Jake Petricka (RP, CWS) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ANALYSIS: With the recent news that Zach Putnam has been placed on the DL earlier today, some more clarity has has been shed onto the White Sox bullpen situation. Jake Petricka should now have the opportunity to handle the closer duties all to himself, at least in the short term, making him […]

Neftali Feliz (RP, TEX) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add Immediately ANALYSIS: The closer carousel continues as Joakim Soria has been shipped to the Tigers to either close or setup for incumbent Joe Nathan, opening a spot at the backend of the Texas Rangers bullpen. Enter Neftali Feliz, who should walk right into that open spot and run with it all the way to the […]

Zach Putnam (RP, CHW) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ANALYSIS: It's clear the ChiSox have settled on Zach Putnam as their closer after notching back-to-back saves on July 18th and 19th.  If you own Petricka, you can safely cut him loose now, because despite Ventura's public statements that the closer role will be shared, it's looking more likely that Putnam […]

Joaquin Benoit (RP, SD) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add Immediately ANALYSIS: By now you've surely heard the most recent closer carousel news. Huston Street has been sent 90 minutes north and is closing for the Los Angeles Angels, and Joaquin Benoit has inherited the Padres 9th inning duties.  Benoit proved last year he can handle the closing reigns, racking up 24 saves for […]

Getting A Grip: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups for Holds

Fantasy Baseball Sleepers For Holds Leagues While the holds statistic is even harder to predict than saves is for closers, the relief pitchers we highlight today feature some sleeper setup men and some looking to reclaim glory they once had. The more likely an MLB team is to win, the more likely these following relief pitchers will be […]

Jake McGee (RP, TB) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE:  Add in Most Leagues ANALYSIS: The Tampa Bay Ray's bullpen has been manned by a number of relievers, but none have been as successful as Jake McGee. McGee seems to have been the closer in waiting for a couple of seasons, and now he's getting more of an opportunity, with 3 saves in […]

Getting A Grip: Waiver Wire Pickups for Holds (Week 15)

While the holds statistic is even harder to predict than saves for closers, the players we highlight today feature some sleeper setup men and some looking to reclaim glory they once had. The more likely an MLB team is to win, the more likely these following relief pitchers will be eligible to earn the holds that could […]

Dellin Betances (RP, NYY) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Very Deep Leagues, All Keeper Leagues ANALYSIS: The Yankees' "Killer Bs" never amounted to anything as a starting pitching duo, but while Manny Banuelos has seen elbow trouble ruin his career, Dellin Betances has really come into his own as a set-up man. Standing at an intimidating 6' 8", Betances has […]

Brad Boxberger (RP, TB) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Continue Scouting ANALYSIS: Brad Boxberger has been one of the Rays' more dominant relief pitchers in 2014. He's having a breakout season, pitching to a 2.87 ERA with a.93 WHIP and an impressive 48:12 K:BB ratio in just 31.1 IP. His filthy strikeout stuff is well suited to the closer role, but Boxberger, with just […]

Zach Putnam (RP, CWS) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Leagues (that value saves) ANALYSIS: With the news that Ronald Belisario was officially removed from the closer's role, Zach Putnam becomes the most recent addition to our list of saves sleepers to target off the waiver wire. While it hasn't been officially stated that Putnam is the new team closer, he looks like the favorite and is […]

Santiago Casilla (RP, SF) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ANALYSIS: With the recent news that the struggling Sergio Romo has been removed from the closer's role, Santiago Casilla becomes an immediate addition to our waiver wire sleepers list for saves. Bruce Bochy stated that Casilla and Jeremy Affeldt would form a committee, but we prefer Casilla is the better option […]

Joe Smith (RP, LAA) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ANALYSIS: Since he came up in 2007, Smith has been a very reliable middle relief option for every team he has played on. In each of his final three seasons in Cleveland before signing with the Angels in 2014, he had a sub-3.00 ERA with 60+ IP. This year, he […]

MLB Closers and Saves Update for June 24th

After a much needed 2 week vacation, I’m back to help you with any bullpen questions you may have. We keep a close look on all the closers, saves and bullpen news and analysis twice a week so you can focus on the rest of your fantasy baseball teams.  Find all the information you need […]

Mark Melancon (RP, PIT) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add Immediately ANALYSIS: Racking up saves is 50% opportunity and 50% talent. Mark Melancon has always had the talent, and he's about to get his 2nd 2014 opportunity. After racking up 10 saves while Grilli landed on the DL, Melancon had been relegated to setup duties. All he did over his last 10 outings was throw 9.1 […]

Jake McGee (RP, TB) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ANALYSIS:  Jake McGee is the de facto closer for the Rays.  He was favored to get the gig after Balfour's demotion, and while some may have forgotten because it took a week for the Rays to offer McGee a save opportunity, he is now a waiver wire option that should be added immediately. He has […]

Getting A Grip: Waiver Wire Pickups for Holds (Week 12)

While the holds statistic is hard to determine who will enter the game in the right situation, the sleepers noted today feature some overlooked relief pitchers and some looking to reclaim glory they once had. The more likely their team is to win, the more likely the following players will be eligible to earn the holds that […]

Neil Ramirez (RP, CHC) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues (that value saves) ANALYSIS: Neil Ramirez is the latest Cubs reliever to rack up some saves, immediately making him a viable waiver wire pickup and another in the list of saves sleepers for fantasy baseball. This afternoon Ramirez nailed down the save for the Cubs, his second in 3 days as […]

Hector Rondon (RP, CHI) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Mixed Leagues, Must Own in NL-Only Leagues ANALYSIS: What's with the lack of fantasy baseball love for Hector Rondon? You would think that the assigned closer for the Chicago Cubs, with very good pitching ratios thus far in 2014, should be more than 47% owned in Yahoo leagues right? […]

Jake McGee / Juan Carlos Oviedo (RP, TB) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Leagues ANALYSIS: Grant Balfour is out as the closer in TB, for now. He says his fastball has been improving, and if that's the case we will not be surprised to see Balfour reclaim the closer gig in a matter of weeks.  Joe Maddon is intensely loyal to his players - could […]

Getting A Grip: Waiver Wire Pickups for Holds (Week 11)

  Waiver Wire Sleepers for Holds in Week 11 While the holds statistic is hard to play for since it is difficult to determine if a pitcher will enter the game in the right situation to earn a hold, the players I've featured in today's article include some overlooked players and some who are looking […]

Chad Qualls (RP, HOU) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ANALYSIS:  Qualls is quietly putting together quite the dominant campaign in 2014, and it's going overlooked by 64% of owners in Yahoo! leagues.  Here are the basic facts: Houston has finally settled on Qualls as their closer after a merry-go-round month of April. On the season, Qualls has an elite […]

Jenrry Mejia (RP, NYM) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ANALYSIS: Don't let the last two innings scare you - while Mejia gave up 3 ER, he still locked down a save and didn't blow a save in the other appearance. Since taking over the closer role, all Mejia has done is, well....get nasty.  He's thrown 12.1 IP, with a 13:5 […]

MLB Closers and Saves Update for June 4th

Your Latest News from the Back End of the Bullpen We keep a close look on all the closers, saves and bullpen news and analysis twice a week so you can focus on the rest of your fantasy baseball teams.  Find all the information you need on the back end of MLB bullpens right here […]

Sean Doolittle (RP, OAK) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add Immediately ANALYSIS: Sean Doolittle is a relief pitcher that for the past few years I expected to take the closer role in Oakland and run away with it. He has the filthy stuff it takes to be the dominant late inning reliever he has shown flashes of, but sometimes seemed to throw a stinker in […]

Zach Britton (RP, BAL) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues (if you need saves) ANALYSIS: Zach Britton is in his first season as a reliever and has started off dominating the opposition in such a fashion that he has grown into the Baltimore closer job. In the past he was an underwhelming starting pitcher who lacked the ability to pitch through […]

MLB Closers and Saves update May 27th

Your Latest News from the Back End of the Bullpen We keep a close look on all the closers, saves and bullpen news and analysis twice a week so you can focus on the rest of your fantasy baseball teams.  Find all the information you need on the back end of MLB bullpens right here […]

Getting A Grip: Waiver Wire Pickups for Holds

While the holds statistic is hard to determine and prepare for, since you never know if a player will enter a game in the right situation, the players noted today feature some overlooked sleepers and some just simply looking to reclaim glory they once had. The more likely the team is to win, the more likely these following players […]

Ronald Belisario (RP, CWS) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues (that value saves) ANALYSIS: After picking up the save last night, the White Sox officially announced today that Ronald Belisario will act as their closer and should be grabbed off the waiver wire for all leagues that value saves. He becomes yet another one in the recent string of saves sleepers […]

MLB Closers and Saves Update for May 20th

Your Latest News from the Back End of the Bullpen We keep a close look on all the bullpen news and analysis twice a week so you can focus on the rest of your fantasy baseball team.  Find all the information you need on the back end of bullpens right here at Rotoballer.com, and be […]

Sean Doolittle (RP, OAK) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ANALYSIS: Jim Johnson has lost his closers job in Oakland, maybe even permanently, and Sean Doolittle looks like the waiver wire pickup. Currently only owned in 31% of Yahoo leagues, he can be considered another one in the list of recent sleepers for leagues that count saves. Even though he's a lefty, […]