Remember when I opened my big mouth about two months ago and suggested that things were pretty stable in most MLB bullpens?
Well, that isn’t the case anymore. We see at least eight bullpens in various stages of flux, from higher stakes bullpens like the New York Yankees to teams on the playoff periphery, like the Pittsburgh Pirates, trying to figure it out before it is too late in the season.
Let’s take a deeper dive into it.
Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Update
AL East
Clay Holmes is out temporarily as the closer in New York. Look for Luke Weaver and Tommy Kahnle to get some chances sprinkled in. Jake Cousins actually has the best stats of all three bullpen arms here. This bullpen still operates best with Holmes at the back end of it, and my best guess is that any “solution” here is temporary until Holmes can find his footing again. He has just blown way too many saves for a team with World Series aspirations. Weaver earned his first career save on Friday night, with Cousins and Kahnle both getting holds. Holmes has not pitched since blowing his last save on Tuesday. Keep an eye on this one.
Watching Tampa Bay between Edwin Uceta and Manuel Rodriguez. Rodriguez took a loss this week, and the only save went to lefty Garrett Cleavinger. Uceta got a hold in the game Cleavinger saved. Kevin Cash is willing to use any of his guys at any time, so this is a hard one to call. I do think he would prefer to use Uceta earlier in games as a stopper, and use Rodriguez as the closer. There hasn’t been a save opportunity for Tampa in almost a week.
Chad Green has blown two consecutive saves in Toronto, but they do not seem to have an heir apparent. I don’t see Genesis Cabrera or Erik Swanson as closers, moving up from their setup roles. This bullpen lacks high-velocity arms and this looks like an area for strengthening in the offseason. Expect Green to continue to close games.
AL Central
The White Sox only win a game or two a month, but they may have stumbled on a usable bullpen arm in Gus Varland. In 15 games with the Sox, the veteran has a 1.72 ERA with a 26.5%K% and a 10.3 K/9. Will it last? Unlikely, but he can be useful on this beyond-awful team.
Could Emmanuel Clase get to 50 saves? He had two more this week, and is now at 41 on the season. He shows no signs of letting down.
Detroit continues to be a bit of a mystery. Last week, it looked like Jason Foley was the preference. He got one save this week, but so did Tyler Holton. Foley also took a loss on Wednesday night. Holton earned another save on Thursday night. It still feels like they want Foley to have the job, but Holton bears watching here. This looks to be a committee to me. Maybe a 50/50 split down the stretch? Foley got the save opportunity on Saturday night. We will be watching.
Lucas Erceg is back as the closer in Kansas City after missing a few days with a hand injury, earning a save on Wednesday night in his second game back. He followed that up with another on Saturday night. Continue to use with confidence that he is the guy getting the chances.
Jhoan Duran had three consecutive saves this week for Minnesota, and he now has 22 on the season. And then Saturday night he took the loss. An inconsistent season continues for the talented closer.
AL West
It looks like Ben Joyce is the top choice in Los Angeles. He had the only save this week for the Angels, and also earned a win. Veteran lefty Brock Burke is pushing for a higher leverage role with Jose Quijada also working an eighth-inning role.
Oakland: Mason Miller only pitched once this week, a 30-pitch outing on Friday. I am not sure how much I would read into this but he has 55 innings pitched this year, so they may start holding him back some. The bigger issue is the blown saves in front of him by Michael Otanez and T.J. McFarland which means he isn’t getting a save chance.
Kirby Yates had three saves this week, pushing the season total to 28. It’s been a really good year for Yates in what is looking more like a lost season for Texas.
NL East
Raisel Iglesias earned three consecutive saves this week in Atlanta. He has pushed his season total to 31 now with a 1.24 ERA and a sparkling 0.60 WHIP. Yes, I was one of the people who suggested dropping Iglesias down in your rankings before the season, and I will wear it that I was wrong.
Miami: Calvin Faucher hit the IL this weekend with a shoulder impingement, which could easily end his season. This should be a committee situation with John McMillon, Jesus Tinoco, and Anthony Bender vying for position. McMillon. who you may recall from his days in Kansas City, has two wins this week in a relief role and could be a slight favorite here, despite the fact that Bender does have some closing experience over the last two seasons with nine career saves since 2021.
New York: despite the hefty contract to Edwin Diaz, both Jose Butto and Phil Maton earned saves this week too. Diaz is still the safest bet to earn saves most nights, but this is intriguing.
After some turmoil in Philadelphia, Carlos Estevez appears to be the top dog there with Jeff Hoffman being the primary setup man alongside rookie Orion Kerkering. I pointed out a few weeks back that Kerkering was lurking (that kind of rhymes) and I think he could get save chances in the playoffs. Just a hunch. Esetvez earned both saves this week with Hoffman setting him up. Matt Strahm did earn two situational saves as well.
NL Central
Jorge Lopez hit the IL in Chicago, leaving all the save chances for rookie Porter Hodge. I rostered him, but too soon, and injuries forced me to let him go. And now he’s a closer in Tout Wars where I desperately needed saves. Great call, Mike.
Pittsburgh: David Bednar has been demoted to middle relief, and the closer situation appears to be a committee among Aroldis Chapman, Kyle Nicolas, and Dennis Santana. Based on usage patterns thus far, it is a two-man committee between Chapman and Santana, both of whom earned saves this week. Chapman has the experience, and a 37.2%K%, while Santana is in the 99th percentile for chase percentage at 36.7%, and is in the 86th percentile for exit velocity at 86 MPH. Personally, I want to see more of Santana in the role, but my guess is that Chapman will get more chances based on his wealth of experience. Chapman blew the save on Saturday night and took the loss.
Ryan Helsley earned his 43 save this season on Saturday. Both JoJo Romero and Andrew Kittredge have over 30 holds this season. The bullpen has been a bright spot this season for St. Louis.
NL West
Justin Martinez continues to be the closer in Arizona, but keep an eye on A.J. Puk, who now appears to be the top setup option most nights.
Tyler Kinley has been getting the job done in Colorado, nabbing saves on Thursday and Friday this week. He is the clearcut choice right now in Colorado and has saves in four of his last five appearances, shaving nearly two runs off his season ERA. If you’re desperate…maybe. I am so wary of rostering Colorado pitchers.
San Diego: Robert Suarez blew a save in spectacular fashion Thursday night, surrendering a grand slam and taking a loss against Detroit. He remains the top option for a team fighting for a playoff chance, with Jason Adam and Tanner Scott behind him in setup roles. Suarez has eight wins and 31 saves on the season.