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Next week: All-Star Game. Soon after: trade deadline. All the baseball holidays are coming at us fast, and fantasy baseball leagues are figuring out who is competing this year and who is just along for the ride. As always, bullpens have played a huge role not just in "real" baseball, but also in the fun fake baseball we all play on our screens.
This week, we saw a closer secure two saves in one day, we saw another closer break a bad streak, we saw an immaculate one, and we saw a team that hasn't really had a closer maybe start leaning in a certain direction. Also, as is tradition, it wasn't all good news as we saw some injuries and blown saves along the way. All that and more, in much more detail, in this week's report, so read on!
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
-First reliever trade of the month (many, many more surely to come), as the Royals acquired Hunter Harvey from the Nationals. He'll likely slide into the key setup role and pitch the eighth inning ahead of closer James McArthur.
-Meanwhile, the Nationals will give more holds chances to Robert Garcia and Derek Law.
-Yimi Garcia is on his way to rejoin the Blue Jays and should be active for next week's games. He's almost certainly only with the team until the trade deadline, but he could get some saves between now and then.
-Red Sox reliever Chris Martin has been shut down after experiencing more elbow discomfort. He still hopes to return later this season, but he won't throw for a while.
-David Bednar returned from his injured list stint and earned a save on Friday night.
-Evan Phillips pitched in the sixth inning. Just Dodgers things, most likely, but something to keep an eye on just in case.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Saves
Devin Williams, Milwaukee Brewers (Rostered in 66% of leagues)
He's (almost) back, folks! Devin Williams and his vicious "airbender" could be back on Milwaukee's mound before long. He hasn't pitched yet this season after starting the year on the injured list with stress fractures in his back, but he's at the point in his recovery where he's already facing live hitters and has a minor league rehab assignment starting soon. Then as long as it all goes well, Williams could be activated right after the All-Star break.
While he may get an outing or two in lower-leverage situations to get back up to game speed, we're likely to see him closing games pretty soon. Trevor Megill has done an admirable job filling in for Williams, but it's undoubtedly Williams' job once he's healthy. Right now, he's on the wire in one-third of fantasy leagues and needs to be picked up immediately if he's available.
Devin Williams FB / Airbender overlay pic.twitter.com/SWyCnUVLgU
— Alex Fast (@AlexFast8) April 13, 2022
Ben Joyce, Los Angeles Angels (Rostered in 1% of leagues)
This is a much deeper cut, but Ben Joyce got a very mild vote of confidence from his manager this week, with Ron Washington acknowledging that Joyce could be used in save situations if closer Carlos Estevez is unavailable and setup man Luis Garcia has already pitched. That makes him third string at best, but both Estevez and Garcia are free agents after the season and with the Angels 13 games out of a playoff spot, they could both be traded at the deadline.
If they both go, that would leave Joyce in line for the closer's role for most of the second half of the season. He added a new pitch this year and has been much more efficient, especially lately. He's pitched 12 1/3 innings over a nine-game scoreless streak, carrying a sparkling 0.73 WHIP along the way. There are still some aspects to Joyce that remain a work in progress, but he has a clear 80-grade fastball. If he's given the opportunity to be a leverage pitcher, he could quickly become a fantasy asset. He's available in almost every league right now.
Ben Joyce, 103mph 🔥 pic.twitter.com/BfI8SMZzfa
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 6, 2024
Paul Sewald, Arizona Diamondbacks (Rostered in 84% of leagues)
This one is much less of a "go get him" and more of a "check if someone rage dropped him" suggestion. Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald had a rough stretch recently where he blew a save in three consecutive save chances. Three blown saves in any short time period is tough, but three in a row certainly led to some fantasy managers giving up and sending him to the waiver wire.
He's currently only available in 16% of leagues, but that's still a full-time closer on a good enough team that might be available for free, so it's worth checking. After getting a vote of confidence from manager Torey Lovullo, Sewald pitched on Wednesday and Thursday and earned saves both days, breaking his 0-for-3 with a strong 2-for-2. He's locked into the role and should have a solid second half.
Paul Sewald absolutely mowing down batters. Again. pic.twitter.com/vxRkUajG6j
— Alex D’Agostino (@AlexDagAZ) October 21, 2023
More Bullpen and Closer News
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies have had a closer-by-committee approach for seemingly the longest time in baseball (don't fact check that). But really, they're the new Rays in terms of bullpen usage. Or at least they looked like they were. But lately, maybe that's changing. Jeff Hoffman has earned four of the last five saves for the Phillies, and he's now tied with Jose Alvarado for the team lead in saves since the beginning of June. (Alvarado still has him beat 13-9 for the season.)
Hoffman is 7-for-7 since the last time he blew a save, and has 49 strikeouts and only nine walks in 39 1/3 innings pitched this season. His 1.14 ERA leads all National League relievers with at least 30 innings pitched, and is third overall behind Emmanuel Clase and Kirby Yates. He's rostered in 56% of leagues compared to 78% for Alvarado, even though Hoffman may be the better option right now and for the rest of the season.
Jeff Hoffman is the man pic.twitter.com/cPD93Biirr
— Philly Sports Sufferer (@mccrystal_alex) June 1, 2024
Short Relief - Other Bullpen News
-Michael Kopech pitched an immaculate inning (nine pitches, three strikeouts) this week. It was the first one for the White Sox since 1923 when a real-life human person named Sloppy Thurston did it in a 12th inning against the Philadelphia A's.
-James McArthur recorded two saves in one day this week, closing out both ends of a split doubleheader sweep against the Cardinals. It was the sixth time a Royals pitcher has recorded two saves in one day and the first time since Greg Holland did it in 2013.
-Clay Holmes secured his 20th save of the season this week and it was significant because it was his first one since June 9, a full month ago.
-Mason Miller had a bit of a rough patch, but seven of his last eight appearances have been scoreless, so it looks like he's back on track. He's only earned two saves in those eight appearances, but that's been more of a game situation issue and not anything in Miller's control.
-Jalen Beeks looks like he's back on top of the Rockies bullpen hierarchy. That gives him a minuscule bit of fantasy value for the bravest of fantasy managers.
-Yimi Garcia is still on his way back from the injured list. Some neck stiffness caused a rehab outing to be pushed back a day, but it doesn't seem like a major setback for now.
-Reed Garrett has some forearm tightness and will be getting an MRI. That's usually not going to show much good news. Garrett has a 6.86 ERA since May 16.
-David Bednar is pitching well in his minor league rehab and should be back with the Pirates soon.
-Raisel Iglesias made his first multi-inning appearance since July 2022. He ended up with a blown save, though the run he allowed was unearned.
-Our saves leaderboard looks pretty familiar: Ryan Helsley in the lead with 31, Emmanuel Clase behind him with 28, and then a sizable gap before Kyle Finnegan and Craig Kimbrel tied for third place with 23.
-The blown saves leader is Jalen Beeks with six. There are 11 guys behind him tied for second with five blown saves, but for now, Beeks stands alone at the top.
-The holds leaderboard features JoJo Romero up top with 26, then Andrew Kittredge and Hunter Harvey right behind him with 25, followed by Yennier Cano with 23, then David Robertson and Bryan Abreu with 20 each.
-American League All-Star relief pitchers: Emmanuel Clase, Clay Holmes, Mason Miller, and Kirby Yates.
-National League All-Star relief pitchers: Ryan Helsley, Jeff Hoffman, Tanner Scott, Matt Strahm, and Robert Suarez.
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