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Another week gone by, and we're another week closer to the trade deadline. Everything has been quiet on the trade front, but we all know how this goes: one team will jump the line and make an early trade, setting off other teams to make their early trades, and all culminating in a flurry of moves on the day of the deadline, which is August 2 this time around.
This week, one big name closer returned from the injured list while another may have narrowly avoided his own trip there. A reliever who has clearly been the best in his bullpen is finally the closer now, and a committee that has been effective looks like it may be turning into a more traditional, but still effective, bullpen. All these details and more coming right up!
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Atlanta Braves - Bullpen and Closers News
The Braves bullpen has done a good job filling in for injured closer Kenley Jansen, who is on the injured list due to an irregular heartbeat. A.J. Minter and Will Smith have been splitting save duties for Atlanta, with the two lefties forming a closer-by-committee for now. It seems likely that the two will continue swapping ninth innings between themselves until Jansen is able to return. Minter has more swing and miss stuff and is having the stronger season overall, so he's the one to add if you're choosing one over the other as a temporary closer. Both should be rostered and held onto in holds leagues. Jansen isn't expected to miss an extended period, but there's no specific date he's expected to return just yet.
Risers: A.J. Minter, Will Smith
Fallers: n/a
Chicago White Sox - Bullpen and Closers News
He's back! Liam Hendriks landed on the injured list after his June 10 appearance against the Rangers and hadn't pitched since, leaving the White Sox bullpen under the charge of Kendall Graveman. Hendriks is back and healthy now though, and he's already faced six batters over two innings and struck out five. It's safe to say he's feeling just fine. Hendriks should return to being one of fantasy baseball's most valuable relief pitchers, and while Kendall Graveman won't have much value in saves-only leagues, he will remain a solid fantasy asset in holds formats.
Risers: Liam Hendriks
Fallers: Kendall Graveman
Los Angeles Dodgers - Bullpen and Closers News
The Dodgers bullpen has had an...interesting season so far. Craig Kimbrel was picked up before the season to replace Kenley Jansen in the ninth inning, and while some Dodgers fans might have you believe that he cannot do anything right, Kimbrel's underlying stats actually show that he's been incredibly unlucky and is actually pitching very well. The positive regression should come, as long as he stays healthy. That part gave the team a bit of a scare this week, as Kimbrel was forced to leave a game after taking a line drive comebacker off his back. He sat for a few games, but was able to return on Wednesday and pitched a perfect ninth inning in a tie game, picking up a win when the Dodgers walked it off in the next half-inning. Kimbrel's 4.61 ERA isn't pretty, but it's been fueled by a .397 BABIP. His xERA (3.07) and FIP (2.01) show that he may be one of the better buy-low options in fantasy bullpens right now.
Risers: Craig Kimbrel
Fallers: Craig Kimbrel's haters
Short Relief - Other Bullpen News
-Dylan Floro picked up two saves for the Marlins this week, but one was in a game that Tanner Scott was unavailable, and the other in an extra inning game. It's still Scott's ninth inning in Miami.
-Looks like Emilio Pagan, his 5.34 ERA, and his five blown saves may finally be out of the closer's role in Minnesota. Jhoan Duran should be able to do a much better job now that he presumably has the job to himself.
-When Camilo Doval needed help closing out a game, the Giants went to Sam Long even though Jake McGee was available. McGee's rough season continues, and he could be relegated to mop up duty for a while.
-Lou Trivino has picked up the last four saves for the A's, and seems to have locked himself into the closer's role, at least until the trade deadline.
-Colin Poche hadn't pitched in about two weeks, but then pitched a strong eighth inning. Shawn Armstrong needed to be bailed out by Jason Adam in a save situation. The Rays bullpen continues to be one of the greatest mysteries in the universe.
-Ian Kennedy landed on the injured list for Arizona, bumping Joe Mantiply up to the eighth inning and solidifying Mark Melancon's spot in the ninth.
-Aroldis Chapman was REALLY bad in his first outing after returning from the injured list. Like, about as bad as possible. He faced three batters and walked all three. He's pitched two straight 1-2-3 innings since then, though.
-David Bednar avoided the injured list and is back pitching well for the Pirates.
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