Wade Davis Misses Friday Due To Illness

Colorado Rockies closer Wade Davis spent Friday's game at the team hotel with a stomach bug, so setup man Adam Ottavino stepped in to close out the game with Arizona. It's the best possible news from a fantasy perspective since such an illness would be expected to pass quickly, but it does mean Davis will […]

Buy or Sell - Undervalued and Overvalued Players for Week 17

We've been wheeling and dealing all season (at least hypothetically), but now's the time when the real moves are made. One of the biggest risk-reward propositions a fantasy owner can undertake is to buy or sell a player based purely on speculation of a real-life trade. We know many of the higher profile names who […]

Cody Allen Blows a Save on Friday

Cleveland Indians closer Cody Allen blew a save on Friday, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk in an inning of work. It was only the second blown save of the season for Allen, but his ERA went up to 4.99. With Brad Hand and Adam Cimber brought in over the break to […]

Brad Hand Earns a Hold in his Cleveland Debut

Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Brad Hand earned a hold in his Cleveland debut despite allowing a run on a solo home run in one inning of work. Hand was acquired from the San Diego Padres during the All-Star Break. He was closing for the Padres, but will work in a setup role for Cleveland. Closer […]

Athletics Look Poised To Land Jeurys Familia

According to multiple sources, the Oakland Athletics looked poised to land New York Mets closer Jeurys Familia in a trade. Oakland is reportedly offering multiple prospects and a deal could be completed in the next couple of days. While no one has been confirmed, Jose Mateo has been a name some pundits think can go […]

A.J. Minter Gets Save No. 5 As Braves Beat Nats

It looks like Atlanta Braves relief pitcher A.J. Minter may get more save opportunities while Arodys Vizcaino is on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation. He got the save on Friday night, his fifth of the year. Who knows if Vizcaino can be reliable for the whole season? Atlanta's front office might want to get […]

Jeurys Familia On Verge Of Being Traded

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, New York Mets closer Jeurys Familia is on the verge of being traded to an unknown team. Both the A's and Cubs have been known to have interest, however, according to Olney, Chicago is not involved. There's a very good chance that Familia is traded by the end of Friday […]

Cubs Showing Interest In Jeurys Familia

The Chicago Cubs are reportedly showing interest in New York Mets closer Jeurys Familia. It was reported earlier in the day that the A's were in on Familia and it now looks like Chicago has joined the hunt. The Cubs have been linked to Zach Britton and Brad Hand prior to his trade. It's unknown […]

A's Interested In Jeurys Familia

The Oakland Athletics are reportedly interested in New York Mets closer Jeurys Familia. Familia's name has been one of the biggest ones on the table with the trade deadline approaching. The Athletics already have their closer in All-Star Blake Treinen, however, Familia would give them an explosive 1-2 punch. Familia has pitched to a 2.88 […]

Andrew Miller Needs 2-3 More Rehab Appearances

Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Andrew Miller (knee) will likely see two or more rehab appearances before rejoining the major league roster. Miller is trying to come back from a right knee injury that has sidelined him since May. Miller has struggled in 2018, pitching to a 4.40 ERA and a 23/10 K/BB ratio. However, he […]

Cody Allen To Continue Seeing Most Of The Save Chances

Cleveland Indians closer Cody Allen is still likely to see the majority of the save chances after the team acquired relief pitcher Brad Hand, according to manager Terry Francona. However, Hand could be used in the ninth over Allen if it makes more sense against a certain part of an opponent's lineup. Allen hasn't been […]

Addison Reed Making Delivery Tweaks

Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Addison Reed (elbow) threw a bullpen session on Friday and is making tweaks to his delivery in hopes of seeing some improvement. He will likely throw another bullpen on Sunday. Reed was a popular pick to take over for closer Fernando Rodney in the ninth at some point this year, but […]

Sean Doolittle Throws Bullpen

Washington Nationals closer Sean Doolittle (toe) ran and threw off a bullpen mound on Friday and said he felt "significantly better" than last week. However, he's not yet back to 100 percent. Doolittle has been one of the best closers in the game this year. Until he returns, expect Kelvin Herrera to work the ninth […]

Jonny Venters To Make Second Rehab Appearance

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Jonny Venters (hamstring) will make his second rehab appearance for High-A Charlotte on Saturday. Prior to the injury Venters had thrown 13 1.3 innings in 21 appearances, including one start, in the major leagues. In those 13 1/3 innings Venters has 11 strikeouts and a 3.95 ERA. The Rays bullpen […]

Mets Discussing Jeurys Familia With Other Teams

The New York Mets are discussing closer Jeurys Familia with other teams. There is nothing imminent right now, but Familia is likely to be traded well before the deadline of July 31, with seven to eight teams showing varying degrees of interest in him. Familia has pitched much better of late and has a 2.88 […]

Jeurys Familia's Stock Is Up

New York Mets closer Jeurys Familia, who struggled to an 8.22 ERA in June, has seen his trade stock rise lately and has a 2.88 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 9.5 K/9 on the season overall. He might be the team's best trade chip not named Jacob deGrom or Noah Syndergaard, and he is a free […]

Raisel Iglesias Now The Most Attractive Reliever?

With closer Brad Hand being dealt to the Indians on Thursday, Cincinnati Reds closer Raisel Iglesias could be the best reliever on the trade market. He has a 2.36 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 9.9 K/9 on the season and could potentially fetch a large return for the Reds. Iglesias is owed just over $11 million […]

Braves Discussing Zach Britton

The Atlanta Braves have talked to the Baltimore Orioles about closer Zach Britton. The Braves are seeking bullpen help and have a loaded farm system. Britton might be the most coveted trade chip now that Manny Machado has been dealt, and it seems like a foregone conclusion that Britton will be playing for a different […]

Week 16 Waiver Wire: H2H Category Streamers

I like to consider myself a pioneer of the streaming approach. I won a league about seven years ago 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 roster […]

Bud Norris Was Available Thursday

St. Louis Cardinals closer Bud Norris was available out of the bullpen on Thursday despite dealing with soreness lately. Jordan Hicks recorded a save on Sunday awith Norris unavailable. Norris has been great for the Red Birds this year with a 3.05 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 17 saves and 11.7 K/9, but injuries have been a […]

Brad Hand to Indians - Fantasy Implications

News broke on July 19 that Padres closer Brad Hand will be moving to the shores of Lake Erie and donning the home blue of the Cleveland baseball club. In a move that many predicted, but that no one actually saw happening, the Cleveland bullpen adds not only the lefty but also another useful piece […]

MLB Closers and Saves Report - All Star Week Edition

The stove is warming up! Just when we were all being entertained by the All-Star Game being the most 2018 baseball game of the year, the Dodgers and Indians were busy making their teams better for the playoff push. While we're far from done with trade rumors and actual trades, two big dominoes did indeed […]

Holds Leagues - Waiver Wire Pickups and Adds for Week 17

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 17. 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 […]

Brandon Morrow Undergoes MRI

Chicago Cubs closer Brandon Morrow (biceps) underwent an MRI exam on his forearm/biceps on Thursday. He said there was "stuff in there," but he doesn't think he'll need to be out too long. Morrow has been solid for the Cubs in the ninth this year with 22 saves, a 1.47 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and a […]

Cubs Acquire Jesse Chavez

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the Chicago Cubs have acquired pitcher Jesse Chavez from the Texas Rangers. Chavez has a 3.51 ERA over 56 1/3 inning this year for the Rangers. Chavez can pitch both as a starter and relief pitcher and will likely pitch in the bullpen for now with his new […]

Pedro Strop Secures A Save On Thursday

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Pedro Strop picked up the final out in Thursday’s game versus the Cardinals to pick up his third save of the season. Closer Brandon Morrow (biceps) isn’t expected to miss much time, but for now it looks like Strop may be manager Joe Maddon’s preferred option for saves. Strop should be […]

Tyler Olson Among Three Indians Sent To Triple-A

The Cleveland Indians sent relief pitcher Tyler Olson as well as outfielder Greg Allen and reliever Adam Plutko to Triple-A. The team needed to make room for new additions Brad Hand and Adam Cimber as well as call-ups Yandy Diaz and Melky Cabrera. Olson has solid strikeout numbers with a 24/8 K/BB ratio and a […]

Keone Kela And Jake Diekman Drawing Trade Interest

Texas Rangers relief pitchers Keone Kela and Jake Diekman have been receiving trade interest heading into the deadline. Despite the team wanting to trade players such as Cole Hamels and Arian Beltre, Kela and Diekman have reportedly been the two most interesting assets to clubs. Kela has functioned as the team's closer this season, pitching […]

Josh Hader Will Not Be Punished By Brewers For Tweets

The Milwaukee Brewers will not be punishing relief pitcher Josh Hader for his racist and homophobic tweets that became known during the All-Star break. Hader is taking mandated sensitivity training and it appears that that will be the extent of his punishment. Hader has been excellent on the mound in 2018, pitching to a 1.50 […]

Jonny Venters Starting Rehab Assignment Thursday

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Jonny Venters (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Charlotte on Thursday. Venters has been sidelined since late June with a right hamstring strain. He should only need a couple of appearances before he's ready to rejoin the Rays bullpen. However, he's not worth owning in fantasy leagues right […]