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Another week closer to the real baseball playoffs means another week even closer to the fantasy playoffs. Much like things are starting to take shape around MLB, and most fantasy leagues have weeded out their contenders and their pretenders (RIP to The Atrocities, my team that had made the playoffs 11 seasons in a row and will watch them from "home" this year).
Exciting bullpen stuff to go over this week, including a new closer for a bird team. Also a solidified new closer for a snake team, and then a sort of settling in by default for a crown team. Oh, and good news from a hosiery team about an exciting (possibly) returning closer. All that, with actual team names, and more 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
-Michael Kopech earned a save and threw the fastest pitch of his life this weekend. There's no sure sign of it yet, but he could be an excellent fantasy asset if he ascends into more save chances.
-Jhoan Duran pitched in three straight games, finishing it off with his 18th save.
-David Bednar keeps struggling, but the run he allowed did not end in a blown save, so he was able to still earn his 21st.
-Pete Fairbanks and Kyle Finnegan both blew saves, and Justin Martinez took a loss after coming into a tie game.
-Craig Kimbrel has been having a really, really hard time. It's looking like he shouldn't really be rostered in fantasy leagues anymore.
-Ryan Pressly landed on the IL this weekend, leaving Bryan Abreu and Tayler Scott as the key setup guys ahead of closer Josh Hader.
-Michel Otanez earned the first save of his career this weekend for the A's. Mason Miller is clearly the closer there though, so it was a fill-in situation only.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Saves
Seranthony Dominguez, Baltimore Orioles (Rostered in 13% of leagues)
The Orioles' closer situation has been a fun one to follow this season (except for Orioles fans, probably). Craig Kimbrel came in and did Craig Kimbrel things; in other words, he alternated between being one of the elite closers in baseball and being a pitching machine for the other team's batting practice.
Yennier Cano seemed like he might take over the ninth inning after Kimbrel's most recent string of struggles, and while Cano did sneak in a few saves, it appears trade-deadline acquisition Seranthony Dominguez is the one settling into the role instead.
Dominguez has earned the last two saves for Baltimore and has allowed just one run in his nine innings as an Oriole, striking out 10 while walking three. He's available in most leagues right now, and while the team hasn't made an official official announcement, everything about how they've handled their bullpen this week points to Dominguez being the guy.
Filthy stuff from Seranthony Dominguez for the second out in the 9th, followed by a 98 MPH paint job to get Steward Berroa looking to end the game #Birdland pic.twitter.com/h1FNFZQdta
— Rocco DiSangro (@RoccoDiSangro) July 31, 2024
Lucas Erceg, Kansas City Royals (Rostered in 29% of leagues)
A few weeks ago, Lucas Erceg was pitching for the Oakland A's, a team whose future is pretty much as murky as a professional baseball team's future can be. Today, he's closing for the Kansas City Royals, a team with an incredibly bright future and a pretty good-looking present as well.
Erceg made his way into the closer's role partly by just being good at baseball, but also partly because of injuries. After the trade deadline, the Royals found themselves with Erceg and Hunter Harvey in their leverage roles, with James McArthur struggling his way through as well.
McArthur was removed from the closer's role and a committee was formed, but Harvey seemed to be getting the bigger chunk of the work. Then Harvey got hurt, and Erceg was the last man standing. He has eight strikeouts to go with no walks and no runs allowed in his 7 2/3 innings since becoming a Royal.
Assuming he keeps the role (and there's no reason to think he won't), Erceg has the stuff to be one of the better fantasy closers around. He's currently on waiver wires in most leagues, go find him!
This is just filthy from Lucas Erceg. #Royals pic.twitter.com/00uJouyZdW
— Braiden Turner (@bturner23) August 11, 2024
Justin Martinez, Arizona Diamondbacks (Rostered in 37% of leagues)
We figured the Diamondbacks would go with a committee approach after removing Paul Sewald from their closer's role, and while that may have originally been their plan, Justin Martinez has certainly risen to the top and claimed the role for himself.
He's on a streak of seven straight scoreless appearances, with three saves along the way. While Sewald has been pitching better lately and guys like A.J. Puk and Kevin Ginkel are around, it's Martinez who is being used as the outright closer in the desert.
Manager Torey Lovullo said it is "too early" to call Justin Martinez the closer, but, like, come on. He's available in most leagues and could help any fantasy teams looking for some extra saves and some strong ratios.
Justin Martínez is the answer to the Dbacks closer problem pic.twitter.com/NTWQM2hlb6
— Barstool Baseball (@StoolBaseball) August 6, 2024
More Bullpen and Closer News
Milwaukee Brewers
Trevor Megill did a solid job closing for the Brewers while Devin Williams was recovering from a preseason injury. But we all knew that once Williams came back, it would be his job. (Especially now that Megill is on the injured list, but still, it was happening anyway.)
Williams has been excellent since his return, recording three saves in six innings while allowing one run and striking out 11. He's back to top-tier closer status and pitched in consecutive games this week, which was one of his last hurdles before being "so back".
His second save of the season? He got Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman out, protecting a one-run lead. He's a must-roster in all formats and is somehow only rostered in 76% of leagues right now.
Devin Williams, Nasty 86mph Airbender. 😨 pic.twitter.com/fYkme1sl1b
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 4, 2024
Short Relief - Other Bullpen News
-Felix Bautista threw his first bullpen session and is expected to be fully ready to return for the 2025 season.
-Liam Hendriks is back on the mound, getting some work in at Fenway Park and surrounded by his teammates. It's unclear if he'll make it back this season, but it sure would be fun if he did.
-Jake Cousins, Landon Knack, and Joey Wentz all recorded the first saves of their careers on the same day this week.
-Emmanuel Clase saved four games in four days this week, the first time a Cleveland pitcher had done that since 1995. Clase has a 0.64 ERA.
-Cheers to the "Michael Kopech is good, actually" crowd: Kopech has thrown 7 1/3 scoreless innings since joining the Dodgers, striking out 11 while issuing just one walk.
-Reed Garrett is back in the Mets bullpen and should once again be an asset in holds leagues.
-Our leaderboards after this week: Ryan Helsley still tops the league in saves, but with Clase's huge week, he's now right there with him, tied at 37 each. No one else has more than 30.
-Our holds top spot belongs to Andrew Kittredge and Bryan Abreu, each with 30. After an awful start to the season, Abreu is Bryan Abreu again.
-Speaking of Bryan Abreu, he leads all relievers in strikeouts this season with 83. Josh Hader is one behind with 82, and Cade Smith has 79.
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