Lots of bullpen news and notes this week. After a period of relative stability in 2023, it looks like we are back to the chaos we are used to when it comes to spring through MLB bullpens and finding those saves and holds. Let’s dig right in.
You can DM me on Twitter/X @mdrc0508 if you have questions or just want to vent. 🙂
Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report
AL East
Tampa Bay’s Pete Fairbanks hit the IL this week with a nerve-related injury, and an interesting thing happened: Jason Adam was not anointed the closer. He didn’t earn either save this week; lefty Garrett Cleavinger earned both. It appears, albeit in a minuscule sample size, that manager Kevin Cash feels he can use any arm in his bullpen to get the last three outs. Here’s the thing: Adam will be the guy who gets the toughest outs, making him the reliever called upon to get the 1-2-3 guys in the order. The issue is that this could happen in the seventh inning. We can’t predict who will get the chances. Cleavinger did this week, but veteran lefty Colin Poche also lurks here, and Adam could get chances if the stars line up.
AL Central
My son Jack’s team has won more games than the godawful Chicago White Sox, who remain stuck on four wins. Michael Kopech was called upon in the eighth inning (why?) earlier this week and earned a hold, leaving the ninth for righty Steven Wilson, who promptly blew the save. The fact that they are the worst team in baseball, with eight shutouts in 24 games, means the chances here will be scant, and Kopech is far from a sure thing to get a save even if he gets the opportunity.
Cleveland: Emmanuel Clase continues to earn and convert his opportunities. He has a win and eight saves in 13 games thus far, with a .69 ERA and .85 WHIP. Watch the usage here; Clase seemed to tire down the stretch last year and his 13 appearances, which leads the American League. Scott Barlow continues to pitch well with six holds.
James McArthur has earned the top job in Kansas City, and notched two saves this week. The pecking order has changed slightly, with the preferred options behind him being Chris Stratton and John Schreiber. Nick Anderson and Will Smith appear to be middle-relief options now. We know how quickly that can change and will be watching.
Griffin Jax earned three straight saves this week for the Minnesota Twins. Brock Stewart and Steven Okert are the top setup options, with both earning holds this week. Would-be closer Jhoan Duran continues to work his way back from an oblique strain and threw a second rehab appearance Friday night in AAA St. Paul. Let there be no doubt: when he returns, he will close; maybe not immediately, but he has the potential to be one of the top closers in baseball. He will have the job as soon as he is comfortable. A tip of the hat to Jax and Stewart for admirably holding down the fort this first month. Caleb Thielbar earned a save on Friday night.
AL West
Things are painfully quiet in Houston with the Astros off to a brutal start. Josh Hader has not pitched in a week.
Mason Miller continues to prove he is the real deal in Oakland. The youngster has seven saves in 10 games thus far, with a startling 51.1K% and 41.2 K-BB%. Those are video game numbers and will not be sustainable. Miller has three saves this week alone. However, ride this streak now before the Athletics limit his innings. Lucas Erceg continues to pitch well as the top setup man in Oakland.
It’s tough to read the situation in Seattle, where most expected Andres Munoz to be the top option for saves. However, manager Scott Servais has mixed and matched his bullpen. Munoz leads the team with three saves but also has three holds. Ryne Stanek has two saves and four holds; Gabe Speier has four holds as well. Veteran righty Matt Brash is almost set to go out on a rehab assignment in the next few days, which will only cloud this mix. Best guess: Munoz gets most of the chances, but game situations will dictate this.
Kirby Yates earned saves three and four this week for the Texas Rangers. Yates has yet to give up a run and has a 32.4K%. David Robertson leads the team with eight holds. The team welcomed back righties Josh Sborz and Jonathan Hernandez this week from the IL. Both appear to be in middle relief at this point, as Jose Leclerc has settled in nicely in the seventh-inning role.
NL East
In Miami, Tanner Scott seems to be settling in, which makes him a trade candidate at some point this season. The Marlins will have other options, including Calvin Faucher. The team announced that lefty AJ Puk would move back to the bullpen and join Andrew Nardi and Anthony Bender as top options. Crowded house right now.
We have to discuss Reed Garrett. Garrett seemingly exploded on the scene this season, boasting a 50K%. Garrett has four wins, a .71 ERA, and a. 87 WHIP. Garrett uses a five-pitch mix that features a slider, a sweeper, and a splitter that he uses the most, Batters suggest that they cannot tell the difference between the slider and the sweeper which is leading to great results for Garrett. Will he close in New York? No, as that job belongs to Edwin Diaz, one of the game’s best closers. Adam Ottavino is also in this setup mix. But Garrett reminds me that rostering nasty middle relievers who get strikeouts and help support ratios are better additions than a team’s fifth starter most of the time. Garrett could vulture a win or save and get 6-8 strikeouts per week. That’s better than many mediocre starters.
NL Central
Chicago Cubs Adbert Alzolay appears to be out as a closer, pitching in the sixth inning in his last appearance. That would seem to leave the ninth to veteran Hector Neris. Neris has the last three saves being set up by Mark Leiter, Jr. Neris is a highwire act: an xERA of 6.99, a paltry 19,5 K%, and a whopping 22 BB%. I would suggest looking elsewhere for saves and ratio help.
Milwaukee’s bullpen continues to be something to behold. Full disclosure: I did suggest Trevor Megill would be the closer in Milwaukee, but he earned his first save ever on Thursday night. Looking at usage patterns, Megill has gotten the toughest outs since returning from the IL earlier this week. Joel Payamps continues to be the top setup option, while preseason darling Abner Uribe is pitching earlier in games, including the sixth inning in the Thursday night game. Lefty Bryan Hudson is also in the setup mix and earned two wins this week. This looks like a situation with no clear-cut closer, and a headache for fantasy players. Good luck mining saves here.
Much has been made about the poor start for Pittsburgh’s David Bednar. But he now has three saves in a row and looks like he is putting the hand-wringing to rest. And then, he earns the loss on Friday night. He continues to be their best option. Aroldis Chapman leads the team with six holds.
NL West
Paul Sewald is nearing a return for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Manager Torey Lovullo stated that Sewals would throw a bullpen this weekend, and likely make one more rehab appearance before rejoining the big league team. What to do when Sewald returns? Kevin Ginkel has four saves and a 3.48 ERA in ten games. My best guess: Sewald is the closer when he is ready, and Ginkel reverts back to a setup role, where he excelled last season.
Justin Lawrence appears to have snatched the top gig in Colorado with two saves and a win this week. He can be successful if he limits his walk rate.
Robert Suarez has quietly run with the San Diego Padres’ closer job with nine saves. Wandy Peralta and Enyel De Los Santos are the top candidates for holds.