RADIO
Two closers who have struggled all season were removed from their ninth inning duties this past week: Addison Reed and Neftali Feliz. Neither team's manager has officially named a new closer, instead suggesting a closer by committee approach.
However, both of the relievers who have been given the first shot at save opportunities for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers have gotten the job done filling in as closer and are solid options off the waiver wire for owners looking for saves in week 8.
Editor’s Note: to read about even more waiver wire options for closers and relief pitchers, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily.
Waiver Wire Saves & MLB Bullpen Report for 5/22/2015
Shawn Tolleson (RP, Texas Rangers)
Tolleson has saved two games for the Rangers this past week since Neftali Feliz was pulled from the ninth inning, so it appears he is the closer in Texas for the time being. He has struck out 24 batters in 18.1 innings in 2015 thus far, using his change-up effectively as evidenced by his 31% whiff rate with the pitch during the month of May. Tolleson has a 3.44 ERA on the season but has not allowed a run in any of his last seven appearances (7.1 innings).
Tolleson is available in over 90 percent of ESPN leagues so make sure to add him in leagues where he is a free agent. He will likely continue to get the bulk of save chances in Texas until he falters or when manager Jeff Banister regains his trust in Feliz to return as closer, but that may not be for awhile given his ugly 5.09 ERA and 1.75 WHIP for the year.
Enrique Burgos (RP, Arizona Diamondbacks)
Burgos picked up saves for the Diamondbacks on back-to-back nights earlier this week, serving as the team's closer after Addison Reed was removed from the role due to his poor performance. Burgos struck out two batters in both of his scoreless save appearances, giving him an excellent 20 strikeouts in just 11.2 innings this season. The immense amount of strikeouts is not a surprise for Burgos considering his fastball averages 97mph and his 88mph slider is also a plus pitch.
Brad Ziegler (RP, Arizona Diamondbacks)
Ziegler threw a perfect inning to get the save Thursday night for Arizona. It was his first save of the season, but he has been fantastic out of the bullpen with a 0.98 ERA 0.82 WHIP this season. It's possible manager Chip Hale decided to give the save opportunity to Ziegler to afford the rookie Burgos some rest after pitching on consecutive days, or the two can end up splitting the ninth inning in the future. Burgos should be the preferred add over Ziegler due to him having the better strikeout potential, but both relievers can be in line for saves and are each owned in less that 15 percent of ESPN leagues.
Sean Doolittle (RP, Oakland Athletics)
Doolittle threw a scoreless inning in Double-A earlier this week, and he is now reportedly scheduled to move his rehab assignment for his shoulder injury up to Triple-A on Friday. He should only need a couple appearances in Triple-A, and if all goes well he could be activated from the disabled list before the end of the month.
Once Doolittle is healthy he should regain his closing job in Oakland pretty quickly given how dominant he was for them last year, posting a 2.73 ERA and 22 saves with 89 strikeouts in 62.2 innings pitched. He is owned in just over half of ESPN leagues (53 percent) and is well worth a roster spot in most leagues because he figures to be an elite closer for fantasy owners during the second half of the season, if not sooner.
MLB & Fantasy Baseball Chat Room
