that this looks like a potentially really good bullpen. In deeper leagues, I am holding on to my Lange shares to see how this shakes out.
The Kansas City Royals have a bit of a conundrum. If you are looking for a waiver wire addition to get some saves, consider John Schreiber. The Royals do not seem too sure who their closer is at the moment. Veteran lefty Will Smith has struggled in the early going here with a couple of losses and a blown save in the season’s first week. We will watch for any changes and share them in this weekly piece. Jame McArthur earned his first save on Friday night and could be the best option right now.
AL West
Luis Garcia earned a save this week for the Los Angeles Angels despite surrendering a home run in the ninth. Someone named Guillermo Zuniga also earned a save this week. Carlos Estevez should still be the primary closer here. Robert Stephenson is rehabbing and could be back in May. A bullpen to watch.
David Robertson might be a good handcuff in Texas to incumbent Jose Leclerc, who has been shaky at best. If you are looking for other options to get some vulture saves, Robertson could be on your waiver wire.
NL East
Edwin Diaz was the first closer taken in many drafts, and he earned his first save on Friday night. Continue to roll him out with confidence despite the Mets’ poor start.
Interesting story out of Philadelphia last week and Ricardo Pinto. Matt Gelb reported that Pinto had gotten stuck in traffic on his way to the ballpark, briefly engaged with manager Rob Thomson, and then went to the bullpen. Of course that night he earned a four-inning save. How can you not be romantic about baseball?
NL Central
Despite the hushed whispers around town that he might not close, Adbert Alzolay pitched the ninth on Wednesday and was rewarded with a win.
Alexis Diaz earned his first save for the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday, pitching a clean ninth and striking out two.
Many fantasy players are looking at the situation in Milwaukee. Abner Uribe was scooped up in many waiver wire adds last weekend, but we are still not sure who the closer is here. Uribe blew the save last night but ended up earning a win when the Brewers walked off the Seattle Mariners; Uriobe gave up three hits, a walk, and two earned runs. Complicating this is that Trevor Megill is on the IL with a concussion right now suffered when he passed out after contracting food poisoning. Elvis Peguero got a hold last night and Joel Payamps has struggled so far. Ride with Uribe…for now.
David Bednar had been working back from injury and earned his first save for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night.
Ryan Helsley has two saves for the St. Louis Cardinals.
NL West
Kevin Ginkel remains the arm to roster in the Arizona bullpen with closer Paul Sewald out for at least another couple of months.
Camilo Doval has struggled during the beginning stages of the season. If anyone in your league is looking to move on from Doval, snatch him up. Doval earned a win last night when the Giants walked off the Padres; he pitched a bumpy ninth but got through it with two strikeouts sandwiched around a hit and a walk. Be patient.