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Bullpen Position Battles: National League

With spring training complete, the bullpen situations around the league have begun to clear up. While most teams have established closers that are simply putting in their obligatory work in preparation of the regular season, other teams have remaining questions that are in the process of being ironed out. Injuries or effectiveness are factors that are considered in this analysis.

Editor's note: Don't forget that our closer depth charts are also updated all season long, so be sure to bookmark that page. And in case you missed it, our rankings dashboard has been loaded up with lots more preseason content to help you dominate your drafts.

 

Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves veteran Jason Grilli is aiming to make Opening Day but if he isn't ready, there are two likely candidates to see the save opportunities, Jim Johnson and Arodys Vizcaino. The numbers this Spring clearly favor Vizcaino (0.00 ERA, 11 K in 6.0 IP) over Johnson (6.43 ERA, 4 K in 7.0 IP). Manager Fredi Gonzalez has stated he could see himself going with a “mix-and-match” approach for the three based on the situation. The ambiguous explanation for Gonzalez' approach is in consideration to his players but for those needing a closer, Arodys Vizcaino is the clear front-runner. Johnson will handle setup duties. When Grilli returns, Vizcaino is likely to push everyone back an inning.

 

Miami Marlins

The Miami Marlins hard-throwing setup man, Carter Capps, has been sidelined for the 2016 season with Tommy John surgery. An unfortunate situation for a highly-touted reliever. Like the Marlins, fantasy baseball players will seek out the hole in the bridge that Capps leaves. Look to Bryan Morris to handle setup duties in Capps' place. If reliever Mike Dunn can be effective, look for him to get some holds against difficult left-handed bats late in the game.

 

Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies signed righty David Hernandez to a one-year deal, expecting him to solidify the back of the bullpen as the veteran closer. As of today, Hernandez is behind schedule to make it to Opening Day as the closer in the city of brotherly love. While Hernandez does not have it locked up, he is a front-runner in a potential closer by committee situation. The other candidate for saves and holds is reliever Dalier Hinojosa.

Hinojosa, 29, has pitched to a 4.50 ERA in eight innings this Spring. Last year, the Phillies got 23.0 innings out of Hinojosa and he pitched to a 0.78 ERA with just under a strikeout per inning. If there is any doubt about the health of Hernandez, Hinojosa will likely step in and take the closer reigns.

 

Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers' closer role was up in the air between righty Jeremy Jeffress and lefty Will Smith. The recently diagnosed injury to Will Smith will sideline him for at least six weeks. With the significant time lost, the job falls into the lap of Jeffress. Overcoming an early hamstring issue, Jeremy Jeffress has appeared in three spring training games, striking out three without allowing a run. As long as he remains healthy through the few days left of spring training, Jeffress will start the season as the closer on the Brew Crew. With Jeffress moving into the closer's role; look for reliever Corey Knebel to handle setup duties after a fine season in 2015, posting a 3.22 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 50.1 innings.

 

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