This closer carousel is enough to make your head spin. In just one week we’ve moved five pitchers into and out of the closer spot on the closer chart that accompanies this article. Some were removed and added due to injuries, and others were no longer being given save opportunities due to poor performance. Unfortunately, this is what’s to be expected from the most volatile position in fantasy baseball. Here is your Bullpen Report for the second full week of the season:
Weekly Save Leaders
Jake McGee , Giants - 3
McGee converted all three of his save opportunities last week. With Reyes Moronta on the 10-day IL due to a right flexor strain, McGee will likely be the Giants’ primary closer for the near future. As this article is being written McGee leads all closers with six saves, and he’s yet to give up a run in eight appearances (7.1 IP). The Giants’ bullpen leads the big leagues with 11 save opportunities.
Mark Melancon , Padres - 2
The Padres were expected to use a closer by committee approach to start this season but like McGee, Melancon hasn’t given up a run so far this season. He saved two games last week and has five on the season.
Craig Kimbrel , Cubs - 2
Kimbrel has seemingly turned back the clock and is pitching like the closer who averaged 42 saves per season from 2011-2018. His current Chase and CSW% are the highest of his career. Kimbrel saved two games last week and has three on the season.
Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland - 2
Last week we talked about how Cleveland would use a committee approach to start the season and Clase, James Karinchak, and Nick Wittgren all have at least one save. However, it does seem that Clase, with two saves last week, is starting to pull away from the other two potential closers. Karinchak picked up his lone save on Tuesday. Clase, who had pitched the ninth inning in the two prior games was unavailable to pitch in that game.
Matt Barnes , Red Sox - 2
Barnes has struck out 14 batters and walked two in seven innings pitched so far this season. He’s taken over the closer’s role in the Red Sox’s bullpen with saves in his last two appearances.
Kenley Jansen , Dodgers - 2
See below
Yimi García , Marlins - 2
See below
Weekly Hold Leaders
Tyler Rogers, Giants, 4
Rogers is considered the next man up in the Giants bullpen but for now he’s a good resource for holds. He has six on the season and picked up four last week.
Blake Treinen , Dodgers, 3
Treinen may not be Kenley Jansen ’s direct backup anymore but he hasn’t given up a run in his last four appearances and has seven strikeouts in five innings pitched. He has four holds on the season, three of which were earned last week.
Darwinzon Hernandez , Red Sox, 3
With Boston’s hot start, Hernandez will get plenty of hold chances. Hernandez had three holds last week and hasn’t given up a run in five straight relief appearances.
Bullpens in Flux
Marlins
After Anthony Bass had blown his first two save opportunities of the season Marlins manager Don Mattingly said that he had great stuff and was sticking with him. Then he used Yimi García to close out the Marlins’ victory over the Mets this past Saturday. Garcia pitched part of the ninth and tenth innings on Monday and picked up a win. He hasn’t given up a run in his last five appearances and picked up another save on Wednesday. Let’s call him the closer for now.
Twins
It’s still early in the season but Alex Colomé has already blown two save opportunities and that’s after having blown only one such opportunity last season. Opposing batters have a 55% hard hit rate and a 15% barrel rate against Colome this season. Last season those rates were 32.3 and 3.1, respectively. Fellow Twins reliever Taylor Rogers has yet to give up an earned run this season.
Dodgers
Kenley Jansen often gets shunned in preseason drafts, despite the fact that he’s been the Dodgers closer for years and has a career 34-save, 162-game average. He’s been incredibly resilient for a guy that many of us fantasy baseball players expect to land on the IL at any time. Last week Jansen doubters thought they had their a-ha moment when Corey Knebel picked up his second save of the season. Jansen quieted those doubters with a perfect ninth inning and his second save of the season on Sunday. Jansen also picked up his third save of the season on Wednesday. It seems safe to say that Jansen is still the Dodgers’ closer, but Knebel will probably notch a save from time to time.
Athletics
Trevor Rosenthal is expected to miss at least 12 weeks recuperating from surgery to address his thoracic outlet syndrome. Jake Diekman was originally expected to get the majority of save chances with Rosenthal sidelined. However, while he and Sergio Romo will be in the mix for high leverage relief opportunities, it appears that Lou Trivino may end up being the A’s primary closer, for now. Trivino has pitched to a 1.04 ERA in his first seven games and has the A’s only save of the season.
Rangers
Ian Kennedy is the Rangers’ closer, for now. If you’re looking for a couple of players to put on your watchlist who have an opportunity for eventual save chances keep an eye on Demarcus Evans and Joely Rodríguez . Rodriguez, who has been rehabbing an ankle injury, may join the team within a week. Evans is recuperating from a lat injury and could join the team in May.
Blue Jays
With the Jays placing Julian Merryweather on the IL due to an oblique strain, and David Phelps nursing a back contusion it looks as if Jordan Romano and Rafael Dolis could be in line for a bulk of the team’s save opportunities. Tim Mayza may also see action in high leverage relief situations as well. UPDATE: Jordan Romano was placed on the 10-day IL with right ulnar neuritis. No timetable has been given for his return just yet so look to Dolis as the guy to own right now.
