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Baseball is a funny sport. Some weeks it feels like absolutely everything that can happen happens and other weeks feels like there were barely any games played at all. It's a long season though, and the ebb and flow is one of the things that, in our opinion, makes baseball so great.
There was bad news for a couple of teams this week, but amazing news for baseball as a whole as well which more than made up for it. Another week closer to the official start of the summer also means that trade deadline thoughts are beginning to surface, while teams are really beginning to evaluate those bullpen situations. Let's take a look at what went down this week in the bullpens around baseball.
Be sure to also keep an eye on our Fantasy Baseball Closer Depth Charts for saves, holds, and bullpens. They will be updated daily or sometimes even more often throughout the 2023 baseball season.
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Chicago White Sox - Bullpen and Closer News
One of the best moments of the season so far came out of the White Sox bullpen when closer Liam Hendriks ran to the mound for his first appearance after beating cancer. A thunderous ovation greeted him and a rare Liam Hendriks smile on the mound made its way across the closer's face. It certainly wasn't the best outing of his career, as he allowed two runs on three hits and a walk in an inning of work, but the stat line certainly wasn't what mattered this time.
Hendriks will work his way back into the ninth inning before long, but he'll likely see a few appearances earlier in the game just to get him back up to speed. Kendall Graveman, Reynaldo Lopez, and Joe Kelly should find themselves back in setup roles without too many save opportunities fairly soon.
Risers: Liam Hendriks
Fallers: Kendall Graveman, Reynaldo Lopez, Joe Kelly
Tampa Bay Rays - Bullpen and Closer News
The Rays just got their closer back from the injured list, but sometimes life can be unfair...banks. Pete Fairbanks came back from the injured list, pitched four innings, then went right back on it. This time, a hip issue will force him to miss time, although an MRI revealed no structural damage so the hope is that he won't miss too much time.
In the meantime, Jason Adam will resume head of committee duties in the Rays bullpen, with Colin Poche and Kevin Kelly seeing some ninth innings as well. Jalen Beeks earned a save this week, but it was Kelly that was brought in for the ninth and Beeks came in to relieve him after a rough start to the inning. Fantasy managers looking to add a Rays reliever should go with Adam.
Risers: Jason Adam
Fallers: Pete Fairbanks
Chicago Cubs - Bullpen and Closer News
The Cubs bullpen started the season as a committee split mostly between Michael Fulmer and Brad Boxberger. Now that it's June, the Cubs bullpen remains a committee split between two guys...but it's two completely different guys now.
Mark Leiter Jr. and Adbert Alzolay have been splitting save duties for the Cubs, and both are well available in a lot of standard leagues. Leiter Jr. has a bit more fireman potential in him, so we could see Alzolay see just slightly more save chances going forward. Both are strong options in holds leagues, but managers looking for saves in standard leagues could flip a coin and take a chance on one or the other. The Cubs as a team only have seven saves this season, but that figures to normalize at least somewhat going forward.
Risers: Mark Leiter Jr., Adbert Alzolay
Fallers: Michael Fulmer
Short Relief - Other Bullpen News
-Sounds like the Cardinals may be going into more of a committee approach, with manager Oli Marmol saying he'd start going with the "hot hand" between Ryan Helsley and Giovanny Gallegos.
-The Nationals also seem like they may be committing to a committee, with Kyle Finnegan and Hunter Harvey both seeing ninth-inning work.
-David Bednar saved nine games for the Pirates in April, then just one in May. Again, baseball is a funny sport sometimes.
-Marlins closer A.J. Puk is getting closer and closer to coming back. Manager Skip Schumaker said the next step is for Puk to make back-to-back rehab appearances, and then he should be activated. He'll presumably resume his closer role soon after being activated.
-Caleb Ferguson has now officially joined the Dodgers closer committee, as in a game this week Brusdar Graterol got the seventh, Evan Phillips the eighth and one out in the ninth, then Ferguson the final two outs for the save.
-After Kenley Jansen did it last week, Craig Kimbrel earned his 400th big league save this week. Next in line among active players: Aroldis Chapman with 317 and Mark Melancon (kind of) with 262. It'll be a while until we see another 400th save.
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