Week four is here, and for once, we have a relatively quiet week on the closer front. By this point, there’s a clear top-three that have separated themselves, and any reliable closer with a secure job is priceless right now. Highlighting this edition of my closer rankings and bullpen updates, we get a top-tier closer back in New York, and Trevor Gott ruins our ratios. Check out what else has happened in the bullpens around the league.
AL East Bullpen Update
Cole Sulser got back on track this week, picking up his fourth and fifth saves of the season. He retired every batter in both outings. Meanwhile, Miguel Castro and Mychal Givens alternated the eighth innings. Both are clearly behind Sulser.
Brandon Workman has been just fine as the Red Sox closer, going 3-for-3 on save chances this year. The rest of the team, not so much. Workman just hasn’t gotten the opportunities. After not pitching for a week, he made an appearance in Friday’s game with Boston down by seven runs to the Yankees. He walked one, allowed three hits, and gave up two runs. His setup man, Matt Barnes, has not been off to a good start with an abysmal 5.3% K-BB rate. Barnes is walking everyone, giving up more fly balls, and just not getting the strikeouts at the same pace as last season. If you were rostering him for holds or strikeouts, it’s time to drop.
Rejoice, Aroldis Chapman owners, rejoice. Our prime closer is back this week from his COVID recovery. He slots back into the top five this week in the closer rankings. Don’t drop your Zack Britton just yet, though. Chapman won’t pitch on back-to-back days this week. Britton picked up two more saves for an MLB-leading eight on the year.
Chad Green has been incredible as a middle reliever for the Yankees. Green has a 0.71 ERA through 12.2 innings with two wins, five holds, and 17 strikeouts. Add him wherever he’s available.
Nick Anderson picked up his third save Saturday against the Blue Jays. During Wednesday’s game against Boston, JD Martinez hit a grand slam off Aaron Slegers in the eighth to put the Red Sox within four runs. Anderson relieved him to get the Rays out of the inning. So while Anderson should get more save chances than anyone else, he’s still going to be used in tight spots when the Rays need him. Anderson has been lights out, with 11 strikeouts to one walk and no runs given up in 7.1 innings.
Ken Giles has been rehabbing from an injured forearm and is throwing at Toronto’s alternate training site. Meanwhile, Anthony Bass has three saves in his place. He’s been steady in place of Giles, having allowed runs in only one outing. Toronto’s best reliever has been Jordan Romano. Romano has struck out 13 batters in 10 innings with only one earned run. He’s been setting up Bass and should continue to be an asset for ratios and holds even when Giles returns. Romano could be the long-term answer at closer for the Blue Jays.
AL Central Bullpen Update
Alex Colome picked up his fifth save on Wednesday and continues to be one of the more reliable closers in the game. In today’s environment, that’s gold. It’s only eight innings, but Colome has been fantastic, not having allowed a run and inducing swings on pitches outside the zone at a whopping 45.3% clip.
Brad Hand recorded his sixth save of the season Tuesday. He seems to have a hold of his closer role for now. But the concerns going into the season remain. Going into the day, Hand had a 10% K-BB rate and only a 7.7% swinging-strike rate. A far cry so far from his 27.3% and 13.2%, respectively.
Nick Wittgren continues to work directly behind Hand in the eighth inning. Meanwhile, everyone’s favorite next-man-up, James Karinchak, has been as good as advertised. He’s got 24 strikeouts in 12.2 innings with five walks and only one run allowed.
The Tigers had no save chances this week. Joe Jimenez did make an appearance, hitting one batter and striking out one in an inning of work Sunday. Jimenez sits at five saves on the year, four of them coming in the first week.
Gregory Soto has been the best reliever behind Jimenez. He had a 31.6% K-BB rate going into Tuesday and had not allowed a run. It couldn’t last forever, though. Soto struggled for the first time this season Tuesday night as he could not retire any of the four batters he faced.
Trevor Rosenthal continues his climb up the closer rankings as he’s enjoying a successful bounce-back season so far. He picked up his fifth save of the season Saturday and has allowed only one run through 10 innings with 13 strikeouts.
Josh Staumont has been impressive with 19 strikeouts in 9.2 innings. He pitched directly behind Rosenthal this week, picking up two holds. Staumont, much like Jordan Romano, could be a long-term add in dynasty leagues as the future closer in Kansas City. He should be owned everywhere now as a middle reliever for ratios and strikeouts.
Taylor Rogers has had a bit of bad luck. His 4.32 ERA comes with a 2.28 FIP and 2.14 xFIP. He’s getting more ground balls this season along with more swinging-strikes, and he’s allowed his only walk of the season on Tuesday. Tuesday’s outing was a bit rough. After Kenta Maeda allowed his first hit of the game to the leadoff man in the ninth, Rogers came in for the save. He gave up two hits and a walk, allowing the Brewers to tie the game. I wouldn’t worry about too much about Rogers going forward quite yet. The situation, though, is a different story. Sergio Romo struck out the side on Sunday for his third save of the season. Rogers should continue to get the majority of save chances, and plenty should come for a team like the Twins.
AL West Bullpen Update
Ryan Pressly pitched two clean outings over the weekend against Seattle, picking up a save and a win. He needed it after struggling with injuries and performance over the first couple of weeks. Blake Taylor has stepped up to give the Astros some much-needed help in the bullpen as a setup man. Taylor could get his occasional save chance. He’s got one this season along with a hold and a win.
Angels closer Ty Buttrey has not allowed a run to score over his last six outings. While he got no save chances this week, he did pick up a win Monday against the Giants. His 60% ground ball rate is letting him get by with only a 9.1% strikeout rate.
Felix Pena has been a bright spot in the Angels bullpen. Though, he was charged with a blown save Saturday when he gave up a game-tying leadoff home run to Mookie Betts in the seventh inning.
Liam Hendricks continues to be one of the best closers in the game. He picked up his seventh save of the season Saturday and has picked up right where he left off last season with a 1.59 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and 39.5% strikeout rate.
Joakim Soria has been outstanding behind Hendricks. Soria gave up his first run of the season Monday when he allowed a leadoff double in the ninth inning after pitching a clean eighth. He was relieved by Jake Diekman immediately after, and Diekman allowed the inherited runner to score. Soria has a 0.84 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 10.2 innings with two wins and a hold.
The Mariners saw no save chances this week. Taylor Williams made one appearance, pitching a clean inning against the Dodgers on Monday. Williams will continue most opportunities to close out games and has three saves on the year.
Matt Magill had pitched eight scoreless appearances to start the season, mostly in the sixth and seventh innings, before he was crushed by the Dodgers on Monday. Magill allowed five runs on four hits and two walks.
Closer Rafael Montero picked up his fifth save of the season Saturday. All five have come in the last 11 days since he was activated. He’s yet to allow a run or a walk in all five appearances.
Jonathan Hernandez has been a valuable middle reliever. As he has three wins and four holds with a 2.13 ERA. He’d be next in line to close should Montero be unavailable.
NL East Bullpen Update
Mark Melancon picked up his fourth save of the season Saturday. He had yet to allow a run until Tuesday. He pitched the top of the ninth with the Braves down by two and gave up a run on two hits and two walks. Meanwhile, Will Smith is shaking off some rust as he’s given up two runs on two solo shots in his last two outings.
Marlins closer Brandon Kintzler made one appearance this week, picking up the loss on Saturday after giving up a solo home run to Adam Duvall that broke the tie.
Edwin Diaz had been looking much better of late after he six consecutive scoreless outings going into Tuesday. He pitched the ninth inning o Tuesday’s game against the Marlins with the Mets up by six. He allowed three straight hits and a run to score to start the inning before striking out the next three batters.
Seth Lugo gave up the game-winning run to the Phillies in the bottom of the ninth on Friday. He then pitched Sunday and gave up two hits. So, he hasn’t been quite as sharp as last season. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Diaz reclaim his closer role soon.
No saves chances this week for Hector Neris, who’s been up and down this season so far. The good thing going for him is that the Phillies really don’t have any other options.
Daniel Hudson made appearances in three straight games from Sunday-Tuesday. He picked up two saves with a blowup outing sandwiched in between. The Nationals closer now has five saves on the year.
Setting up Hudson has been Tanner Rainey, who has six holds now to go with a 0.87 ERA, 0.58 WHIP, and 17 strikeouts in 10.1 innings. Rainey would be next in line at this point and should be added in all holds leagues and roto leagues for ratio help and strikeouts.
NL Central Bullpen Update
Rowan Wick got the four-out save on Tuesday for his fourth on the year. Meanwhile, Craig Kimbrel has been picking up work in low-leverage situations and made two scoreless outings. He struck out two in each of those outings, a good sign for the former top closer.
The Reds have not played since Friday after a player tested positive for COVID. Raisel Iglesias has not made an appearance in the last week but remains in the top-10 of the closer rankings. Iglesias has been impressive, striking out 12 batters in 6.2 innings, though, he carries a 4.05 ERA despite a 1.47 FIP and 1.30 xFIP and has yet to issue a walk.
Is there any question in today’s game that Josh Hader belongs at the top of the closer rankings? Hader converted two saves on the week and struck out two in a clean tenth inning on Tuesday. This brings him to five saves and 12 strikeouts in 7.1 innings with no runs allowed. David Phelps has looked good behind Hader as he’s struck out 13 hitters in 10 innings and has allowed only one earned run.
As anticipated, Keone Kela was activated from the injured list and has taken back the closer role in Pittsburgh. Kela has made only two appearances and has yet to see a save opportunity. He should be added in all roto leagues if he’s still floating around out there on the waiver wire.
With so many games coming up for the Cardinals, it was going to be interesting to see how the closer situation played out. So far, Andrew Miller has picked up both saves for the team since it resumed play Saturday. In the first game of a doubleheader Monday, Giovanny Gallegos pitched the sixth inning and appeared to be ready to finish the game. But, with the lefty Kyle Schwarber in to pinch-hit, it was Andrew Miller that came in to finish the game. Ultimately, there will be save chances to go around for both Miller and Gallegos. You can include John Gant in that mix as well.
NL West Bullpen Update
Archie Bradley converted two more saves this week to bring his total to six on the season. He did run into some trouble Saturday as he got the four-out save despite giving up three runs. He’s been pitching well in this short season as his 21.6% K-BB rate would mark a career-best. Granted, we’re only looking at nine innings here. Regardless, Bradley has been getting the job done.
The revolving door of closers in Colorado stops now at…Daniel Bard? Or perhaps it’s Carlos Estevez. He picked up the last save for the Rockies on Sunday but was hit with a comebacker. Dealing with the hand injury, he was unavailable Monday and Tuesday but is set to play catch Wednesday, so his return is imminent. Bard pitched a clean ninth inning of a tie game Tuesday against the Astros.
It might just be time to give the number one spot in the closer rankings to Kenley Jansen just for the number of opportunities the Dodgers are giving him. He’s been fantastic, picking up three more saves this week for a total of seven. After pitching in three of four games, Jansen was unavailable Tuesday, and Blake Treinen picked up the save against Seattle.
With Kirby Yates on the injured list, it might be Drew Pomeranz’s time in San Diego. He’s been worth every penny the Padres paid him in the offseason. Pomeranz has four saves now on the year. He was credited with a hold on Tuesday after he faced the top of the Rangers’ order in the seventh inning. Cal Quantrill picked up a one-out save.
To all the Trevor Gott owners out there, RIP to your ratios. This week was a rough one, to say the least. Eleven earned runs in 1.1 innings. That’s going to take some work to recover from. Gott is droppable now everywhere, and Tony Watson should be picked up as the speculative add. Watson has been one of the more effective relievers for the Giants with a 1.35 ERA and has closing experience.
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