Who Is The Royals' Closer? Fantasy Baseball Saves Outlooks

With the Royals trading closer Scott Barlow to the San Diego Padres, Kansas City's closer role is now vacant.

Despite entering the season as one of the worst teams in baseball, the Royals started the season with impressive back-end relief talent. Aroldis Chapman and Scott Barlow were two names that drew serious interest in fantasy baseball to start the season.

But with both Barlow and Chapman being traded, Kansas City will now have to rely on a lesser-known reliever to close games. Who in the Kansas City bullpen has filled the closer role, and who else could have an impact in fantasy baseball?

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Last Closer Left Standing

Only three Royals relievers have picked up saves this season: Scott Barlow (13 saves), Aroldis Chapman (two saves), and Carlos Hernandez (one save).

Only Hernandez survived the trade deadline. Carlos Hernandez now stands as the only closer option in a bullpen barren of serious talent.

He has struggled in past seasons but has put it all together in 2023. He's amid a fantastic season, with a 3.17 SIERA, 30.2% strikeout rate, 10 holds, and one save in 54 innings pitched.

While the 33-75 Royals won't give him as many save opportunities as one would expect from a pitcher with sole closing duties, Hernandez is the best relief option still available on waiver wires (at just a 12% rostered rate on Yahoo! fantasy).

Viable Alternatives

There are very few relievers who pose a serious threat to Hernandez.

Rotoballer's regularly updated bullpen depth chart has Taylor Clarke and Dylan Coleman as the only viable alternatives in Kansas City's bullpen.

Taylor Clarke has a 6.00 ERA this season, but 10 holds and a 4.00 SIERA make him a viable option in leagues that count holds. Dylan Coleman has bounced between Triple-A Omaha and Kansas City for the past three seasons; he holds an 11.08 ERA and 5.83 SIERA across 13 innings in the majors this season.

Veteran Nick Wittgren has late-game experience, with 50 holds and six saves through eight seasons. Though, the 32-year-old has struggled this season, with a 5.76 ERA and zero holds/saves in 25 innings pitched.

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