X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Join the Best Live Fantasy Chat Community!

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Week 20 MLB Closers and Saves Report

The dust finally settled after the trade deadline, and teams are starting to set their bullpens and pitching rotations up for the stretch run. Things can still change with waiver claims and post-deadline waiver trades, but any big names that were going to move already have. Brad Hand is settling in nicely in the Cleveland bullpen, Brad Ziegler is having a hard time in Arizona, and Brandon Kintzler hasn't allowed a run as a Cub yet.

In non-deadline news, we saw a fill-in closer get hurt, so now we have a fill-in for the fill-in. We saw a guy who started the season off basically untouchable suddenly unable to get outs. We also saw a few committees start to take on a more predictable shape, but at the same time, some others got even less predictable.

All that and more in this week's Closers and Saves Report, so let's dive into the news, the best performers, and any suggested moves for your fantasy team this week:

Be sure to check all of our preseason fantasy baseball rankings for Roto, Points, H2H, dynasty, best ball, prospects and more:

 

Bullpen News for Week 20

Miami Marlins

Marlins manager Don Mattingly used Kyle Barraclough a lot early this season. Barraclough responded by being almost untouchable, putting up an ERA that hovered below two and eventually usurping veteran Brad Ziegler for the ninth inning. But then, the overuse came back to bite the Marlins, as Barraclough somewhat suddenly became unable to get anyone out. He allowed 12 runs in just over four innings, pushing his ERA up to 3.75. He was removed from the closer's role earlier in the week, and then in his first non-save appearance, he coughed up two runs in an inning. Mattingly has said the Marlins will use a committee approach at closer, but Drew Steckenrider seems to be the most likely candidate to take over before long. Javy Guerra and Adam Conley could get some chances too, but Steckenrider certainly seems like the one to own in Miami.

Washington Nationals

The Nationals had one of the best closers in baseball, Sean Doolittle, holding down the ninth inning in the nation's capital. When Doolittle got hurt, the Nationals turned to veteran Kelvin Herrera, who they'd acquired from Kansas City. Going from one of the best closers to an excellent veteran wasn't a huge drop-off, but then Herrera got hurt too. The Nationals will now turn to another veteran closer, Ryan Madson. Madson has been okay this season if we're being generous. He has a 4.32 ERA to go with a 1.39 WHIP and 39 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings. His experience closing games should help a bit, but it could be a noticeable drop from Doolittle and Herrera.

Houston Astros

The Astros acquired Roberto Osuna from Toronto before the trade deadline, making waves for all the wrong reasons. Still, he's a solid reliever with closing experience, so it was assumed by some that he'd jump right into the ninth inning. Instead, it now seems like Osuna will work in a setup role with Hector Rondon keeping his ninth-inning job. Rondon's leash will be shorter, of course, but it seems like it's still his job to lose.

Cleveland Indians

Cleveland hasn't made an official ninth inning move yet, but since Brad Hand was acquired, he's saved three games while Cody Allen has only saved one. A blown save by Allen this week (even though he ended up with the win) may also continue to tilt things in Hand's favor. For now, it's still a committee, but another week like this one and Hand may claim the closer's role in Cleveland for himself.

New York Mets

The Mets formed a closer committee after trading Jeurys Familia to Oakland, but it looked like Anthony Swarzak was working his way to the top of the group. But then, in true Mets fashion, Swarzak landed on the disabled list. Robert Gsellman is likely at the top of the committee now, but Seth Lugo and perhaps the newly-acquired Bobby Wahl could see some ninth-inning work as well.

Chicago White Sox

The White Sox are employing a true committee in their closer role. This week, they had a slim lead late in the game for three games in a row and brought in a different pitcher to go for the save in all three games. The new name in this committee is Thyago Viera, who has looked strong in the big leagues despite less-than-stellar numbers in his minor league career. He can hit triple digits and seems to have some upside, but until things settle down in the Chicago ninth inning, none of these relievers seem like they need to be rostered.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Kenley Jansen was hospitalized with an irregular heartbeat, and is expected to miss a month. Scott Alexander is expected to fill-in as the Dodgers closer, although the team may go with matchups for some games. Still, Alexander is a strong add in all formats at least until Jansen is able to return. Jansen's fantasy owners can throw him in a DL spot or weight their options on the waiver wire if DL spots aren't available.

Minnesota Twins

The Twins traded closer Fernando Rodney to the Oakland A's, who are stockpiling experienced relievers to improve their already impressive (albeit somewhat surprising) team. Rodney will work in a setup role in Oakland along with Jeurys Familia ahead of Blake Treinen. Back in Minnesota, Addison Reed seems the likely candidate to replace Rodney in the ninth inning.

 

Roster Moves of the Week

Adds

Drew Steckenrider, Miami Marlins- The Marlins knocked Kyle Barraclough into middle relief, giving Drew Steckenrider a chance to serve as the team's closer. For now, it's officially a committee, with Javy Guerra and Adam Conley also likely to get save chances, but "Steck" is the best reliever in the group and should carve out a consistent role before long.

Ryan Madson, Washington Nationals- Madson will be the replacement's replacement, and a noticeable step down from the two previous closers the Nationals have used, but he should still record plenty of saves if given the chance and that always has fantasy value. Madson isn't an immediate must-own throughout fantasy, but he should be a valuable temporary piece in most formats.

Drops

Cody Allen, Cleveland Indians- Allen isn't a guy who needs to be dropped right away, but owners looking at the waiver wire with something in mind could maybe move on from him. With Brad Hand saving three games and Cody Allen blowing one this week, it's looking like a changing of the guard could be happening in Cleveland.

Kyle Barraclough, Miami Marlins- Something is wrong with Kyle Barraclough. The guy who couldn't be hit earlier this season now suddenly can't get outs. He was removed from the closer's role this week and promptly gave up two runs in his first non-save situation. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him end up on the DL for a bit, and he seems unlikely to make it back to the ninth inning this season.

 

Best of the Week

Hector Rondon, Houston Astros- 3 1/3 IP, 6 K, 3 SV, 0.00 ERA, 0.60 WHIP

There was some concern that Hector Rondon would lose his ninth-inning job with the acquisition of Roberto Osuna, but it seems like he'll get to keep his job. Excellent weeks like this one will help: he struck out six and saved three games without allowing a run and giving up just one hit and one walk.

A.J. Minter, Atlanta Braves- 4 IP, 3 K, 3 SV, 2.25 ERA, 1.00 WHIP

Braves closer A.J. Minter had a solid week despite a blown save. He saved three games and added a win while striking out three. He allowed a run on three hits and a walk.

Blake Treinen, Oakland A's- 4 IP, 7 K, 2 SV, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP

A's closer Blake Treinen continued his excellent season with another strong week. He struck out seven batters in four innings, saving two games while giving up three hits and a walk.

 

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Adds




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Nolan Schanuel58 mins ago

Injury Isn't Serious
Isaiah Stewart2 hours ago

Injured Against Boston
Duncan Robinson2 hours ago

Doesn't Return On Monday
Jackson Chourio2 hours ago

Makes Opening Day Roster
Anthony Davis2 hours ago

Cleared To Meet Atlanta
Blake Snell3 hours ago

Heading To The Giants
Onyeka Okongwu3 hours ago

To Return On Monday
Bryce McGowens4 hours ago

Unavailable For Tuesday
Tyus Jones4 hours ago

Won't Play On Tuesday
Deni Avdija4 hours ago

Unavailable For Tuesday
Nick Martinez4 hours ago

To Open The Year In The Rotation
OG Anunoby4 hours ago

Set For Multi-Game Absence
Kyle Kuzma4 hours ago

Uncertain For Tuesday
Luka Doncic4 hours ago

Considered Probable For Tuesday
Matt McLain4 hours ago

Scratched With Shoulder Soreness
Bilal Coulibaly4 hours ago

Ruled Out For Rest Of Season
Kenley Jansen4 hours ago

Scheduled To Make Four More Spring Appearances
Jackson Chourio4 hours ago

"In The Mix" For Roster Spot
Rudy Gobert5 hours ago

Ruled Out For Monday
Scoot Henderson5 hours ago

Returns To Starting Unit Without Restrictions
Matisse Thybulle5 hours ago

Available Again On Monday
Jerami Grant5 hours ago

Remains Sidelined On Monday
Lauri Markkanen5 hours ago

Returns To Action On Monday
Alex Caruso5 hours ago

Ready To Roll Monday
Coby White5 hours ago

Ruled Out For Monday
Kristaps Porzingis5 hours ago

Returns To Celtics Lineup
Jaylen Brown5 hours ago

Ready To Go On Monday
Jayson Tatum5 hours ago

Won't Play Against Detroit
Teuvo Teravainen6 hours ago

Misses Second Straight Game
Joshua Dobbs6 hours ago

49ers Reach Agreement With Joshua Dobbs
TOR6 hours ago

Mitch Marner To Miss At Least Two More Games
Jacob Markstrom6 hours ago

Could Return This Weekend
Rico Dowdle6 hours ago

Staying With Cowboys
Mikhail Sergachev6 hours ago

Skates On Monday
Dustin Wolf6 hours ago

Between The Pipes Monday
New Orleans Saints6 hours ago

Saints Expected To Sign Chase Young
Alexander Mattison6 hours ago

Signing With Raiders
DJ LeMahieu8 hours ago

In Danger Of Missing Opening Day
Buffalo Bills8 hours ago

Taron Johnson Re-Signs With Bills On Three-Year Deal
José Urquidy8 hours ago

Jose Urquidy Has Forearm Strain, Will Begin On Injured List
Justin Verlander8 hours ago

Expected To Face Hitters "In The Next Day Or Two"
Corey Seager8 hours ago

Takes Batting Practice Monday
Aaron Judge8 hours ago

Likely To Play In Four Of Final Six Spring Games
Garrett Crochet8 hours ago

Named Opening Day Starter
Nolan Schanuel8 hours ago

Scratched With Back Tightness
Dallas Cowboys8 hours ago

Leighton Vander Esch Calling It A Career
DJ LeMahieu10 hours ago

Still Pretty Sore
Aaron Judge10 hours ago

To Return On Wednesday
Jhoan Duran10 hours ago

To Begin Season On Injured List
Bryan Battle10 hours ago

Bout Ends in Controversy
Ange Loosa10 hours ago

Fight Ruled A No-Contest After Accidental Eye Poke
Ovince Saint Preux10 hours ago

Wins Split Decision In A Back-And-Forth Fight
Kennedy Nzechukwu11 hours ago

Suffers Split-Decision Loss To Ovince Saint Preux
Gerald Meerschaert11 hours ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Shohei Ohtani11 hours ago

Cleared To Begin Throwing Program
Bryan Barberena11 hours ago

Submitted In The Second Round
Kyle Manzardo11 hours ago

Sent To Minor-League Camp
Jackson Merrill11 hours ago

Wins Center Field Job
Kenley Jansen11 hours ago

Scratched With Lower-Back Tightness
Denny Hamlin12 hours ago

Emerges Victorious For Second Bristol Win In A Row
Alexander Mattison12 hours ago

Visiting With Raiders
Dak Prescott12 hours ago

Cowboys Restructure Dak Prescott's Contract
Dmitry Orlov13 hours ago

Collects Four Points In Big Win
Tyler Toffoli13 hours ago

Dominates Against Columbus With Three Points
Lucas Raymond13 hours ago

Pots Pair Of Goals Versus Penguins
Kaz Grala13 hours ago

Finishes 19th At Bristol Motor Speedway
Bo Horvat14 hours ago

Scores Twice In Losing Effort
Brad Keselowski14 hours ago

Exceeds Value In DFS At Bristol Motor Speedway
Pavel Buchnevich14 hours ago

Delivers Three Assists In Sunday's Win
Ryan Lindgren14 hours ago

Suffers Leg Injury Versus Islanders
Kyle Larson14 hours ago

After 5th at Bristol: "I Hope I Never Have To Run A Race Like That Again"
Chase Elliott14 hours ago

Earns First Top 10 Finish Of 2024
Justin Haley15 hours ago

Earns Best NextGen Short Track Finish for Rick Ware Racing
Ty Gibbs15 hours ago

Has Dominant Day at Bristol but Fades Late
John Hunter Nemechek19 hours ago

Found Speed At Bristol
Chris Buescher20 hours ago

Secures Top 10 At Bristol
Alex Bowman23 hours ago

Late Charge to Fourth Masks Early Race Struggles
Christopher Bell23 hours ago

Ran Well, But His Teammates Were All Better
Martin Truex Jr1 day ago

. Matches Career-Best Finish At Bristol
Ryan Blaney1 day ago

Fades to 16th at Bristol After Handling Struggles
Russell1 day ago

Wilson Still Considered The Starter
William Byron2 days ago

Is One Of The Top DFS Options For Bristol
Ty Gibbs2 days ago

Starts 19th At Bristol After Damage In Practice
Justin Haley2 days ago

Scores A Starting Position Of 32nd For Bristol
Denny Hamlin2 days ago

Should Compete For The Win At Bristol
Brad Keselowski2 days ago

History Indicates Brad Keselowski Being A Favorable Bristol Play
Joey Logano2 days ago

Should Be Rostered With Caution At Bristol
Tyler Reddick2 days ago

Is Tyler Reddick Worth Rostering At Bristol This Week?
Martin Truex Jr2 days ago

. Could Work As A Tournament Play At Bristol
Alexander Nylander2 days ago

Totals Three Points In Saturday's Win
Sebastian Aho2 days ago

Leads Hurricanes To Victory In Toronto
Owen Tippett2 days ago

Delivers Three Assists In High-Scoring Loss
Steven Stamkos2 days ago

Extends Scoring Streak With Four-Point Performance
Nick Schmaltz2 days ago

Records Three Assists In Win Over New Jersey
Artemi Panarin2 days ago

Racks Up Five Points In Saturday's Win
Brady Tkachuk2 days ago

Sinks Islanders With Third Hat Trick
Pannie Kianzad2 days ago

Drops To .500 In The UFC
Macy Chiasson2 days ago

Gets First-Round Submission Win
Isaac Dulgarian2 days ago

Suffers First Career Loss
Christian Rodriguez2 days ago

Overcomes Early Adversity At UFC Vegas 88
Tai Tuivasa2 days ago

Suffers Fourth Straight Loss
Marcin Tybura2 days ago

Gets First-Round Submission
Justin Fields2 days ago

Traded To The Steelers
NHL2 days ago

Lukas Reichel Will Be In The Lineup Sunday
Cale Makar2 days ago

A Game-Time Decision Saturday
Zach Parise2 days ago

Likely To Return Saturday
Michael Gallup2 days ago

Panthers Bringing In Michael Gallup For A Visit
Mike Williams3 days ago

Panthers To Host Mike Williams On A Visit
New York Jets3 days ago

Jets Expected To Sign Tyron Smith
AJ Dillon3 days ago

Officially Re-Signs With Packers
Van Jefferson3 days ago

Steelers Signing Van Jefferson
Jakobi Meyers3 days ago

Raiders Restructure Jakobi Meyers' Contract
Jimmy Garoppolo3 days ago

Rams Agree With Jimmy Garoppolo On One-Year Deal
Gerald Meerschaert3 days ago

To Fight In Main Event Of UFC Vegas 88
Bryan Barberena3 days ago

In Dire Need Of Victory
Kennedy Nzechukwu3 days ago

Looks To Get Back In Win Column
Ovince Saint Preux3 days ago

Set For 27th UFC Appearance
Bryan Battle3 days ago

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Ange Loosa3 days ago

An Underdog At UFC Vegas 88
San Francisco 49ers3 days ago

De'Vondre Campbell Heading To San Francisco
Dallas Cowboys3 days ago

Leighton Vander Esch Being Cut By Cowboys
Michael Gallup3 days ago

Cowboys Releasing Michael Gallup
Kenny Pickett3 days ago

Steelers Sending Kenny Pickett To Eagles
Pannie Kianzad5 days ago

Looking For Redemption At UFC Vegas 88
Macy Chiasson5 days ago

Ends Layoff At UFC Vegas 88
Isaac Dulgarian5 days ago

A Favorite At UFC Vegas 88
Christiaan Bezuidenhout5 days ago

Looking To Put It All Together At TPC Sawgrass
Eric Cole5 days ago

Rebounding Well In The Sunshine State
Brian Harman5 days ago

Playing The Dark-Horse Role Again At The Players
Matt Fitzpatrick5 days ago

Searching For Answers Thus Far In 2024
Sahith Theegala5 days ago

One Of The Tour's Fastest Risers To Start The New Year
Sam Burns5 days ago

Brings A Stellar Run Of Form Into TPC Sawgrass
PGA5 days ago

Sungjae Im Trending Up After Arnold Palmer Success
Jason Day5 days ago

Facing Iron Hiccup Heading To The Players
Tom Hoge6 days ago

Brings Strong Form And History To Sawgrass
Min Woo Lee6 days ago

Ready For Second Trip To Sawgrass
Will Zalatoris6 days ago

Working Toward A Win
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
Russell Wilson - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

NFL Free Agency Tracker - Updates On Every Free Agent Signing (2024)

The legal tampering period for NFL free agency begins on March 11 at noon EST, so news of signings will be flying in all week. Veterans like Russell Wilson and Jonnu Smith were released before their contracts expired, meaning they got a head start on free agency and have already reached agreements with new organizations.... Read More


Rome Odunze - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

Coach Knows Ball: Rome Odunze NFL Draft Film Breakdown of Washington WR

Welcome to Coach Knows Ball, an NFL Draft series analyzing the top prospects in the 2024 class. I'm a college football coach with nine years of NCAA experience and have been scouting NFL Draft prospects for over 15 years. This series will give a deep dive into the film of some of the top players... Read More


Kirk Cousins - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Winners and Losers of 2024 NFL Free Agency (Teams)

Well, strap in, folks, because the first week of 2024 NFL Free Agency was a rollercoaster ride. Some teams made power moves while others seemingly snoozed at the switch. The Houston Texans, for instance, came out swinging, pulling off some of the savviest deals that could very well tilt the scales in their favor this... Read More


George Pickens - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Next Gen Stats Review: 2023 Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

A while back, we covered the Next Gen Stats for running backs, including rushing yards over expected and the percentage of plays with eight or more defenders in the box. Check out the running back review of the Next Gen Stats, as it adds a layer to player analysis. We love the advanced stats for... Read More


Keenan Allen - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Keenan Allen Traded To Bears: Fantasy Football Impact

Star wide receiver Keenan Allen has been one of the more underrated players in the NFL over the past few years. He spent the first 11 years of his career with the Los Angeles Chargers, playing for the franchise since their days in San Diego. However, the team reportedly asked Allen to take a pay... Read More


Marquise Brown - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Marquise Brown Signs With Chiefs: Fantasy Football Impact

Veteran wide receiver Marquise Brown signed a one-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday. Brown hopes to follow JuJu Smith-Schuster’s footprints by playing on a one-year deal with the Chiefs and earning a multi-year big-money contract the following offseason. The former Oklahoma star spent the first three years of his career with the... Read More


Justin Jefferson - Fantasy Football Rankings, DFS Lineup Picks, NFL Injury News

Will The Vikings Trade Justin Jefferson? 2024 NFL Outlook

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is one of the top players in the NFL. The superstar was part of an impressive 2020 NFL Draft class. Yet, he was the fifth wide receiver off the board. Jefferson has been a superstar since his rookie year, making three consecutive Pro Bowl teams and All-Pro rosters to... Read More


Marquise Brown - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Top Free Agency Fits For Marquise Brown – 2024 Free Agent Outlook

Free agent wide receiver Marquise Brown is one of the more explosive players in the NFL. The veteran wide receiver ran a 4.27 40-yard dash at his Pro Day coming out of Oklahoma. He was a first-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2019 NFL Draft. Brown has spent most of his career as... Read More


Nico Collins - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings For 2024 Best Ball Leagues (Tiers 4-9)

We have now entered the process of free agency, which is providing pathways for some wide receivers to seize significant roles in their new landing spots. The player movement that has ensued will also decrease the stock of other receivers whose roles will decrease within their reshaped depth charts. Participation in the best ball draft... Read More


Cade Otton - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Early 2024 Best Ball Tight End Sleepers

Top tight ends such as Sam LaPorta and Travis Kelce are bound to put up quality fantasy football numbers weekly, but most tight ends are unpredictable. The top tier of tight ends are reliable for fantasy football purposes, but most tight ends are boom-or-bust type of players. Even though it is hard to hit on... Read More


D'Andre Swift - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL DFS Lineup Picks

D'Andre Swift Signs With Bears: Fantasy Football Impact

Newly signed Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift has been one of the most promising, but also underperforming running backs across the NFL and the fantasy landscape in recent years. After three injury-riddled seasons in Detroit where he showed flashes of greatness but didn't quite live up to the hype, Swift was traded to the... Read More


J.J. McCarthy - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers

Top 50 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings After the 2024 NFL Combine

With the NFL Combine in our rearview mirror, now is a logical time to put out an up-to-date rankings for this year’s NFL Draft. Below, you will find my top-50 players who have declared for this NFL Draft. Below those ranks, you will also find several fantasy-relevant notes I have on this class, and on... Read More


Calvin Ridley - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Calvin Ridley Signs With Titans: Fantasy Football Impact

The Tennessee Titans made a huge move once NFL free agency officially opened. They signed wide receiver Calvin Ridley to a four-year, $92 million contract with $50 million fully guaranteed. Ridley was the top receiver on the open market. The Titans swooped in out of left field and signed him to give second-year quarterback Will... Read More