Another version of your weekly bullpen report! As a reminder, here’s the approach:
- Closer/Speculative Adds – Players owned in less than 70 percent of Fantrax leagues that have a share of a closing role, or are worth a speculative pickup.
- HOLDS!!! – If we do all this work to identify top relievers, we might as well surface the ones who provide value even if they aren’t earning saves. This will be guys who are worth an add to boost ratios or if you are in a league with Holds as a category.
- A recap of the week prior – who earned saves, who blew saves, and what each pitcher’s peripherals were like over the past seven days. We’ll look at the top two or three options from each bullpen so we can also take a sneak peek at who is next in line for saves. We’ll also include Fantrax ownership in everything we do.
- Bullpen Matrix – An interactive visual of bullpen usage for the past seven days. The bullpen report is dynamic so you can change the lookback period to your heart’s desire, but we’ll focus on how each team’s bullpen was managed over the past seven days.
I’m open to any and all feedback, and I hope this bullpen report evolves to maximize effectiveness for the readers. Don’t hesitate to reach out in the comments or on Twitter with comments, questions, suggestions about the article or fantasy baseball in general. Let’s get into it!
Week 14 Bullpen Report
Speculative Adds
A.J. Minter (ATL – 51% owned) and Dan Winkler (ATL – 31% owned) – Arodys Vizcaino hit the DL on 6/24 and Minter/Winkler are the primary benefactors. The Braves will play matchups most nights with Minter being a lefty and Winkler a righty, but I give the slight edge to Minter who was in line to get the first opportunity and Winkler blew a save on Wednesday. Both are worth an add, but go Minter if you’re deciding between the two.
Seranthony Dominguez (PHI – 55% owned) – Dominguez has firmly established himself as the closer for Philadelphia, even with the return of Hector Neris to the back of the bullpen. With back-to-back saves on Wednesday and Thursday, there is no doubt Dominguez is the guy going forward.
Mark Melancon (SF – 66% owned) – Sam Dyson has four blown saves with the Giants this year, and another implosion on Thursday may have just opened the door for Melancon. Tony Watson might also be worthy of a speculative add, but Melancon has received the recent eighth-inning hold opportunities and figures to be next in line.
Wily Peralta (KC – 13% owned) – Officially, “the guy to own” in Kansas City with two saves this week. They may occasionally play matchups and throw the lefty Tim Hill out there, but expect Peralta to get the majority of looks.
Tyler Clippard (TOR – 18% owned) – Both Clippard and Seung Hwan Oh received saves this past week, while Tepera blew two different leads. Tepera still officially holds the role of closer, but don’t be surprised to see Clippard get another crack in the coming days.
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— Fantrax (@Fantrax) June 28, 2018
HOLDS!!!!
Trevor Hildenberger (MIN – 13% owned) – Fernando Rodney is coming off a huge workload and a blown save while Hildenberger has been awesome this season. I don’t expect a change in role, but Hildenberger is in a prime spot to rack up Holds with the occasional save mixed between.
Tommy Hunter (PHI – 10% owned) – Hunter entered the ninth with a three-run lead and looked primed to earn his first save, but was abruptly swapped out for Seranthony Dominguez after allowing a quick run. Despite the slip-up, Hunter is in a fantastic spot for holds with the competing Phillies and a shaky closer role. Could end up with a second-half closer.
Lou Trivino (OAK – 14% owned) – Trivino has been a ratio savior in standard formats, and has started to accumulate holds in the back of the Oakland bullpen. Blake Treinen has a firm grip on the closer role, although Trivino converted one save to spell Treinen after back-to-back outings. The A’s are surprising wild-card contenders, so the opportunities for holds continue to roll in.
Prior Week Recap
[table “171” not found /]Bullpen Matrix
For more on how the Bullpen Matrix works head on over the dedicated page for the chart.
