If you have read my bullpen work with any regularity, you may know that I like to gather some data at the All-Star break and report that back to you here.
There are 196 guys with at least one save. There are four guys with 25 or more, and seven guys with 20 or more. There are 12 relievers with 15 or more, 22 with 10 or more, and 39 with five or more. It may be tougher than ever to predict who will get the saves, but as we can see by the numbers, there are tons of options.
The cavalcade of closers continues unabated. There are currently 15 guys in the closing role who did not have it at the beginning of the season. That leaves 15 closers who had the job at the outset of the season.
It’s a crazy life following bullpens, but someone needs to do it, and it is a labor of love following these each week.
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Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report
AL East
We are following the Baltimore Orioles with intrigue. It looks like this is a co-closer situation between veterans Tyer Wells and Andrew Kittredge. Before the All-Star break, Kittredge got two saves. Then on Friday night, Kittredge earned a hold and ceded the save chance to Wells, who converted for his third save of the season. I would still lean Kittredge slightly based on his experience, but Wells has pitched better. Both blew saves on Saturday night. The headache continues. Cam Sanders got the save on Saturday.
It’s been a quiet time for the New York Yankees, where David Bednar remains in the top job. He sports a 2.70 ERA, a 27.3% K%, and has 18 saves. If you are looking for holds, Fernando Cruz has been great and has 16 holds this season.
Bryan Baker closed down the All-Star game on Tuesday night, and why not? The veteran righty has a 1.73 ERA, a 29.3% K%, and 25 saves for the first-place Tampa Bay Rays. What a season for the first-year closer.
AL Central
We are watching the Chicago White Sox, and not just because I am a fan. The bullpen is a very interesting place for this team right now. I cannot tell you from night to night who will get the save chance, but it will likely come down to Grant Taylor, Sean Newcomb, Seranthony Dominguez, and Bryan Hudson. It feels odd for a first-place team not to know who its closer is, yet here we are. Taylor is likely the best arm, but that does not mean he will close. Dominguez leads the team with 12 saves, but has been pitching in middle relief lately. Another name moving up the ladder here is Jordan Hicks, who has been lights out in his last 10 outings.
Detroit: This is an odd thing to say, but none of their relief pitchers have pitched except for Keider Montero since last Sunday. Kenley Jansen likely gets the next save chance, but his 4.56 ERA and bloated 13.1% BB% have been lousy much of the season. The Tigers are clawing their way back into the AL Central, but will need better help from their bullpen to stay in the playoff fight. Montero has been terrific; could he find himself in a higher leverage role soon?
In Kansas City, expect the team to start trading off some assets here in the next couple of weeks before the trade deadline on August 3rd. Alex Lange is the closer for now, but he blew another save on Friday night and has a 6.00 ERA despite his eight saves. Guys like Daniel Lynch IV, John Schreiber, and Lucas Erceg could find themselves on the move soon. A lost season for the Royals thus far.
AL West
The Athletics are fighting for fourth place right now with the Los Angeles Angels. While it appears right now that Hogan Harris and Elvis Alvarado are the co-closers right now, watch out for Luis Medina, who has worked his way into a setup role. He could take over the role at some point.
Josh Hader looks like himself again in Houston after his long road back. In 17 games, he has 13 saves, a 1.17 ERA, and a shocking 41.7% K%. I think it is safe to say that I was wrong to avoid rostering him this year. I will own that.
Los Angeles: I want to tell you the closer is Kirby Yates, but I cannot. He blew another save on Friday night and seems to be in a timeshare with Ryan Zeferjahn and Sam Bachman. Egads. Pay attention to lefty Samy Natera Jr., who could find himself in the mix soon.
Andres Munoz is looking like the top-flight closer he is again, with an ERA lowered to 4.19 and 16 saves with a 34.5% K%, thanks to 10 straight scoreless outings. The time to acquire him as a buy-low candidate is probably over in most leagues.
Jacob Latz earned his 19th save on Saturday night to go along with a sparkling 1.57 ERA and 28.1% K%. Latz arrived at Spring Training unsure of any job, and is now one of the top 10 closers in baseball.
NL East
Raisel Iglesias continues to defy Father Time, with a 2.23 ERA, 19 saves, and a 28.3% K%. Dylan Lee and Tyler Kinley are his top setup guys right now, with Robert Suarez on the IL with a sore elbow.
In Miami, Pete Fairbanks continues to struggle with a bloated 6.60 ERA despite 13 saves and a 29.6% K%. Michael Petersen could be the next man up in Miami.
New York: The much-beleaguered Devin Williams earned a save on Thursday night, where he was set up by veterans Luke Weaver and Brooks Raley. Look for Williams to continue to be the closer, but if he continues to slip, Weaver can step in.
I am not sure what Washington will do with the back end of their bullpen, where incumbent Clayton Beeter has struggled on and off much of the season. He has the best stuff of the current group, but a 15.3% walk rate is submarining his season. Could PJ Poulin earn some chances, perhaps Orlando Ribalta? Both seem more appropriate for their current roles.
NL Central
It’s a three-headed monster closing in Chicago, with Jacob Webb most likely the top choice, supported by Caleb Thielbar and Trent Thornton.
Emilio Pagan is back and the closer in Cincinnati. Tejay Antone and Brock Burke are the top setup guys here.
Pittsburgh is a co-closer situation between Gregory Soto and Mason Montgomery. Although Montgomery serves several roles here, opening on Saturday night in game two of a doubleheader. It’s hard to say what Pittsburgh will do at the trade deadline, and they could move Soto and install Montgomery as the closer.
Riley O’Brien continues to be the top choice in St. Louis, with 25 saves and a decent 3.35 ERA and a 23.7% K%.
NL West
Paul Sewald has done an admirable job filling in as the closer for Arizona. It was revealed this weekend that would-be closer A.J. Puk continues to have trouble with his shoulder and elbow and would be making a dreaded visit to Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Justin Martinez is starting to throw live batting practice sessions. So Sewald will stay in the job. He has an unsightly 4.46 ERA but a nice 27.7% K% and 22 saves. Kudos to Sewald, who bounced back on Saturday night (after blowing the chance Friday) to get his 23rd save of the season.
Colorado looked like they were leaning toward Antonio Senzatela for a time, but this appears to be a committee situation now. Juan Mejia is part of it, and so is former top closer Jordan Romano. The Rockies could be active at the trade deadline, and all three of these guys could move to other teams.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are close to getting back Edwin Diaz, which would move current closer Tanner Scott to a setup role. What a job by Scott, with 14 saves, a 2.50 ERA, and 34.7% K%.
San Francisco looks to be a committee situation right now between Caleb Kilian, Erik Miller, and JT Brubaker. Kilian leads the team with eight saves, but his 4.62 ERA leaves much to be desired despite a 28.1% K%.
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