RADIO
Louis Varland a Must-Add Arm for Saves
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Louis Varland appears to have fully taken over the closer role for the Blue Jays. Since it was announced by the team on April 21 that they would be moving to Varland as their closer, he has now converted all five of his save opportunities, solidifying himself as the clear favorite after because of a struggling Jeff Hoffman's struggles. Varland has been outstanding this season, regardless of the situation, with a 0.42 ERA and 1.20 WHIP, along with 32 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings. In addition to his five saves, he also has three holds, as he was generally used as a high-leverage arm for the Blue Jays prior to being called upon as the ninth-inning guy. In formats where you prioritize saves, Varland is a must-add, as he has worked his way into being a top-10 closer in baseball, so long as he continues to get the opportunities, which appears to be the case.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
Louis Varland No Longer the Clear Closer in Toronto?
Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Louis Varland came into the eighth inning of his team's 5-3, extra-inning win on Wednesday night. The Jays were trailing the Rays 1-0 at the time, so it wasn't set up for a typical save scenario. He was brought in to face the heart of Tampa Bay's lineup and was able to escape a scoreless inning with two hits and a walk, leaving the bases loaded. Toronto eventually rallied and won, but Varland didn't earn a win, hold, or save. He is still the most likely closer when the team has a lead late, but Wednesday's appearance shows the team will use him in high-leverage spots earlier in the game if the situation calls for it. The strategy could cost him some saves, but he remains the top option in Toronto's bullpen at this point and is worth holding in most standard-sized leagues.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
