Bullpen Report: Navigating the Final Month

September 4, 2021

Michael Florio's fantasy baseball closers, saves and bullpen report for Week 24. He looks at all 30 MLB bullpens for under-the-radar fantasy baseball relievers.

The baseball season has flown by and just like that we are in the home stretch. You hear all the time that the season is a sprint and not a marathon, but as someone who ran cross country in high school, I can tell you that even long races become a sprint towards the end. In my first race, I didn’t fully get that until I sprinted two blocks as fast as I could and left my prerace meal on the side of the road. Why am I telling this embarrassing story? Because this is the part of the season that becomes a complete sprint. We have just four weeks left in the baseball season. 

I have spoken about this a lot this season, but it is especially important right now. If you are in a position where you are sitting atop in ERA and WHIP, you could forget about fringy starters or really any in a matchup that scares you. Grab some elite relievers that don’t get saves off the waiver wire and start them instead of those starters. You will still get innings and some strikeouts out of them, but it is less likely they will impact those ratios that you have worked so hard to preserve all season. 

Now is also a great time to get these relievers off the board for cheap, as teams lower in the standing start to take their eyes off the prize and focus on other leagues they are competitive in and their fantasy football rosters. With football kicking off next week, the chances people forget to put in their Sunday waivers only increases! This article will focus on changing bullpens and some of those elite relievers who can help you take home titles in the final month of the season!

Closers You Can Trust 

Will Smith, Kenley Jansen, Josh Hader, Edwin Diaz, Ian Kennedy, Mark Melancon, Jake McGee, Giovanny Gallegos, Adam Ottavino, Liam Hendriks, Emmanuel Clase, Ryan Pressly, Raisel Iglesias, Alex Colome, Aroldis Chapman, Joe Barlow, Jordan Romano, Dylan Floro, David Bednar

Changing Bullpens

Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles have both Cole Sulser and Tyler Wells who could be used in save situations. The only issue? They seldom have save situations. In the last two weeks, Sulser has the only save on the team and he has been their best reliever in terms of strikeouts and the ERA indicators indicate that he has been their top arm as well. He is the lone reliever to roster from this bullpen. 

Chicago Cubs 

The Cubs have a number of options who can see save chances ever since they blew up their bullpen at the deadline. The candidates are Codi Heuer, Rowan Wick, Adam Morgan, Adbert Alzolay and Manuel Rodriguez. In the past two weeks, Wick, Alzolay, and Morgan each have one save for the Cubs. Alzolay is the one that interests me the most as he was just added to the Cubs bullpen this week and already picked up a save. He and Wick are the top options here as they provide the best ratios and strikeouts. Morgan should be added in deeper leagues by save-needy teams. 

Cincinnati Reds

It wouldn’t be the bullpen report without me telling you how unpredictable the Reds bullpen has been all season long. It seems things have settled with them having two top options here in Michael Lorenzen and Mychal Givens. Lorenzen has two saves in the last two weeks, while Givens has one. Givens has been in the saves picture since the Reds acquired him and would be the top option as he is more of a strikeout arm than Lorenzen. He also provides stronger ratios. Lorenzen is the secondary option. There is also Lucas Sims and Amir Garrett looming here, so make sure to keep an eye on this bullpen. 

Oakland A’s

Lou Trivino had been reliable for much of the season but has struggled as of late, which has allowed Sergio Romo and Andrew Chafin to work their way into the saves picture. In the last two weeks alone Romo has two saves, while Chafin and Trivino each have one. Trivino’s recent struggles make him tough to trust – he has a 16.20 ERA, 10.96 FIP and 6.88 xFIP in the last two weeks. Do not cut him, but he is a risky start as of now. The preferred option is Romo, as he has history as a closer and that goes a long way with managers. Chafin is a solid ratio reliever who has the ability to contribute a couple of saves down the stretch. 

Seattle Mariners

There have been three different relievers picking up saves for the Mariners in the past 14 days. Paul Sewald and Drew Steckenrider each have two, while Yohan Ramirez has one. Sewald has been the best option leading the pen in strikeout rate, along with a 1.35 ERA and 1.60 xFIP in the past two weeks. Steckenrider does not provide the same level of ratios or strikeouts, but he is getting save chances meaning he should be rostered. Ramirez is a deep league option. 

Tampa Bay Rays 

The Rays have had four different pitchers pick up a save in the past two weeks, but Andrew Kittredge is the only pitcher with multiple saves. He has three in the past two weeks, showing that he is the top option here and should fully be trusted in the final month. Chris Mazza, Josh Fleming, and Collin McHugh all have one save and we could also see Pete Fairbanks and David Robertson involved here. Outside of Kittredge, its hard to rely on anyone here for saves. 

Elite Ratio relievers 

Andrew Wantz has pitched to a 44 percent strikeout rate with a 0.72 WHIP and 2.43 xFIP in the past month. He will not see save chances behind Raisel Iglesias, but he can be had off the waiver wire and streamed due to his strikeout and ratio abilities. 

Jay Jackson is just another breakout player for the Giants as of late. In the past month, he has pitched to a 44 percent strikeout rate with a 0.84 WHIP and 2.43 xFIP. 

Hector Neris struggled for much of the season and lost his closer job, but he has been better as of late. In the past month, he has pitched to a 2.78 xFIP, 0.67 WHIP with a 39 percent strikeout rate in 12 innings. He may not get regular saves, but he has been used a lot and is pitching well. Also, he has a shot to get a save if others in the pen are unavailable. 

Ryan Tepera has been awesome all season long. With the White Sox now he has pitched to a 0.73 WHIP, 3.57 xFIP and 39 percent strikeout rate and has one save in 11 innings over the last month. He continues to be an option you can trust for ratios. 

Blake Treinen has been great in his setup role with the Dodgers. He also is used often, meaning he will have a larger impact on your ratios. In the past 30 days, he has thrown 13.2 innings going off for a 1.32 ERA, 3.25 xFIP, 0.73 WHIP with a 38 percent strikeout rate. He also has two saves in that span. 

Josh Staumont has been very effective as of late. In 15 innings over the past 30 days, he has pitched to a 2.08 ERA, 2.37 xFIP with a 0.77 WHIP and 35 percent strikeout rate. While he does not have a save in that span, things have changed often this season in the Royals pen, so you can never fully discount him getting a chance or two. 

Follow Michael Florio on Twitter, @MichaelFFlorio

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