Josh Hader Throws Two Hitless Innings

Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Josh Hader went two innings and struck out four in the 7-3 win over the San Diego Padres. Hader is emerging as a versatile option that Brewers manager Craig Counsell can use at any point in time for relief. Hader struck out the side in the sixth inning and later earned […]

Joakim Soria Picks Up First Save

The Chicago White Sox called on relief pitcher Joakim Soria to pick up his first save on Saturday. Manager Rick Renteria mentioned over the spring that both Soria and Nate Jones would see action in the ninth inning, but Soria got the call tonight. The White Sox closer situation may be frustrating, but Soria for […]

Craig Kimbrel Gets Save In Second Straight Day

Boston Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel earns his second save of the season and continues his dominance against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday. In his career, Kimbrel has 42 strikeouts in 20 innings and only one walk to go with a 0.87 ERA when facing the Rays. He has two saves in three games […]

Anthony Swarzak Dealing With Sore Oblique

New York Mets reliever Anthony Swarzak was forced to leave the team’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals early on Saturday with a sore left oblique. Swarzak was one out away from completing the eighth inning, and had pitched 1 1/3 innings at that point. He had allowed one earned run on one hit (a […]

Dellin Betances Flails Again, Earns Loss

Only two appearances into the season, New York Yankees reliever Dellin Betances is displaying worrying signs that he may not fix his problems from last year. After allowing a home run to the first batter he faced on Opening Day, the four-time All-Star tossed two innings in today’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays. After […]

Jeurys Familia Records Four-Out Save

Throughout spring training, new New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway consistently communicated that the team would play the ninth inning by matchup, and not necessarily have a set closer. We never expected that to last, but even this early on, through two games Jeurys Familia has pitched the ninth inning on both occasions. On Sunday, […]

Nate Karns To The Bullpen When He Returns

The Kansas City Royals still have pitcher Nate Karns on the shelf for elbow inflammation, but manager Ned Yost revealed that once he does return, Karns will likely be heading to the bullpen. Karns has usually worked as a starter in the past, but after the team has had great success with converting previous starters […]

Blake Parker Earns Save

The question has been finally resolved, as Los Angeles Angels reliever Blake Parker was used in LA's first save situation of the year. He was very strong in the role last year, but struggled this spring leading to questions about his ability to stay in the role. He struggled in his first save opportunity, giving […]

Kenley Jansen Throws Slower Cutter, Gives Up Go-Ahead Home Run

Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, (like fellow top-ranked closers Brad Hand and Felipe Rivero) had a no-good Friday by giving up a solo home run to Joe Panik in the ninth inning. Perhaps most troubling was the diminished velocity on Jansen's signature pitch, the cutter. His 12 pitches averaged 89.3 mph and the fastest […]

The Closer Carousel Turns (Already?) - How to Approach Boxberger, Kela, Strickland

We already knew that the closer position was the most volatile in baseball, but this is getting ridiculous. Three would-be closers have been displaced days before the season even starts, one by injury and two by manager decision. In 5x5 roto leagues, owning one of these volatile assets is a necessary evil. Throwing out FAAB […]

Brad Boxberger Picks Up First Save

Newly minted Diamondbacks closer Brad Boxberger picked up his first save of the season on Friday night. In his inning of work, Boxberger struck out two batters and walked one. It was a great start for the former Ray, who shut the door against one of the leagues most potent offenses. With the Arizona offense […]

Corey Knebel Knocks Down First Save Of Season

Milwaukee Brewers closing pitcher Corey Knebel struck out the side for his first save of the season in the 8-6 win over the San Diego Padres. Knebel on Thursday gave up one run and blew the save in his first appearance of the 2018 season, however, looked like the Knebel from last season and earned […]

San Diego Closer Brad Hand Blows Save in First Opportunity of Season

The Milwaukee Brewers put together a five-run ninth inning off Padres closer Brad Hand to get the win and start the season 2-0. Hand entered in the top of the ninth with a three-run lead, but allowed the first four batters of the inning to reach base — three on singles and one on a […]

Eddie Butler Suffers Loss Despite Strong Effort

After coming in to pitch seven innings out of the bullpen, Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Eddie Butler drew a tough luck loss. Butler got the first two batters out in the bottom of the 17th inning before allowing back-to-back singles, Butler was then pulled for closer Brandon Morrow who gave up the game winning run […]

Aroldis Chapman Allows A Run, Earns Save

Making his second appearance in as many games to kick off the 2018 season, New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman faced his first save situation tonight in Toronto. With the Yankees holding a 4-1 lead, Chapman struck out the first two batters, seemingly on the verge of an uneventful appearance. Then, however, he allowed a […]

Craig Kimbrel Earns First Save Of Season

Boston Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel secured the team's first victory of the season on Friday. He struck out the side in the ninth inning against the Rays. Kimbrel spent most of the offseason back home in Boston supporting his daughter in her time of need. There is no doubt that Kimbrel is healthy, at […]

Tyler Thornburg Roughly A Month Away

Boston Red Sox reliever Tyler Thornburg (shoulder) continues to make his return back from thoracic outlet surgery in June of 2017. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski stated the Red Sox are maybe a month away from the return of Thornburg, according to Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston. The results of individuals who have had […]

Pat Neshek Placed On DL

The Philadelphia Phillies have suffered their first injury of the regular season, as reliever Pat Neshek has been placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right shoulder strain. The All-Star re-signed with the Philadelphia Phillies this offseason following the club trading him to Colorado before the 2017 trade deadline. Last season, he posted a […]

Felipe Rivero Has Nightmare Outing on Friday

Control was an issue for Pittsburgh Pirates closer Felipe Rivero throughout spring training, and the problem reared its ugly head again on Opening Day. Even with a comfortable 10-6 lead in a non-save situation, the left-hander couldn't get out of the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers on Friday, allowing four runs on one hit […]

Nate Jones (RP, CHW) - Week 1 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Saves Leagues OWNED IN: 37% of leagues ANALYSIS: Back then, pros didn’t want him. Now he’s hot, pros all on him. That was a stretch and I don’t care, Nate Jones is for real (when he’s healthy) and should prove much more reliable and effective than Joakim Soria in the ninth inning. […]

Keone Kela (RP, TEX) - Week 1 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Saves Leagues OWNED IN: 21% of leagues ANALYSIS: Kela was recently named the closer for the Texas Rangers. He may have previously dug himself into Texas’ doghouse, but he doesn’t deserve to be in fantasy ones too. Ignoring his brief disciplinary stint at Triple-A, the fireballer posted a 2.79 ERA (3.26 FIP) […]

J.T. Chargois Electrifies In Dodgers Debut

Los Angeles Dodgers reliever J.T. Chargois provided one of the few bright spots for the team during their 1-0 Opening Day loss to the Giants. The former Twin, who was claimed off of waivers after missing the entire 2017 season, retired the top of the Giants order on just 12 pitches, striking out two. Ten […]

Cory Gearrin And Tony Watson Will Handle Eighth Inning For Giants

With San Francisco Giants closer Mark Melancon (elbow) on the 10-day disabled list and Hunter Strickland promoted to closer, relievers Cory Gearrin and Tony Watson will operate as the club’s setup guys. Watson has closer experience and could see some save opportunities if Strickland struggles. Both Watson and Gearrin will offer holds, but aside from […]

Bruce Bochy Optimistic That Mark Melancon Can Return Soon

San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy said on Thursday that he is hoping that closer Mark Melancon (elbow) will be able to return in a couple of weeks. Bochy also noted that until Melancon starts throwing, it will be hard to have a firm timeline. Hunter Strickland was announced as the Giants closer and picked […]

Cam Bedrosian Pitches in Seventh Inning

Los Angeles Angels reliever Cam Bedrosian entered in the seventh inning on Opening Day. He only recorded one out, giving up three hits and an earned run before ceding to Jose Alvarez. This is pretty solid proof that Blake Parker is the closer for now in LA, although manager Mike Scioscia is not always easy […]

Brad Brach Blows Save Against Twins

Baltimore Orioles interim closer Brad Brach didn't help his case on Thursday to be the main guy in Zach Britton's absence. He entered the game and gave up two runs in two-thirds of an inning. Walking two hitters definitely did NOT help. Manager Buck Showalter may see how reliever Darren O'Day does or he may give […]

Fernando Rodney Serves Up Walk-Off Homer On Opening Day

Minnesota Twins closer Fernando Rodney had a forgettable debut with his new team. Rodney helped get the Twins out of a two on, one-out jam in the 10th inning but wasn't able to keep it going in the 11th as the first batter he faced, Adam Jones, deposited the ball over the fence for a […]

Hunter Strickland Picks Up First Save

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Hunter Strickland picked up his first save of the year Thursday evening. Manager Bruce Bochy said pregame that Strickland would start the season as the closer. He should be owned in all leagues.

Hector Neris Earns Loss To Begin Season

On the day where Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler shook up the fantasy world when he implied the club wouldn’t go with a fixed closer, Hector Neris was tagged with a loss. The club suffered a disappointing, 8-5 defeat in walk-off fashion after taking a five-run lead. Neris, who was widely expected to be the […]

Dellin Betances The One Negative For New York Thursday

The New York Yankees enjoyed their first Opening Day victory in seven years with an all-around great team performance at the Rogers Centre on Thursday. With starting pitcher Luis Severino and outfielder Giancarlo Stanton leading the way, the only weak point for the club was reliever Dellin Betances and his continued struggles. The 30-year-old allowed a home run […]