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This was a pretty quiet week around the league in terms of bullpens. Based on the way this season has gone, it very well might be the calm before the storm and we're about to see all kinds of changes when teams return from the All-Star Break. Speaking of which, five closers made the American League All-Star team, four made it to the National League team. Eight of the nine relievers on the original rosters were the unquestioned closers on their teams in the first half, with one All-Star reliever being the leader of his bullpen committee.
Besides All-Star Game news, this week we saw the Phillies try new things and saw that the Yankees may need to try new things soon. The Royals went back to trying old things, but may change that approach back to new things if it doesn't work. More details on all of that and more below!
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 16 - July 12 through July 18.
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Bullpen News For The Week
San Francisco Giants
The Giants bullpen has been a committee most of the season, as everyone expected with Gabe Kapler managing the team. At some points, Jake McGee and Tyler Rogers have looked like they've each taken control of the ninth inning, but before anyone is able to get too comfortable with calling one of them "the" closer, Kapler will switch things up.
We're currently at another one of those points, where McGee has been in for four of the last five Giants saves and Rogers has pitched the inning ahead of him each time. McGee is up to 17 saves on the season and is on a string of 12 straight scoreless outings. Kapler may choose to continue riding the hot left hand of McGee, and because of his strikeout potential, he's worth rostering over Rogers in holds leagues as well.
Risers: Jake McGee
Fallers: Tyler Rogers (in saves only leagues)
Kansas City Royals
The Royals tried to have veteran Greg Holland as their closer this year. They really tried, and they probably left him in the role longer than they should have. Four blown saves and a 5.37 xERA later though, there's a change coming. Scott Barlow has been very good when healthy this season, posting a 2.38 ERA and a strong 33.1 K%.
Barlow was the Pitcher of the Month for the Royals (which is apparently a thing) in June, and could take this ninth inning and run with it if he keeps pitching well. Manager Mike Matheny has made it clear that he prefers to have one guy as his closer, and Barlow looks like he could be that guy going forward. He has four saves already and is a good bet for more.
Risers: Scott Barlow
Fallers: Greg Holland
Philadelphia Phillies
Maybe Ranger Suarez will be the guy to finally get the job done in the Phillies bullpen? Hector Neris couldn't do it, Jose Alvarado hasn't been able to do it, Archie Bradley hasn't really had the chance to, but now it looks like Ranger Suarez is the next guy up. Suarez picked up the first save of his career earlier this week, pitching a scoreless ninth inning in a two-run game.
After that game, manager Joe Girardi clarified that Alvarado was indeed available, but that he felt better about bringing Suarez in to lock down the win. There are no sure things in the Phillies bullpen, but it seems like Suarez will at least get the next save chance or two. This bullpen is best left alone in most fantasy formats, but if there's a guy to roster, it looks like it's Suarez for now.
Risers: Ranger Suarez
Fallers: Jose Alvarado
New York Yankees
It's been the same thing for years in The Bronx: if the Yankees are leading in a close game, you're going to see Aroldis Chapman, and most of the time, you're going to see the Yankees win the game. Things were that same way for most of this first half, but lately? Much different. Chapman has struggled to get anyone out and is currently riding with a 4.55 ERA, which would be the highest in his career by almost a full point. He's still striking guys out a ton (39.7 K%) but has been walking way more batters than usual (16.8 BB%).
He's also already given up more home runs (five) than he has in all but one of his other seasons. Manager Aaron Boone has made it clear that Chapman is the long term answer at closer, so any change should be seen as temporary. Still, someone needs to save games for the Yankees, and that someone sure isn't Chapman right now. Chad Green and Jonathan Loaisiga should both see some save chances when they come up, but Green is likely to see the majority. He's worth picking up in all formats, even as just a temporary help in the saves and Ks department.
Risers: Chad Green, Jonathan Loaisiga
Fallers: Aroldis Chapman
Short Relief
-Your 2021 closer All-Stars are Josh Hader, Craig Kimbrel, Mark Melancon, Alex Reyes, Matt Barnes, Aroldis Chapman, Liam Hendriks, Ryan Pressly, and Gregory Soto. Just like we all predicted before the season, especially Reyes and Soto, right?
-The Marlins used Anthony Bender in two different closer situations this week, once he excelled, and in the other he struck out three batters, but gave up a game-tying home run. They're clearly trusting him more and more as Yimi Garcia is pitching worse and worse, so we may be seeing the start of something here.
-Brad Brach still looks like the guy that's going to get the highest leverage situations in the Reds bullpen, but Amir Garrett and Heath Hembree aren't going to just go away. It's pretty much an all out committee in Cincinnati, but Hembree earned three saves this week and may be solidifying his own role in the meantime.
-Richard Rodriguez has been good as the Pirates closer, and will almost certainly be good as another team's setup man before the trade deadline. Kyle Crick is also a trade candidate, so it may end up being David Bednar in the closer's role once trades all settle. He's worth keeping an eye on.
-Taylor Rogers has worked his way into a fireman role in the Minnesota bullpen. That means he'll lead the closer committee, but may see seventh or eighth innings if that's when the opposing team's heart of the order is due to bat. Hansel Robles should pick up some scrap saves now and then, but Rogers is the one worth rostering in most formats.
-All-Star Gregory Soto has been much better lately and should continue to split save chances in the Detroit bullpen with Jose Cisnero. It looks like a total committee for the Tigers split between those two.
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