MLB Closers and Saves Report Week 26

Published 3 weeks ago by David A Marcillo - RotoBaller

    This is it, folks. Our last weekly MLB Closers and Saves Report for the 2017 season. It's been 26 weeks of fantasy baseball, and there have surely been ups and downs as the weeks have gone by. Speaking of ups and downs, bullpens have been a mess this season, maybe more so than in normal seasons. Elite guys like Zach Britton and Aroldis Chapman haven't been closers all season, but guys like Fernando Rodney have. It's 2017, and it's been a weird year. That certainly showed up in fantasy baseball too. Here's a look at what happened in the last week of regular season baseball.  

Bullpen News for Week 26

  New York Mets The Mets were waiting on Jeurys Familia all season, filling his ninth inning role with Addison Reed at the beginning of the season, then trading for A.J. Ramos before the trade deadline. Familia is finally back, and while he's been brought along somewhat slowly, he saved a pair of games in the last four days. He's worth picking up for the last weekend of the season for teams trying to get another save or two. It will be interesting to see what the Mets do in the offseason, with two established closers, Familia and Ramos, lined up to be in their bullpen next season. Miami Marlins Speaking of Ramos, after the Marlins traded him to the Mets for a pair of fringe prospects, veteran Brad Ziegler took over as closer. He started off doing pretty well despite a rough season overall, but then he hurt his back and struggled mightily. Flame thrower Kyle Barraclough stepped in as head of the committee in Miami, and he may be lining up as the 2018 closer for the Fish. Chicago Cubs Cubs closer Wade Davis was perfect this season. In fact, he hadn't blown a save since September 2016. Perfection never lasts though, as Davis blew a save this week by allowing a home run to the first batter he faced in a save situation. He then pitched the tenth inning and allowed a two-run walk off shot, taking the loss as well. Davis is an elite closer and he will of course be fine going forward, but it was somewhat intriguing to see a closer as solid as Davis have a bad pair of innings back-to-back.  

Roster Moves of the Week

Adds Mike Minor, Kansas City Royals- Royals relief pitcher Mike Minor had an excellent week (see below) and could be worth adding for a save or two this weekend. Drops   A.J. Ramos, New York Mets- It looks like the Mets will give Jeurys Familia the chance to work in any save situations this weekend, so anyone still hanging onto Ramos can show him the quickest route to get to the waiver wire.

Best of the Week

 Mike Minor, Kansas City Royals- 3 IP, 2 K, 3 SV, 0.00 ERA, 0.38 WHIP The Royals went with Mike Minor for three save situations this week, and he converted all three. In the process, he struck out two batters while only allowing one hit. Hector Neris, Philadelphia Phillies- 3 IP, 8 K, 3 SV, 0.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP Phillies closer Hector Neris had an incredibly strong week, striking out eight batters in his three appearances, picking up three saves. He only gave up two hits on the week and will look to finish out his season on a strong note this weekend.  

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Holds Leagues: Waiver Wire Pickups & Adds For Week 26

Published 3 weeks ago by Ryan Nakada - RotoBaller

While holds are even tougher to predict than saves, the players we’ll highlight today include some elite setup men to target off the waiver wire for Week 26, the final week of the fantasy baseball season. The more likely an MLB team is to win, the more likely these pitchers will be eligible to earn the holds that could be the difference between winning or losing in your fantasy league. Let's get to it.  

Week 26 Waiver Wire Pickups for Holds

Archie Bradley, Arizona Diamondbacks 1 Save, 25 Holds, 1.38 ERA, 71.2 IP, 76 K, 0.99 WHIP The Arizona Diamondbacks have reached the Wild Card game and Archie Bradley has had a breakout campaign in relief. This year, opponents are hitting .197 against Bradley. Utilizing a 96.4 mph fastball and 82.7 mph curveball, Bradley generates a ground ball on 48.4 percent of batted balls. Finding himself regularly pitching in the eighth inning lately, Bradley has been a dominant setup reliever that has a future as a closer. For now, Bradley is an exceptional waiver wire claim for holds leagues as the season comes to an end. Chad Green, New York Yankees 8 Holds, 1.87 ERA, 67.1 IP, 102 K, 0.74 WHIP The New York Yankees have created one of the best bullpens in the league and Chad Green has been a tremendous part of it. Among former closers, Chad Green has emerged as one of the best relievers in the Yankees bullpen. With opponents hitting .187 against Green, the 26-year-old reliever is also striking out batters at a 13.6 strikeout per nine inning rate. Relying on his 95.8 mph fastball and 85.8 mph slider, Green has already exceeded 100 strikeouts out of the bullpen. Green has frequently pitched in the seventh inning so he has moved up the pecking order and will secure some holds to wrap up the 2017 campaign. Anthony Swarzak, Milwaukee Brewers 2 Saves, 26 Holds, 2.17 ERA, 74.2 IP, 89 K, 0.98 WHIP The Milwaukee Brewers are fighting to make the postseason to the last day and reliever Anthony Swarzak could play a tremendous role in their fate. Since joining the Brewers, Swarzak has locked up 15 of his 26 holds. With over a strikeout per inning and 43.3 percent of batted balls on the ground, Swarzak has been thrust into the thick of victories for the Brewers and it is justified. Opponents are hitting .211 against Swarzak's 94.7 mph fastball and 87.1 mph slider. The Brewers will need all of their best arms available in securing a crucial hold. Swarzak is a worthy waiver wire claim that can play the difference between a win or loss in a holds league. Jose Ramirez, Atlanta Braves 27 Holds, 3.19 ERA, 62.0 IP, 56 K, 1.19 WHIP The Atlanta Braves will look to finish strong in the year and Jose Ramirez has put together a successful campaign. With a 97.2 mph fastball, 89.2 mph slider and 88.0 mph changeup, Ramirez is holding opponents to a .204 batting average. Regularly pitching in the seventh or eighth inning, Ramirez has secured holds for the rebuilding Braves. He does not strike out a batter per inning but this year has been a breakout year for the 27-year-old reliever. The Braves will give him some work in winning situations to wrap up this year so put a waiver wire claim on him if there is a need for a reliable player for holds. Carson Smith, Boston Red Sox 1 Save, 0.00 ERA, 6.2 IP, 7 K, 0.90 WHIP Carson Smith managed to make his presence felt in the 2017 season for the likely division-winning Boston Red Sox and could do so to wrap up this year. Smith, who once secured 13 saves and 22 holds while a part of the Seattle Mariners, made his first appearance in the 2017 season this month. In just seven games, opponents are hitting .182 against Smith's 91.9 mph sinker and 84.5 mph slider. While Smith will not be eligible for the postseason roster, expect him to get some work to wrap up the year. The Red Sox still need to secure the division so expect them to aggressively finish the season.

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Streaming Wars: Waiver Wire Targets for September 29

Published 3 weeks ago by Brad Johnson - RotoBaller

Welcome to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire. Use this column to improve upon your neediest categories in this, the final week of the season. Below are your pitcher and hitter streaming targets for Friday, September 29. Let's get to it.  

Agenda

1. The Final Volume
2. Today's Weather and Updates
3. Tomorrow's Picks

 

1. The Final Volume

This is the last Streaming Wars of the 2017 season. Of course, you will have a couple more opportunities to stream before the end of campaign, but you'll have to do it without a safety net. It's been a wild ride, and I hope many of you have found success trawling the waiver wire. I know I have. As befits a final volume, enjoy this sage advice courtesy of occasionally streamable outfielder Odubel Herrera.

Before the game, Odubel Herrera opened a water bottle and stared at me. "Water is life," he said in English.

— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) September 28, 2017

 

2. Today's Weather and Updates

Sound the all clear! No rain in the forecast today or tomorrow.  

3. Tomorrow's Picks - Friday, September 29

Pitchers to Use Well, the good news is that there are a whole bunch of pitchers who could conceivably  have a good game. Some, like Ben Lively and Chris Stratton, have easy matchups against bad lineups and even worse opposing pitchers. Unproven guys like Robert Stephenson, Luiz Gohara, and John Gant are always capable of supplying a surprisingly useful start. They're very risky. Use them only if you're desperate. The same can be said for Joe Biagini. He has good stuff but struggles mightily with runners on base. Plus, a visit to Yankee Stadium isn't a good place to hunt for value. If I had to single out one top pick for tomorrow, it's Kyle Gibson. The Twins righty has been a revelation in the second half of the season. He's tossed six or more innings in each of his last seven starts. Only one of those outings didn't help his fantasy owners. Other Targets: Doug Fister,Martin Perez, Tyler Skaggs   Pitchers to Exploit I've recently discussed all of these guys with the exception of Raul Alcantara. The hard throwing righty relies on a 95 mph fastball. His secondary stuff isn't effective, and he doesn't have command of his fastball. The result is way too many cookies in the strike zone. That's why he has a luck neutral 7.07 ERA through 42 career innings. Other Targets: Matt Harvey, Wade Miley, Raul Alcantara, Chad Bettis, Ian Kennedy, Marco Gonzales, Jordan Lyles   Homers on the Wire Ryon Healy's owners are likely deeply dissatisfied with his season - hence his availability on waivers. However, Healy has hit .315/.346/.531 versus left-handed pitching. A pairing against Perez is rather favorable. Also look to try Matt Chapman, Mark Canha, Marcus Semien, and/or Jed Lowrie. Other Targets: Nick Williams, Freddy Galvis, Aaron Altherr, Dominic Smith, Amed Rosario, Yoan Moncada, Brian Anderson, Austin Hays, Marcus Semien, Mark Canha, Matt Chapman, Jed Lowrie, Ryon Healy, Robbie Grossman, Curtis Granderson, Keon Broxton, C.J. Cron, Mitch Haniger   Steals on the Wire Despite a decent caught stealing rate, the Athletics have been the most targeted team on the base paths. Clearly teams think they can exploit the A's on the bases. Look for Delino DeShields, Carlos Gomez, and Shin-Soo Choo to cause mayhem on the bases - mostly DeShields. Other Targets: Jose Peraza, Michael Taylor, Jose Reyes, Cameron Maybin   Skill Positions Jorge Alfaro's aggressive approach makes for a decent matchup against Harvey. He's batting .304/.343/.461 with the help of a very fortunate .415 BABIP. It should be Kurt Suzuki's turn in Atlanta. He'll face fly ball pitcher Dan Straily.  

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Streaming Wars: Waiver Wire Targets for September 28

Published 3 weeks ago by Brad Johnson - RotoBaller

Welcome to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire. Use this column to improve upon your neediest categories in this, the final week of the season. Below are your pitcher and hitter streaming targets for Thursday, September 28. Let's get to it.  

Agenda

1. Run Rabbit, Run
2. Today's Weather and Updates
3. Tomorrow's Picks

 

1. Run Rabbit, Run

Yesterday, Cameron Maybin scored what the folks at MLB.com are calling a Little League home run - a triple with an overthrow. Later, Maybin badly botched a catchable ball in center field. Delino DeShields coasted into home for an inside the park homer.  

2. Today's Weather and Updates

Keep an eye on Denver today. It looks like they should get the game in, but it could be interrupted a time or two. There is no rain in the forecast tomorrow.  

3. Tomorrow's Picks - Wednesday, September 28

Pitchers to Use We have 10 games on the docket for the final Thin Thursday. None of the pitchers stand out as must-stream assets. However, volume can be found if you're looking to make up an innings deficit. On the basis of talent, Jacob Faria is the top pitcher available. He's visiting Yankee Stadium which mitigates much of his value. Faria has relied on a plus slider and change up to record a 3.33 ERA with 8.82 K/9 and 3.12 BB/9. He's only thrown five innings since mid-August. There's a good chance he tops out at five or fewer frames tomorrow. Don't count on a win. If you happen to need one win but have two spots, try Sal Romano visiting Brent Suter. Both pitchers generally supply solid ratios. The odds are good that one of them will pull down the victory. Suter channels Jamie Moyer while Romano subscribes to gas.com (95 mph). He also has a good, frequently used curve ball. Other Targets: Steven Brault, Miguel Gonzalez   Pitchers to Exploit Bud Norris was just two relief appearances from activating a valuable bonus. Instead, the Angels tossed him into the rotation to close out the season. The erstwhile closer has managed just 5.1 innings in two starts since joining the starting five. He's allowed one run over that span. Tomorrow may be his first and only attempt to reach five innings. Other Targets: Edwin Jackson, Dillon Peters, Dylan Covey, Daniel Norris   Homers on the Wire After missing a game with a bruised shin, Yoan Moncada is back in the two-hole for the White Sox. The touted prospect is having a superb September, including a .324/.387/.588 line over his last 75 plate appearances. He's popped five homers in that span. Moncada is set to face Norris and the Angels bullpen. Other Targets: Neil Walker, Jose Martinez, Stephen Piscotty, Lucas Duda, Logan Morrison, Kevin Kiermaier, Adam Frazier, Derek Dietrich, Jed Lowrie, Marcus Semien, Matt Joyce, Mark Canha, Matt Chapman, Carlos Gomez, C.J. Cron, Luis Valbuena, Jorge Bonifacio   Steals on the Wire Delino DeShields is still below 20 percent ownership on Yahoo. Despite hitting decently in September, he has only one steal in four attempts over his last 89 plate appearances. The Athletics have allowed a high volume of steals. Expect DeShields to make an attempt - assuming he reaches base. Other Targets: Michael Taylor, Brandon Phillips, Tim Anderson, Cameron Maybin   Skill Positions Tyler Flowers is probably in line to start against Peters tomorrow. Before committing, double check to make sure Kurt Suzuki started on Wednesday. Robinson Chirinos remains widely available. He's also in a bit of a slump. Remember, Chirinos isn't used to full time duties.  

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Streaming Wars: Waiver Wire Targets for September 27

Published 3 weeks ago by Brad Johnson - RotoBaller

Welcome to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire. Use this column to improve upon your neediest categories in this, the final week of the season. Below are your pitcher and hitter streaming targets for Wednesday, September 27. Let's get to it.  

Agenda

1. Fish and Flips
2. Today's Weather and Updates
3. Tomorrow's Picks

 

1. Fish and Flips

Don't you wish you could have snagged Mike Trout off waivers? He popped his 30th home run of the season last night. It feels like a pitiful total for baseball's best player - at least in the current run environment. Don't worry, his 181 wRC+ is tops in baseball by 12 points. Oh, I promised flips too, (sort of) courtesy of our old friend Rhys Hoskins. Shades of Bartolo.  

2. Today's Weather and Updates

Yesterday's forecast of rain in Kansas City has been downgraded. It looks like the league will be dry this evening. Make sure you take a peek at Coors Field before contests lock. We should be good for tomorrow too.  

3. Tomorrow's Picks - Wednesday, September 27

Pitchers to Use The good news is that there are a LOT of pitchers you can stream. The bad news is that very few of them figure to be game changing assets. All of the names listed below fits some sort of high volume, low ceiling profile. The exceptions are Marco Estrada, Danny Salazar, Sean Newcomb, and Garrett Richards. You can try Salazar and Richards for strikeouts. Just be prepared for fewer than five innings. If you need a win, try Estrada or Newcomb. Estrada is you best bet for production in all four categories. He's visiting the Red Sox. Newcomb is risky because he's effectively wild. Some days, he's just wild. He'll face the Mets. Other Targets: Erasmo Ramirez, Kendall Graveman, Mark Leiter, Chad Kuhl, Gabriel Ynoa, Reynaldo Lopez, Brandon Woodruff, Jason Hammel, Clayton Richard   Pitchers to Exploit Adam Conley is the latest almost usable hurler to have his start ruined by Coors Field. Prior to a seven-run, 1.2 inning drubbing at the hands of the Diamondbacks, Conley had been on a rather successful run. Alas, he's likely to finish the season with two terrible outings. Other Targets: Nick Martinez, Matt Andriese, Adalberto Mejia, Robert Gsellman, Homer Bailey, Jordan Zimmermann   Homers on the Wire Although Reynaldo Lopez has kept a lid on the home runs thus far (1.30 HR/9), he has the traits of a seriously homer prone pitcher. He struggles to induce strikeouts while striving to also limit walks. The result is a lot of balls in play. And as a fly ball pitcher, it only takes one bad game at Guaranteed Rate Park to catch a case of homeritis. Look for Angels like Albert Pujols, Brandon Phillips, Luis Valbuena, and C.J. Cron. Phillips may even steal a base for you. Other Targets: Jose Pirela, Hunter Renfroe, Enrique Hernandez, Keon Broxton, Hernan Perez, Scott Schebler, Yoan Moncada, Brandon Phillips, Luis Valbuena, C.J. Cron, Ozzie Albies, Austin Jackson, Nick Williams, Aaron Altherr, Lucas Duda, Logan Morrison, Corey Dickerson, Kevin Kiermaier, Jose Martinez, Jed Lowrie, Matt Joyce, Matt Chapman, Mark Canha, Marcus Semien,   Steals on the Wire The top stolen base options are kind of gross. Tim Anderson is opposed by a stingy Angels team. They don't allow many steals. Anderson has been running with frequency. He may not care about the matchup. Reyes has the better pairing versus Newcomb and whoever the Braves use as their catcher. Both Tyler Flowers and Kurt Suzuki skew towards stolen base prone. Newcomb is a wild pitcher, a trait Reyes is likely to exploit. Other Targets: *cough   Skill Positions   Hang on to Austin Barnes for a matchup against Richard tomorrow (not to be confused with Richards). Barnes is a good source of five category production from the catcher position - a rare blend of talents indeed. Also look for Yan Gomes.  

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Week 26 Middle Infield (MI) Waiver Wire Targets

Published 3 weeks ago by Daniel Burdeen - RotoBaller

Championship week is among us! If you have made it this far, you are certainly doing something right. With the final week among us I will be digging deep to find some hot bats to help you out in the final week. 

As I normally mention, when it comes to the back-end of your rosters it is always worth riding guys who are on a hot streak versus a struggling big bat. You are fighting for everything and want all the help you can get. This week’s column will feature five players who are widely available and have been swing a hot bat. Some names to consider that may be available in Yahoo leagues but not mentioned in this column are Tim Anderson (55 percent), Jorge Polanco (51 percent) and Yoan Moncada (58 percent). If any of these players should be available they are the preferred options over the names mentioned below. Digging deep in the final week can be tough, but it's time to find some diamonds in the rough.

What we won’t be changing is the Yahoo ownership cut off to get into this column. Players still need to be available in at least 70 percent of Yahoo leagues to be eligible for this column. Digging deep in the final week can be tough, but it's time to find some diamonds in the rough.

 

Week 26 Middle Infield (MI) Waiver Wire Targets

Jed Lowrie (Oak, 2B): 22% owned 10-12 team leagues Jed Lowrie is a name I have mentioned a few times over the past weeks and he continues to hit the ball. In addition to hitting .337 over the past month he has chipped in with 17 runs and 22 RBI. Not bad for a middle infielder. The Athletics lineup has quietly been hitting well late in the season which only helps Lowrie. Lowrie isn’t a big power hitter but has knocked 14 balls out of the park this year. For a second baseman available in 78% of Yahoo leagues and hitting this well in the most crucial stretch of the season, you can’t do much worse. I would recommend him across the boards in all leagues. With seven games against the weak pitching Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers you should have no hesitation in picking him up.   Cesar Hernandez (Phi, 2B): 25% owned 10-12 team leagues  Cesar Hernandez is another veteran who I have mentioned in the past due to his ability to score plenty of runs with a high average. For the season, the second baseman has hit .296 with 82 runs, eight home runs and 14 stolen bases. Not bad numbers for a guy who missed part of the season on the disabled list. It gets better though for Hernandez, as he has been hitting everything in sight over the past month. Backed by a .317 average, he has 18 runs scored over the past 30 days. Although he does not offer much to be giddy about across the board, his .471 batting average over his last seven games and .389 over the past 14 games should catch your attention. As you know, every stat can impact your matchup and you can never have too many hits or a good average. He is worth firing up as he continues to tear the cover off the bat and score runs. He is my second option on the list and a must-add for those in need of runs, hits or batting average.   Yangervis Solarte (SD, 2B,3B/SS): 17% owned 12-14 team leagues Looking for versatility? Look no further than San Diego Padres infielder Yangervis Solarte. Solarte is one of those players who has solid numbers at the end of the year, but it comes in bunches. Good thing for fantasy owners is that he has chosen the fantasy playoffs to turn his bat on. With a .296 batting average over the past week things are looking up for the utility man. Solarte has driven in four runs including one home run over his past 27 at-bats. Digging this deep it’s hard to find a player who offers positional versatility as well as a player who can help with a handful of categories. He is not a must-add but available in 83% of Yahoo leagues he is worth running with if you need infield help.   Brad Miller (TB, 1B,2B, SS): 29% owned AL-Only leagues, 12-14 team leagues Brad Miller has been one of the bigger disappointments for fantasy owners this season. After hitting 30 home runs last season many owners had high hopes for the Rays infielder. Unfortunately Miller has battled injuries and is having a season he’d like to forget. However, things have taken a turn over the past week for Miller where he hit .313 with five runs, one home run and five RBI. Miller is hard to trust but if you are looking for a cheap source of power, Miller could be your guy. He is not someone I would recommend outside of very deep leagues, but is worth the gamble as he will have three games at Yankee Stadium which is very favorable towards left handed hitters. We sure hope his late season surge will carry over to next season, as does he.   Ryan Goins (Tor, SS): 1% owned AL-Only leagues, 14-16 team leagues Ryan Goins quietly has 59 RBI for the Blue Jays. Not bad for a guy who didn’t open the season as an everyday player. Goins has been under the radar and is available in 99% of Yahoo leagues. The big reason for that is that he does not hit for a high average, just .230 in 400 at-bats. However he is hitting .270 over the past two weeks with two home runs and eight RBI. To be considering Goins you are probably going to have to be in a very deep league or AL-Only deep rostered league. Goins will face the Red Sox and Yankees this week so he does draw some tough assignments. Proceed with caution.  

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