January 24, 2018

Our 2018 fantasy baseball review of save risers and fallers. Adam Meyer looks at potential RP sleepers and closers to target for saves later in drafts.

For the fourth straight season we have a new No. 1 at the top of the closer leaderboard. Alex Colome concluded the 2017 regular season with 47 saves, six more than the second-place finisher, Kenley Jansen. No one has repeated as the top save-earner since Jim Johnson (2012-2013).

As for consistency, Jansen slammed the door shut 41 times for the Dodgers last year. It was his fourth year in a row recording at least 36 saves in a season. His 1.32 ERA was also the best of Jansen’s career (with more than 30 innings).

The most consistent active closer in the game also had a strong 2017 campaign. Craig Kimbrel compiled at least 31 saves for the seventh consecutive season. While the top names are well-known, finding the next ascending closer could help save your fantasy season. Let's look back at the biggest risers and fallers in saves ahead of the 2018 MLB season.

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Saves Risers

Corey Knebel, Milwaukee Brewers - 39 saves

The door opened for Knebel in May, after Neftali Feliz allowed an earned run in three consecutive outings. Knebel took the job from there and never gave it back. He also set an MLB record for most consecutive games with a strikeout by a relief pitcher with 45 games.

Knebel didn’t just produce the fourth-most saves in 2017. He also did it while allowing only 15 earned runs (1.78 ERA). Only Jansen and Kimbrel allowed fewer earned runs (11) while also recording at least 30 saves.

Also, Jeremy Jeffress is the only teammate with more than three career saves on the roster. Jeffress compiled 27 saves in 2016 for the Brewers. So, the threat of anyone taking over the role from Knebel is slim. However, you could’ve said the same thing last year before Knebel took the job from Feliz.

Ken Giles, Houston Astros - 34 saves

It was a sketchy postseason run (10 ER in 7.2 innings) for Giles, but a World Series victory cures all. Plus, he was dominant in the regular season. Giles attained a career-best 34 saves in 2017 with a 2.30 ERA, along with four blown saves.

Giles will need to nip his troubles in the bud coming into 2018. Chris Devenski, Will Harris, and Hector Rondon are all waiting for their chance to close out games for Houston.

A perk for Giles, and everyone waiting in the wings, is that the Astros should have plenty of save opportunities with Houston’s strong starting pitchers returning, as well as their newest member, Gerrit Cole.

Edwin Diaz, Seattle Mariners - 34 saves

The 23-year-old’s star continues to shine brighter and brighter as his career continues. In 2016, Diaz stole the closer role from Steve Cishek. Diaz would go on to record 18 saves that season (three blown saves). Then, last year, Diaz ran the table as Seattle’s lone relief pitcher to chalk up more than one save.

In 66 innings of work, Diaz tallied 34 saves with a 3.27 ERA and 89 strikeouts. There’s not much more to say about this young talented closer other than we should expect to see similar numbers, if not better, in 2018.

Saves Fallers

Jeurys Familia, New York Mets - six saves

It was a rough 2017 for Familia. First, he was suspended 15 games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy (domestic violence). Then, it was discovered that Familia had a blood clot in his right shoulder. That sidelined him for over three months.

When Familia finally returned (August 26th), he just wasn’t the same. He allowed eight earned runs in 15.1 innings of work and notched only three saves.

In his absence, the Mets acquired A.J. Ramos from the Marlins. Ramos recorded seven saves with New York (27 total saves in 2017) in 19 innings.

Ramos won’t be the only competition for Familia in 2018. Anthony Swarzak signed a two-year deal with the Mets in December. Though a majority of Swarzak’s work has been in the sixth and seventh innings, he still managed to tally two saves in 2017.

Zach Britton, Baltimore Orioles - 15 saves

Unfortunately, this “faller” is easy to rank due to a ruptured Achilles tendon Britton suffered in December. Prior to the injury, Britton dealt with forearm tightness which only allowed him to secure a career-low 15 saves in 2017.

I wouldn’t completely write off Britton for 2018. He’s a draft-and-stash, if you have the room on your roster. However, Britton could miss half the season before he returns to the closer role for Baltimore.

Brad Brach will likely start the season as the Orioles closer. He recorded 18 saves last season and amassed a 3.18 ERA in 68 innings of work.

Mark Melancon, San Francisco Giants - 11 saves

Everyone thought that when Melancon moved to San Francisco, the closer would continue to rack up the saves. However, that was not the case. Right out of the gate, Melancon blew the first save opportunity of 2017. He had tallied 51 saves in 2015 and 47 more in 2016, but only wound up with 11 saves in 2017. 

He had five blown saves in total last year, adding to the disappointment. On June 20th, Melancon notched his final save of 2017 before being relegated to middle relief duties. Finally, in early September, he was shut down in order to undergo surgery on his pitching forearm.

The Giants added Sam Dyson in June to take over for Melancon. Dyson converted 14 saves and blew three chances.

Melancon will likely start the season as the Giants closer, but Dyson will be looming again in 2018.

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