RADIO
Another week of real baseball means hopefully another win for all of your fantasy teams, RotoBallers! This was a pretty big week in terms of bullpen news, with some important and potentially very important movement in a couple of big-name bullpens around the league.
One team that hasn't had a closer all year had a guy get two saves this week, perhaps a sign of things to come. One team just got the closest thing they have to a closer back, and he's already heading back to the IL. Another team who has had the same closer for years may not be giving him his job back once he's healthy. One of the best closers in fantasy baseball hadn't pitched for almost two weeks despite being healthy, then showed up in his first inning back and gave up three runs. To find out all about these guys and more, read on!
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Boston Red Sox - Bullpen and Closers News
The Red Sox bullpen has been a complete mess all season long, spawning Elmo fire gifs in several different Rotoballer articles. There finally seemed to be some semblance of routine this week with Matt Strahm earning two saves in two days. That gives him three on the season, putting him alone in first place for Boston saves. While this is still very likely to be a committee, it looks like Strahm could at least be the leader of that committee, giving him some definite fantasy value. Meanwhile, Tanner Houck is headed for a multi-inning role, which could make him more valuable in holds leagues, but seems to take him out of the running in standard formats. It feels best to leave this bullpen alone if possible, but Strahm wouldn't be a bad add for fantasy managers looking for a few extra saves. John Schreiber looks like he'll serve in a more traditional setup role, but he could see some save chances as well.
Risers: Matt Strahm (standard), Tanner Houck (holds)
Fallers: Elmo fire gifs
Tampa Bay Rays - Bullpen and Closers News
UPDATE: Andrew Kittredge will undergo Tommy John surgery and is out for the season. This was announced on Friday afternoon.
Andrew Kittredge is back! That means some slight hint of normalcy in the Rays bullpen! ~A few days pass~ Andrew Kittredge is heading back to the injured list and could miss a month or more this time. Back to the long-accepted chaos in the Tampa Bay bullpen! With Kittredge out, the Rays will likely continue their theme of having guys you've never heard of pick up saves for a week or two until they then find a new guy you've never heard of and rinse and repeat. The best bets for fantasy value in the Rays bullpen in standard leagues are Colin Poche, Jason Adam, Brooks Raley, and Ryan Thompson. All could be valuable in holds leagues, but it's a daily guessing game for chasing saves.
Risers: people who play in holds leagues and want to tell people who play in saves leagues "I told you so"
Fallers: Andrew Kittredge
New York Yankees - Bullpen and Closers News
Aroldis Chapman has been the Yankees closer for a long, long time. He's third in Yankees history with 153 saves and has been doing in it pinstripes since 2016. That all may finally be coming to an end though, as Chapman is on his way back from the injured list, but Yankees manager Aaron Boone refused to commit to the lefty as his closer. Instead, it seems like Clay Holmes, who has been the guy while Chapman has been hurt, could continue being the guy once Chapman returns. Boone did mention that he expects Chapman to be a “big-time back-end reliever” so it's not like he's going to be working middle relief, but Holmes and his 0.34 ERA might keep the 9th inning to himself.
Risers: Clay Holmes
Fallers: Aroldis Chapman
Short Relief - Other Bullpen News
-The Marlins have used Tanner Scott in two straight save opportunities and he's converted both. It's too early to officially name him the closer, but he has tons of strikeout upside and can be an elite option if he can lower his walk rate.
-Diego Castillo had a couple of atrocious outings in May, but he's been stellar since then, especially lately. Only two batters have reached and 14 have struck out in his last six appearances. He's worked his way into a co-closer role with Paul Sewald in Seattle.
-J.P. Feyereisen and his literally perfect 0.00 ERA landed on the injured list this week. This will preserve his 0.00 ERA for a bit longer.
-Craig Kimbrel took a few games off to attend to the birth of his child, so Daniel Hudson has filled in as Dodgers closer.
-Yadier Molina struck a guy out this week.
-Tyler Kinley has been the best reliever in the Rockies bullpen by far and is a legitimate holds league darling right now.
-The Giants are doing weird things with their bullpen, like bringing in the guy we all thought was the closer to pitch the 6th inning twice in the same series. Camilo Doval is likely still the best option for saves here, but it's another bullpen better avoided if possible.
-Josh Hader gave up runs! You hate to see it.
-Eli Morgan has worked his way up to a legitimate holds league asset in the Guardians bullpen.
-Raisel Iglesias hadn't pitched for a long time (with the Angels not having any leads for him to save in a long time) and he was obviously rusty in his return to the mound, coughing up three runs while getting four outs. He ended up with a save in a good inning when the Angels ended their 14-game losing streak though, so he should be fine.
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