Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report: All-Star Edition

As we get to the end of the season’s first half this weekend, I have compiled some numbers to share with you. This first set is this season’s first half save totals. The second set is from the 2024 season. This exercise always gives me some pause; it is striking to see how similar these numbers are to each other.

Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report

Some statistics to share as we near the end of the season’s first half:

• There are six pitchers with 20 or more saves.
• There are 25 pitchers with 10 or more saves.
• There are 39 pitchers with five or more saves.
• There are 148 pitchers with at least one save.

Below are the numbers from the 2024 season at the same time:

• We had seven pitchers with at least 20 saves.
• We had 26 pitchers with at least 10 saves.
• We had 37 pitchers with at least five saves.
• We had 152 pitchers with at least one save.

Next weekend, we will look at some second-half speculations for save opportunities as we near the trade deadline on July 31st. Let’s dive into a recap of this past week right now.

AL East

Baltimore was passing the saves around this week, with Felix Bautista getting one on Thursday night, and Seranthony Dominguez and Yennier Cano also getting them. Do not fret; Bautista is the closer. With the Orioles looking like they could be mild sellers, they could look to trade relief options like Dominguez, Cano, and Gregory Soto to contenders. I think the organization will hold on to Bautista as they prepare a better team for next season. Bryan Baker was moved to the Tampa Bay Rays this week for a draft pick.

Devin Williams remains the first choice in New York. He has two saves and a win this week as Luke Weaver begins to find his footing again after an IL stint. Williams looks like himself again and should remain in the closer role.

AL Central

Grant Taylor looks to be the top choice on Chicago’s South Side. Interestingly, he was used in the eighth inning on Wednesday, leaving the ninth for Jordan Leasure, who got the last three outs for his second save of the season. When I say Taylor is the top choice, I mean he is the highest-leverage reliever. That and being the closer are not necessarily the same thing, as we know. He is the best arm they have there and should get plenty of work, and at least some of that should be save opportunities. Taylor and Leasure could become an interesting pairing in the Sox bullpen.

Emmanuel Clase is the closer in Cleveland. Could he be moved at the trade deadline?  Paul Sewald got a save this week on a night when the top three bullpen arms all needed a break. There is some speculation that the Guardians could consider moving Clase at the trade deadline, but there is no confirmation yet that he is available. Should he be traded, this becomes an interesting situation.

AL West

Athletics: Mason Miller, on the move? He could be, and there is word that some teams would like to revert him to a starting pitcher, although that would have to wait until next season.  Jack Perkins is the name to know here if Miller is moved; he is currently pitching in long relief, but could get a chance either as the closer or in the rotation should someone be injured or ineffective.

There is renewed strife in Texas. The only save of the week went to middle reliever Shawn Armstrong last weekend. Would-be closer Robert Garcia has not pitched all week, Chris Martin had a loss and a blown save, and Luke Jackson also took a loss. With the Rangers hovering around the .500 mark, it will be interesting to watch their approach at the coming trade deadline. I don’t see much help coming.

NL East

Only one save chance in Atlanta during the week, and Dylan Lee blew the opportunity. Raisel Iglesias has been pitching much better, so I am unsure how long this will stay a committee. Iglesias did earn a save Friday night, giving him 10 on the year. Then again, Iglesias could be a hot trade commodity for a contender looking for bullpen help. Should he be moved, Lee could be in a timeshare with Daysbel Hernandez, who is back from the IL, moving forward.

Uncertainty reigns in Philadelphia. I wish I could tell you what to do with Orion Kerkering, Matt Strahm, and Jordan Romano, but I don’t know what to do here. This bullpen is screaming for a trade deadline acquisition. A name of interest to earmark is Daniel Robert, who could be of interest; he’s struck out eight hitters in four innings.

NL Central

Trevor Megill has a win and three saves this week, running his total to 21. The Brewers will need him to maintain his work to stay in the NL Central race. Megill has a 2.41 ERA to go with a nifty 30.9% K%. Abner Uribe has 26 holds and has been just as good as Megill.

Is David Bednar seeing the last of his time in Pittsburgh this month? He should be, as he would seem to be, a hot trade commodity for contending teams. Bednar has 12 saves, a 2.70 ERA, and an excellent 35.2% K%. My guess would be that top setup man Dennis Santana could also be on the move. IF so, who closes? Rookies Isaac Mattson or Braxton Ashcraft could get looks.

NL West

Arizona: The chaos continues here as injuries have mounted a huge challenge to a good Diamondbacks team. Shelby Miller, who had taken the role with both A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez out for the year with Tommy John surgery, has been excellent, with three wins and 10 saves with a 28% K%. However, he went down this week with a forearm strain. Enter next man up Kevin Ginkel, who earned his second save of the season this week. There is no timetable yet for Miller’s potential return. Jalen Beeks and Kyle Backhus could get some high-leverage work. Ginkel has 15 career saves, so he has some experience in the role for a team desperately clinging to playoff hopes.

San Diego: Robert Suarez seems to be ok and in the driver’s seat with four saves this week. He is up to 28 saves on the season, and his ERA is down to 3.54 with a 26.7% K%. If the Padres decide to sell, Suarez would be a key piece, but if we follow A.J. Preller’s history, he will likely add rather than subtract.