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Another week closer to the season changing and the Boys of Summer are clearly ready for it. Baseball is in full swing and a ton of other clichés. Even with all the rule changes baseball has seen over the past years and even with the emergence of holds in fantasy baseball, closers are still some of the more important players in baseball, real or fake.
This week, a somewhat solid bullpen seemed to revert back into a committee, a very scattered bullpen got a late inning guy back, and a presumed closer was clearly used in a fireman role well outside of a save situation. A few injured guys got some good news, and a veteran closer tightened his grasp on his team's 9th inning.
Be sure to also keep an eye on our Fantasy Baseball Closer Depth Charts for saves, holds, and bullpens. They will be updated daily or sometimes even more often throughout the 2023 baseball season.
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Arizona Diamondbacks - Bullpen and Closer News
The Diamondbacks bullpen started the year off in a very questionable state (not Arizona), but lefty Andrew Chafin pitched his way into the closer's role before long. He's been solid, posting a 3.26 ERA and a 35.8% K rate while saving seven games in nine chances. Chafin actually has very strong reverse splits (lefties are hitting .357/.438/.500 against him while righties are at just .149/.184/.319), so Arizona seems to be sliding back into a committee approach, possibly based on the scheduled batters due up.
Miguel Castro picked up his fifth save of the season this week, while Chafin pitched the eighth against the top of the opposing lineup. Chafin looks like he'll be used in a more versatile role than just "ninth inning closer" so while he'll retain most of his value in holds leagues, managers in saves-only leagues may see a drop. Castro and Scott McGough figure to see some save chances moving forward in the desert.
Risers: Miguel Castro
Fallers: Andrew Chafin (in saves-only leagues)
Oakland Athletics - Bullpen and Closer News
The A's bullpen has been one to mostly avoid in fantasy this season, and that's not likely to change soon. They did get veteran Trevor May back from the injured list this week though, and he should slide right into the committee for the very very few save opportunities Oakland figures to have.
The A's bullpen committee looks something like Richard Lovelady, Trevor May, Garrett Acton, and Sam Moll. Zach Jackson looked like he had a role carved out as the closer, but he ended up on the injured list with an elbow injury that is expected to keep him out for over a month. Your best bet is no A's in your fantasy bullpen, but if you needed to speculatively add someone, Trevor May is on a one-year deal and almost certain to be traded at the deadline, so the A's may try to get him a few saves to boost his trade value.
Risers: Trevor May??
Fallers: Zach Jackson
Los Angeles Dodgers - Bullpen and Closer News
No one really expected the Dodgers to choose a closer and stick with him all season right? Evan Phillips looked like he might actually take over the ninth inning full-time, but just as we thought that was the case, the Dodgers started using him as a clear fireman/bullpen ace instead. This week, Phillips saw some fifth-inning work, although it was an actual high-leverage situation despite being early in the game.
Brusdar Graterol ended up with a four-out save in the Phillips fifth-inning game, and figures to be the one to benefit most from the former Dodger closer's new role. Graterol won't be the outright ninth-inning guy either, but with Phillips likely used to face the highest leverage situation regardless of inning, it figures that Graterol would be the one next in line.
Risers: Brusdar Graterol
Fallers: Evan Phillips
Short Relief - Other Bullpen News
-The Cubs bullpen is kind of a mess already, and it's probably only going to get even more confusing when Codi Heuer comes back, which should be soon. Mark Leiter, Jr. seems to be the head of the committee for now.
-Kenley Jansen's velocity has dipped about 2 mph, so maybe his back isn't 100% just yet. Chris Martin and Josh Winckowski would be next in line if Jansen ends up needing some rest.
-Craig Kimbrel has taken over the ninth in Philly, and he's worth rostering at least for now until Jose Alvarado returns and maybe even once he does.
-The Nationals bullpen is in committee mode again, Kyle Finnegan should still see most of the save chances, but Hunter Harvey has been mixing in as well.
-Michael King still isn't really pitching in consecutive games, so Clay Holmes got a save this week and the Yankees remain in committee mode with Wandy Peralta in there as well.
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