The last several weeks have actually shown us some rare late season clarity with respect to bullpens. Due to a combination of injuries and some pitchers taking control we have a bunch of newly minted full-time closers. In fact, some of the saves leaders in the last 14 days have come from teams well out of contention. This shows the importance of remaining active on the wire to find closer gems. Don’t let up as one save could be the difference between fantasy glory and a losing season.
- Rowan Wick has officially taken advantage of the Cubs’ bullpen. He has three saves in the last two weeks and his K/9 is at 13. Wick has always shown flashes of dominance and is finally healthy. The Cubs might not win many games rest of season but make sure to go get Wick if he’s still available.
- In a similar position, Dylan Floro now has a firm grasp on that Marlins pen. The overall skillset is not as impressive as Wick but anyone getting saves at this point is worth owning.
- Due to an injury to David Bednar, the Pirates’ bullpen is strictly in the hands of Chris Stratton. I’m interested to see if Chad Kuhl gets a chance at some saves ROS as he could be an interesting SP to closer conversion.
- The Red Sox pen has become even more of a mess lately and this is one to avoid going forward. Eventually Matt Barnes will return but I do not anticipate him immediately grabbing his closer job back.
$12 $16 Salads
You know that restaurant your girlfriend/wife/what-have-you likes to go to that charges, like, $12 for a salad? Every time you go there, you have a thoroughly solid meal. No complaints, except you just paid $12 for a salad when you could’ve went to McDonald’s and stuffed you and your woman for ten schmools and had $2 in quarters left over to make the hotel bed vibrate. These closers are $12 salads.
Ryan Pressly (Kendall Graveman, Ryne Stanek)
Will Smith (Richard Rodriguez)
Emmanuel Clase (Nick Wittgren)
Donkeycorns
Imagine you’re following a donkey, who’s wearing a wool cap, through a desert for 1700 miles. Why are you following a donkey? Because he promises you something wonderful and you just need to trust him. Does the donkey talk? Yes. Yes, he does talk. So when you and the donkey in the wool cap arrive at his destination, he removes the wool cap to reveal a horn. The donkey is a unicorn and his gift to you for your trust is saves. These closers are Donkeycorns.
Giovanny Gallegos (Alex Reyes)
Aroldis Chapman (Chad Green, Clay Holmes)
Employed
These guys are the men that make the save market go round. They punch in, punch out. Have the job, no real threat to speak of, and are basically just there to collect great benny’s so they can take care of their crippled brother. Who is only really crippled because he is scared of the sun.
Scott Barlow (Jake Brentz, Josh Staumont)
Drew Steckenrider (Paul Sewald/Diego Castillo)
Mychal Givens (Michael Lorenzen)
Gregory Soto (Jose Cisnero/Michael Fulmer)
Kyle Finnegan (Andres Machado/Ryne Harper)
Brain Freezes
I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing apples, bananas and Carlos Marmol– Wait, he just gave up 12 earned runs and hit Castro in the head with a pick-off throw. Brain freeze! Make it stop! Use the following closers at your own risk.
Adam Ottavino/Garrett Whitlock/Hansel Robles
Andrew Kittredge/Peter Fairbanks/Collin McHugh
Andrew Chafin/Lou Trivino/Sergio Romo
