RADIO
Most fantasy owners focus all their attention on the big time stars of the league. Lesser known relief pitchers are often overlooked by casual fantasy players, except when they're blowing a big save perhaps.
That's why twice a week throughout the entire 2015 MLB Season RotoBaller will bring you the latest fantasy info, breaking news and advice about closers, setup men and any valueable relief pitcher you should be aware of on the waiver wire.
Editor's Note: Bookmark our MLB Closers & Saves Depth Charts for the latest look at all the current closers, setup men, longshots and relief pitcher waiver wire adds.
Waiver Wire Saves & MLB Bullpen Report
To start the season many of the elite and average relievers are owned in fantasy baseball. We will keep an eye on all the closers on the hot seat and the setup men primed to take over their jobs. If you need to scoop up saves off the waiver wire before your opponents, this is the only resource you will need. For week 1 there are a few big injuries and trades that affect the closer landscape.
Jason Grilli (RP, Atlanta Braves)
The Braves traded one of the best closers in baseball in Craig Kimbrel and seem to be going into Los Angeles Laker tank mode in 2015. Unless you are a Braves fan, all this means is that there is value to be had.
Jason Grilli has closing experience with 50 saves in his career and looks to be the new closer in Atlanta. His save opportunities may not be massive, but he does posses a career 9.5 K/9 ratio which is quite valuable. If you have a reliever on your team that isn’t closing off the bat, drop him in favor of Grilli before someone else gets to him! With a nice start, he could very well close the entire season in Atlanta.
Tyler Clippard (RP, Oakland Athletics)
Expected A’s closer Sean Doolittle was placed on the DL over the weekend meaning former Nationals pitcher and rec spec wearer Tyler Clippard will step into the closer role for the A’s.
Clippard boasts a career 10.05 K/9 ratio and has been one of the best setup men the past two seasons after getting 32 saves in 2012. Clippard is a great option to start the season until Doolittle gets back healthy.
Brad Boxberger (RP, Tampa Bay Rays)
Boxberger is owned in only 58% of Yahoo! leagues, which is way too low. He is an elite reliever who will be filling in as Rays closer for the injured Jake McGee. This is one of those situations where the replacement closer is so good that, if McGee comes back and looks rusty, Boxberger might just keep the job all year and end the season as a top 5 closer. That's a bold prediction, but stranger things have happened in the always volatile land of closer carousel.
Joel Peralta (RP, Los Angeles Dodgers)
Another reliever who will most likely only close for a few weeks is 39-year-old Joel Peralta. Pitching for an offensive team with quality pitchers, and in a big ball park, all bodes well for Peralta. He does only have 12 career saves and is wild at time, but he’s a nice guy to take a flyer on hoping that the Dodgers rack up some wins early in the season.
