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MLB Closers and Saves Report - Week 11

Week 11 saw Cleveland Indians super-reliever Andrew Miller's ERA skyrocket from 0.29 to 1.60. He's not a closer, but his strikeouts and multiple-inning outings make him worthy of a fantasy roster spot in some mixed leagues. This was the first week in a long time that Miller's owners saw anything but strikeouts on his line.

Elite setup men aside, there were some rumblings in Week 11 bullpens that involved closers. Here's a look at the news for Week 11.

Let's get to it.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball draft tools and resources:

 

Bullpen News for Week 11

San Diego Padres

At the beginning of the season, Brandon Maurer was the Padres closer. Then he struggled mightily despite excellent peripheral stats. He lost his closer role and saw Brad Hand and others move into it temporarily. Was it bad luck, or was Maurer disproving the validity of things like FIP, xFIP, and SIERA? It was the luck one, as Maurer has seen much better results and it has now been almost three weeks since anyone not named Brandon Maurer appeared in a save situation for the Padres. For the season, he has an ugly 6.15 ERA, but his FIP is a pretty 2.67 and his 28:6 strikeout-to-walk ratio is solid. He can likely be had for very cheap, and is a good buy-low target in NL-only leagues.

Washington Nationals

Dusty Baker and the Nationals finally decided on a closer — Koda Glover. Glover made it look like a great decision right away, pitching well and making gifs and videos of his nasty slider the topic of many online conversations. Not too long after, though, Glover injured himself before a Nationals game. He did not let anyone know, and pitched that night anyway, blowing the game and landing on the disabled list right after. Matt Albers seems like he'll take the bulk of the save opportunities in the nation's capital, with Baker calling him, "our most dependable guy." Still Shawn Kelley and perhaps even Enny Romero will remain in the mix for saves until Glover returns. For those looking for a temporary source of saves though, Albers appears to be the one to own.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Officially, the Pirates closer role is a closer-by-committee of Felipe Rivero and Juan Nicasio. On the field though, Rivero has taken the reins. He came in for two four-out saves in back-to-back games over the weekend and converted both. While no official word has come from the team, Rivero seems to be settling into the role and should soon go from head of the committee to sole owner of the ninth inning. He's a must add in all formats.

 

Roster Moves of the Week

Adds

Felipe Rivero, Pittsburgh Pirates - If you still haven't added Rivero, do it now. He's the best pitcher in the Pittsburgh bullpen and it won't take long for him to knock Nicasio out of the alleged committee.

Matt Albers, Washington Nationals - With Glover on the shelf, Albers will head the committee of closers in DC. He's not an elite talent, but he's a decent enough relief pitcher that should provide a few saves over the next week or two. He's worth looking at for those struggling with saves, but isn't a must-own in any format.

Drops

Brad Hand, San Diego Padres - There was some buzz around Hand a few weeks ago, but Maurer has regained the closer role and seems like he won't be giving it back. Hand is almost certain to be traded before July 31st and won't be closing for his new team. He's worth hanging onto in holds leagues, but can be let go in standard leagues.

 

Best of the Week

Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers - 3 1/3 IP, 4 K, 3 SV, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP

Oh nothing, just another perfect week for Dodgers closer Jansen. Jansen got 10 outs this week without allowing a single base runner. He saved three games and recorded a win in another. He's easily one of the top relief pitchers in recent memory.

Corey Knebel, Milwaukee Brewers - 3 2/3 IP, 5 K, 3 SV, 0.00 ERA, 0.55 WHIP

Knebel makes his second straight appearance on the Best of the Week list, pitching in three games and saving all three while striking out five. He allowed only two base hits all week. Despite excellent results since entering the closer's role, Knebel is only owned in 71% of fantasy leagues. Give that waiver wire a look just in case.

Roberto Osuna, Toronto Blue Jays - 2 1/3 IP, 3 K, 3 SV, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP

Osuna only needed 2 1/3 innings to pick up three saves this week. He got all seven hitters he faced out this week, three on strikeouts.

 

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Adds

 

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