RADIO
We're winding down, folks. The real playoffs are on the horizon, which means the fake playoffs are already happening in most fantasy baseball leagues. Whenever the NFL's Week 1 gets underway, fantasy baseball players know things are getting real. Let's take a quick step back first, and say congratulations to all Closers and Saves Report readers who made it to the playoffs!
Okay, now that the congrats are out of the way, any experienced fantasy baseball player knows that making the playoffs is fun, but winning in the playoffs? That's where the real fun resides. Playoff matchups put everything under a magnifying glass if not a microscope, so one hold or one save or one strikeout or one more walk raising a pitcher's WHIP could be the difference between advancing to the next round or "going home" to wait for next year.
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 24 - September 13 through September 19.
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Bullpen News For The Week
Arizona Diamondbacks
It's been a tumultuous season (at best) in the desert, but at least the Diamondbacks bullpen was mostly settled after the trade deadline, with veteran Tyler Clippard taking control of the ninth inning. Not anymore though, as Clippard was placed on the COVID-19 list this week. Taylor Clarke, who had been seeing some significant innings, was optioned to Triple-A this week as well, leaving Noe Ramirez as the best ninth inning option for whenever Arizona has a close lead. Ramirez has decent enough numbers this season in terms of run prevetion (4.13 ERA, 3.63 xERA) but doesn't strike out too many batters (19.4 K%) and could fall victim to a big inning here or there. Still, if he may be seeing somewhat consistent save chances, he needs to be rostered in most formats, especially by any fantasy managers in the playoffs facing an opponent with a stronger bullpen.
Risers: Noe Ramirez
Fallers: Tyler Clippard, Taylor Clarke
New York Yankees
Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman started this season with 18 consecutive scoreless appearances and carried an 0.39 ERA into a June 10th outing. Things have...gotten a lot worse since then. The hard-throwing lefty has a 7.23 ERA with three blown saves, 24 walks, and seven home runs allowed over the past three months. It's hard to see manager Aaron Boone trusting Chapman with a lead when the Yankees are right in the middle of the playoff chase. Chad Green figures to get the next save chance and could get a few more after that as long as he pitches well. Jonathan Loaisiga landed on the injured list with a rotator cuff issue, so he'll be out for a couple of weeks at least. This could turn into Green's bullpen if he pitches well.
Risers: Chad Green
Fallers: Aroldis Chapman
Short Relief
-The Rays set a new Major League Baseball record for the most pitchers to record a save in one season when Dietrich Enns earned a three-inning save this week. That's now 13 different pitchers who have saved a game for the Rays, and the only real surprise here is that the Rays didn't already have this record.
-Diego Castillo is off the IL and back in the Mariners bullpen. He got a save chance in his first appearance back, but it was on a day that both Paul Sewald and Drew Steckenrider were unavailable.
-Rowan Wick has established himself as the head of the committee in the Cubs bullpen, even though he blew a save this week.
-Adam Ottavino seems like the best choice in the Red Sox bullpen committee, but Hansel Robles and others are still going to get chances as well.
-Kyle Finnegan spent a few days on the paternity list, but he's back and should immediately resume closing duties for the Nationals.
-The A's are probably going to stick with a committee approach, but Sergio Romo has been out there for a few save chances and may be the more consistent option in Oakland's pen.
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