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To help you dominate all of your 2018 fantasy baseball leagues, below are some 2018 fantasy baseball closer/saves (RP) sleepers & waiver wire pickups to consider adding to your fantasy baseball teams. Be sure to also use our other lineup resources and tools shown in the icons below.
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2018 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire by MLB Position
ALL - C - 1B - 2B - SS - 3B - OF - SP - RP
Trevor Hildenberger (RP, MIN) - Week 21 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 19% of leagues ANALYSIS: At this juncture of the season, saves can be tough to come by on the waiver wire. That's why it comes as a surprise to see Trevor Hildenberger still available for free in over 80 percent of Yahoo leagues currently. True, the ratios (4.58 ERA, 1.29 WHIP) are middling, and relievers who don't strike out a batter per inning seem to be a minority in this day and age. But Hildenberger has received (and converted) three of the...continue reading
Blake Parker (RP, LAA) - Week 21 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 46% of leagues ANALYSIS: Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Blake Parker appears to be the man to own for saves in Los Angels for the remainder of the season. He has held off Cam Bedrosian, Kenyan Middleton, and Jim Johnson for saves throughout the season and the 32-year-old has fared well. Through 55 innings, Parker is 2-1 with 12 saves and a 3.27 ERA. Since the beginning of July, Parker only has three saves, but...continue reading
Trevor Cahill (RP/SP, OAK) - Week 21 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 36% of leagues ANALYSIS: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Trevor Cahill is having a very solid year in 2018, bouncing back from a rough 2017 season in which he finished with a 4.93 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, and an eye-popping 1.71 HR/9. The 30-year-old had a rough close to 2017, 21 earned runs in 23 innings with the Royals, but he has rebounded in 2018. Overall, he has posted a 4-2 record, 3.39 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a 78/24 K/BB over 79 2/3 innings. On...continue reading
Jose Leclerc (RP, TEX) - Week 21 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 29% of leagues ANALYSIS: Texas Rangers relief pitcher Jose Leclerc appears to be making the most of a change to the closer's role. With both Keone Kela and Jake Diekman shipped off to contenders at the non-waiver trade deadline, Leclerc has seen his fantasy value sky rocket. The 24-year-old has always missed bats at an impressive clip (12.9 strikeouts/nine this season), but this year he has improved his control substantially. While he had nowhere to go but...continue reading
Tyler Glasnow (SP/RP, TB) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 27% of leagues ANALYSIS: The Tampa Bay Rays clearly had a plan for Tyler Glasnow and boy, has he executed it. Big G’s first appearance was a typical three-inning open, but the last effort saw him toss 79 pitches over five innings. Okay, now we have got more than just strikeouts and ratios here, but we are still waiting for Glasnow to pitch long enough to earn a win Of course, combining for 12 IP, 3 ER, 3 BB, 20 K...continue reading
Trevor Hildenberger (RP, MIN) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 7% of leagues ANALYSIS: After the dealing of Fernando Rodney to the Oakland Athletics, a the Minnesota Twins are going to have to find a replacement for high-leverage situations among their bullpen that holds the sixth-worst ERA in baseball at 4.67. Of those candidates, Trevor Hildenberger stands out as a strong contender for several reasons. For one, despite a recent stretch of particularly ugly outings to kick off August, he had been producing a solid amount of encouraging peripherals....continue reading
Tyler Glasnow (SP/RP, TB) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 16% of leagues ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow looked liked the guy that the Rays traded for on Tuesday night. Glasnow’s second start for Tampa Bay yielded nine strikeouts over four innings of one-run ball, allowing just two baserunners before being lifted. His two “openings” for Tampa combine for a line of 7 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 14 K. Sure, facing the Orioles is as easy as the AL East is going to get for a...continue reading
Wily Peralta (RP, KCR) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 25% of leagues ANALYSIS: Generally, we here at RotoBaller are not in the habit of recommending pitchers who have BB/9 rates in excess of 5.00 in both the majors and Triple-A. But saves are saves, and they're tough to come by in the dog days of August. Of course, Wily Peralta can tell you that from experience, as he hasn't actually recorded one since July 31. These facts probably have not endeared you to the idea of rostering him! But another fact is...continue reading
Trevor Cahill (SP/RP, OAK) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 20% of leagues ANALYSIS: Embattled starting pitcher Trevor Cahill is having a very solid year in 2018, bouncing back from a rough 2017 season in which he finished with a 4.93 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, and an eye-popping 1.71 HR/9. The 30-year-old is now playing in his 10th season and in his second stint with the Oakland Athletics, where he played his first three years at the MLB level. Most of Cahill's statistics this year are great, and it is now officially...continue reading
Jose Leclerc (RP, TEX) - Week 20 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 25% of leagues ANALYSIS: Texas Rangers relief pitcher Jose Leclerc appears to be making the most of a change to the closer's role. With both Keone Kela and Jake Diekman shipped off to contenders at the non-waiver trade deadline. Leclerc has seen his fantasy value sky rocket. The 24-year-old has always missed bats at an impressive clip (12.53 strikeouts/nine this season), but this year he has improved his control substantially. While he had nowhere to...continue reading
Jose Leclerc (RP, TEX) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 23% of leagues ANALYSIS: With both Keone Kela and Jake Diekman shipped off to contenders at the non-waiver trade deadline earlier this week, Jose Leclerc appears to the be the man to own in the Rangers' bullpen. The 24-year-old has always missed bats at an impressive clip (career 15.1% swinging strike rate), but this year he's improved his control substantially. While he had nowhere to go but down from last year's horrific 7.88 BB/9 and 20.0...continue reading
Jace Fry (RP, CWS) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 11% of leagues ANALYSIS: After the Chicago White Sox shipped closer Joakim Soria to the Milwaukee Brewers on July 26th, a big window of high-leverage opportunity opened up in the South Side's bullpen. This has created a volatile closer situation between pitchers like Juan Minaya, Luis Avilan, and despite his recent struggles, Jace Fry. How severely has Fry struggled? After a sterling start to the season with a 1.82 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in...continue reading
A.J. Minter (RP, ATL) - Week 19 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in Leagues OWNED IN: 45% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Atlanta Braves closer A.J. Minter looks to have grabbed the job in Atlanta with both hands and it is unlikely that Aroldys Vizcaino will get it back. Vizcaino has been dealing with a bad shoulder, and Minter was thought to be splitting save opportunities with Dan Winkler, but it looks like Minter is the man to own in the ATL. Winker had the first shot at saves, but Minter appears to have the job for...continue reading
Tyler Glasnow (SP/RP, TB) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 4% of leagues ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow was acquired in the Chris Archer blockbuster from the Pirates. We do not know how long the Rays plan on letting Glasnow go in his first start for Tampa Bay on Wednesday against the Angels. What we do know is that Glasnow has not shown any real signs of being over his control issues -- he posted a 16-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio in July for Pittsburgh. While reliever...continue reading
Will Smith (RP, SF) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 38% of leagues ANALYSIS: With Hunter Strickland sidelined by a broken finger sustained while punching a door in anger after a blown save, the San Francisco Giants have tried a number of different relievers in the ninth inning. Most recently, they have been turning to Will Smith to shut the door and he has taken over the role quite successfully. The veteran left-hander has successfully converted the team's last three save opportunities and has allowed just three runs since May 25,...continue reading
Pedro Strop (RP, CHC) - Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 28% of leagues ANALYSIS: Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Pedro Strop has taken the opportunity to grab the closer's role in Chicago with Brandon Morrow going on the disabled list with a biceps injury. Those that were hoping that Morrow would be off of the disabled list on Saturday were disappointed to hear that he needs more time to get healthy. With that being the case, there needs to be another man to close out games for the Cubbies and that...continue reading
Jordan Hicks (SP/RP, STL) - Week 17 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 22% of leagues ANALYSIS: Jordan Hicks doesn't have a ton of value right now for saves, but he has great value in leagues that count holds. Hicks has 12 thus far. He has been the setup man as Bud Norris usually gets the save opportunities for the St. Louis Cardinals. Bud Norris is only on a one year deal, and Hicks is a great position to be the closer next year. There have been talks of a...continue reading
Kirby Yates (RP, SDP) - Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 38% of leagues ANALYSIS: With Brad Hand shipped off to Cleveland, Kirby Yates figures to be first in line for saves in San Diego. The 31-year-old has been exceptional this year, with sparkling ratios (1.43 ERA, 0.88 WHIP) and 48 strikeouts in 38 innings. Yates had previously shown an ability to miss bats, but his vulnerability to the long ball kept him from breaking into the ranks of the elite. That problem appears to be resolved. The fix was the...continue reading
Sergio Romo (RP, TB) - Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 48% of leagues ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Sergio Romo has been a man of many talents this season, pitching as a starter, middle reliever, and closer for Tampa Bay. Since moving into the closer's role, after the trade of Alex Colome, Romo has turned into a lock down closer. Romo is 1-2 with a 3.95 ERA with 11 saves this season, but 10 of those saves have come since June 1 and he has a 1.37 ERA...continue reading
Joe Jimenez (RP, DET) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 23% of leagues ANALYSIS: Detroit Tigers 23-year-old relief pitcher Joe Jimenez is going to be getting his shot as the team's primary closer, as regular closer Shane Greene was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right shoulder strain. The severity of the injury is not yet known, but Jimenez has been tabbed as the "closer of the future" for the Tigers and will have a chance to showcase his skills in the coming weeks....continue reading
Mike Minor (SP/RP, TEX) - Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 15% of leagues ANALYSIS: Texas Rangers pitcher Mike Minor has thrown four consecutive quality starts, putting him squarely on the lower end of the fantasy radar. Minor has has a 4.63 ERA in 91 1/3 innings with the Rangers this season, posting a 6-4 record and striking out 74 batters. Minor is 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA since the beginning of June, seeing his strand rate rise from 69.3% for the season to 77.5% in this 32 inning sample. He still...continue reading
Tyler Clippard (RP, TOR) - Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 34% of leagues ANALYSIS: Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Tyler Clippard is the current beneficiary of Roberto Osuna's suspension and Ryan Tepera's injury, as he is now the closer for the Blue Jays. While his role with Toronto is tenuous to say the least, Clippard has a track record as a closer (even with the Blue Jays this season) and will continue to get opportunities north of the border. For the season, Clippard is 4-2 with...continue reading
Sergio Romo (RP, TB) - Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 36% of leagues ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Sergio Romo has been a man of many talents this season, pitching as a starter, middle reliever, and closer for Tampa Bay. In fact, Romo was the first 'opener' that the Rays employed this season, opening the game against the Angels in May. These days, though, Romo is back to his traditional role as a reliever and is now closing game for the Rays. Romo is 1-2 with a 4.34 ERA this...continue reading
Brad Keller (SP/RP, KC) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 9% of leagues ANALYSIS: Over the last six weeks, Kansas City Royals pitcher Brad Keller appears on the xwOBA leaderboard at No. 16 with a .329 mark, good for a tie with Luis Severino and right ahead of Miles Mikolas and Blake Snell. Sufficing to say, this fact alone makes Keller a decent add in deeper fantasy leagues Most of Keller's strong xwOBA comes from limiting big hits with a ridiculous 59.4% groundball rate over 56...continue reading
Will Smith (RP, SF) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Saves Leagues OWNED IN: 28% of leagues ANALYSIS: Will Smith got his second save tonight, and the second save in a row for the Giants, spanning the last three days. Mark Melancon actually started the ninth inning tonight in a non-save situation (the Giants were leading 9-5 at the time), but he gave up three hits and one earned run before getting yanked. That's when Smith was called in for the one out save. It should be noted that...continue reading
Wily Peralta (RP, KC) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Saves Leagues OWNED IN: 14% of leagues ANALYSIS: Everyone knew the Royals were going to trade their closer, Kelvin Herrera. We just didn't know it would happen so early. While looking at the Kansas City bullpen and thinking about who could replace Herrera in the ninth inning, the internet seemingly had a collective. Kevin McCarthy has been decent this season, but doesn't have much closing experience. Brandon Maurer has the experience of closing games in the past, but his 11.05 ERA...continue reading
Tyler Clippard (RP, TOR) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Saves Leagues OWNED IN: 28% of leagues ANALYSIS: Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Tyler Clippard earned his fifth save of the season Friday night against the Detroit Tigers, and could be in line for more saves chances. Ryan Tepera had been serving as the team's closer but has been placed on the 10-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation. Clippard has a 4-2 record, 3.12 ERA and is 5-for-9 in save opportunities in 2018. Even if Tepera's injury turns out...continue reading
Seung Hwan Oh (RP, TOR) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Saves Leagues OWNED IN: 7% of leagues ANALYSIS: Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Seung Hwan Oh got the call in the ninth inning of Saturdays 4-3 win over the Tigers. Oh entered the game tied and allowed no runs on a hit and a walk with a strikeout. The Blue Jays walked off with a win in the bottom of the ninth, so Oh got the win rather than a save, but it is noteworthy that he was used in the ninth, rather than...continue reading
Mike Minor (SP/RP, TEX) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 8% of leagues ANALYSIS: Minor had some preseason buzz going if he could keep his bullpen gains from 2017 going in Texas’ rotation. It hasn’t been that simple, but the 2009 seventh-overall pick has built up momentum with quality starts against Houston, Colorado and Minnesota in his last three starts for a 2.84 ERA in June. He’s kept the ball in the park his last two starts after giving up at least one in seven straight (10 total), though I hesitate to call...continue reading
Dereck Rodriguez (SF, SP/RP) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 7% of leagues ANALYSIS: Rodriguez’s first appearance in the bigs was an iffy relief spot at Coors Field, but since then he’s posted three quality starts in five outings with a solid 24-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio. I’d be remiss not to say how he’s faced San Diego and Miami twice over his last three trips to the hill, but we’ve often seen favorable matchups go awry. I see the age-26 arm as capable of staying below a 4.00 ERA for you with an assist...continue reading
Sam Dyson (RP, SF) - Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 30% of leagues ANALYSIS: San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Sam Dyson appears to be the closer of the moment in San Francisco, making him a nice addition. Hunter Strickland will not available for the next month or so and Dyson seems to be the man to fit the role ahead of Tony Watson and Mark Melancon. Dyson has a 3.35 ERA and three saves this season, bouncing back after a rough 2017 season...continue reading
A.J. Minter / Dan Winkler (RP, ATL) - Closer Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Saves Leagues OWNED IN: 20% of leagues (Winkler) / 11% of leagues (Minter) ANALYSIS: ** UPDATE: A.J. Minter pitched a clean 9th inning of Sunday's game with a four run lead, with no hits or walks allowed. Winkler pitched a clean 8th, and Minter may now be the preferred closer option after Winkler's poor game on Saturday. ** Atlanta Braves closer Aroldys Vizcaino has been dealing with a bad shoulder and him going on the disabled list opens the opportunity for saves with the Braves....continue reading
Seranthony Dominguez (RP, PHI) - Week 13 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 43% of leagues ANALYSIS: Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Seranthony Dominguez appears locked into the closer's role in Philadelphia with Hector Neris optioned to the minor leagues. While this is good news for fantasy owners, a 1.54 ERA in 23 1/3 innings shows that he should have been the closer for the Phillies even with Neris on the squad. Dominguez has 31 strikeouts this season and has only allowed three walks this season, posting an impressive 0.56 WHIP. He...continue reading
Ryan Tepera (RP, TOR) - Week 13 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 36% of leagues ANALYSIS: Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Ryan Tepera will likely be the undisputed closer for the remainder of the season for the Blue Jays, as Roberto Osuna was handed a 75-game suspension for domestic abuse. Tepera is already 4-2 with a 2.63 ERA and six saves this season (so he is not a total unknown), but Osuna's suspension should make him owned in all formats. Tepera has a 1.17 WHIP and 41 strikeouts in 37 2/3...continue reading
Mike Montgomery (SP/RP, CHC) - Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 24% of leagues ANALYSIS: Chicago Cubs pitcher Mike Montgomery has been very effective for the Cubbies this season, carving out a role for the 2016 World Champions. It is unfortunate for Montgomery that Tyler Chatwood once again skirted huge damage despite walking everyone on the planet because we are really counting on the Cubbies handing Montgomery that rotation spot once Yu Darvish returns. Regardless, Darvish is still a ways away and Montgomery did his part on Tuesday night by...continue reading
Matt Strahm (SP/RP, SD) - Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 1% of leagues ANALYSIS: While San Diego deals with a myriad of arm injuries, San Diego Padres starting pitcher Matt Strahm has gotten the chance to act as their “opener” in three bullpen games now. In these three games, he has allowed one run and three hits in eight innings, striking out 11 batters. He also has not walked a batter in any of his last five appearances now, a stretch that includes three appearances against the NL East-leading Braves. While...continue reading
Dylan Covey (SP/RP, CHW) - Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 10% of leagues ANALYSIS: If you remember anything about Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Dylan Covey from 2017 then you probably want nothing to do with him. No one can blame you either: the man had a 7.71 ERA and 5.64 SIERA with a poor 13.3% strikeout rate in 70 innings. That makes for one terrible cup o’ coffee. However, Covey looks very different this season to those watching carefully because now he is throwing 95 mph and suddenly has command....continue reading
Frankie Montas (SP/RP, OAK) - Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 23% of leagues ANALYSIS: Write off Oakland Athletics pitcher Frankie Montas at your own risk. The young, hard-throwing right-hander has been traded three times before the age of 25, and the consensus seemed to be that he didn't have what it takes to stick in an MLB starting rotation. Montas made 23 appearances (all in relief) for the Athletics in 2017, posting a horrific 7.03 ERA and 1.84 WHIP across 32 innings. Though he also sported an abysmal 7.17...continue reading
Steven Wright (SP/RP, BOS) - Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 22% of leagues ANALYSIS: Red Sox starting pitcher Steven Wright is a bit of a lone ranger in today's MLB landscape - he is the only active pitcher still fooling professional hitters throwing a pitch that averages just 74.2 MPH. That pitch, of course, is the famous knuckleball. Wright is throwing the knuckleball 84.9% of the time in 2018, and to say that the pitch is currently "on" is just a bit of an understatement. He has thrown a...continue reading
Joakim Soria (RP, CHW) - Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 41% of leagues ANALYSIS: After allowing runs in four of five appearances during a rough patch in mid-May, it looked like Joakim Soria had lost his position as the preferred option for saves on the South Side. The veteran hasn't allowed a run in nine appearances since that iffy stretch, however, and has recorded three saves over the last five days. On the season, Soria boasts respectable ratios (3.42 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) to go with his seven saves, buoyed by a sparkling 22.5...continue reading
Ryan Tepera (RP, TOR) - Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 22% of leagues ANALYSIS: Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Ryan Tepera has been profiled as a top waiver wire pickup frequently, but his ownership is only up 2% over the last week. Tyler Clippard was the closer for the Blue Jays over the last few weeks, but now it appears that Tepera is the man to end games north of the border. Tepera threw 3 1/3 innings last week and, while he did not register a save, he did...continue reading
Kyle Barraclough (RP, MIA) - Week 10 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 45% of leagues ANALYSIS: Brad Ziegler held the closer's role in Miami for two months despite horrendous ratios because his clunkers had mostly been confined to non-save situations. Those splits probably don't mean anything, but he was so terrible that it stood to reason he'd blow a save eventually. And once he did, Marlins' skipper Don Mattingly wasted no time in making Kyle Barraclough his new closer. Truth be told, this is how it should always have been. Bearclaw has the...continue reading
Kyle Barraclough (RP, MIA) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 45% of leagues ANALYSIS: Miami Marlins relief pitcher Kyle Barraclough will not be the closer in Miami with Brad Ziegler out of a job. Manager Don Mattingly has seemingly grown tired of Ziegler’s recent lackluster performance, and Barraclough could be the beneficiary. While this is not set in stone (Drew Steckenrider also could see some closer duties), this is a situation to monitor in shallow leagues if you are in need of some saves. Barraclough has been lights out...continue reading
Ryan Tepera (RP, TOR) - Week 10 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 20% of leagues ANALYSIS: Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Ryan Tepera was assumed to be the closer in Toronto after Roberto Osuna went on the restricted list, but did not win the job right away. Tyler Clippard was the closer for the Blue Jays over the last few weeks, but now it appears that Tepera is the man to end games north of the border. Tepera earned two saves last week and was 2-0 with...continue reading
Jose Alvarado (RP, TB) - Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 16% of leagues ANALYSIS: Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Jose Alvarado has had a strong start to the 2018 season, including a 2.95 ERA and 12 hits allowed in 21 1/3 innings, and should be in line for saves after Alex Colome was traded to the Mariners. Alvarado has allowed a run in two of his last three appearances, but those three runs are the only three that he has allowed this month. A cause for concern with...continue reading
MLB Closers and Saves Targets for Week 9
More injuries, more committees, more problems, right? This week featured an under-the-radar elite closer hitting the disabled list, a very much average temporary closer hitting the skids, and a formerly solid closer seemingly returning to form. Oh, and a rookie threw a pitch 105 miles per hour. Jordan Hicks has been the hardest throwing pitcher in baseball this season, by a pretty decent margin. He can consistently hit triple digits with his fastball, and has hit 105 more than once this season. He's recorded 16 pitches so far...continue reading
Brad Ziegler (RP, MIA) - Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 28% of leagues ANALYSIS: Miami Marlins relief pitcher Brad Ziegler appears to have righted the ship and is still the closer for the Marlins. After imploding against the Braves on May 20 (allowing four runs in 2/3 of an inning), he has had two scoreless appearances. He still has a 6.55 ERA and is 0-3, but he has nine saves. Fantasy owners know what they get from Ziegler, who only has 14 strikeouts in 22 innings, but has also only walked...continue reading
Jared Hughes (RP, CIN) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 3% of leagues ANALYSIS: Raisel Iglesias just hit the 10-day disabled list with "left bicep soreness" but considering that he's a right-hander, this shouldn't be too much of an issue. Regardless, closers are scarce and Jared Hughes is next in line for the job. Hughes has been excellent this season, as he sports a 1.30 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 27 innings pitched. These ratios are likely propelled by his career-high 3.67 K/BB and career-low 0.33...continue reading
Nate Jones (RP, CWS) - Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Saves Leagues OWNED IN: 25% of leagues ANALYSIS: The Chicago White Sox may have found their guy after going through a closer carousel to start the season. Nate Jones has converted the past two save opportunity for the Sox and it's worth it to assume that they might ride the hot hand here. Joakim Soria is still the White Sox leader in saves, however, he hasn't converted one since April 27. Soria also has given up at least one run in four of...continue reading
Seranthony Dominguez (RP, PHI) - Closers and Saves Waiver Wire Adds
BALLER MOVE: Add in Deeper Saves Leagues OWNED IN: 4% of leagues ANALYSIS: The Phillies turned to rookie flamethrower Seranthony Dominguez to nail down the save today against the Cardinals, and he delivered. Dominguez was initially brought in the eighth inning, but came back out for the ninth again. He finished with two scoreless innings, zero hits or walks, two strikeouts, and the save. Those speculating for saves should add him immediately and see how this situation plays out - the talent is real here. Let's take a look. Dominguez...continue reading
