Look, I am just here to report on the week’s happenings in baseball and have no control over Craig Kimbrel earning a save this weekend for Kansas City, ok?
The wild and unpredictable ride of bullpens continued unabated this week, with some surprises, like Kimbrel, getting and converting save chances. While we may roll our eyes at it, we know that we need to gobble up those saves, and for some of us, holds, to go along with eye-popping strikeout numbers and ratio controls. It is a delicate balance we seek each week with our bullpen management.
And major league managers do not make it easy for fantasy league managers to read the tea leaves. That being said, take a look here and see if there are some guys who might be able to help your rosters next week.
More great Fantasy Baseball Analysis: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire | Weekly SP Rankings | Pitching Streamers | Two-Start Pitchers | Lineup Analysis | MLB Injury Report | Rookie Report | Advanced Stats | Under the Radar | Overvalued & Undervalued | Bullpen Report
Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report
AL East
Add Rico Garcia back to the closer mix in Baltimore; he earned a save on Friday night and looks like he could share time in the role with Andrew Kittredge and Yennier Cano. Garcia followed up with a win on Saturday night, which could lead to more FAAB insanity tonight for those with any funds left.
Boston lost their top two setup men in Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten, but they are just fine, thanks. Erik Miller and Tyron Guerrero have stepped in seamlessly for the Red Sox. Both Whitlock and Slaten are expected to return this season.
New York: David Bednar continues an incredibly strong season, earning his 30th save this week in New York. Three saves this week, with a 2.35 ERA and 28.1% K%. He is in the top tier of closers this year.
Bryan Baker leads the free world in saves with 36 for Tampa Bay, with an incredible 1.44 ERA and 29% K%. A tremendous season for a pitcher who was not promised the closing job in the spring.
AL Central
Every week, I wish I could tell you that Grant Taylor is the closer for the Chicago White Sox. Alas, another week passes, and I cannot tell you this is a fact. Taylor did get the win on Friday night against the New York Mets, and this remains a committee; in fact, they may have added a member this week in Jordan Hicks.
I was about to type that Steven Cruz is the closer now in Kansas City, and then Nate Pearson earned the save on Friday night. And then…Craig Kimbrel? Yes, Kimbrel earned a save on Saturday night, and it feels safe to assume that both Cruz and Pearson, as well as top setup option John Schreiber, had nights off. It was Kimbrel’s first save of the season.
AL West
Athletics: Elvis Alvarado locked down the save on Saturday night; lefty Hogan Harris had a bad week and struggled in his last outing. Could this turn into more of a time share down the stretch? We will see what happens. Harris did get the hold by pitching a scoreless eighth inning.
Samy Natera Jr. is out for the Los Angeles Angels, further solidifying the current closing job for Ben Joyce. Joyce took the loss on Friday night. Ryan Watson stepped up on Saturday night and earned his first save; there was no word on Joyce’s availability after pitching on Friday night. Expect Joyce to get the chances most nights.
Andres Munoz continues his uneven run with Seattle this year, blowing another save on Friday night. His 4.37 ERA belies his 23 saves and 37.7% K%. The highest home run rate of his career has throttled his season, and he has an unsightly eight blown saves.
NL East
The Miami bullpen is still a mess, with an inconsistent Pete Fairbanks closing games. Fairbanks gave up a run on Friday night, blowing the save but ending up with the win. He’s been better in August, with a 1.80 ERA and two saves in six appearances. He has four blown saves and an unsightly, career-worst 58% strand percentage. On Saturday, Calvin Faucher earned his second save on a day off for Fairbanks, who has 18 saves on the season and should get the majority of the chances here.
The New York Mets suddenly have a fascinating bullpen, with a triple-headed monster at the back of it, with Kodai Senga, Daniel Duarte, and Nate Lavender. Senga is clearly the closer most nights, and has locked down four saves in this stretch, and he is ably supported by Duarte and Lavender. This will be fun to watch, especially if Devin Williams returns from his shoulder strain this year at all.
NL Central
Daniel Palencia has returned in Chicago; the question now will be, in what role? My guess here is that he serves in a setup role or stopper role, while Jacob Webb remains the closer. Webb blew the save and took the loss on Saturday night, a game in which Palencia did not pitch. Don’t quote me on it because we know roles can change on a moment’s notice. This could be fascinating to watch down the stretch, and I will be watching it for you.
In Cincinnati, Emilio Pagan is the closer, and there is no current doubt about that, but watch out for Luis Mey, a big righty with high velocity who has moved into a setup role. Walks are his big issue, but he has only surrendered two in seven August appearances. Something could be starting to gel here with Mey.
With the absence of setup ace Abner Uribe, lefty Aaron Ashby and his 13 wins have stepped into a higher-leverage role. Trevor Megill had pitched and earned saves on Thursday and Friday, so Ashby got the ninth and converted his second save of the season. Megill has 24 saves, a 2.34 ERA, and a 29% K%. Another great season for the veteran closer.
NL West
Justin Martinez is back in Arizona and seems to be inserted back into the closer mix there with Juan Morillo and Brandyn Garcia. Expect the team to be somewhat cautious with Martinez, who is coming off Tommy John surgery. But the team is also fighting for its playoff life and needs him; it will be a balancing act.
Tanner Scott has taken over the top job in Los Angeles due to Edwin Diaz‘s injury and ineffectiveness, and is rostered in only 50% of Yahoo leagues at this point. That will change with him recapturing the job for the Dodgers, and the fact that he had three straight saves this week. He should be rostered in every format and likely will be by the end of the weekend. Look for the Dodgers to use their mixing and matching in the holds department: Alex Vesia, Edgardo Henriquez, and Brock Stewart should all be in that mix.
Fantrax is one of the fastest-growing fantasy sites in the fantasy sports industry, and we’re not stopping anytime soon. We are the most customizable, easy-to-use, and feature-rich platform in the industry, offering the greatest fantasy experience for your dynasty, keeper, redraft, and best ball leagues. Fantasy sports doesn’t sleep, and neither does Fantrax, with seasons running 365 days a year. Take your fantasy leagues to the next level now at Fantrax.com!
