Bullpen Report: Struggling Closers Leading to Changes?

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I have been playing a lot of MLB The Show lately and the one thing I have learned playing is - relievers are very important if you are going to play anything other than a standalone game! You need to not only have multiple options you can trust but the depth of many teams' bullpens can be called into question. While playing, I realized, you can never have too many relievers! And that has been my approach in fantasy this season as well, as I take speculative save chances even on teams where I have multiple closers, just because things can change at a moment's notice!

We are a month into the 2021 MLB season and there has been no shortage of movement in bullpens around the league. Each week it seems there is at least one new closer, or speculative closer, to take a shot on through waivers. So far there are 41 pitchers that have multiple saves and 75 that have at least one. Yeah, it could be hard to make sense of all that.

That is why this article is a fun one for fantasy purposes as it attempts to figure out every team's bullpen and give suggestions for any fantasy-relevant arms!

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Bullpen Breakdown

Arizona Diamondbacks

This bullpen situation is clearing up… for now. Stefan Crichton has picked up three saves for the DBacks, which does not sound like much, but on a team with four saves all season, that bodes well. But, Crichton is only worth rostering as long as he is in the saves picture. If he pitches well, he could stick, but its worth mentioning that Joakim Soria (calf), who was the anticipated closer coming into the season, is back from the IL. J.B. Bukauskas is a name for deeper leagues, as he has pitched to a team-low 3.13 xFIP and a 26 percent strikeout rate.

Atlanta Braves

This bullpen is about as straight forward as they come. As long as he is healthy, Will Smith seems to have the closer role on lock, picking up five of their six saves this season. If the Braves do have to go in another direction, A.J. Minter has pitched well and has some closer experience. Tyler Matzek has pitched well and could be in the closer picture if Smith goes down as well. He has a 3.46 xFIP and a 36 percent strikeout rate.

Baltimore Orioles

Cesar Valdez has picked up seven saves this season, while the rest of the bullpen combined has just one. He has been such a pleasant surprise, as this bullpen has not been a great source of saves in recent seasons. There are two other arms to take notice of in this bullpen, both of which could be in the saves picture if Valdez struggles or gets injured. One is Tanner Scott, who has pitched to a 2.19 ERA, but has a 5.29 xFIP, 1.46 WHIP and a 25 percent strikeout rate. The other is Paul Fry, who has 1.59 ERA, 2.06 xFIP, 1.15 WHIP and a whopping 38 percent strikeout rate. I like Fry more and think he is worthy of rostering in 15-team formats or AL-only leagues.

Boston Red Sox

Matt Barnes is not only the closer here, but he is by far their best reliever. He has pitched to a 2.51 ERA and 1.60 xFIP, with a 0.63 WHIP and a 48 percent strikeout rate. Adam Ottavino is the perceived next man up if Barnes misses time, but he has been struggling himself. A sleeper here is Garrett Whitlock, who has a 0.63 ERA, 1.99 xFIP, 0.70 WHIP and a 36 percent strikeout rate. He has also pitched 14 innings in just seven games, so you will get multiple innings out of him when he is called upon. That alone makes him worth taking a shot on in deeper formats, as two appearances will be equivalent to a low-end starting pitcher.

Chicago Cubs

There is no question at all who the closer in Chicago is, as Craig Kimbrel has been his old dominant self. Outside of Kimbrel, who is universally rostered, there are two other pitchers to take note of here. Andrew Chafin, who has an amazing mustache, is viewed as the next man up in this pen. He has pitched to a 3.46 ERA, 3.95 xFIP, a 0.92 WHIP and a 28 percent strikeout rate. The other is Rex Brothers, who has a 3.48 ERA, 2.73 xFIP, 1.06 WHIP and 43 percent strikeout rate. Those numbers are dominant. Brothers should definitely be rostered in deep formats.

Chicago White Sox

Just like the NL team in Chicago, this pen is as predictable as they come. Liam Hendriks, who has been dominant, is the closer here and that is not changing anytime soon as long as he is healthy. The next man up here is Aaron Bummer, who can be stashed in 15-team leagues or deeper and definitely in AL-only leagues. With Michael Kopech now out of the pen, the rest of this bullpen can be left on the waiver wire.

Cincinnati Reds

This bullpen has been one of the toughest to figure out in all of baseball. Last week we saw Tejay Antone pitch three innings in what was lined up initially to be a save situation. Last Friday he picked up a one out save after Lucas Sims failed to close it out. On Sunday we saw Sean Doolittle pitch the sixth, Sims came on in the seventh and struggled, then Antone came in and allowed four earned runs. They turned to Amir Garrett in the 10th, but it looked as if they were either going to use Antone for multiple innings to close it out or turn once again to Garrett. We can see any of these four used for saves on any given night. I would rank them: Antone, Garrett, Doolittle and then Sims, but again, it will be volatile.

Cleveland Indians

Emmanuel Clase has now picked up six of the nine saves for the Indians. He is the set closer here and has a 0.00 ERA on the season. The other arm that should be rostered universally is James Karinchak, who has two saves this season and has pitched to a 0.69 ERA, 0.87 xFIP, 0.38 WHIP and a wild 59 percent strikeout rate. He is one of the best relievers in baseball, let alone this bullpen, and the ratios and strikeouts he provides, along with the occasional save, makes him worthy of rostering in all roto formats. Nick Wittgren could be in the saves picture if injuries hit the other two, but he does not need to be rostered for now.

Colorado Rockies

Daniel Bard came in for the eighth and got rocked on Sunday and now has a 9.00 ERA. The game was then postponed on Monday so we do not have any clear answers, but, Bard has to be on very thin ice if not out of the closer role there. In my best guess, I would imagine Bard is out of the gig and Mychal Givens is in. Givens has closer experience in the past and has pitched to a 2.53 ERA, 3.71 xFIP, 0.94 WHIP and has a 27 percent strikeout rate. The only pitcher worth rostering in this bullpen is the one getting the save opportunities - and even then, it can be dicey.

Detroit Tigers

Gregory Soto is the pitcher the Tigers trust the most here. He has three of their five saves, but at times they will use him in the eighth to face the opposing lineups' best hitters. It can be frustrating for fantasy, but it shows that he is the one arm they fully trust here. The rest of the bullpen, for fantasy purposes, can be left on the waiver wire.

Houston Astros

Ryan Pressly is the unquestioned closer in this pen, but there are two other arms that I would recommend fantasy managers take notice too. The first is Ryne Stanek, who has pitched to a 2.08 ERA, 2.91 xFIP, 0.62 WHIP and a 42 percent strikeout rate. The other arm is Kent Emanuel, who came in for relief and went 8.2 innings in his debut. On the season he has pitched to a 1.69 ERA, 3.19 xFIP and a 0.56 WHIP with a 24 percent strikeout rate.

Kansas City Royals

Josh Staumont is the closer here and has a team-high three saves. On the season he has pitched to a 0.63 ERA, but does have a 5.06 xFIP, with a 0.70 WHIP and a 24 percent strikeout rate. If he was to struggle, as the xFIP indicates, Greg Holland could work his way into the closer role again. Scott Barlow is my personal favorite arm in this bullpen. On the season he has a 2.81 ERA, 3.47 xFIP, 1.44 WHIP and 29 percent strikeout rate. You also can’t fully rule out Wade Davis from the closer role if there was to be a shakeup. For fantasy, I rank these arms: Staumont, Barlow, Holland and Davis.

Los Angeles Angels

This bullpen is as straight forward as they come. Raisel Iglesias is the closer and he has a long leash. If he was to miss time, you could see Mike Mayers or Aaron Slegers get save opportunities, but neither needs to be rostered for the time being, especially with Mayers hitting the COVID/IL list recently.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Kenley Jansen is still the man here and with Corey Knebel (lat) and Brusdar Graterol (forearm) sidelined, he should have an even longer leash. But if he does struggle, Blake Treinen would be next in line. He has been their best (healthy) reliever, pitching to a 2.92 ERA, 2.57 xFIP, with a 1.54 WHIP and a 31 percent strikeout rate. He is worth rostering in NL-only leagues and for save-needy teams in 15-team leagues.

Miami Marlins

Yimi Garcia allowed a two-run homer to Kyle Schwarber last week for his first blown save of the season. Despite that performance, his job is not in jeopardy. The two other arms here that interest me are John Curtiss and Dylan Floro. Floro has pitched to a 1.42 ERA, 2.45 xFIP, with a 0.79 WHIP and a 29 percent strikeout rate. Curtiss has a 2.13 ERA, 2.83 xFIP, 0.79 WHIP and a 32 percent strikeout rate. Both would be in the saves picture if Garcia did struggle or miss time.

Milwaukee Brewers

This bullpen is as straight forward as it gets. Josh Hader is an elite closer who has seven of the eight save opportunities here. Devin Williams’ numbers are not quite what they were last season, but he can provide strong ratios and strikeouts making him worthy of rostering in roto formats. After the elite two options, the rest of the pen can be left on waivers for now.

Minnesota Twins

This bullpen has been one of the toughest to figure out for fantasy purposes, but perhaps that is changing. Taylor Rogers got the save opportunity on Sunday and converted, but he did allow a two-run homer to Joey Gallo. The two other top saves candidates are Hansel Robles and Alex Colome, who both have an ERA and xFIP well over four. Colome has especially struggled. Rogers should get more save opportunities moving forward and he is the top arm to roster in this pen. Colome and Robles may not leave the save picture, but its tough to trust either of them right now as they can blow up your ratios.

New York Mets

Edwin Diaz looked dominant on Saturday and then came in on Sunday in a four-run game and nearly blew it. He nearly allowed a game-tying home run to Rhys Hoskins, but it hit off of a guard rail and bounced back into play. He struggles in non-save situations or when pitching on back-to-back days, and that appearance was both of those scenarios. Diaz is still the closer here, but he is definitely not as entrenched as when he entered the season. If anyone here got a save opportunity other than Diaz, it would be Trevor May, who has pitched to a 1.93 ERA with a 2.27 xFIP, 1.07 WHIP and a 38 percent strikeout rate. Miguel Castro and his 42 percent strikeout rate is definitely an option in NL-only leagues.

New York Yankees

Aroldis Chapman has been absolutely dominant and is the unquestioned closer in this pen. The expectation is Chad Green would be the next man up, but he has been far from his past dominant self. The Yankees also did just trade Mike Tauchman to the Giants for Wandy Peralta, who has some late-inning experience. He is not an arm to add just yet, but he is more just a player to monitor his usage than one to add right away.

Oakland A’s

There are two arms in this pen that should be rostered and started in all roto formats. The first is Lou Trivino, who has five saves to go with a 1.59 ERA, 3.25 xFIP, 1.06 WHIP and a 28 percent strikeout rate. The other is Jake Diekman, who has three saves, with a 2.03 ERA, 3.88 xFIP, 1.05 WHIP and a 32 percent strikeout rate. Both provide strong ratios, strikeouts and will get some save opportunities. While I prefer Trivino, Diekman also should be started in roto leagues.

Philadelphia Phillies

While many fantasy analysts wait for Hector Neris to lose this gig, he has gone out and picked up six of the Phillies' first eight saves. He should be rostered everywhere. Jose Alvarado has struggled a bit as of late, but he can still be a strong source of ratios and definitely strikeouts. He is a deeper league or NL-only option. I am also intrigued by Spencer Howard in this pen. Despite having an ugly 8.31 ERA and 1.85 WHIP, Howard, the former top prospect, does have a Philly bullpen-best 2.43 xFIP and a 38 percent strikeout. He is not someone to roster just yet, but more of an upside arm to keep an eye on.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Richard Rodriguez has picked up all of the Pirates' four saves and he has yet to allow a run this season. Kyle Crick, who also has not allowed a run yet this season, is viewed as the next arm up for saves. He has been a strong source of ratios, despite the strikeouts being down a bit. There are two other arms for deeper leagues to take notice of. The first is Duane Underwood Jr., who has pitched to a 3.60 ERA, 3.29 xFIP, 1.27 WHIP and a 31 percent strikeout rate in 15 innings. The other is David Bednar, who in 10.2 innings has pitched to a 1.69 ERA, 3.19 xFIP, 0.84 WHIP and a 29 percent strikeout rate. Both are more for NL-only formats, but are very useful there.

San Diego Padres

Mark Melancon has a league-high 10 saves, to go along with a Padres bullpen-low 2.08 xFIP. He is rostered everywhere though. The Padres bullpen has no shortage of options that provide strong ratios and strikeouts. I would rank them: Drew Pomeranz, Emilio Pagan, Craig Stammen and then Keone Kela.

Seattle Mariners

There are two arms in this bullpen that are fantasy relevant: Kendall Graveman and Rafael Montero. Graveman is the best arm in this pen and has three saves on the year. The issue is that they will often use him in high-leverage situations against their opponents' best hitters. That has led to Montero closing out games after Graveman does the heavy lifting. Montero has four saves on the season, but not nearly as strong ratios or strikeouts. I would rank them Graveman then Montero. Keynan Middleton and Drew Steckenrider could be in the saves picture if the other two miss time.

San Francisco Giants

Jake McGee is back and has seven saves this season. He is the best reliever in this bullpen and the only one that must be rostered in fantasy. We did see Tyler Rogers and Wandy Peralta pick up two saves each for the Giants when McGee was unavailable - but the Giants traded Peralta to the Yankees last week. That leaves Rogers as the next man up in this pen. He could be stashed in NL-only leagues. The rest of this bullpen can be left on the waiver wire.

St. Louis Cardinals

Every week I write that the numbers indicate that Alex Reyes is pitching well over his head - but he has eight saves and has yet to allow a run. At some point, you have to say numbers be damned and just accept that he has the gig on lock right now and it will take more than one bad outing to change that. The only other arm I would want to trust here for fantasy purposes is Giovanny Gallegos, who has pitched to a 2.16 ERA, 3.03 xFIP, 0.60 WHIP and a 36 percent strikeout rate.

Tampa Bay Rays

Diego Castillo did blow a save last week, but it was his third straight game pitching, so you can give him a pass. He bounced back nicely in his next opportunity and is clearly the closer here as he has seven saves and no one else has more than one. He should be rostered everywhere, while the rest of this bullpen can be left alone for fantasy purposes.

Texas Rangers

There are three fantasy-relevant arms in this bullpen. The first is Ian Kennedy, who has all seven saves for the Rangers and should be universally rostered. The other two are Kolby Allard and Joely Rodriguez. Allard has pitched to a 3.65 ERA, 2.03 xFIP, 1.05 WHIP and a 33 percent strikeout rate. Rodriguez has pitched to a 3.18 ERA, 1.48 xFIP, 1.24 WHIP and a 28 percent strikeout rate. I think Rodriguez would be next in line for saves, so I would roster him of the two, but both are useful in AL-only leagues.

Toronto Blue Jays

Jordan Romano is back from the IL, which only muddies the ninth inning waters here. We could see a combination of Romano and Rafael Dolis working the ninth. Dolis has picked up three saves this season, while pitching to a 2.84 ERA, 4.82 xFIP, 0.87 WHIP and a 26 percent strikeout rate. Romano has pitched to a 2.70 ERA, with a 5.38 xFIP, 1.50 WHIP and a 23 percent strikeout rate. While I prefer Dolis, both should be rostered until this situation clears up. The rest of this bullpen can be avoided until Julian Merryweather (oblique) returns from the IL.

Washington Nationals

This is another clear-cut bullpen. Brad Hand is the closer and has picked up all three of the Nationals saves this season. The backup option is Daniel Hudson, who has a history of closing with the Nationals. On the year, Hudson has pitched to a 2.25 ERA, 4.10 xFIP, 1.00 WHIP and a 31 percent strikeout rate. Outside of these two arms, the rest can be left on the waiver wire.

All stats are current as of May 4.

Make sure to follow me on Twitter @MichaelFFlorio.

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