RADIO
Things always seem to settle down a little around this time in the baseball season. The deadline is behind us, so a lot of buyers with previously unsettled bullpens got settled through trades. On the other end of that, a lot of sellers lost their closers but are in full tank/rebuild/evaluate mode so they haven't had too many save chances since they haven't had too many leads.
Just like real baseball teams are figuring out if the playoffs are coming or if the offseason starts right away, fantasy managers are doing the same with their teams. Those in keeper and dynasty leagues may be in buying and selling mode as well, picking up prospects in exchange for veterans and vice versa. We're getting there folks. After the 60-game 2020 season, we're almost at Game 120 of the 2021 campaign.
Be sure to keep an eye on our RotoBaller Closers and Saves Bullpen Depth Charts. They're updated daily, or sometimes even more often in this wild 2021 baseball season. With that being said, here are the closers, saves, and bullpen waiver wire pickups to consider for Week 20 - August 16 through August 22.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and weekly lineup resources:- Fantasy baseball injury reports
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- Who should I start? Fantasy baseball player comparisons
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Bullpen News For The Week
New York Yankees
Aroldis Chapman has been holding down the Yankees ninth inning for a while, even through his struggles leading into the All-Star Break. But now he's on the injured list with inflammation in his throwing elbow. Jonathan Loaisiga, Chad Green, and Zack Britton have all been shuffling into save situations, but Britton has had the most chances and has the most experience. It seems like Britton is the one for fantasy managers to roster in standard formats, but all three are worthwhile roster options in hold leagues. An MRI showed no significant ligament damage in Chapman's elbow, so he may not be out for too long.
Risers: Zack Britton
Fallers: Aroldis Chapman
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds bullpen has been a staple of Closers and Saves Report all season long. Lucas Sims is back after a lengthy stay on the injured list and has mixed right back into the save situations in Cincinnati. Mychal Givens has been the go-to guy this week it seemed like, but Sims got an 11th inning save chance and got the first two outs before blowing it. Sims, Givens, Heath Hembree, and Michael Lorenzen will keep on working late innings, with possibly a different guy showing up in the ninth inning each game.
Risers: Mychal Givens, the blood pressure of Cincinnati Reds fans
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs sent closer Craig Kimbrel across town to the White Sox at the trade deadline, leaving them without an experienced closer in their bullpen. Rowan Wick, who just returned from an extended IL stay due to an oblique injury, seems like the favorite for saves right now. Codi Heuer, who was part of the Kimbrel trade, and Manuel Rodriguez both saw save chances after Kimbrel was traded but before Wick returned. But with Wick now healthy, he's at least the leader of the Cubs bullpen committee. Now the Cubs just need to have a lead in the ninth inning.
Risers: Rowan Wick
Short Relief
-Josh Hader returned from the COVID IL and should immediately be back in almost every save opportunity for the Brewers. Devin Williams will slide back into his primary setup role.
-The Braves acquired Richard Rodriguez from the Pirates at the deadline, but he's pitched in front of Will Smith in Atlanta, so what some thought could be a committee is still Smith's ninth inning.
-Emmanuel Clase has earned the last five saves in Cleveland while James Karinchak has struggled. Clase may not be the committee leader anymore, he might be the outright closer for the future Guardians.
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