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A wise artist once sang, "Another night, another dream, but always you/It's like a vision of love that seems to be true," and if that's not the way a lot of us feel about fantasy baseball, then I don't know what that song is about. Another week, another series of injuries, returns from injuries, saves, holds, wins, losses, blown saves, all that good stuff. A month into the season, some teams are still figuring out the roles in their bullpens while others are set on every detail down to the inning. Some managers would be better labeled mismanagers after their bullpen mistakes this week, while some others are making wise, very analytical managerial decisions.
This week showed that sometimes having your closer return from injury might not be the best thing for your team. We also saw a guy who was nowhere near a closer's role last week pitch key innings in three games in a row and earn a save and two holds. Baseball's best closer gave his fantasy managers a scare, and an internet favorite earned his first save. All that, and of course more, in this week's report, so read on!
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Oakland A's - Bullpen and Closers News
The good news for the A's bullpen: Lou Trivino was activated off the COVID IL. The bad news for the A's bullpen: Lou Trivino looked awful in his first appearance back from the COVID IL. Trivino was the closer in Oakland when he landed on the injured list, but while he's been gone, manager Mark Kotsay has run with a committee approach led by Dany Jimenez. With a late lead, Jimenez pitched a perfect eighth inning and handed the lead to Kirby Snead who came in for the save opportunity. He was unable to deliver a win, instead needing Trivino to come bail him out and ending the ninth inning in a 5-5 tie. Trivino came back out for the tenth inning and the wheels came all the way off. He allowed five runs and took the loss, recording only two outs and seeing his ERA balloon up to 12.46. It's hard to see Kotsay trusting him with any late leads any time soon, so the A's bullpen remains a committee.
Risers: Dany Jimenez, Kirby Snead
Fallers: Lou Trivino
Houston Astros - Bullpen and Closers News
The Astros have become a weekly staple of Closers and Saves Report ever since Ryan Pressly landed on the injured list with a knee issue. With Pressly around, the Houston bullpen was one of the most stable in the league, but without him, it has been an interesting one to follow. When Pressly got hurt, most folks assumed Hector Neris would take over the ninth inning, but instead it was Ryne Stanek who seemed to emerge as the fill-in closer. As soon as we started to get comfortable with Stanek though, it was Rafael Montero earning the saves instead. Montero picked up two saves in four days and was clearly been operating as the head of the committee in front of Stanek and Neris. All of that will revert to normal soon though, as Pressly has already been activated and pitched on Thursday. He blew the save chance, allowing two runs in an inning of work, but was bailed out by the offense in the bottom of the inning and ended up with a win. We may see manager Dusty Baker mix and match for the next save chance or two, but this will be Pressly's bullpen before long.
Risers: Rafael Montero (very temporarily), Ryan Pressly
Fallers: Ryne Stanek, Hector Neris
Arizona Diamondbacks - Bullpen and Closers News
The Diamondbacks pen was another that was more or less set in stone when the season began. Veteran Mark Melancon would close, and veterans Ian Kennedy and Noe Ramirez would set up. That worked out well for a little bit, but then Melancon ended up on the COVID list. Kennedy took over the ninth inning, with Ramirez being joined by lefty Joe Mantiply in the key set up role. Mantiply pitched in all three games of the series against the Marlins, earning a hold in two of them and a save in the other. The 31-year-old lefty has never missed too many bats, but he's earned two saves, three holds, and has a 0.87 ERA. That's enough to get at least a little attention in deeper leagues. Melancon isn't expected to miss too much more time, but Kennedy should be able to hold things down in the meantime.
Risers: Ian Kennedy, Joe Mantiply
Fallers: Mark Melancon
Minnesota Twins - Bullpen and Closers News
Internet darling Jhoan Duran earned the first save of his career this week, pitching a perfect ninth inning after Emilio Pagan had pitched a scoreless eighth. It's a full blown committee in Minn City, but Pagan still seems like the leader, even though Duran is clearly the better pitcher. Still, it does look like the committee is at least down to those two, so both Pagan and Duran are good options in holds leagues, with Duran having more strikeout upside. Pagan has been incredibly lucky this season (2.70 ERA despite a 23% walk rate, buoyed by an unsustainable .154 BABIP). Meanwhile, Duran has only walked two batters and has 19 strikeouts this season. For now, their fantasy value is similar because of the situation they are in, but Duran's arrow is pointing straight up while Pagan's is on its way down.
Risers: Jhoan Duran
Fallers: Emilio Pagan (very gradually)
Short Relief - Other Bullpen News
-Anthony Bender blew another save for the Marlins, and it's becoming increasingly clear that Dylan Floro will (or at least should, who knows with Don Mattingly in charge?) take the closer's role upon his return from the IL.
-Chad Green picked up a save this week. He's not a threat to Aroldis Chapman's solidified closer's role in New York, but it's clear Green is the backup and would be instantly valuable in standard leagues if Chapman missed time.
-Ryan Helsley has been unhittable and threw the fastest pitch of the season this week. It's still Giovanny Gallegos in most Cardinals ninth innings though, leaving Helsley as a must in holds leagues, but with not too much value in standard formats.
-Joe Barlow finally earned a save this week, and the Rangers have made it clear they want him to solidify the ninth inning.
-The Red Sox bullpen remains a mess. Here's your weekly reminder of the Elmo on fire gif.
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