🖥 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE THANKS
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

2016 in Review: Relief Pitcher (RP) Breakouts

Pierre Camus takes a look at the top three breakouts at the relief pitcher (RP) position from 2016 and offers advice when drafting in 2017.

Our review of the 2016 fantasy baseball season continues with a look at some of the top breakout relievers.

Relief Pitcher Breakouts - 2016

Alex Colome, Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays entered the season unsure of their closer. Brad Boxberger saved an AL-high 41 games in 2015, but was unavailable for the first two months of the year due to an abductor injury. Some speculated Danny Farquhar would get the nod since he had more game experience on his resume. Instead it was Colome who took the reins, and he didn't let go. He wound up with 37 saves and a sparkling 1.91 ERA. He didn't officially blow a save until July 23 and finished the year with an 11.3 K/9 and his first All-Star appearance.

Colome will be 28 to start the 2017 season, which means he is in the prime years of his career. He should remain firmly planted as the closer in Tampa Bay. Boxberger is still around, but only has one year of closing experience - the same as Colome now. He also struggled mightily in September, allowing 9 ER in 11.2 IP. Colome got stronger as the year progressed, allowing just one ER over the past month. There should be little doubt that Colome is a high quality reliever for 2017.

Sam Dyson, Texas Rangers

Dyson was invaluable to the division champion Rangers, tossing more innings (70.1) than all but three other relievers who served as their team's closer for at least half the season. He was also one of 13 relievers to record double digit holds and saves in 2016. He began the year backing up Shawn Tolleson in the eighth inning. By the middle of May, he was in the ninth inning role permanently. How consistent was Dyson? After allowing a run in his second outing on April 7, Dyson didn't let his ERA rise above 3.00 for the rest of the season.

The acquisition of Jeremy Jeffress was never a legitimate threat to Dyson's role. The Rangers do have a couple of arms that could step in if Dyson were to falter next season, but he shouldn't have to compete too hard to earn the job out of Spring Training. He could stand to improve his 2.39 K/BB rate, but there haven't been any rough spots in his past to indicate Dyson is due for a letdown. Target Dyson as a mid-range closer once the top 10 at the position are gone in 2017 fantasy drafts.

Hector Neris, Philadelphia Phillies

Although Jeanmar Gomez was the man who racked up 38 saves in Philadelphia this season, Neris proved to be the better pitcher. In all honesty, Gomez would not have remained the closer for any team other than the lowly Phillies. His 4.85 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 2.14 K/BB just aren't suited for the ninth inning at any level. Neris, on the other hand, maintained a 2.58 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 3.40 K/BB in 2016. His main value to fantasy owners came in the form of 28 holds and 102 K in 80.1 IP. Neris also proved to be durable, appearing in 79 games, which was good for fourth in the majors.

Neris sported a superior 15.4% SwStr% on the season, which screams closer material. The team should acknowledge that he has a superior late inning profile and move him into the fireman role to begin yet another rebuilding year in 2017. If he somehow remains stuck as a setup man, draft him as a solid source of strikeouts and as a possible closer-in-waiting for leagues that require multiple RP.

 


Check out RotoBaller's entire fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and sleepers list, updated daily!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Ja Morant

to Miss Second Straight Game Saturday
Brandon Lowe

Pirates Acquire Brandon Lowe in Three-Team Trade
RJ Barrett

to Remain Out Saturday
Jakob Poeltl

Facing Another Potential Absence Saturday
Jerami Grant

Picks Up Questionable Tag
Deandre Ayton

to Miss Matchup Against Clippers Saturday
Lauri Markkanen

Unlikely to Play Saturday
Klay Thompson

Iffy for Saturday
Anthony Davis

Expected to Play Saturday
James Harden

Available Saturday
Domantas Sabonis

to Miss 4-5 More Weeks
Anthony Edwards

Returns Without Minutes Restriction Friday
Zach Collins

Upgraded to Available Friday
Tre Jones

Available With Minutes Restriction
Ayo Dosunmu

Returns From Three-Game Absence
Kasparas Jakucionis

Makes First Career Start Friday
Davion Mitchell

Ruled Out Friday
Craig Porter Jr.

Skips Friday's Game
Sam Hauser

Available Versus Heat
Shane Baz

Orioles Acquire Shane Baz From the Rays
Andrew Wiggins

Misses Friday's Action
Donovan Mitchell

Unavailable Friday Due to Illness
Jonathan Marchessault

Out Day-to-Day
Tristan Jarry

Oilers Place Tristan Jarry on Injured Reserve
Patrick Kane

to Remain Out Saturday
Shea Theodore

Considered Week-to-Week
Karl-Anthony Towns

& Josh Hart Active Friday Night
Jack Eichel

to Miss at Least Two More Games
Davante Adams

Likely Won't Play in Week 17
Jordan Martinook

Misses Friday's Contest
Evan Rodrigues

Available Against Hurricanes
Tyler Seguin

Undergoes Surgery, to Be Re-Evaluated After Olympics
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Listed as Questionable for Week 16
Drake London

Expected to Play Sunday
Tee Higgins

Questionable to Play in Week 16
Michael Carter

Will Start at RB in Week 16
Dalton Kincaid

Will Practice on Friday, Expected to Play on Sunday
Garrett Wilson

Shelved for Remainder of 2025
CFB

Darian Mensah Returning to Duke Next Season
CFB

Josh Hoover Linked to Indiana in Transfer Portal
CFB

Arch Manning Agrees to Reduced Compensation for 2026 Season
Zach Werenski

Enjoys Second Consecutive Multi-Goal Game
Logan Thompson

Collects Second Shutout of the Season
Linus Ullmark

Blanks Penguins Thursday
Tyson Kozak

Hurt Against Flyers
Conor Timmins

to Miss 6-8 Weeks With Broken Leg
Tristan Jarry

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Versus Bruins
Anthony Cirelli

Injured in Thursday's Loss
Kenneth Walker III

Breaks Off Long Touchdown in Comeback Win vs. Rams
Matthew Stafford

Racks Up Highest Yardage Total in Over a Decade
Puka Nacua

Delivers Career-Best Performance on Thursday Night Football
Michael King

Padres Bring Michael King Back on Three-Year Deal
Logan Webb

Will Pitch for Team USA in World Baseball Classic
Tarik Skubal

Joins Team USA for World Baseball Classic
Jakobi Meyers

Jaguars Agree to Three-Year Extension With Jakobi Meyers
Davante Adams

Officially Out on Thursday Night
Michael Kesselring

Available After 14-Game Absence
Peyton Krebs

Good to Go Thursday
Jake Bean

Set for Surgery, Out Indefinitely
Mike Matheson

Misses Second Straight Game Thursday
Andrei Vasilevskiy

Back for Lightning Thursday
Ryan McDonagh

Available Thursday
Devin Neal

Placed on Injured Reserve, Will Not Return in 2025
CFB

Will Muschamp Becoming Next Texas Defensive Coordinator
Christian Watson

Questionable for Week 16
Josh Jacobs

Listed as Questionable for Saturday Night
T.J. Watt

Unlikely to Play in Week 16
D'Andre Swift

Questionable to Face the Packers
Rome Odunze

Ruled Out for Week 16
Jawhar Jordan

Could be in for Significant Workload Against Raiders
Rome Odunze

Expected to Miss Third Straight Game
CFB

Beau Pribula Set to Enter Transfer Portal
Josh Jacobs

Expected to Play in Week 16
Bo Bichette

Willing to Make the Move to Second Base
CFB

Jeremiyah Love Officially Heading to NFL Draft
CFB

Jake Merklinger Leaving Tennessee for Transfer Portal
Mike Trout

Angels Open to Mike Trout Playing Center Field in 2026
CFB

Kansas State's Jayce Brown Intends to Transfer
CFB

Nation's Leading Passer Drew Mestemaker to Enter Transfer Portal
Justin Crawford

Phillies Planning to Start Justin Crawford in Center Field
CFB

Jayden Maiava Signs New Deal to Return to USC
CFB

Aidan Mizell Won't Return to Florida, Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

East Carolina Targeting Jordan Davis as Next Offensive Coordinator
CFB

Michigan QB Jadyn Davis Set to Enter Transfer Portal
CFB

Travis Williams Joining Texas A&M Defensive Staff
CFB

Dylan Raiola Entering His Name into Transfer Portal
CFB

Cincinnati's Brendan Sorsby Plans to Transfer When Portal Opens
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia, Phillies Finalizing One-Year Deal on Monday
Brandon Royval

Suffers First-Round TKO Loss
CFB

Baylor, LSU, Miami Among Potential Suitors for DJ Lagway
CFB

Aidan Chiles Will Enter Transfer Portal
Manel Kape

Shines At UFC Vegas 112
Kevin Vallejos

Gets Second-Round Knockout Win
Giga Chikadze

Suffers His First Career Knockout Loss
CFB

Quarterback DJ Lagway Entering Transfer Portal
Cesar Almeida

Gets Dominated
Cezary Oleksiejczuk

Wins Sixth Fight In A Row
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Melquizael Costa

Gets First-Round Knockout Win
Marcus Buchecha

Still Winless In The UFC
Kennedy Nzechukwu

And Marcus Buchecha Fight To Draw
Lance Gibson jr

Lance Gibson Jr. Drops Decision In His UFC Debut
King Green

Gets Back In The Win Column
Kenley Jansen

Agrees to One-Year Deal With Tigers
Merrill Kelly

Returns to Diamondbacks on Two-Year Deal

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP