BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues
ROSTERED IN: 40% of Leagues
ANALYSIS: With Liam Hendriks placed on the 15-day injured list for inflammation in his right elbow, the White Sox bullpen re-enters a volatile state.
In the early part of the season, the White Sox bullpen could not piece itself together again in the absence of Hendriks. A carousel of closers began, with Reynaldo Lopez, Kendall Graveman, Joe Kelly, and Keynan Middleton picking up saves. Graveman and Lopez led the pack with four apiece, while Kelly and Middleton only picked up one.
When Liam Hendriks returned, the closer role also returned to him. But with Hendriks now out for an unforeseen amount of time, the closer role is wide open.
But this time around Kendall Graveman has grabbed the mantle of interim closer.
He has pitched lights-out since the start of May, with a 0.95 ERA, a .098 opponent batting average, and six saves in 19 appearances, with 15 of those appearances coming as the ninth-inning/closing pitcher.
The other late-inning options in Chicago haven't fared quite as well. Reynaldo Lopez sports a solid 2.55 ERA and a .177 opponent batting average in an eight-inning role since May. Joe Kelly has struggled, with a 4.37 ERA and a .212 opponent batting average in 18 appearances.
In the absence of Hendriks, Graveman has been called upon in ninth-inning spots. He hasn't produced many saves recently, but that is due to the absence of save opportunities -- whether because of a blow-out or an extra-innings game.
Kendall Graveman will likely continue to be the ninth-inning option for manager Pedro Grifol. Whether he stays in that position when Hendriks returns remains to be seen, but he is worth a short-term add in all leagues that count saves.
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