RADIO
Last week I looked at the top five non-closer NL relief pitcher options. Today we take a look at the top AL relief pitchers currently not occupying closer roles.
Top Five Non-Closing AL Relievers
Wade Davis - RHP, Kansas City Royals
If we are talking about American League bullpens, you have to start the conversation with the Royals' electric HDH trio of Greg Holland, Wade Davis and Kelvin Herrera. After failing as a starter in 2013, the Royals moved Davis to the bullpen for good last season. He turned in a truly historic campaign as the team's primary setup man. The right-hander went 9-2 with a microscopic 1.00 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in 72 innings last year while walking 23 and striking out 109 batters. Opponents hit just .151 against him, and he gave up only eight runs all season.
What makes Davis so dominant? In a compressed one inning stint, he’s nearly impossible to hit. He is able to air out his fastball, averaging 96 mph last season, while complimenting it with a filthy curve and a nasty cutter. He may never get a chance to close with Holland around, but he’s the best non-closer in baseball without question. He's capable of providing a boost in both wins and strikeouts, while posting a truly elite ERA and WHIP. If you’re punting saves entirely, Davis should be your top relief pitcher target for 2015.
Zach Duke - LHP, Chicago White Sox
Zach Duke changed his arm slot to a sidearm delivery and increased his use of breaking pitches. It resulted in the best statistical season of his career, going 5-1 with a 2.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP with 74 strikeouts and just 17 walks in 58.2 innings of work with the Brewers. The White Sox savvy front office snatched up the 31-year-old as a free agent this offseason with a three-year, $15 million deal in November.
The Sox bullpen was atrocious last season. The addition of closer David Robertson along with Duke should turn things around in a big way. A journeyman who has pitched for six different organizations since 2010, Duke’s revamped delivery may have saved his career. He nearly doubled his strikeout rate last season, jumping all the way up to 11.35 K/9. Barring a regression in strikeouts, Duke should be one of the most valuable non-closers in the junior circuit this season. Most fantasy owners will gladly let you have him without a fight.
Tyler Clippard - RHP, Oakland Athletics
Any discussion about the best non-closing relievers in baseball regardless of role has to start with Clippard, who has established himself as one of the premier setup men in baseball over the past six seasons with the Washington Nationals. After an offseason trade to Oakland, Clippard will step in as the A’s closer in April while Sean Doolittle is sidelined.
Relief pitchers are among the most volatile commodities in baseball, which is why Clippard is the exception and not the rule when it comes to these types of guys. In each of the past five seasons, Clippard has struck out over a batter per inning while working at least 70 innings. He posted a sub-3.00 ERA in three of the past four campaigns. An extreme flyball pitcher, Clippard should have no problem meshing with the spacious confines of O.co Coliseum.
Brad Boxberger - RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
With Jake McGee on the shelf to open up the 2015 campaign, Brad Boxberger is the logical candidate to open as Tampa Bay’s closer. It’s hard to ignore what Boxberger did last season, posting an absurd strikeout rate (14.47 K/9) while cutting his walk rate in half (2.78 BB/9) from the previous season in San Diego.
The 26-year-old did have a propensity to serve up the occasional gopher ball (18.8 HR/FB rate last season), which could come back to haunt him if his strikeout rate declines and he starts issuing free passes again. There is a lot to like with Boxberger, but fantasy owners should remain cognizant of the potential downside. McGee should take over the closer job when he’s healthy, leaving Boxberger as one of the top non-closers in baseball.
Andrew Miller - LHP, New York Yankees
Assuming Dellin Betances wins the Yankee’s closer battle in spring training, Andrew Miller instantly becomes the top non-closing, left-handed reliever on the planet. The Pinstripes inked the southpaw to a $36 million deal with the expectation that he will repeat the staggering numbers he put up last season with Boston and Baltimore.
Miller posted a 2.02 ERA with a 0.80 WHIP in 62.1 innings of work while striking out 103 batters (14.87 K/9) and handing out only 17 free passes (2.45 BB/9). If Betances gets in trouble early in the season, the Yankees will have no problem turning the job over to Miller, which makes him one of the most attractive speculative save pickups for fantasy owners. Even if he’s not closing, he’s one of the best relievers in the game.
Don’t Sleep On
Luke Hochevar - RHP, Kansas City Royals
Fantasy owners may have forgotten about the first overall selection from the 2006 MLB Draft after he missed all of last season due to Tommy John surgery. Luke Hochevar washed out as a starter and turned into a dominant reliever during the 2013 campaign when he put up a 1.92 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 82 strikeouts over 70.1 innings.
After re-signing with Kansas City this offseason, a healthy Hochevar has the potential to give the Royals another dynamic, late-inning reliever. Fantasy owners in deep leagues should take a flier on Hochevar.
