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Week 26 MLB Closers and Saves Report

Congrats on (probably) making it through the first week or two of the playoffs! I got knocked out in the first round because almost all of my hitters decided to pretty much take a week off from being on base. My closers did great though, so I'm still qualified to create this week's Closers and Saves Report, I guess don't bother asking me about hitters though (unless you want to know how to get your hitters to combine for a .162 batting average and one home run throughout a whole week!)

Aroldis Chapman is back, things are moving around in the White Sox bullpen, and Cleveland is trying new things as well. With expanded rosters and many teams well out of the playoff picture, managers will experiment throughout the last couple of weeks of the season. That makes for some challenges when setting up a fantasy playoff pitching staff. The Phillies, of course, had all 40 players on their 40-man roster active this week, creating some overcrowding issues in the dugout and bullpen.

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 fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Bullpen News for Week 26

New York Yankees

The Yankees finally got their closer back, as Aroldis Chapman was able to rejoin the bullpen this week. He'd been out since August 21 dealing with tendinitis in his left knee. He'll be eased back into things, but the Yankees will surely want him closing out games before the playoffs start, just to get him back into the swing of things. Always an excellent provider of ratios, Chapman should be fantasy-active right away even if he's not getting save situations immediately.

Chicago Cubs

Brandon Morrow reinvented himself as a relief pitcher and quickly became one of the stronger closers in baseball. Then, Brandon Morrow went back to his old ways of spending way too much time on the disabled list. The Cubs closer is out for the season due to a bone bruise. The reliever who took over for Morrow? Pedro Strop. He's also on the DL, in his case it's a hamstring injury. So the Cubs, in an attempt to win the NL Central and go deep in the playoffs, will be using a committee approach to the ninth inning. Their ninth will be led by Steve Cishek, but Brandon Kintzler, Carl Edwards Jr., and Justin Wilson will likely get chances as well.

Miami Marlins

The Marlins have seen the rise and fall of two young, exciting closers this season. Kyle Barraclough was legitimately elite in the first half but has become worse than a batting practice pitcher in the second half. Behind him, Drew Steckenrider showed flashes of elite work in the first half, but now has also become way too easy to hit. In steps Adam Conley, who earned his third save of the season this week. Conley was a promising young starter a few years ago but then fell apart and couldn't get anyone out. He's worked his way into a bullpen role and has mostly looked strong this season. He's had some "blow up" outings where he's allowed handfuls of runs while getting just an out or two, but he's had plenty of scoreless outings as well. His overall inconsistency and propensity for those "blow up" appearances make him hard to trust on a fantasy roster, but he's still someone to keep an eye on going into next season.

Los Angeles Angels

Ty Buttrey, featured in last week's "Adds" section, has now earned the last three saves by an Angels pitcher. It's too soon to call him the closer there, but he's certainly at the top of the committee, at least. Blake Parker has been pitching well, but he's been working in a setup role ahead of Buttrey. For any fantasy players in the playoffs looking for a boost in saves, check for Buttrey on the wire.

 

Roster Moves of the Week

Adds

Ty Buttrey, Los Angeles Angels - Buttrey was on last week's "Adds" list as more of a speculative add, but now that he's earned the last three saves for the Angels, he's reaching must-add status, especially this deep into the season.

Drops

No immediate drops this week, but if you own Blake Parker and see Ty Buttrey on the wire, make the swap.

 

Best of the Week

Ken Giles, Toronto Blue Jays - 3 1/3 IP, 4 K, 3 SV, 0.00 ERA, 0.30 WHIP

Blue Jays closer Ken Giles has had an interesting season. In "high leverage" situations, he allows a .648 OPS to opposing hitters. In "low leverage" that jumps up to .920. Basically, Giles needs the pressure to pitch well. He had it this week, and he did, saving three games while striking out four and allowing just one hit.

Will Smith, San Francisco Giants - 3 IP, 3 K, 3 SV, 0.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP

Giants closer Will Smith hadn't even sniffed a save in a while since the Giants hadn't won a game in September until this week. He made the most of their renewed confidence though, saving three games in three tries while allowing just two hits and striking out three.

Ty Buttrey, Los Angeles Angels - 3 2/3 IP, 8 K, 2 SV, 0.00 ERA, 0.82 WHIP

New committee head Ty Buttrey had a strong week, saving two of the three games he appeared in while striking out eight and allowing just two hits and a walk. He's seemingly jumped over Blake Parker in the Angels bullpen hierarchy.

 

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Streamers




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
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Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
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24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Chase Elliott

Under Playoff Pressure After 17th-Place Darlington Finish
Kyle Larson

Despite Hendrick Mediocrity, Kyle Larson Remains Pretty Safe in Playoffs
Alex Bowman

Opening Lap Crash and Botched Pit Stop Might've Sunk Alex Bowman's Playoff Hopes
Erik Jones

Darlington Master Erik Jones Comes Up Short, but Still Finishes Third
AJ Allmendinger

Highest-Finishing Chevy Driver on an Unrestricted Oval for the First Time Since 2016
Dameon Pierce

Ahead of Schedule, Ready for Season
Jordan Love

May Wear Thumb Brace During Season
Chicago Bears

Bears HC Admits Offense Could Face Learning Curve
Matt Chapman

Leaves Early on Sunday, Expects to Play Monday
A.J. Brown

Says He'll Be Active For Season Opener
Luis Garcia

to Make Season Debut on Monday
Max Scherzer

Exits Due to Back Tightness
Taylor Ward

Exits Early After Collison
Braelon Allen

Says He Has a Lot Left to Prove
Sal Stewart

Reds Promoting Sal Stewart to Majors
Daniel Suarez

is A DFS Risk for Darlington Lineups?
Randy Rodríguez

Randy Rodriguez to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Noah Gragson

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Noah Gragson for Darlington?
Ty Dillon

is an Excellent Punt Option for Darlington DFS Lineups
Bogdan Bogdanović

Bogdan Bogdanovic to Miss the Rest of EuroBasket
Denny Hamlin

Picking Up Where He Left Off At Darlington
Kyle Larson

The Sky Is The Limit for Kyle Larson at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

a Strong DFS Play at Darlington This Weekend
Tyler Reddick

Shouldn't Be Overlooked at Darlington This Weekend
Alex Bowman

An Easy Place-Differential Play in DFS This Weekend
Ty Gibbs

Could Be Strong at Darlington This Weekend
Erik Jones

Has Best Darlington Qualifying Effort Since Last Win
Zane Smith

Hopeful For Another Solid Run At Darlington
AJ Allmendinger

Still Seeking First Top-10 Finish at Darlington
Chase Elliott

Likely Won't Factor for the Win at Darlington
Joey Logano

Might Focus More on Playoff Races
Chris Buescher

Missing Playoffs Allows Chris Buescher to Potentially Go All Out at Darlington
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Qualifies Too Well for DFS Consideration
Aroldis Chapman

Agrees to Contract Extension
Juan Soto

Homers Twice in Loss
Nick Kurtz

Avoids Serious Injury
MacKenzie Gore

Placed on 15-Day Injured List
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Reaches 25-Homer, 25-Steal Milestone
Chris Sale

Activated on Saturday
Dansby Swanson

Homers Twice, Drives in Six in Win
Nick Kurtz

Leaves Game With Oblique Soreness
Joe Burrow

Bengals Feel Joe Burrow Just had "the Best Training Camp of his Career"
Randy Rodríguez

Tommy John Surgery Recommended for Randy Rodriguez
Corey Seager

Placed on Injured List
Jackson Chourio

to Return From Injured List on Saturday
Jordan Lawlar

Diamondbacks Set to Promote Jordan Lawlar
Dallas Mavericks

Olivier-Maxence Prosper Waived by the Mavs
Lauri Markkanen

Dominant in Win Over Great Britain
Xander Bogaerts

Suffers Foot Fracture, Set to Hit Injured List
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Leads Serbia to a Win
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Shines Versus Portugal
De'Von Achane

Should be Ready for Week 1
Jose Alvarado

"Good" After Recent Fall
Alec Burleson

Lands on Injured List With Wrist Inflammation
Emmanuel Clase

Luis L. Ortiz to Remain On Leave for Rest of Season
Green Bay Packers

Packers Acquire Micah Parsons, Sign him to Four-Year Extension
Jauan Jennings

Remains Sidelined at Practice
Chris Godwin

to Miss First Month of Season, Possibly More
Quinshon Judkins

Not Considering Return to College
A.J. Brown

Returns to Practice, Expected to Play in Week 1
Jaylen Wright

Undergoes Surgery, Could be Back "Septemberish"
Tyreek Hill

on Track to Play in Week 1
Kyren Williams

to See Reduced Workload?
Jayden Reed

Dealing with Jones Fracture in Left Foot
Lauri Markkanen

Torches Sweden
Neemias Queta

Dominates in EuroBasket Opener
Kawhi Leonard

Clippers Not Allowing Kawhi Leonard to Play Back-to-Backs
Dallas Mavericks

Mavericks Looking to Trade Olivier-Maxence Prosper
Tyrese Haliburton

Expects to Return in 15 Months
Malik Nabers

Expected to be Full-Go for Week 1
Travis Hunter

Back at Practice, Will be Ready for Week 1
De'Von Achane

Not Practicing on Wednesday
Rashee Rice

Accepting Six-Game Suspension to Begin the Year
Kyle Hamilton

Ravens, Kyle Hamilton Finalizing Four-Year Extension
Terance Mann

Confident About Having a Big Year in Brooklyn
Zaccharie Risacher

Aims to Improve Ball-Handling Skills
NBA

Pistons And Timberwolves Join Race for Malik Beasley
John Tonje

Signs Two-Way Deal With Jazz
Max Strus

to Miss 3-4 Months After Surgery
Nikola Jović

Heat Have High Hopes for Nikola Jovic
Golden State Warriors

Cody Martin Drawing Interest From Warriors
Minnesota Timberwolves

Timberwolves Interested in Reunion With Bones Hyland
Kylor Kelley

Joins Lakers
Colin Castleton

Links Up With Magic

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