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Yeah, sure, the NFL Draft happened last night and it was exciting, but did you see that Marlins reliever Calvin Faucher has started his Marlins career with 7.2 scoreless innings and a 10:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio? Maybe we're a little too bullpen-brained here in the RotoBaller Closers and Saves Report...
Another week of baseball is behind us, and another bullpen we thought was solid has moved into a committee. Another committee we thought we had figured out made us say, "no, just kidding", and a World Series closer seems to be nearing a return to the mound.
Be sure to also keep an eye on our Fantasy Baseball Closer Depth Charts for saves, holds, and bullpens. They will be updated daily or sometimes even more often throughout the 2024 baseball season.
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Waiver Wire Pickups for Saves
Hector Neris, Chicago Cubs (Rostered in 43% of leagues)
Mark Leiter Jr., Chicago Cubs (Rostered in 14% of leagues)
The Chicago Cubs came into the season with pretty locked-in bullpen roles, including Adbert Alzolay in the closer's position. Alzolay saved 22 games last season with only three blown saves and put up a solid 2.67 ERA, but he was off to a rough start this year. In seven save chances, he picked up only three saves and blew four, so he already has more blown saves in 2024 than he did in all of 2023. His 3.86 ERA might not seem too bad, but a 7.18 FIP and the four blown saves tell a clearer story.
Alzolay will work lower leverage innings for now and the Cubs appear ready to mix and match for saves with Hector Neris and Mark Leiter Jr. Neris seems the more likely candidate and has already picked up three saves this season. The 34-year-old Neris has 92 career saves, so he's been here before, but an 8:9 K:BB doesn't inspire much confidence. Still, anyone earning saves has fantasy value, and it appears Neris will be doing just that. At only 43% rostered right now, he's available in most leagues. If (when?) Neris falters, the Cubs will likely turn to Mark Leiter Jr. He's yet to allow a run in 12.1 innings and has a 13:5 K:BB. One of these two is a clear better option, but managers still value "experience" and Neris has 85 more saves, so we'll see.
Adbert Alzolay with another BSV 👀 #YouHaveToSeeIt
— Closer Monkey (@CloserMonkey) April 20, 2024
Jason Adam, Tampa Bay Rays (Rostered in 45% of leagues)
Colin Poche, Tampa Bay Rays (Rostered in 9% of leagues)
Garrett Cleavinger, Tampa Bay Rays (Rostered in 4% of leagues)
If you've ever wanted to make a bullpen writer's eye twitch, just ask them, "Hey, who do you think the Rays closer is?" It seems like a given that every season the Rays will talk about having a closer and then end up back in a committee before long. That's once again the case this season, as Pete Fairbanks is on the injured list with a nerve issue in his arm. He was leading the team with three saves but had a 9.00 ERA and a 10:8 K:BB.
In his place, the Rays will mix and match (like usual) with Jason Adam, Colin Poche, and Garrett Cleavinger. Poche and Cleavinger have two saves each already, and while Adam doesn't have one yet, recent usage suggests he'll be the highest-leverage guy while Fairbanks is gone. In a recent game that may be an example of how the Rays will use their bullpen arms, Cleavinger earned a save but faced the seven-through-nine hitters, while Adam came in earlier for a two-inning hold against the one-through-six hitters.
All three relievers are available in more than half of fantasy leagues, with Poche and Cleavinger essentially free in almost every league. Adam is the harder get, but he's the first one to go for in saves only and should already be rostered in holds leagues.
Our Pitch of the Day for April 24th is brought to you by Jason Adam of the @RaysBaseball pitching lab. pic.twitter.com/ogUjmtKVRH
— Baseball Prospectus (@baseballpro) April 25, 2024
Trevor Megill, Milwaukee Brewers (Rostered in 4% of leagues)
The Milwaukee Brewers bullpen has been mostly a mix-and-match approach this season, with elite stopper Devin Williams recovering from a back injury. Five different Brewers pitchers have earned a save this year, with Joel Payamps (four) and Abner Uribe (three) leading the way. Trevor Megill recently returned from his own IL stint and it seems like he'll be the highest-leverage guy for Milwaukee. That means saves are likely coming his way, but also that Uribe and Payamps will stick around to see some ninth innings of their own.
On Thursday, Megill earned his first big league save in his 103rd appearance, facing the heart of the Pirates order after Payamps had pitched the eighth and Uribe the sixth. He's unlikely to pick up saves in bunches, but he does seem primed to get at least a chance or two per week, and he's available in almost every league right now.
This Trevor Megill overlay is Reason #271240 why hitting a baseball is impossible.
99mph up and in at the hands followed by an 88 mph curve at the bottom of the zone.
That's one baseball simply splitting into two baseballs like magic. https://t.co/uzA1xPNJah pic.twitter.com/Ox35cKqbjc
— Alex Fast (@AlexFast8) February 13, 2024
More Bullpen and Closer News
Arizona Diamondbacks
Kevin Ginkel has done a solid job as the closer for the defending National League pennant winners (four saves in six tries, 3.48 ERA, 11:2 K:BB), but Paul Sewald is coming back soon and should take his job. Sewald has been on the injured list since the season started due to an oblique injury, but he's made it through his rehab and should be activated very soon. It's likely Sewald will get a lower-leverage outing or two before being thrown into a save situation, but it won't be long until he's back on the mound in the ninth.
Sewald is rostered in 87% of leagues, so there's not much of a chance he'll be available, but it's worth a look just in case someone with a roster crunch had to get rid of him. Meanwhile, Ginkel's value takes a dive in saves-only formats but should remain about the same in holds leagues, as he'll take a step back into the key setup/eighth-inning role.
(re)building the Sewald 😤
Paul Sewald strikes out 2️⃣ in his first rehab appearance. @Dbacks | @MiLB | #Aceball pic.twitter.com/hLWK1UmP7w
— Reno Aces (@Aces) April 23, 2024
Miami Marlins
The Marlins are bad and it's spreading throughout the roster. Tanner Scott was one of 2023's best relief pitchers and he's now started the 2024 season by going 0-4 with a blown save, 10 strikeouts, and 12 walks. Meanwhile, Calvin Faucher hasn't allowed a run in 7.2 innings and Andrew Nardi looks a lot better after a rough start of his own. The team is unlikely to remove Scott from the role since they probably want to boost his trade value heading towards another mini-firesale.
The A.J. Puk as a starting pitcher experiment has ungracefully come to an end. In four starts this year (the first four of his career), Puk went 0-4 with a 9.22 ERA and 17 walks in just 13.2 innings. Last season, in 56.2 innings of relief, he only walked 13. Puk is currently on the IL with a shoulder issue, but the team has already announced that when he returns to the mound, it will be out of the bullpen. Puk will likely start in a low-leverage role but could work his way up to a setup role and may develop some relevance in deeper holds leagues.
Short Relief - Other Bullpen News
It's a bit of a committee in Seattle as well, as Andres Munoz is the clear high-leverage reliever but won't always be saved for the ninth inning. Ryne Stanek, Gabe Speier, and Austin Voth could mix into the ninth. Matt Brash is on his way back from the injured list and should be an impact pitcher as well.
Craig Kimbrel (0.82 ERA, 0.88 FIP, 17:2 K:BB) is on pace for his best season since 2017 and maybe his best season ever.
Jhoan Duran is making rehab appearances and should be back on the mound in Minnesota before long. Griffin Jax has been more than solid in his place (four saves, 2.53 ERA), but he'll return to a setup role once Duran is ready.
Mason Miller (0.14 FIP, 51.1% K%) is ridiculous. That's all.
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