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Another week gone by, and this one was a lot less eventful, at least bullpen-wise. No major changes, no huge milestones, no trades. But that doesn't mean there weren't saves! That doesn't mean a few committees haven't started becoming more and more clear. That doesn't mean a closer who looked to be on his way out might be right back in.
So still stuff to cover, even with a quiet week in the rearview. Still moves to be made and waiver wires to scour. Let's jump in quietly and take a look.
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 2024 baseball season.
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Sunday Quick Hit Closer Updates
-Edwin Diaz got another save chance after a short break from the closer's role. It went...the way things went before he was removed from the role: another blown save.
-Jason Foley was used as the highest-leverage reliever in a 2-1 Tigers win, leaving Tyler Holton to pitch the ninth inning and earn his first save of the season and the second of his career.
-How did Mason Miller come back from his first bad outing of the season? He came in, struck out all three batters he faced, and earned another save. He's so back.
-Michael Kopech blew a save against the Orioles, leading to Cionel Perez earning his first one of the season for Baltimore.
-Nick Anderson earned his first save of the season for the Royals in an 11-inning game, locking down a win over his previous team, the Tampa Bay Rays.
-JoJo Romero picked up his second win of the season and remains the league leader in holds.
-Is Alexis Diaz back? He earned another save this weekend, pitching a perfect ninth inning for his ninth save.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Saves
Lucas Sims, Cincinnati Reds (Rostered in 1% of leagues)
Alexis Diaz is the Reds closer. Diaz has a 6.62 ERA with an 18:15 strikeout-to-walk ratio and has blown two saves and taken three losses. He picked up a save with a scoreless inning in his most recent outing, but it's been a rough start to the year for Diaz, who has to be at least somewhat on the hot seat.
Meanwhile, Lucas Sims might not have the best numbers this season, either (5.02 ERA), but he's allowed just two earned runs total in his past 12 outings, so his rough start to 2024 seems to be behind him. The Reds have not made a move yet, and they may not need to if Diaz finds his stuff. Sims would be the next guy up, and he's pretty much available for free in every fantasy league right now.
Lucas Sims' Slider was the Highest Grading tjStuff+ Pitch from yesterday
Sims' slider is really a sweeper, and it has a huge amount of glove-side movement which makes it a nasty pitch pic.twitter.com/7jKEHheTgJ
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) April 25, 2024
Yimi Garcia, Toronto Blue Jays (Rostered in 25% of leagues)
One of the more common questions I've been asked recently is, "should we be worried about Jordan Romano?" Honestly? Yes, a little bit. Romano's strikeout rate is down significantly and his ground-ball rate has plummeted as well. That all leads to a 4.91 ERA/5.95 xERA. He did get off to a late start this season, not making his first appearance until April 16, but it hasn't been pretty.
But Yimi Garcia? He has a 0.47 ERA backed up by a 1.44 xERA and the best strikeout rate of his career (35.3% K%). He's been elite and would immediately step in for Romano if the Blue Jays chose to make a switch. For now, Yimi is one of the strongest holds league options but would quickly become one of the top waiver options in all leagues if he moved into a closing role.
Yimi Garcia, K'ing the Side. pic.twitter.com/iGtYqi2eEc
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 10, 2024
More Bullpen and Closer News
New York Yankees
It happened: Clay Holmes allowed a run. The Yankees closer was the last qualified pitcher who had not allowed an earned run this season, but a rough outing this week changed that in a hurry. Holmes entered Monday's game with a 0.00 ERA, gave up four runs while only getting two outs, took a loss, and saw his ERA "skyrocket" to...a still very impressive 1.74 (it's down to 1.64 after a scoreless outing and his 14th save on Thursday).
It was a legitimately bad outing for Holmes (16.38 xFIP) and not just bad luck, but still almost certainly nothing to be concerned about. He wasn't going to end the season with a 0.00 ERA, and now he can start another scoreless streak since his 20-game streak (the second longest in Yankees history) to start the season is now over.
50+ Saves and a 180 ERA+, Yankees history:
• Mariano Rivera
• Clay Holmes pic.twitter.com/wleLQHd7A9— . (@HalToHell) April 27, 2024
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers have had Jason Foley working as their closer in most of their ninth innings this year. He leads the team with 10 saves, while Alex Lange is in second place with just two. After a roster move made this week, though, Foley is the only active Tigers player with a save recorded. Lange was optioned to Triple-A and Mason Englert was called up to take his space. Englert was pitching well in Triple-A, posting a 2.35 ERA with a 37% K%. He'll likely work in a setup role, but this move just cements Foley as the team's closer.
Lange has always been hard to hit, but throwing strikes has been an issue throughout his career. This year, he has 21 strikeouts and 17 walks in 18 2/3 innings. Since June 1, 2023 (not an arbitrary date, Lange won Reliever of the Month in May of that year), he has only thrown 57.7% of his pitches for strikes. He'll get some work in Triple-A and should rejoin the Tigers before long, but for now he's droppable in all formats.
.. and how hard it must be to try to catch Alex Lange ..
--> https://t.co/PptELpimuh pic.twitter.com/DfxRx4MbJ2
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) March 9, 2023
Short Relief - Other Bullpen News
-Luis Garcia earned his third save of the season this week. Carlos Estevez has been unlucky with batted-ball results but should still be able to hold his job as Angels closer. Garcia is clearly next up, however.
-Jhoan Duran is really, really tough to hit (seven total hits allowed, 10 strikeouts), but when he does get hit, he gets hit pretty hard. Three of the seven hits he's allowed this season have been home runs.
-Cade Smith earned his first big league save this week, filling in on a day Emmanuel Clase was unavailable.
-Saves leaders entering the weekend: Ryan Helsley and Emmanuel Clase, both with 15. Clay Holmes and Robert Suarez are both one save behind with 14.
-Holds leader entering the weekend: JoJo Romero with some separation from the rest of the pack, with 17. Behind him are Andrew Kittredge and Hunter Harvey with 14 each.
-Mason Miller FIP Update: No longer a negative number, it's up to 0.13. He's the best reliever in baseball right now and it's not particularly close, even after he allowed five runs (three earned) to the...Rockies??
-Craig Kimbrel picked up his 10th save and looks to maybe be back? We'll have to wait and see, but there are good signs.
-Adbert Alzolay is still on top of the blown saves leaderboard with five, but he's now joined by Steven Okert, who has five of his own. Shoutout to Okert for reminding us that the blown save is not a closer-exclusive stat, and for reminding us to tip when we're happy with a service provided.
Twins reliever Steven Okert tipped the bullpen cart driverpic.twitter.com/6DQBTHsb9I
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) May 22, 2024
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