Florio's Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report (Week 8): Changing Bullpens, Speculating Saves and Elite Ratios

May 15, 2024

Michael F. Florio reviews bullpens that have changed, closers to add off the waiver wire, and relief pitchers who are useful for fantasy baseball heading into Week 8 of the 2024 season.

Remember in the last couple of weeks when I said that changes in bullpens would pick up? In the last week, we have seen a veteran closer return from IL, an all-time great removed as his team's closer, and the best team in baseball attempt to get by with its closer on the sideline. 

Oh, we have also had a volatile bullpen appear more stable and a typically stable bullpen look a little more volatile. What I am saying is it was a very big news week for bullpens around MLB and it is important for fantasy players to keep up with the moves, both big and small. 

Plus, there are a ton of relievers who are not currently picking up saves but can help you in the other categories. This remains your one stop shop for all things bullpen around MLB! 

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Changing Bullpens for Fantasy Baseball

The biggest reliever changes this week took place in Baltimore. Hope you took the advice to stash Yennier Cano last week. Craig Kimbrel entered the season as the closer but he has three blown saves already. He has picked up eight saves to go with a 3.86 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 36 percent strikeout rate, so it hasn’t been all bad. But in the last week, we have seen him pitch in the seventh inning and then the 11th after the other high-leverage relievers were used. In the last week, the Orioles have picked up two saves with one going to Cano and the other to Jacob Webb. 

This looks like an all-out three-man committee right now. While Kimbrel appears third in the pecking order, that could be just temporary. Due to his name and closing experience, he could easily work his way back to be the top option. Cano remains an elite ratio and strikeout arm, and if he is in the saves mix now, he has to be rostered. Webb has been very effective as well, pitching to a 1.47 ERA, 3.17 xERA, and 0.93 WHIP with a 29 percent strikeout rate. For now, all three can be rostered in roto formats. I rank them: Cano, Kimbrel, Webb. If Cano is available, I would spend between 8 and 12 percent of FAAB on him. For Webb, I would bid between 5 and 8 percent. 

Yennier Cano was given the opportunity to save tonight’s game and he delivered.

The righty spoke about the experience after the victory. pic.twitter.com/vUWaeV7aw6

— Orioles on MASN (@masnOrioles) May 11, 2024

We know better than to fully trust any Rays reliever to get all the saves. But it has been nice seeing Jason Adam pick up at least one per week with Pete Fairbanks sidelined. Well, he returned two days ago. We did see Adam pick up another save on Monday night, though. Perhaps this is the Rays easing Fairbanks back in or perhaps we are going to see a two-man committee between the two like we often did last year. Fairbanks should quickly return to late-inning usage and be viewed as the top option here. But I would continue to roster and start Adam until we see him fully removed from the saves picture. Outside of those two, I would not be chasing saves in this bullpen. 

The Dodgers placed closer Evan Phillips on the IL last week. At the time of writing this article last week, we did not have any late-inning usage without Phillips. We do now as the Dodgers have picked up two saves in the last week. One went to Daniel Hudson, who I speculated would be the fill-in closer. The other went to J.P. Feyereisen, who picked up the save in extra innings. We have seen Blake Treinen remain in a setup role. He can provide elite ratios and strikeouts, but if you are interested in saves here, Hudson is the reliever for you. Feyereisen is purely for those chasing saves in deep roto leagues. Hudson is a must-start option until Phillips returns (he is eligible on May 19). 

#Dodgers super reliever, Evan Phillips played catch a few minutes ago and continues to progress from his Grade 1 Right Hamstring Strain.

Phillips has been on 15 Day IL for only 5 days.

— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) May 10, 2024

The Twins have gone to a full-out committee. Jhoan Duran remains not only as the top option in this bullpen, but he is an elite reliever who is a must start in fantasy. He has picked up three saves since he returned and has yet to allow a run while striking out 33 percent of the batters he has faced. He has a WHIP of just 0.43.

Yes, he remains elite, but the issue is the Twins at times will not save him for the ninth. In the last week alone, he and Griffin Jax each picked up one save for Minnesota. This is how the Twins bullpen will likely operate all year. Duran is an absolute must-start reliever, but Jax is worth starting in roto formats as well. This does become a bit of a headache in weekly points leagues, though. Duran is still worth starting in those formats, while Jax is much more borderline. 

Paul Sewald returned last Tuesday for the Diamondbacks. On Thursday, he secured his first save of the season for the D-backs. In the last week, he and Joe Mantiply have picked up a save. Kevin Ginkel has returned to a setup role. Sewald should see the bulk of save chances moving forward and is a must-start option. We know if he struggles or misses time that Ginkel is next in line. However, he is more of a luxury stash if you have the bench spot. Otherwise, he could be thrown back onto the waiver wire. 

Speculative Saves for Fantasy Baseball 

Alexis Diaz has picked up a save and blown one for the Reds in the last week. In that span, he has a 7.71 ERA. This season, he has pitched to a 6.75 ERA, 3.69 xERA, and 1.64 WHIP with a 23 percent strikeout rate. He is badly hurting ratios and not picking up strikeouts at the rate you would expect.

Still, the expected ERA could make you believe he has been unlucky. Regardless, as long as he is getting save chances, he is worth rostering. But if his struggles continue, we could see a change. I have spoke him up in this article for a while now, but Fernando Cruz is a sneaky stash here. Cruz has a 4.24 ERA, 3.13 xERA, and 1.18 WHIP with a whopping 45 percent strikeout rate. He should be next in line and can provide elite strikeouts until then. Lucas Sims is another sneaky stash in this bullpen. 

David Bell talking about Alexis Diaz and why the Reds lost last night pic.twitter.com/g2mrV5mIVR

— Votto De La Cruz (@EvilJoeyVotto) May 14, 2024

It may actually be time for me to stop writing about the Phillies bullpen each week. Jose Alvarado is clearly the top arm and a must-start fantasy option in this pen. On the year, he has eight saves, and the rest of the Phillies relievers combined have five. None of the others have more than two (Jeff Hoffman and Gregory Soto have two each).

Alvarado also has the lone save in the last week for the Phillies. We know what Alvarado is at this point of his career. He will provide elite strikeouts and look untouchable at times, with the occasional blow up that will hurt your ratios. Still, you live with that if he is getting consistent save chances on a team as good as the Phillies. Jeff Hoffman remains a great option for strikeouts and ratios as he has a 1.00 ERA, 2.15 xERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 37 percent strikeout rate. He is next in line for saves as well. Add him if you are looking for a reliever to balance out your ratios for a bit. 

The Tigers may say they are going closer by committee … but are they? On the year, Jason Foley has 10 of their 12 saves. He has picked up their lone save of the last week. Alex Lange, who you may remember as the closer last year, picked up the other two saves for Detroit this season. Foley remains a must-start fantasy option, while Lange is there for those in need of saves in deeper roto leagues. Also, I am not too proud to take a humble brag as I had Foley as a reliever breakout and Lange as a regression candidate heading into the season!

10th save of the season for Jason Foley 🔥

Save energy at home with these tips: https://t.co/sm4zCCupj6 pic.twitter.com/wcaxWhvXJP

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) May 14, 2024

Kirby Yates remains the closer for the Rangers. He is a must-start fantasy option and has picked up the only save for Texas in the past week. David Robertson continues to be the high-leverage reliever and remains a strong source of ratios and strikeouts with his 2.61 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 32 percent strikeout rate.

So, why am I writing about this bullpen? Because we have recently seen Jose Leclerc start to earn more late-inning, high- leverage opportunities. Remember, Leclerc started the season as the closer. I do not think him pitching well again as of late will prompt the Rangers to just throw him back in as the closer. But they clearly like Robertson in the role he is in, so if anything happens to Yates, Leclerc could be next in line. He is a sneaky stash in deep roto leagues. 

Elite Strikeouts and Ratios for Fantasy Baseball

A.J. Minter has long been an option for solid ratios. This season, he has pitched to a 3.57 ERA, 3.13 xERA, and 1.02 WHIP with a 29 percent strikeout rate. The issue is he doesn’t get many saves, but he will get the occasional one like he did on Monday night. It was his first of the year, but it is worth pointing out that he picked up 10 saves last year and five in 2022. He is a ratio option who can give you the occasional save. 

Yimi Garcia leads all qualified relievers with a 0.46 WHIP. Batters are hitting just .080 against him this season and the only runs he has allowed have come via home runs. He has a 0.59 ERA to go with a 38 percent strikeout rate. The ratios he is providing have just been absolutely elite. Plus, he will be in the saves picture if anything happens to Jordan Romano. If you are looking for a reliever to stabilize your ratios, do not look further than Garcia. 

Yimi Garcia this season:

15.1 IP
4 H (1 HR)
1 R (1 ER)
3 BB, 20 Ks
0.59 ERA ‼️
0.46 WHIP

Carrying the bullpen 🔥 pic.twitter.com/eqE3jKnT1P

— BlueJays Muse (@BlueJays_Muse) May 14, 2024

Danny Coulombe has the second-lowest WHIP among qualified relievers at just 0.51. On the year, he has a 2.30 ERA while striking out 32 percent of the batters he has faced. He has just a 4 percent walk rate and batters have hit .115 against him. Plus, I did write above that the Orioles are in a bit of a transitional period in their bullpen. Coulombe could be a dark-horse candidate for some saves if the others falter. 

Danny Coulombe has inherited 11 runners this season. None of them have scored.

— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) May 14, 2024

The Mets continue to sport two arms that could greatly help ratios. Reed Garrett has struck out 43 percent of the batters he has faced, the fourth highest among all qualified relievers. He also has a 0.43 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. Those are elite strikeouts and ratios. Adam Ottavino has the fifth-highest strikeout rate amongst relievers at 38 percent. He has a 3.31 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. While Reed is the preferred option, both are in play in deeper roto leagues. 

Hunter Harvey remains one of my favorite stashes. Not only does he have a 2.53 ERA, 3.01 xERA, 1.03 WHIP, and a 29 percent strikeout rate, but he is next in line for saves in the Nationals bullpen. He could provide elite ratios and eventually saves if Kyle Finnegan either misses time or is traded. Harvey himself could also be traded and find himself in the saves mix on a new team.

Aroldis Chapman is no stranger to this article. He has a 4.61 ERA and 1.90 WHIP, neither of which are what you want in your fantasy lineup. But the 37 percent strikeout rate does stand out. Plus, we are quickly approaching the time of year where relievers are traded and Chapman is a prime trade candidate once again. Just like last year, he could find himself in the saves mix on a new team. 

Make sure to follow Michael on X, @MichaelFFlorio. 

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