RADIO
We are just three weeks into the baseball season, but it may feel like longer because there has been an influx of news and developments that have impacted fantasy. There has been no position that has seen more changes than at relief pitcher. We have already seen a number of changes to teams' late-inning usage and this past week had several notable standouts.
While closers get all of the love in fantasy, we have really seen an increase in usage of middle relievers. Not all teams are saving their best relievers for the ninth inning, but we are seeing an added emphasis on using those relievers - the ones who provide great ratios and strikeouts - in fantasy.
That is exactly what this article will take a look at - every fantasy-relevant reliever among all 30 MLB teams!
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Bullpen Breakdowns
Arizona Diamondbacks
For the first two weeks, we really were just speculating on who the closer was for the Diamondbacks. Chris Devenski got the first save, but he and Joakim Soria (calf) have been sidelined. We got our answer this week as Stefan Crichton has picked up each of the team's two save opportunities. He is worth rostering in all roto formats as long as he is getting the save opportunities. The scary part, however, is that he has a 3.52 ERA, 4.63 xFIP and a brutal 1.70 WHIP. The other arm worth taking a look at is Kevin Ginkel, who has a team-low 2.20 xFIP and a team-high 32.3 percent strikeout rate with a 1.13 WHIP. We have only seen J.B. Bukauskas once, but he is up with the DBacks and has electric stuff. He is a deeper league stash, but he could quickly work his way into the saves picture.
Thursday Update: The DBacks took a six-run lead in the 10th inning and brought Crichton to close it out. He gave up three runs, two of which were earned, and only recorded one out. He was replaced by Alex Young who finished it out.
Atlanta Braves
Will Smith is clearly the closer here as he has picked up three of the four saves for the Braves this season. They routinely save him for the ninth as well. Besides Smith, there are two relievers here that could be rostered in 15-team or NL-only leagues. Sean Newcomb has been great out of the pen, He has a team-low 2.05 xFIP to go along with his 1.69 ERA and a team-high 54.5 percent strikeout rate and 1.13 WHIP. Those are elite numbers if I have ever seen them. Tyler Matzek is another option, as he has a 2.35 ERA, 2.07 xFIP and a 42.4 percent strikeout rate, but the one not-so-great thing is his 1.30 WHIP. Still, he can be rostered in NL-only leagues.
Baltimore Orioles
One of the more pleasant surprises from the fantasy baseball season so far is Cesar Valdez. He has picked up four of the team's five saves using his nasty changeup. In recent years, the Orioles have been tough to trust for saves, but this year so far, its all been going to one player. Outside of Valdez, there is no reliever you need to roster here. Although, in AL-only leagues, Paul Fry is interesting, as he has a 2.29 xFIP with a 1.23 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP and a team-high 33.3 percent strikeout rate.
Boston Red Sox
Matt Barnes has picked up three saves since returning from the IL. On the season, he has pitched to a 1.16 xFIP and 1.00 ERA with a 50 percent strikeout rate and a 0.56 WHIP. Simply put, he has been filthy this season. Matt Andriese has the other save for the Red Sox this season. Adam Ottavino is expected to also be in the saves mix if anything happens to Barnes. But if you want to roster another reliever here in deeper formats, Garrett Whitlock is your guy. He has not allowed a run this season, has a 1.41 xFIP, a 0.33 WHIP and a 36.7 percent strikeout rate.
Chicago Cubs
Craig Kimbrel is looking like his old self so far this season as he has not allowed a run, but has picked up four saves. He is also striking out 44 percent of the batters he’s faced and has a 0.75 WHIP. If anything was to happen to Kimbrel, Brandon Workman would be the next man up here. On the season, he has a 2.10 xFIP to go with a 3.38 ERA. He has struck out 33 percent of the hitters he’s faced, but the one big knock is he has a 1.69 WHIP. He is someone worth keeping an eye on, but that WHIP makes him hard to trust right now.
Chicago White Sox
Liam Hendriks is the only closer here, but we all knew that coming into the season. He is one of just two pitchers in this pen with a WHIP below one. The other should also be rostered in deeper fantasy leagues. Michael Kopech, the flame-throwing former top prospect, has been a force out of the pen. He’s posted a 2.22 xFIP, with a 1.17 ERA, 0.65 xFIP and 45 percent strikeout rate - all of which leads this bullpen. The great thing is he routinely will come in for multiple innings. He could be rostered in 12-team roto leagues and for sure anything deeper than that.
Cincinnati Reds
Amir Garrett started the season as the closer, but that is very much so in jeopardy, as he has a 16.20 ERA, 7.76 xFIP, a 3.20 WHIP and just a 14 percent strikeout rate. He simply is not right. He blew a save on Wednesday and was not used Thursday. Lucas Sims, who hilariously threw every ball away until the umpire had enough of the freezing rain the other night, is expected to be in the saves picture now. He entered Thursday with a 4.10 xFIP, 3.00 ERA, 0.50 WHIP and a 39 percent strikeout rate. However, he issued four runs, three earned, and took the loss on Thursday. His ERA shot up to 6.43.
Sean Doolittle is another option to pick up saves here, as he has a lot of experience finishing games. Doolittle entered Thursday with a 2.70 ERA, 2.69 xFIP and a 1.20 WHIP with a 41 percent strikeout rate. Another option is Sal Romano, but he has a 6.03 xFIP and does not get strikeouts at the same rate as the others. I would rank these arms: Sims, Doolittle, Romano. However, Tejay Antone is a huge sleeper here. He pitched to a 0.84 ERA, 2.28 xFIP, 0.75 WHIP and a 43 percent strikeout rate. He is an option to either jump into the starting rotation or close. He is worthy of rostering in any league of 12 teams or deeper.
Cleveland Indians
Cleveland has shown that they have a blueprint that they want to implement in the late innings. It’s Nick Wittgren, James Karinchak and Emmanuel Clase closing it out. Clase has four saves on the season, while the others each have one. Clase is clearly worth rostering in all formats. So is Karinchak, who provides elite ratios and strikeouts. He has not allowed a run this season and has struck out half the batters he faced. Wittgren is a deep league option.
Colorado Rockies
Daniel Bard is the closer here, but he only has two saves on the season. He was brought in on Wednesday with a four-run lead. He gave up a run, but closed the game out. This is a pen to avoid besides Bard. The only other pitcher in this bullpen with an xFIP under four is Robert Stephenson, but he has a 1.44 WHIP. Avoid this bullpen and don’t risk any Coors Field blowups in your lineup.
Detroit Tigers
This bullpen is not one to get excited about for fantasy purposes. Gregory Soto is the top option, as he has picked up two of their four saves and has a 2.16 ERA, 3.91 xFIP, and a 1.32 WHIP. He should be rostered in all roto formats because he will get save chances and will not blow up your ratios. Bryan Garcia also has two saves and due to that, he is worthy of rostering in deeper formats. Besides that, stay away from this bullpen.
Thursday Update: Jose Cisnero, who they have used in late-inning situations, allowed a run in the eighth inning of a tie game. The Tigers then called in Soto, a night after picking up a save, and he too allowed a run before getting out of the inning. Soto is clearly the reliever they trust most in Detroit.
Houston Astros
Ryan Pressly is the clear cut closer to roster here. He may only have one save on the year, but that is more about the Astros than him. He has not yet allowed a run and has the lowest xFIP (2.16) in this bullpen. Ryne Stanek is another reliever here that you should be interested in for 15-team leagues or deeper. Stanek has struck out 41 percent of the batters he faced, with a 0.54 WHIP and 2.89 ERA with a 3.18 xFIP. Brooks Raley has the other save for the Astros this season. While Stanek looks like the next man up, Raley could also be in the picture if anything happens to Pressly.
Kansas City Royals
Greg Holland has been up and down this season, but he is still being used in save situations. He leads the team with two saves and also has two wins. That makes him worth rostering, but he is definitely on thin ice. He has an ERA and xFIP over 6.00, with a 2.29 WHIP. The Royals also have had Jesse Hahn, Kyle Zimmer, Wade Davis and Scott Barlow pick up a save this season. Of those options, Barlow has been the best pitcher, putting up a 2.92 ERA, 3.47 xFIP, with a 1.30 WHIP. He is my favorite speculative add here, although it's possible the Royals go the nostalgic route and give Davis the opportunity first. I would rank these options for fantasy: Holland, Barlow, Davis, Zimmer, and Hahn.
Los Angeles Angels
This is not a great pen for fantasy purposes. Raisel Iglesias has a 5.68 ERA, but he does have a 1.93 xFIP, 1.11 WHIP and a 41 percent strikeout rate. His job is not in jeopardy and he should be rostered everywhere. Besides him, Aaron Slegers has been a strong option for this bullpen. He has pitched to a 3.86 ERA, but has a team-low 1.83 xFIP. He will hurt your WHIP as its 1.71 on the year. The backup options if Iglesias struggles are likely one of Mike Mayers or Junior Guerra, but both have an xFIP over 4.60.
Los Angeles Dodgers
This pen has been an interesting one for fantasy purposes. Kenley Jansen is the closer, but he has just four of the Dodgers' eight saves. Corey Knebel has two saves, while David Price and Victor Gonzalez each have a save as well. Knebel has been the best pitcher out of the bullpen so far, as he has a 1.37 xFIP, and no one else is under three. He also has a 0.83 WHIP and a 39 percent strikeout. Knebel is worthy of rostering in any 12-team roto league or deeper. Price is an interesting option in deeper formats. Blake Treinen will also be in the saves picture if anything should happen to Jansen.
Miami Marlins
Yimi Garcia picked up his fourth save of the season on Wednesday. He is the only pitcher here that has picked up a save. We have seen a game where Garcia was unavailable and they turned to Dylan Floro, who ended up blowing the save. But he is next in line should Garcia miss time or struggle. Floro has pitched to a 2.08 ERA, 2.81 xFIP, with a 0.81 WHIP and a 29 percent strikeout rate. Outside of these two arms, you can avoid this pen for fantasy.
Milwaukee Brewers
No surprises here. Josh Hader is the closer and he is as elite as they come. Devin Williams has had some early-season struggles, but he is still worthy of rostering in roto leagues. Outside of those two, you can have deeper league interest in Brent Suter, who has pitched to a 3.09 ERA with a 2.90 xFIP and 1.11 WHIP.
Minnesota Twins
This is one of the most interesting bullpens in fantasy right now. Alex Colome has now blown three saves in five chances and has a 5.63 ERA, 3.88 xFIP and 1.63 WHIP. He blew the save in the ninth and then took the loss in the 10th after back-to-back errors. It’s hard to put the full blame on him there, but he has been anything but sharp this season. Hansel Robles was looking like a great option until he starting struggling in the last week. He now sports a 6.43 ERA with a 3.71 xFIP, although his 0.86 WHIP and 32 percent strikeout rate are both great. Taylor Rogers, who has closed for the Twins in the past, has been the best late-inning option, putting up a 0.00 ERA, 2.03 xFIP, 0.91 WHIP and a 31 percent strikeout rate. The only thing working against him is that he is a lefty.
All three of these options should be rostered in roto formats until we have a better sense of who will get the saves going forward. I would rank Rogers over Robles due to his recent struggles.
New York Mets
This bullpen is pretty clear for fantasy purposes. Edwin Diaz is the closer and is rostered in all fantasy leagues. Outside of him, there is no one that really stands out. Trevor May can provide ratios and WHIP and is likely the next man up for saves, at least until Seth Lugo returns. Miguel Castro and his 33 percent strikeout rate is an option in NL-only leagues for sure.
New York Yankees
Just like the other New York team, this pen is pretty straightforward. Aroldis Chapman is the clear cut closer and he has been dominant, pitching to a -0.22 xFIP, while not allowing a run and striking out 69 percent of the batters he has faced. Chad Green is next in line here but he has not been his usual dominant self so far this season. He is a saves stash, but not a reliever you have to roster. Nick Nelson has put up pretty good numbers in this pen with a 1.30 xFIP and a 46 percent strikeout rate, but he does have a 6.75 ERA. He is an AL-only option.
Oakland A’s
With Trevor Rosenthal (shoulder) out, many thought it would be Jake Diekman getting the save opportunities, but that actually went to Lou Trivino. He has picked up both of the saves here and was used in the ninth in another game where he ended up picking up the win. Trivino should be rostered in all formats, while Diekman should be rostered in roto leagues of 12-teams or deeper. The rest of this pen can be avoided for the time being.
Philadelphia Phillies
Hector Neris is the closer here and should be rostered in all formats. Jose Alvarado has been lights out, pitching to a 1.59 ERA, 3.20 xFIP, with a 1.06 WHIP and a 39 percent strikeout rate. He should be rostered in roto leagues deeper than 12 teams and could be in the saves picture if anything happens to Neris. But the only issue is he is a lefty that can routinely hit triple-digits, so it's likely they want to pick their shots with him and not save him until the ninth. Connor Brogdon is another option, but he has struggled as of late. Former top prospect Spencer Howard has looked great out of the pen, albeit in just two outings. Both could also be in the closer picture here, but I am more intrigued with Howard who has an eye-popping 40 percent strikeout rate.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Coming into the season, the thought was that there would be a committee picking up the saves in Pittsburgh, but that has simply not been the case. Richard Rodriguez has both saves for the Pirates, including one on Wednesday, and they routinely save him for the ninth inning. If he should struggle or get injured, Kyle Crick should be the next man up. No reliever in this pen has an xFIP under 3.30, but Duane Underwood Jr. does have a 3.39 xFIP with a 1.18 WHIP and has struck out a third of the batters he’s faced in his 9.1 innings. He is definitely an NL-only league option.
Thursday Update: Rodriguez pitched a clean ninth and picked up his third save of the season. Underwood struck out three in 1.1 innings, but did allow three hits.
San Diego Padres
This bullpen is very predictable when it comes to saves - they will go to Mark Melancon. He has six saves so far this season. Craig Stammen and Ryan Weathers are the other pitchers that have picked up a save here. But this pen has a lot of quality late-inning arms in Drew Pomeranz, Emilio Pagan, Keone Kela, Stammen and Weathers. Of that bunch, only Pomeranz has a strikeout rate of less than 30 percent, but even he is at 28 percent. I would rank these arms: Pagan, Pomeranz, Kela, Weathers and Stammen for fantasy purposes.
Seattle Mariners
Seattle has three pitchers that have multiple saves as Rafael Montero has three, while Kendall Graveman and Kenyan Middleton each have two. Middleton also has the highest xFIP in this pen at 6.70. Graveman is the best pitcher in this pen as he has pitched to a 3.53 xFIP, 0.39 WHIP and a 31 percent strikeout rate, while not allowing a run. He picked up two saves last week and was looking like the closer, but then they used him against the heart of the order in a seven-inning game and let Montero close it out. It appears that Graveman is the top option, but they will use him in high leverage situations at times. That means that Montero is still worth holding onto in roto leagues. Middleton is the third option here. The rest of this pen can be ignored for fantasy purposes.
San Francisco Giants
Jake McGee was sidelined due to effects from his COVID vaccine this week, which made things pretty interesting. Tyler Rogers picked up a save over the weekend, but then it was Wandy Peralta who got the next one. McGee is still the closer now that he is back, but we did learn who the Giants trust after him with Rogers and Peralta. I suspect that Peralta would be used for saves, but he has a 1.64 WHIP, meaning that if he isn’t getting the saves, it's not worth rostering him. But Rogers can be utilized in his current role, as he has pitched to a 0.77 ERA and 0.77 WHIP.
St. Louis Cardinals
Alex Reyes is the closer here, but the analytics do not paint the same picture as the surface stats. While he has not allowed a run, he has allowed the same number of walks and strikeouts and has a 5.9 xFIP and 1.30 WHIP. Giovanny Gallegos is the best pitcher in this pen and he should be rostered in roto formats as he could quickly enter the save picture should Reyes struggle. Jordan Hicks is another option as well. He has pitched well putting up a 1.29 ERA, 4.40 xFIP and a 1.14 WHIP.
Tampa Bay Rays
Diego Castillo was looking like the sure-fire closer here, but he blew a save on Wednesday and before that, we saw the Rays use him in a high-leverage situation and give the save to Jeffrey Springs. The Rays have a lot of quality arms, but that just makes it tougher to predict who would be the next man up here. Springs is clearly in the mix though and can be rostered in deeper formats or AL-only leagues. Castillo is still the closer, but if he struggles they could go with the mix and match formula they have used in recent years.
Texas Rangers
Ian Kennedy is the clear closer here and should be rostered in all formats. Besides Mr. Kennedy, there is not a whole lot of fantasy-relevant arms. But two that stand out are Joely Rodriguez, who has a -0.02 xFIP, 1.13 WHIP and 46 percent strikeout rate, and Kolby Allard. Allard has pitched to a 1.80 ERA, 0.52 xFIP, 0.40 WHIP and struck out half the batters he has faced this season. I would much prefer Allard, who I think should be rostered in anything deeper than 12-team roto leagues. Rodriguez is an AL-only arm.
Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto is becoming where FAB dollars go to die. After Week 1, everyone spent big on Julian Merryweather (oblique), who is now on the IL, as is Jordan Romano (arm). That led to everyone spending up to add Rafael Dolis this past week. Well, Dolis was actually used on Wednesday to face the heart of the Red Sox order in the eighth. Tim Mayza started the ninth, but after allowing a hit it was Anthony Castro who came in to finish things off.
Dolis could still be used in save situations, but this is obviously something we need to monitor very closely. He should be rostered in all roto formats. Tim Mayza has been great, pitching to a 1.98 xFIP with a 1.00 WHIP and 30 percent strikeout rate - all while not allowing a run. He is a good speculative add as he could be in the saves mix and at the worst, he can provide strong ratios. Castro is in play, but he would be third for me in this pen.
Washington Nationals
Brad Hand is the clear closer here as he has all three of the Nats' saves this season. The other pitcher to take note of here is Daniel Hudson, who in six innings has pitched to a 1.50 ERA, 3.57 xFIP, 1.00 WHIP and a 33 percent strikeout rate. He also has closed for the Nats in the past, so he should be the next man up while he is pitching this well.
All stats entering play Thursday, April 22, unless stated otherwise.
Make sure to follow Michael on Twitter, @MichaeFFlorio
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