Ryan Yarbrough (SP/RP, TB) - Week 23 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 14% of Yahoo leagues ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Ryan Yarbrough has allowed just 15 batters to reach base and two to score in his last five appearances, spanning 21 innings. Only one of those was an official start, as he is most often been used […]

Week 24 MLB Closers and Saves Report

Many long and circuitous roads have brought us to the fantasy baseball playoffs, my friends. Baseball season is a long one with so many games to keep track of each and every day, so a legitimate congratulations goes out to all of you who made it to the playoffs in your leagues. I made it […]

Holds Leagues - Waiver Wire Pickups and Adds for Week 24

While holds are even tougher to predict than saves, the players we’ll highlight today include some elite setup men to target off the waiver wire in Week 24. One-inning middle relievers are the constant sources for holds and specialists can manage to secure a hold even with one out. However, while specialists can get many […]

Week 24 Waiver Wire: H2H Category Streamers

I like to consider myself a pioneer of the streaming approach. I won a league about seven years ago by completely ignoring saves and just stacking up the starts each week. While streaming is undoubtedly more directly associated with pitching, there's plenty of value in streaming for offense as well. Maybe you have a stacked […]

Jesse Chavez Earns Third Save Thursday

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Jesse Chavez closed out the game Thursday versus Washington. After the Cubs took a two-run lead in the top of the 10th, Chavez came in and earned the save after a little trouble, though no runs scored. The save was his third of the season, after having earned three saves total […]

Pedro Strop Earns Win Thursday Versus Washington

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Pedro Strop earned a win Thursday versus the Nationals. He came into a tie game in the bottom of the ninth inning and held Washington scoreless to send it to extra innings. The Cubs would score in the next half-inning and win which earned Strop his fifth win of the season. […]

Brandon Morrow's Fate Hinges On Sunday

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Brandon Morrow (biceps) will face a key point on Sunday. He will throw off a mound for the first time since July 18. How he feels after that session will determine so much about the path forward. The Cub and Morrow both are targeting September 15 or 16 as a possible […]

Edwin Diaz Nails Down 53rd Save

Seattle Mariners closer Edwin Diaz picked up his 53rd save of the season in the Mariners 5-2 win over the Orioles. Diaz struck out two batters in the scoreless frame and now has 117 strikeouts in only 67 1/3 innings pitched. The dynamic closer already has appeared in 67 games this season so the worry […]

Adam Ottavino Finishes Off The Giants

Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Adam Ottavino got the ninth-inning call on Wednesday after normal closer Wade Davis had pitched on back-to-back days, and Ottavino took care of business. It was Ottavino's fifth straight scoreless outing, and he nailed down his sixth save of the year. Ottavino's ranged from unhittable to unownable this season, but his […]

Craig Kimbrel Registers 38th Save

Boston Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel notched his 38th save of the season in Wednesday's 9-8 win against the Atlanta Braves. Kimbrel allowed a walk while striking out two in the appearance. Kimbrel had been a bit inconsistent over the past couple months, but he has registered a 1.29 ERA in his last seven outings. […]

Hector Velazquez Serviceable On Wednesday

Boston Red Sox starter Hector Velazquez went four innings, allowing two runs on five hits in Wednesday's 9-8 win over the Atlanta Braves. Velazquez walked three batters while striking out two and was saddled with a no-decision. The 29-year-old has been decent in limited starts this season. He has a 7-2 record with a 3.30 […]

Pedro Strop Earns 12th Save

Chicago Cubs reliever Pedro Strop allowed some drama but finished the job Wednesday versus the Brewers. With a two-run lead, Strop would allow the first two batters to reach before coming back to close them out. The save was his 12th of the season. He is likely to be getting some more down the stretch […]

A.J. Minter Takes Loss On Wednesday

Atlanta Braves closer A.J. Minter gave up a two-run homer to Brandon Phillips in the top of the ninth inning during Wednesday's 9-8 loss to the Boston Red Sox. Those would go on to be the winning runs and dropped Minter's record to 4-3 on the season. It was not a save opportunity, as Minter […]

Carlos Martinez Earns a Save on Wednesday

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez picked up a save on Wednesday, tossing the last two innings of the Cardinals' 7-6 win over the Washington Nationals. He allowed two hits but no runs and struck out four. Martinez started the season off as a starting pitcher but injuries led him to several stints on the […]

Aroldis Chapman Playing Catch

New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman (knee) has been playing catch on flat ground and walking on a treadmill. There remains no timetable for Chapman's return, and there remains a chance that he won't return this season. His fantasy owners need to prepare for that possibility. In the meantime, David Robertson is the best option […]

Shawn Kelley Expects To Return Friday

Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Shawn Kelley (thumb), who said he lacerated the top of his left thumb while washing a "very very sharp knife," thinks he can return to pitch on Friday. Kelley has been good all year (2.63, 0.85 WHIP), but he's thrown 8 2/3 scoreless frames since being traded over by the Nationals. […]

Brandon Morrow Running Out Of Time

Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon said there is "barely" enough time for closer Brandon Morrow (biceps) to return to the team this season. Maddon said he'd be surprised if Morrow returns. Well there you go, folks. Unless you have plenty of room, Morrow is now a drop candidate in shallow mixed leagues. He's been out […]

Sean Doolittle Throws Successful Simulated Game

Washington Nationals closer Sean Doolittle (foot) threw a successful simulated game on Wednesday and is set to be activated from the disabled list this weekend. It's unclear if Doolittle will be put right back into the ninth inning, but he should still be owned in all leagues after sporting a 1.45 ERA, 0.54 WHIP, 22 […]

Kenley Jansen Not Expected To Make Trip This Weekend

While it's not yet official, Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen is not expected to make the trip with the team to Colorado this weekend. The Dodgers are playing it cautious after Jansen experienced an irregular heartbeat during the last trip to Denver in the altitude. If Jansen doesn't join the team, the Dodgers could […]

Brad Hand Strikes Out the Side for a Save on Wednesday

Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Brad Hand picked up his 32nd save of the season on Wednesday, striking out the side in the ninth inning to close out a 3-1 win for his team. With Cody Allen working the eighth inning ahead of Hand in this one, it looks like Hand is taking over the closer's […]

Royals Claim Ben Lively Off Waivers

The Kansas City Royals claimed pitcher Ben Lively off waivers from the Phillies on Wednesday, and he will report to the big league team. In a corresponding move, pitcher Eric Stout was designated for assignment. Lively had a brutal 6.85 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and 22 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings in five starts for the […]

Roberto Osuna Posting 1.93 ERA With Astros

Houston Astros closer Roberto Osuna nailed down his 13th save of the season Tuesday night against the Twins. It was his fourth save since being acquired by the Astros and has been a boon to Houston's bullpen. Over his last 14 innings, Osuna is posting a .193 ERA with 12 hits allowed and 15 strikeouts. […]

Shawn Kelley Out With Finger Injury

Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Shawn Kelley (finger) is out with a finger laceration and may not be available until Friday. Kelley has been a nice asset since being acquired from the Nationals, tossing 8 2/3 scoreless innings while walking two and striking out nine. He doesn't really have any fantasy appeal, however.

Jordan Hicks Records a Save on Tuesday

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Jordan Hicks earned a save on Tuesday, recording an out against the only batter he faced. Hicks was warming up in the bullpen for a regular save chance, but the Cardinals offense extended the lead to 11-5 before Hicks came in. When a pair of Cardinals relievers struggled and turned […]

Sandy Baez Extends Scoreless Streak

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Sandy Baez fired two scoreless innings on Tuesday against the White Sox, extending his scoreless streak to 6 1/3 innings on the year. Having appeared in just two games since his promotion, Baez is wasting no time making an impression. He's pitched multiple innings in both games and has allowed just […]

Tyler Glasnow (SP/RP, TB) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 30% of leagues ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow has continues to make the most of his move to Tampa. Glasnow’s ownership has crept up from roughly 26% to 30% over the last couple days and, even though it is just people looking for streamers, […]

Josh James (SP/RP, HOU) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 9% of leagues ANALYSIS: Houston Astros pitcher Josh James is a player so new to fantasy owners that ESPN only JUST got him in their player pool. His MLB debut saw him fan nine Angels over five innings, with the only damage coming on a Kole Calhoun three-run […]

Jose Leclerc Picks Up Ninth Save Of The Season

Texas Rangers closer Jose Leclerc picked up his ninth save of the 2018 season. Leclerc struck out two batters, with no hits and no walks in the ninth innings of Tuesday's game. This is Leclerc's eighth save in his last eight opportunities, and he has allowed just two hits in his last 43 at-bats. Leclerc is […]

Cubs Bring Up Jaime Garcia Tuesday

The Chicago Cubs brought up pitcher Jaime Garcia on Tuesday. They bought his contract from the Triple-A club and he joins their bullpen. Garcia has struggled this season when he was with the Blue Jays. The lefty was 3-6 with a 5.93 ERA in 25 games (13 starts). However, the Cubs may have found a role […]

Sergio Romo Saves His 19th Game Tuesday

Tampa Bay Rays reliever Sergio Romo answered a few questions Tuesday versus Toronto. He would come in with 1 out in the ninth inning with two men on. It was his first save opportunity in several games which had lead to some questions about whether he might have quietly lost the job somehow. Romo would […]