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Waiver Wire Saves & MLB Bullpen Report for 4/9/2015
The season isn't even a week old yet, but we already had one major trade involving a closer and a couple injuries leading to setup men taking over their team's ninth inning role.
Below are some relievers available in a high amount of leagues who should offer great help to owners looking for saves going forward.
Joakim Soria (RP, Detroit Tigers)
Soria needs to be owned in all leagues now that he will be filling in for Joe Nathan as the Tigers closer. Nathan landed on the DL due to a strained elbow, and at 40 years old he could be looking at an extended absence. Soria is a former All-Star who notched 17 saves with a 2.70 ERA and 9.7 K/9 for the Rangers last season before being traded to Detroit. Soria now has a chance to runaway with the Tigers' closing gig and his high-strikeout rate makes him a great option in fantasy leagues for as long as Nathan is sidelined.
Jeurys Familia (RP, New York Mets)
Familia will act as the Mets closer while Jenrry Mejia is on the DL with elbow soreness. Mejia has been shut down for at least 10 days, after which the Mets will decide a timetable for him to return. In the meantime, Familia and his 97 MPH sinker can be very effective for the Mets and fantasy owners pitching in the ninth inning. He was the Mets best reliever last season, posting a 2.21 ERA with 73 strikeouts across 77 1/3 innings. As long as Mejia and Bobby Parnell are out, Familia should be owned in all leagues.
Edward Mujica (RP, Boston Red Sox)
Mujica is owned in just 13% of ESPN leagues, but is definitely worthy of a pickup for owners in need of saves right now. Normal Red Sox closer Koji Uehara is expected to be activated from the DL sometime next week, but Mujica is first in line for saves in Boston until then. In his final 17 appearances for the Red Sox last season, Mujica went six-for-six in save chances with a 2.12 ERA and 14/5 K/BB ratio while filling in for an injured Uehara.
Joel Peralta (RP, Los Angeles Dodgers)
Peralta was used as the Dodgers closer Wednesday night in a three run game against San Diego, and he pitched a scoreless frame to come away with his first save of 2015. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly went with Peralta in the ninth after Opening Day closer Chris Hatcher gave up two earned runs and failed to record an out in the Dodgers second game of the season. Peralta should at the very least share save opportunities with Hatcher in Los Angeles until Kenley Jansen returns sometime in May.
Adam Ottavino (RP, Colorado Rockies)
Owners in deeper leagues may want to consider rostering Ottavino, who is currently the main set-up man for 42-year-old Latroy Hawkins in Colorado. Hawkins gave up two runs in his first blown save of 2015 on Wednesday night, after Ottavino pitched a scoreless eight inning. Hawkins will need to string together a lot more poor appearances before he is removed as closer, but Ottavino had a 3.60 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 65 innings for the Rockies last season and could eventually take over the ninth inning gig in Colorado at some point this season.
