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It's still far in the distance but we're starting to see a glimmer of the trade deadline way off in the horizon. Shout-out to the Marlins and Padres making a deal this week to remind us of the wild time that awaits us at the end of July. As always, closers and other high-leverage relievers will be on the move, but for now, let's talk about the teams they still play for and how things went this week.
A veteran closer who got off to a fantastic start has continued to crash violently back down to Earth. A battle has started in the fight for the MLB lead in saves, with that lead swapping back and forth a few times this week. A Motor City committee got even more confusing and hard to predict. All that and more, coming right up!
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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Sunday Updates:
-Craig Kimbrel had a good outing, pitching a scoreless 11th inning and earning a win when the Orioles walked it off.
-John Brebbia earned a save for the White Sox, his first since 2018. Michael Kopech is still likely "the guy" there, but it's going to be a sort of committee with not too many saves to go around.
-Pete Fairbanks came back from the IL and pitched a scoreless ninth inning. The Rays had a five-run lead so it wasn't a save, but it was good to see Fairbanks back on the mound.
-Trevor Megill didn't pitch particularly well in his most recent outing, but he escaped with his fourth save of the season and looks to be maybe more than just the committee head in Milwaukee (but also, Devin Williams is scheduled to start throwing this week, so while he's not back soon, there's an expiration date pending on Megill as closer).
-Yennier Cano and Jhoan Duran lead the league with six saves+holds in the past 14 days, with Hunter Harvey and Griffin Jax right behind them with five each.
Waiver Wire Pickups for Saves
Alex Lange, Detroit Tigers (Rostered in 44% of leagues)
The Tigers started out the season with some bullpen question marks but Jason Foley looked like he was taking the reins and securing the closer's role all to himself. But then, things changed. Foley pitched a seventh inning this week, the first time all season that he'd appeared outside of an eighth or ninth inning. He now looks like he's filling the fireman role in the Detroit bullpen and will still see save chances, but he will be used more fluidly for the highest-leverage late-inning matchups.
That leaves space for someone else to come in and get saves sometimes, and that someone looks like it will be Alex Lange. Lange is rostered in fewer than half of fantasy leagues right now. He's always had great swing-and-miss stuff, but walks have been an issue throughout his career, and that pattern has continued. His 0.64 ERA is excellent, but his 16.7% BB% is definitely concerning. Still, it looks like he will get some save chances going forward, and he does have experience in the role, saving a team-leading 26 games last season. Andrew Chafin (rostered in just 2% of leagues right now) may get a look in the ninth as well depending on matchups, but Lange and his turtleneck undershirt are the much better add in all formats.
Alex Lange, 97mph ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/PuTz2PmIBR
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 1, 2024
Daniel Hudson, Los Angeles Dodgers (Rostered in 33% of leagues)
Alex Vesia, Los Angeles Dodgers (Rostered in 3% of leagues)
Dodgers closer Evan Phillips was off to a great start this season, but a hamstring injury sent him to the injured list earlier this week. Based on usage and some quotes from manager Dave Roberts, it looks like Daniel Hudson and Alex Vesia are likely to split closer duties until Phillips is able to return. Roberts loves playing matchups, so the right-handed Hudson is sure to have at least a slight edge over lefty Vesia.
Both are solid options and available in at least two-thirds of fantasy leagues right now. Hudson has tossed 16 innings and has two saves and seven holds to go with 17 strikeouts and only one walk. Vesia has 17 1/3 innings pitched with one save and two holds along with 20 strikeouts and 12 walks. Hudson is the better fantasy option, but Vesia is worth keeping an eye on as well.
Shut the door, @Alex_Vesia! 😤 #DodgersWin pic.twitter.com/1bXVS1kcwu
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) July 8, 2022
More Bullpen and Closer News
Tampa Bay Rays
Rays closer Pete Fairbanks is making rehab outings with the Triple-A team and should be able to rejoin Tampa Bay soon. He will presumably return to his closer role, but it's the Rays, so you never know. Jason Adam, Garrett Cleavinger, and Phil Maton have been filling in since Fairbanks landed on the IL. While they will all likely find themselves in save situations at some other point this season, it will likely be Fairbanks the most often. He's currently rostered in 76% of leagues, so it might be worth a peek on the waiver wire just in case.
Baltimore Orioles
Craig Kimbrel was removed from another save chance this week. He ended up being credited with a hold, but the much more important detail was that he was lifted before having another chance to blow a save. Kimbrel has now recorded just one save (and only finished one game) in his past five appearances, allowing runs in four of those five outings. He started the season looking like the elite closer he used to be, but he's struggled mightily for about two weeks now. He got the dreaded vote of confidence from his manager, so we'll have to keep a close eye on the Orioles bullpen to see what happens. Yennier Cano would logically be next in line, but the team might prefer to use him in a fireman role.
Short Relief - Other Bullpen News
-Tanner Scott looked like 2021 Tanner Scott (bad) at the beginning of this season, but he's seemingly put it together and looks like 2023 Tanner Scott (very good) again. He could be the next guy the Marlins trade as they work toward another trade deadline fire sale.
-Mason Miller simply cannot be stopped; he has a 55% K% and a -0.15 FIP (yes, that's a negative FIP). He's one of four pitchers with a negative number as their FIP. He's pitched 16 1/3 innings, the other three have combined for 9 1/3: Will Klein (1), Ryan Borucki (3 1/3), and Jhoan Duran (5).
-Paul Sewald is back in the Arizona bullpen after healing from an oblique injury that delayed the start of his season. He's right back in the closer's role and should be one of the more consistent relievers in the league. Kevin Ginkel will return to his key setup role.
-Kirby Yates finally allowed an earned run this week, but he still ended up with a save in the game he allowed it. He's got seven saves and a 0.56 ERA. Somehow, he's rostered in 81% of leagues right now, so some fantasy managers are about to get one of this year's best closers for free.
-Michael Kopech saved two games this week and looks like he would be an elite fantasy closer if he played on a team that would provide him with more save chances.
-We still have a tie atop the leaderboard for saves, but it's a two-way tie now. Robert Suarez for the Padres and Kyle Finnegan for the Nationals both have 12 saves, one ahead of Clay Holmes on the Yankees, Ryan Helsley on the Cardinals, and Emmanuel Clase on the Guardians.
-The holds leaderboard has similar numbers and teams but different names. Hunter Harvey of the Nationals is in the lead with 12, followed by David Robertson of the Rangers and JoJo Romero of the Cardinals with 11 each.
-Our blown save leader is still Adbert Alzolay with five, two ahead of Craig Kimbrel and seven other pitchers who are all tied for second with three each.
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