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Is Garrett Whitlock a Must-Stash Closer?
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Garrett Whitlock continues to be very effective for the Red Sox, but his future role has been clouded a little bit by his team's recent success. Before the Red Sox won nine straight games heading into the All-Star break, it seemed inevitable that Whitlock or his fellow reliever Aroldis Chapman would be traded at the deadline, with the Red Sox well out of the playoff race. Now that Boston is back in the battle for a Wild Card spot, there's a greater chance the team holds both relievers through the deadline, which would likely keep Whitlock in a setup role. The 30-year-old has been very effective in his 34 games, posting a 2.18 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in his 33 games with 37 strikeouts and two saves. He has huge potential if he steps in as the closer for the Red Sox or another team, depending on where all the pieces land at the trade deadline. If you can stash Whitlock in deep leagues, he still has an elite ceiling down the stretch if he becomes a full-time closer. Since it now seems less certain that he gets that chance, though, he can be left on the waiver wire in standard-sized leagues until the situation becomes clearer as we near the August 3 MLB Trade Deadline.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rookie Left-Hander Eduardo Rivera Called Up by Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox recalled left-handed pitching prospect Eduardo Rivera from Triple-A Worcester to start Saturday's game versus the New York Mets, according to MLB insider Hector Gomez. The 23-year-old southpaw could cover multiple innings as the opener in Queens on Saturday, but he should not be considered a viable fantasy streamer. Per MLB Pipeline, Rivera is considered Boston's No. 25 prospect. The former 11th-round pick by the Athletics in 2021 made his big-league debut in Boston back on April 22 against the New York Yankees and threw 3 1/3 shutout innings with one hit allowed, three strikeouts, and no walks. At Double-A Portland and Worcester on the farm, Rivera has gone 7-2 with a 2.44 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 62:24 K:BB in 48 innings across 22 appearances (four starts). He could go deeper than most traditional openers on Saturday, but even against the last-place Mets, Rivera should be avoided for fantasy purposes. There's also a good chance he'll be sent back to Worcester after the game, so fantasy managers shouldn't be looking to pick him up.
Source: Hector Gomez
Source: Hector Gomez
Garrett Whitlock a Top Reliever Stash to Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 29 innings (30 games) so far in 2026, Boston Red Sox right-hander Garrett Whitlock has recorded a 4-1 record with a 2.48 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 34 strikeouts, and one save. To this point, Boston has largely utilized Whitlock in a setup role in front of veteran closer Aroldis Chapman. However, Chapman has allowed six earned runs over his last seven appearances (six innings), which could open the door for Whitlock to see more save opportunities. Boston could also look to move Chapman at the upcoming trade deadline. Even if Whitlock remains limited to his current role, he could carry some value in deeper fantasy leagues. The 30-year-old owns a sterling 24.6% K-BB rate, and his frequent high-leverage usage puts him in position to rack up more wins than the typical reliever. Fantasy managers looking for relief upside on the waiver wire may want to prioritize Whitlock.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Garrett Whitlock Earns his First Save of the Season, is he a Top Stash for Saves?
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Garrett Whitlock could be a great source of saves, depending on where all the pieces land at the MLB trade deadline in a few weeks, and he delivered his first save of the season on Monday night in Boston as the Red Sox won their fifth straight game. Whitlock had two strikeouts and gave up one hit while he was filling in the closer role for Aroldis Chapman, who had pitched in three of the last four games, throwing at least 20 pitches in each appearance. Chapman is still an elite closer and will keep the job in Boston if he stays there, but if he's moved at the deadline, Whitlock could become Boston's primary closer. If you're in a deep league and looking to get ahead of the possible reshuffle, Whitlock is a solid stash for saves since he has a 2.60 ERA, 2.85 FIP, and 32 strikeouts in his 27 2/3 innings this season.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Is Garrett Whitlock a Top Stash Target for Saves?
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Garrett Whitlock is definitely an important name to watch as we approach what should be a very active trade deadline for Boston. The 30-year-old has been extremely effective in a setup role in front of Aroldis Chapman this season for the struggling Red Sox, allowing just eight earned runs and racking up 29 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings in his 25 games. Chapman is clearly Boston's best closer, but he could be on the move at the deadline, opening a chance for Whitlock to be the team's closer down the stretch. Whitlock himself could also be traded, and if he lands in a different place as the closer, he could have elite closer value there as well. With so many unknown factors, stashing Whitlock in deep leagues makes sense based on his elite closer upside if he lands in a primary closer role with the Red Sox or a different team. If you're trying to get ahead of the roster shuffle and project potential saves at the end of the season, Whitlock is a great speculative pickup.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is Garrett Whitlock a Top Reliever to Stash for Saves?
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Garrett Whitlock has been very effective in a setup role this season for the struggling Red Sox, allowing just seven earned runs while racking up 27 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings in his 22 appearances. He missed 15 days with left knee inflammation but returned last week and looked solid in two scoreless innings since coming back. Right now, he's clearly behind Aroldis Chapman in Boston's bullpen, and Chapman has been outstanding with 14 saves in 21 games. Chapman has been so good, though, that he's likely to be a hot commodity at the MLB Trade Deadline. If the Sox trade Chapman and keep Whitlock, Whitlock would quickly be an elite closer. Whitlock could also be on the trading block, though, leaving many unknown factors. If he ends up as the primary closer with the Red Sox or another team, he has the potential to be a great source of saves. If you're in a deep league where you have to move early, stashing him now could be a strategy that pays off down the stretch.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Garrett Whitlock Likely to be Activated on Tuesday
Boston Red Sox right-handed reliever Garrett Whitlock (knee) is likely to be activated from the 15-day injured list for the middle game of a three-game series at Tropicana Field against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, June 9, following a successful minor-league rehab outing for Triple-A Worcester on Saturday, per MLB.com. Whitlock is close to returning from inflammation in his left knee that landed him on the IL on May 28. While he has zero saves on the season and is more of a late-inning setup man, he's still one of the BoSox's most valuable relief pitchers. He struck out a batter and gave up a hit and two walks in a scoreless appearance on Saturday for Worcester. Whitlock's knee injury was never considered very serious, so he will be ready to go on Tuesday to provide more depth in Boston's bullpen. The 29-year-old former 18th-round pick by the New York Yankees out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham has gone 3-1 this year with a 3.20 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 25 strikeouts in his 19 2/3 innings of work. Whitlock is rostered in only 14% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Garrett Whitlock Making Rehab Appearance on Saturday
Boston Red Sox right-handed reliever Garrett Whitlock (knee) will make a minor-league rehab appearance for Triple-A Worcester on Saturday, interim manager Chad Tracy told Tim Healy of Newsday. It is currently to be determined if Whitlock will only need one rehab outing or if he'll have to make one more before he comes off the 15-day injured list. The 29-year-old landed on the IL in late May with inflammation in his left knee that stemmed from when he slipped on a wet mound. The Red Sox aren't very concerned about the injury, so barring a setback on Saturday, Whitlock could rejoin the back end of the bullpen by the end of the weekend. Whitlock is only rostered in 14% of Yahoo leagues because he's not in line for saves in Boston behind left-handed closer Aroldis Chapman, but he is still one of the team's best relievers. Before his knee injury, Whitlock went 3-1 with a 3.20 ERA (2.81 FIP) and 1.12 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and only six walks in his 19 2/3 innings of relief.
Source: Newsday - Tim Healey
Source: Newsday - Tim Healey
Garrett Whitlock Feels "Really Good" After Throwing Side Session
Boston Red Sox right-handed reliever Garrett Whitlock (knee) said he "felt really good" after throwing a side session on Tuesday, according to Gabrielle Star of the Boston Herald. Whitlock slipped on a wet mound over a week ago and then landed on the 15-day injured list on May 28 with inflammation in his knee. The 29-year-old's injury isn't believed to be all that serious, so he could be ready to return on the first day he's eligible to come off the IL without going on a minor-league rehab assignment. Whitlock has zero saves (10 in his six-year career) and is merely a late-inning setup man for the BoSox, which limits his fantasy baseball appeal to deeper leagues when he's healthy. Before injuring his knee, the former 18th-round pick by the New York Yankees in 2017 out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham was 3-1 with a 3.20 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 25:6 K:BB in 19 2/3 innings pitched out of the bullpen. Outside of holds leagues, Whitlock isn't very attractive to fantasy managers. He's rostered in just 14% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
Red Sox Put Garrett Whitlock on Injured List With Knee Inflammation
The Boston Red Sox placed right-handed reliever Garrett Whitlock (knee) on the 15-day injured list on Thursday (retroactive to May 25) with left-knee inflammation, according to Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald. In a corresponding move, the BoSox recalled left-hander Tyler Samaniego from Triple-A Worcester. Whitlock initially injured his left knee when he slipped on a wet mound in Sunday's game against the Minnesota Twins. He has been unavailable the last few days as a result, and now he'll miss another two weeks at the very least. The 29-year-old late-inning setup man doesn't have much fantasy value without a clear path to saves in Boston, which is why he's rostered in fewer than 20% of Yahoo leagues. Still, he's a valuable bullpen piece for the Red Sox and has gone 3-1 this year with a 3.20 ERA (2.76 FIP) and 1.12 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and only six walks in 19 2/3 relief innings pitched.
Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
Source: Boston Herald - Gabrielle Starr
Garrett Whitlock Unavailable Due to Sore Knee
Boston Red Sox right-handed reliever Garrett Whitlock (knee) is dealing with a sore left knee, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. Whitlock slipped on the mound on Sunday against the Minnesota Twins in the bad weather. An MRI exam came back clean, and he won't go on the injured list for now, but the Red Sox are trying to stay away from him for a couple of days. The 29-year-old former 18th-round pick by the New York Yankees in 2017 out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham has registered a 3-1 record, 3.20 ERA (2.77 FIP), 1.12 WHIP, 25:6 K:BB, and nine holds in 19 2/3 innings out of the bullpen for Boston in 2026 in his sixth year with the organization as a setup man. Whitlock has only 10 saves in his career and none this year, making him only attractive in leagues that reward points for holds. He's currently rostered in only 19% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Jen McCaffrey
Source: The Athletic - Jen McCaffrey
Aroldis Chapman Continues Incredible Campaign, Worth Viewing as the RP1?
Boston Red Sox left-handed closer Aroldis Chapman has not looked his age (38) at all in 2026 in his second year with the team. The veteran southpaw threw a scoreless inning with one hit allowed and one strikeout to close out the Kansas City Royals in a 4-3 victory, and he now has 12 saves, a minuscule 0.51 ERA (1.86 FIP) and 0.85 WHIP with 23 strikeouts and seven walks in 17 2/3 innings of relief in his 17th year in the big leagues. Surprisingly, Chapman has been one of the best relievers in baseball so far through the quarter mark of the 2026 season, and he's currently on a scoreless streak of 13 2/3 innings, a span in which he has allowed six hits, walked six, struck out 20, and recorded 10 saves for the BoSox. He currently ranks fifth in the majors with his 12 saves, but how much longer can he continue to outduel Father Time? With an xwOBA in the 68th percentile and a hard-hit rate in the 10th percentile, regression will most certainly come for the Cuban hurler eventually. His expected ERA also sits at 3.09 despite being in the 96th percentile in strikeout rate. Chapman still has enough swing-and-miss stuff to be a strong closing option for fantasy managers, but he's also a clear sell-high candidate.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
