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As some bullpens settle in and have set guys in set roles, others are as wild as ever before. Not only are we seeing more committees than ever when it comes to save situations, but over a month into the season we are starting to deal with injuries piling up and effecting bullpens. Plus, teams have a bunch of games in a short period as they make up for the delayed start to the season and many rainouts we have had so far.
All of these factors are impacting bullpens around the league. As is down performances by some prominent arms. A week of bullpen moves can feel like a seasons worth at times, and it can be hard to stay up to date on all 30 of them. But, that is why you should bookmark this page each and every week.
This article focuses on teams that have changing late inning usage, tries to make sense of the bullpens that we just cannot figure out and then gives relievers who are not closers but are still useful for fantasy purposes.
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Changing Bullpens
The Orioles certainly had an interesting week in the pen. Jorge Lopez, who had been their closer, landed on the bereavement list and Felix Bautista picked up two saves in strong fashion. He struggled on Monday night against the Yankees, allowing two homers, but the Yankees have victimized many pitchers this season. With Lopez back, the belief is that he will once again takeover as the closer of the Orioles, but he suddenly has someone breathing down his neck. If Lopez struggles, misses time, or is traded, it will open the road for Bautista to take over as the closer. This is certainly a situation to monitor moving forward. Lopez remains the top option for now, but Bautista can be stashed in deeper formats.
The Pirates had a committee early in the season, but David Bednar has made sure to end that. He has ran away with the job here and now has seven saves on the season, including each of the Pirates last five saves. He is clearly the superior option pitching to a 1.00 ERA, 2.63 xERA, 2.11 xFIP with a 0.61 WHIP and 39 percent strikeout rate. Compared to Chris Stratton, who has a 5.40 ERA, 2.61 xERA, 1.80 WHIP with a 22 percent strikeout rate. Bednar is looking like a steal right now and should be universally rostered and started. Stratton can be dropped for now.
The Twins have two strong options in Emilio Pagan and Jhoan Duran. While fantasy players were cheering for Duran to secure the job, Pagan has been holding him off. On the season, Pagan has five saves, while Duran has two. Pagan has pitched to a 1.54 ERA, 3.92 xERA, 4.15 xFIP, 1.46 WHIP and a 28 percent strikeout rate. Compare that to a 3.24 ERA, 2.24 xERA, 1.82 xFIP, 0.78 WHIP and a 39 percent strikeout rate. Everything clearly indicates that Duran has been the superior option of the two, but Pgan is the veteran with experience and it seems to be his job, at least until his ERA catches up to the indicators. Duran is certainly worth rostering for the strikeouts and ratios alone, but the chance at saves only adds to that. Both should be rostered moving forward.
The Cubs lost David Robertson last week and there was speculation between whether it would be Mychal Givens and Rowan Wick. Well, there is no questions anymore as Wick picked up three saves and now has four on the year. He is certainly worth rostering moving forward, but do not just drop him when Robertson returns. Robertson is at an advanced age, meaning he could need rest or miss more time, and being on a team that is not contending, Robertson could be traded. If you are able to hold onto him even after Robertson returns, you should.
Mark Melancon has seven saves for the Diamondbacks this year, but his ERA is even higher. He has pitched to a 8.49 ERA, 5.72 xERA, 5.48 xFIP with a 2.14 WHIP and just a seven percent strikeout rate. To be frank, they cannot continue to trust him as the closer and the team has somewhat indicated that. The other option we all thought could get saves is Ian Kennedy and he does have three, but he himself has struggled. He has a 3.45 ERA, 4.90 xERA, 5.38 xFIP with a 1.53 WHIP and a 14 percent strikeout rate. I still think he is worth a flier as he is likely next in line for some save chances. But do not overlook Joe Mantiply, who has two saves this season and has been the best pitcher of the three. He has a 0.66 ERA, 1.66 xERA, 0.73 WHIP and a 22 percent strikeout rate. If you are a save needy team, take a flier on him.
Speculative Save Situations
The Marlins are quickly becoming one of the biggest headaches when it comes to saves. They have Anthony Bender, Anthony Bass, Tanner Scott, Cole Sulser and Dylan Floro who could be used on any given night. In fact, all but Floro and Bass have a save already, and we know Floro, who missed time due to injury, was used in that role last year. Bass never seems to fully go away either. None of their options brings strong ratios or strikeout rates meaning that this is a situation to monitor, but not to invest in until we start to get more clarity. If you do take a shot on anyone in this pen, I would make it Bender.
The Reds still do not have a pitcher with multiple saves this season. That is partially because they are awful and rarely win and partially because they have no clear cut option, but multiple pitchers who can be adequate. This is largely a situation to avoid but if you are desperate for saves, Art Warren remains the top option here at least until we see otherwise.
The Red Sox finally have a pitcher with multiple saves on the year as Hansel Robles picked up his second save this week. That doesn’t take away from the fact that they have six, yes six different pitchers that have picked up a save this season. This continues to be a murky situation, one that likely is left avoiding until we get some clarity, but if you want to take a shot on anyone here it should be Robles. He continues to be used in late inning situations and has experience as a closer. John Schreiber and Matt Strahm are other options here to monitor moving forward.
The Rays are unpredictable not just with their bullpen usage but with their lineups and everything day to day. But, this year we have seen Andrew Kittredge pick up five saves, with Brooks Raley getting three, Ryan Thompson two and Jason Adam one. Kittredge is the one that gets the most chances, but Adam provides the best strikeouts and ratios. While Kittredge is the top arm to roster here, Adam is the upside play.
Elite Ratios and Strikeouts
Spencer Strider has thrown 19.2 innings in eight outings, pitching to a 2.75 ERA, 3.18 xERA, 2.77 xFIP, with a 1.07 WHIP and 38 percent strikeout rate. While he is likely third, at best, in the pecking order for save chances with the Braves, he does gives elite ratios and strikeouts. Plus, he routinely goes multiple innings, meaning he can give you fringe starter pitcher innings.
Keegan Akin leads all relievers with 24.2 inning pitched and he has done so while pitching to a 1.46 RA, 2.96 xERA, 3.08 xFIP with a 0.77 WHIP and a 22 percent strikeout rate. He gives the innings of a starting pitcher most week, with strong ratios.
Ryan Helsley continues to be the most dominant pitcher in baseball this season. He has not allowed a run and has a minimal 0.17 WHIP with a 58 percent strikeout rate. Even if he is not getting saves, he is so dominant that he needs to be rostered at this point.
Paul Sewald has pitched to a 3.09 ERA, 2.86 xERA, 2.77 xFIP, with a 0.43 WHIP and a 33 percent strikeout rate. He has been used in high leverage situations for the Mariners, but there is also the chance he sees some save chances which only adds to his fantasy value.
Will Vest has pitched extremely well, going off for a 1.17 ERA, 2.09 xERA, 2.25 xFIP, 0.46 WHIP with a 39 percent strikeout rate. He is certainly worth picking up, especially since Gregory Soto and Michael Fulmer have struggled recently.
Make sure to follow Michael on Twitter, @MichaelFFlorio.
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