Fantasy baseball players are always on the hunt for saves. So every other week during the Major League Baseball season, we’ll be checking in on the backends of those bullpens. Whose job is steady? Whose is uncertain? Who is waiting in the wings and ready to poach some saves?
We’ll break it all down below in different categories, ranging from those who have their job locked down to speculative adds worth keeping your eye on.
Locked In
Liam Hendriks – Chicago White Sox
Ryan Pressly – Houston Astros
Raisel Iglesias – Los Angeles Angels
Aroldis Chapman – New York Yankees
Diego Castillo – Tampa Bay Rays
Ian Kennedy – Texas Rangers
Will Smith – Atlanta Braves
When Smith gets hit around, he gets hit around. Still a lower level of concern with the blips being spread out.
Craig Kimbrel – Chicago Cubs
Kenley Jansen – Los Angeles Dodgers
Josh Hader – Milwaukee Brewers
Edwin Diaz – New York Mets
Hector Neris – Philadelphia Phillies
Lou Trivino – Oakland Athletics
Trivino has ceded work to Jake Diekman, but after consecutive blown saves this weekend, Diekman may have to wait before his next shot.
Emmanuel Clase – Cleveland Indians
Matt Barnes – Boston Red Sox
Cesar Valdez – Baltimore Orioles
Last dance for Valdez before he gets demoted from this section. He has allowed earned runs in three of his last six outings.
Brad Hand – Washington Nationals
Sorely needed bounce back for Hand after three consecutive poor outings. Hand is nearing Valdez territory.
Mark Melancon – San Diego Padres
Yimi Garcia – Miami Marlins
Richard Rodriguez – Pittsburgh Pirates
Alex Reyes – St. Louis Cardinals
Could not predict that Alex Reyes would be second in saves this season. Reyes pitching with confidence is a welcomed site.
Getting Save Opportunities, But No Lock
Daniel Bard – Colorado Rockies
The end is nigh. Bard does not have it, and Mychel Givens has closer experience.
Gregory Soto – Detroit Tigers
Stefan Crichton – Arizona Diamondbacks
Joakim Soria is seeing high-leverage work. Soria could be the pitcher to close the black hole in the Diamondbacks bullpen.
Josh Staumont – Kansas City Royals
Tyler Rogers – San Francisco Giants
Jake McGee was given every chance to get right and has failed to respond. Rogers collected two saves this week for the first-place Giants.
Closer Committees
Kendall Graveman and Rafael Montero – Seattle Mariners
Jordan Romano, Tyler Chatwood, and A.J. Cole – Toronto Blue Jays
Injuries continue to make this situation a revolving door.
Lucas Sims, Amir Garrett, and Tejay Antone – Cincinnati Reds
Hansel Robles, Taylor Rogers, and Alex Colome – Minnesota Twins
The Twins have been a disaster and the closer situation is one of the main reasons.
Injury Opportunities
Another clean sheet. You love to see it.
Next Man Up Adds
Joakim Soria (ARI)
Daniel Hudson (WSH)
Tejay Antone (CIN)
Paul Fry (BAL)
Michael Fulmer (DET)
Tyler Chatwood (TOR)
Kyle Zimmer (KC)
Zimmer is returning from injury soon and has the stuff to compete with Staumont. He is best added in deeper bench and 14-plus team leagues.
