It’s been another crazy week of bullpen usage around major league baseball. In this weekly piece, we examine the usage and try to make sense of it. For some teams with ace closers, that examination is easier than for other teams.
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This one is coming out a day early due to my travel schedule this weekend, so this only includes games and notes running through Thursday night.
Have a great weekend, and make sure that fantasy baseball remains a fun activity for you, not something that stresses you out. And a happy Father’s Day to all who serve in that role; you are seen, you are needed, and we thank you.
Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report
AL East
Ryan Helsley is back in Baltimore. He has not had a save chance yet, but he is back in the closer role. That should bump Rico Garcia back down to a setup role, where he will team with Andrew Kittredge, despite his 6.06 ERA. Helsley has seven saves this season so far.
Boston has been scuffling, but Aroldis Chapman remains terrific with a sparkling 0.83 ERA, 14 saves, and a 33.7% K%. Both he and Garrett Whitlock are off to great starts, and both could become desired trade candidates over the next few weeks if the Red Sox do not get it into gear soon.
AL Central
Looks like a big committee in Chicago among Seranthony Dominguez, Grant Taylor, and Bryan Hudson. As a Sox fan, it is interesting (and sometimes anxiety-producing) to watch. Dominguez is the closer in name, and he did have the last save chance for the White Sox last Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, Taylor has been dominant: a 2.21 ERA, two saves, four holds, and a whopping 35.1% K%. Yet both he and Hudson serve multiple roles on this team; Taylor, at times, is throwing two innings in the middle of the game as a stopper, and Hudson serves as an opener often. If the Sox continue to stay in the thick of the AL Central race, perhaps things shift here somewhat over the course of the next few weeks. Definitely something to watch.
Cade Smith leads the entire planet with 24 saves for the Cleveland Guardians. He also has two wins, a 2.38 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP, and 512 strikeouts in 34 innings to go with those saves.
Detroit: Kenley Jansen is back but has not pitched since last Saturday, so he remains stuck on seven saves with a 4.50 ERA.
In Minnesota, Yoendrys Gomez now has seven saves with two more added this week, to go with his lowering 3.86 ERA and mediocre 22.1% K%. It will be interesting to see if he holds the job. Anthony Banda and Andrew Morris are the top setup guys; keep an eye on Morris if Gomez falters.
AL West
The Athletics continue to fascinate me. Every week, it seems they take someone off the closer train and add someone else. Right now, this looks to be a full committee with Elvis Alvarado, lefty Hogan Harris, and newbie Mason Barnett. Alvarado has the highest octane to be the closer, and got a ringing endorsement from manager Mark Kotsay on the changes he has made to his improved approach. Barnett has been a revelation in six outings thus far, striking out 15 of 48 batters thus far despite having been a starter in the minor leagues. Meanwhile, Harris leads the team with six saves. Lean Alvarado here if he is available in your league.
Josh Hader looks like he never missed time in Houston. He has now appeared in seven games, notching four saves and an eye-popping 45.8%. Let’s hope he holds up; I am still worried about that shoulder.
Los Angeles: I am not sure what to make of this one; Kirby Yates appears to be the closer in name, but has only pitched twice this week as the moribund Angels skate along at 30-46. This team continues to be a rudderless ship.
After exiting a game with a balky back last week, Andres Munoz has returned this week with two saves, running his season total to 12 despite a shaky 5.47 ERA. His xERA is 4.42, and his xFIP is 2.91. His left-on-base percentage is a career-low 65.9%, and his home run rate is an unsustainable (we hope) 19%. If you are looking to buy low, this could be the time.
NL East
I have been impressed by the recent stretch of Devin Williams in New York. In five June appearances, he has locked down three saves with an improved 3.38 ERA and 1.31 WHIP, striking out nine batters in five innings. Most importantly, he has only two walks after surrendering seven in 10 May innings. Surprisingly, he is floating around on the waiver wire in some leagues; snatch him up if that is the case in yours and you have room.
Watching this situation in Washington closely. Clayton Beeter remains the closer in name, and even though he pitched twice this week, neither was a save situation. Gus Varland got the save on a night when it appeared that Beeter was off after throwing in two straight games.
NL Central
Daniel Palencia hit the IL for the Chicago Cubs with right elbow inflammation. My best guess here is that the closer situation will be a timeshare between veterans Jacob Webb and Caleb Thielbar. I would lean Webb, based on his handedness, but Thielbar will get chances too, based on the game situation when lefties dot the landscape in the ninth. Webb has nine career saves, and Thielbar has seven. There is no estimated return date for Palencia yet.
Cincinnati: We are getting some clarity here. The committee is over, and Tony Santillan is the closer, notching two saves this week. At times it has been ugly, but Santillan has now gone six straight games without giving up a run or a walk and has seized the role. He might be available on your waiver wire, and you may want to consider him this weekend if you are hunting for saves.
Milwaukee, despite leading the NL Central by a comfortable margin, is struggling with its bullpen a bit this week. Trevor Megill is the closer and earned their only save this week; lefty Aaron Ashby earned his league-leading tenth win. However, the middle of the bullpen blew the game last night, with recent acquisition Joel Kuhnel blowing a chance to get the game to the back end of the pen.
NL West
Paul Sewald can breathe a little easier for now in Arizona. He has been a revelation this year with his 3.42 ERA, 18 saves, and 30.1% K%. Potential closer A.J. Puk, on the comeback trail from Tommy John surgery, had his rehab paused last weekend with shoulder discomfort. Sewald continues to be the closer for the mildly surprising Diamondbacks.
Colorado: Pass. Just no.
The Los Angeles Dodgers fascinate me. For a team that has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on offense, they continue to get great contributions in their bullpen from inexpensive guys they have developed, like Will Klein and Alex Vesia. Granted, they spent big money on closer Tanner Scott, who has been up to the task of replacing another high-priced free agent, Edwin Diaz. Scott has nine saves and a 2.32 ERA and 33.3% K%. Diaz was scheduled to throw a bullpen this week as he tries to return from his elbow injury. Stay tuned.
San Francisco: Ryan Walker has returned from Triple-A, but Caleb Kilian remains the closer, where he has done the job when he has been given the opportunity. There just have not been many chances as the Giants have scuffled all season. Walker and lefty Erik Miller appear to be the top setup options at this time.
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