Fantasy Baseball Closer Battles Entering The 2024 MLB Season

The long wait is over and Major League Baseball’s opening weekend is finally here! Rosters have been whittled down but some positional battles are still being worked out. Several teams’ bullpen roles, in particular, are still up in the air. A handful of teams are entering the season employing the closer-by-committee approach to finishing games.... Read More

Fantasy Baseball Injury News and Updates: Gerrit Cole, Jordan Romano, Matt McLain, Royce Lewis, Kodai Senga and more...

Opening Day of the 2024 Major League Baseball season has just passed us. Draft season is basically over and our fantasy teams are ready to go. Or are they? Injuries kept us on our toes for most of the draft season. Especially hit hard were the pitchers, both starters and relievers. We had to pivot... Read More

Fantasy Baseball Closers and Saves Waiver Wire Report for Week 1

We've made it, folks! The offseason is behind us, the Seoul Series already happened, and Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues are both just memories. It's opening weekend 2024 and...there is already so much going on in the league's bullpens. We had a few Opening Day surprises regarding how managers chose to deploy some of their bullpen... Read More

Pitchers Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 1 - Fantasy Baseball After The Draft

Most fantasy baseball drafts are complete, which means it is time for RotoBallers to loosen those waiver-wire muscles. This is my opportunity to provide one last preseason chance for pitching options at both starter and reliever that may have slipped through the cracks. For our purposes, we'll examine players with fantasy potential rostered in roughly... Read More

Who is the Twins Closer? Fantasy Baseball Saves Outlook

The Minnesota Twins have one of the best closers in the game in Jhoan Duran. Duran made his MLB debut in 2022, where he finished with a 1.86 ERA and eight saves across 57 appearances. Then, last year, he totaled a career-high 27 saves with a 2.45 ERA in 62.1 innings pitched. However, the Twins... Read More

Who is the Diamondbacks Closer? Fantasy Baseball Saves Outlook

The Arizona Diamondbacks landed a closer at the trade deadline last season in Paul Sewald. Sewald was a solid option in the later innings for Arizona, as he totaled 13 saves across 20 games with a 3.57 ERA. In total, the right-hander finished with a career-high 34 saves in 2023. However, Sewald will not start... Read More

Orion Kerkering Expected To Return In Early April

Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Orion Kerkering (forearm) pitched on Thursday in Florida, touching 98 mph with his fastball. Kerkering's strained right forearm is healed now, but he is rebuilding arm strength after missing weeks of spring training because of an illness. Expected to be activated as soon as he's eligible on April 9, the 22-year-old... Read More

William Smith - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 56% of Leagues ANALYSIS: William Smith signed a one-year, $five million contract with the Kansas City Royals this offseason, where he began his career in 2012. The 34-year-old racked up 22 saves while posting a 4.40 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 55:17 K: BB across 57 1/3 innings... Read More

Jose Alvarado Hit Around On Friday

Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jose Alvarado put together a horrendous outing during Friday's season opener versus the Atlanta Braves. The left-hander was smacked around for five runs on three hits and a pair of walks in just 2/3 of an inning. This sucks to see for Phillies fans after starter Zack Wheeler threw six shutout... Read More

Abner Uribe - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 38% of Leagues ANALYSIS: It was Abner Uribe, not Joel Payamps or Trevor Megill, who pitched the ninth inning on Friday for the Brewers' first game of the season at Citi Field against the Mets. Uribe picked up the save for the Brew Crew, retiring all three... Read More

Hunter Harvey - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 68% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Washington Nationals right-hander Hunter Harvey was lights out this spring. The 29-year-old posted a 2.16 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and a 15:2 K: BB across 8 1/3 innings. He has been primarily used in a high-leverage role for the Nationals, setting career highs across the... Read More

Abner Uribe Locks Down First Save Chance For Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Abner Uribe locked down the team's first save chance in the 3-1 Opening Day win over the New York Mets on Friday. There was a bit of a question as to who would see most of the save opportunities for the Brew Crew with regular closer Devin Williams (back) out for three... Read More

Dodgers Sign Drew Pomeranz To Minor-League Deal

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed free-agent left-hander Drew Pomeranz to a minor-league deal on Friday, and he's set to be assigned to Triple-A Oklahoma City. The nine-year major-league veteran reliever has been beleaguered by injuries the last two years. Pomeranz was with the Los Angeles Angels in spring training but was recently released. The 35-year-old... Read More

Daniel Bard Begins Season On Injured List

The Colorado Rockies placed right-hander Daniel Bard (knee) on the 15-day injured list on Thursday after he missed all of spring training following a cleanup procedure on his left knee in the middle of February. In addition to his knee ailment, the 38-year-old veteran has received platelet-rich plasma injections in his right forearm in the... Read More

A.J. Puk Looking To Begin Starting Career On Right Note Friday

Miami Marlins left-hander A.J. Puk will look to begin his new career as a starter on the right note when he takes on the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night. Vast injuries to the Miami rotation opened the door for Puk to at least begin the season as a starter and he took major advantage... Read More

Sam Moll Sent To Triple-A For Rehab Assignment

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Sam Moll (shoulder) was sent on a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Friday. Manager David Bell said that Moll is building his arm back up after being delayed in spring training with a left-shoulder impingement. He was able to pitch in a few Cactus League games as well as the... Read More

Ryan Pressly Hit With Loss On Opening Day

Houston Astros right-handed reliever Ryan Pressly picked up the loss in Thursday's 5-4 Opening Day defeat to the visiting New York Yankees. He entered in the seventh frame in a 4-4 tie and allowed an earned run on two hits (a leadoff double to Aaron Judge) while walking one and striking out one. The 35-year-old... Read More

Angels Sign Amir Garrett To Minor-League Deal

The Los Angeles Angeles signed free-agent left-hander Amir Garrett to a minor-league deal on Wednesday. Garrett was with the San Francisco Giants during spring training but was cut. The 31-year-old veteran southpaw reliever will now land with the Angels and will hope to eventually be called up to the big leagues. The former 22nd-round pick... Read More

Robert Suarez Picks Up Second Save

San Diego Padres relief pitcher Robert Suarez notched his second save of the season in a 6-4 win over the San Francisco Giants. Suarez did allow a two-out homer to Michael Conforto, but got the job done nonetheless. It appears as though Suarez will get the bulk of the save opportunities for the Padres, at... Read More

Fantasy Baseball Injury Reports for Pitchers - Updates for Justin Steele, Gerrit Cole, David Bednar, Jordan Romano, Eduardo Rodriguez, Max Scherzer, Walker Buehler, and more

The MLB season is still new, yet there are several key hurlers on the injury report heading into Friday's slate of games. We have the latest updates on stud pitchers around the league. Let's take a look at injured pitchers Justin Steele, Gerrit Cole, David Bednar, Jordan Romano, Eduardo Rodriguez, Max Scherzer, Walker Buehler, and... Read More

Kenley Jansen Records First Save

Boston Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen recorded his first save of the season in Thursday's victory against the Seattle Mariners. The veteran allowed a walk, but also recorded a pair of strikeouts. Despite dealing with back issues this spring, Jansen was ready and looked good to go on Opening Day. Even at age 36, Jansen... Read More

Yuki Matsui - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 39% of Leagues ANALYSIS: While Yuki Matsui is not the Padres closer as of now, the 28-year-old reliever has the pedigree to take over the job at some point this season. The lefty had 236 career saves in the JPPL, and just last season had a... Read More

Justin Lawrence - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team and NL Only Leagues ROSTERED IN: 9% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Rockies reliever Justin Lawrence features a sinker and a sweeper that he uses 51.3% and 48.2% of the time, respectively. The fastball averaged 95.4 mph in 2023 but can touch triple digits at times, while the sweeper is nasty... Read More

Yimi Garcia - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 23% of Leagues ANALYSIS: With closer Jordan Romano and fellow reliever Erik Swanson starting the season on the 15-day IL, Yimi Garcia could be in line for a handful of save opportunities for the Blue Jays early on. The 33-year-old saved three games for the Jays last... Read More

Jason Foley - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 9% of Leagues ANALYSIS: On Opening Day, the Detroit Tigers called on right-hander Jason Foley for the team's first save opportunity of the season. Andrew Chafin tossed a scoreless eighth inning and retired one batter in the ninth before being replaced by Foley. The 28-year-old struck... Read More

Jose Hernandez Surprises With Opening Day Save

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Jose Hernandez collected a surprising Opening Day save in Thursday's 6-5 extra-inning win over the Miami Marlins, throwing a clean 12th inning to slam the door in extras. Just recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis earlier in the day, Hernandez tallied his first career save in this one. With David Bednar (lat) unavailable... Read More

Griffin Jax Closes Out Royals Thursday

Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Griffin Jax secured an Opening Day save in Thursday's 4-1 victory over the division-rival Kansas City Royals, firing a hitless ninth inning to close out the win. Filling in for the injured Jhoan Duran (oblique), Jax did make things somewhat interesting by walking Bobby Witt Jr. before facing the heart of... Read More

Griffin Jax - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 57% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The Minnesota Twins placed star closer Jhoan Duran (oblique) on the 15-day injured list with a moderate right oblique strain. The 26-year-old is expected to be out for more than 15-day minimum and likely miss most of April. With Duran sidelined, the... Read More

Clay Holmes Hangs On For First Save

New York Yankees closer Clay Holmes hung on for an Opening Day save in Thursday's 5-4 come-from-behind win over the Houston Astros, allowing three hits in the ninth inning. It certainly wasn't easy, as Holmes gave up a leadoff knock to Mauricio Dubon before Yordan Alvarez reached on an infield single. Kyle Tucker then lined... Read More

Garrett Crochet Fans Eight In Tough-Luck Loss

Chicago White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet fared well in his first major-league start on Thursday, launching six innings of one-run ball on six hits with eight strikeouts, but he took a tough-luck loss in the 1-0 Opening Day defeat to the Detroit Tigers. Crochet didn't allow a single walk, but Andy Ibanez delivered the deciding... Read More