RADIO
Quite a sticky situation in baseball this week, huh? That's just in reference to some of the bullpen issues, why, what did you think I meant? As usual, some committees shuffled around, some injuries created new committees, and some healed players ended committees. The word of the day is committee.
There's only one division in baseball in which every team has a solidified closer in the ninth inning. Every other division has at least one team with a committee of some kind. Some are somewhat predictable, two-man platoon type committees while others are flavor-of-the-week bullpens where they tease us with the same closer for a week then go to someone completely different the very next week. It's the Rays. That one's the Rays.
Be sure to keep an eye on our RotoBaller Closers and Saves Bullpen Depth Charts. They're updated daily, or sometimes even more often in this wild 2021 baseball season. With that being said, here are the closers, saves, and bullpen waiver wire pickups to consider for Week 12 - June 21 through June 27.
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Bullpen News For The Week
Texas Rangers
Well, all the thought about "who will get saves for the Rangers while Ian Kennedy is hurt" ended up with a simple answer: no one. Ian Kennedy is back from the injured list, and no Rangers pitcher recorded a save while he was gone. Josh Sborz was one pitch away from a save one time, but ended up giving up a game-tying hit which eventually led to an extra-inning loss. Kennedy comes back to a 2.82 ERA (3.16 xERA) and a 29.2 K%. He's been more than solid for the Rangers, saving 12 games while blowing only one. He's a sure thing to be moved before the trade deadline, and he'll likely end up as a setup man for his new team. This could be a good time to sell high on Kennedy.
Risers: Ian Kennedy
Fallers: Everyone else in the save-less Rangers bullpen.
Detroit Tigers
Another reliever returning from a short injury break is Michael Fulmer in the Tigers bullpen. Fulmer looked to be taking over as the head of the committee before he got hurt. The Tigers went with Jose Cisnero and Gregory Soto in their high leverage situations while Fulmer was gone, but he was clearly being saved for the ninth inning in a win this week and looks like he's back atop the committee. Fulmer is a decent reliever and should be able to hold his own as head of the committee and could even work his way into a more consistent ninth inning role if he keeps pitching well.
Risers: Michael Fulmer
Fallers: Jose Cisnero, Gregory Soto
Tampa Bay Rays
It's J.P. Feyereisen, right? Nope. Okay, but now it's Diego Castillo, right? Nah. Okay, so who was closer of the week in Tampa then? Peter Fairbanks. Fairbanks ended up with two saves in a span of four days. Kevin Cash must read this closer report every week and just laugh at my audacity for thinking I know who will be on the mound in any Rays ninth inning. For now, it's a bump to Fairbanks' value and a hit to Castillo's and Feyereisen's, but who knows? Maybe Kevin Cash himself will get on the mound and earn a save before this article is even published.
Risers: Peter Fairbanks
Fallers: Me
Short Relief
-Zack Britton is back! The elite lefty reliever has rejoined the Yankees bullpen after starting the season on the IL. With Aroldis Chapman struggling a bit more than anyone's used to, there may be a tiny opening for Britton to start earning some saves. At the very least, he's a must-add in holds leagues.
-Daniel Hudson landed on the IL this week for the Nationals. Brad Hand has been better of late and has been able to keep his job so far, so Hudson's looking like a drop for anyone without a free IL spot.
-Anthony Bender has been incredible in the Marlins bullpen. He's yet to allow an earned run (although one of the unearned runs scored after his own error). He's quite obviously the best reliever in the Marlins pen, but he'll likely keep working fifth and sixth innings because Don Mattingly manages the team.
-Jake McGee and Tyler Rogers each have six saves since the start of May. This is a two-man committee in San Francisco, where both are worth rostering in deeper standard leagues and certainly in holds leagues.
-Lou Trivino has seen every save chance in the Oakland bullpen since May 26 (except for one by Yusmeiro Petit when Jake Diekman and Trivino were both unavailable). Looks like this might not be a committee anymore, Diekman is the setup guy and Trivino is the closer.
-Amir Garrett has been a little better lately and Heath Hembree is getting some significant innings, but Lucas Sims still looks like he's leading the Cincinnati bullpen even with Tejay Antone expected to be activated from the IL soon.
-Craig Kimbrel is really, really good again.
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