It’s been a very active week for MLB closers and late-inning, high-leverage relievers. It was full of ups and downs and the type of volatility that we’ve come to expect from the position.

We’ve seen one closer make his case for being the best of all fantasy baseball closers, while another closer, once considered one of the best in the game, not only lost his job, but he also lost his spot on the main roster. 

 

 

 

MLB Closers 2024: Fantasy Baseball Closer Report

Those aforementioned points aren't all we’ll discuss, either. There are more MLB closers who could be on the brink of losing their jobs. We’ve got a lot to cover in this week’s report on fantasy baseball closers!

(*All stats quoted in this article are accurate as of the morning of 8/14/2024)

Apparently, Emmanuel Clase Doesn’t Need A Day Off

The Cleveland Guardians were slumping for a bit recently but, heading into Wednesday’s action, they were tied with the Dodgers for having the best team winning percentage in baseball. They had won four straight and each of those wins was saved by Clase. 

Clase might not provide the gaudy strikeout numbers that some other MLB closers provide fantasy baseball managers with, but even though he pitches to contact, he keeps the ball on the ground (61% ground ball rate) and in the park (0.2 HR/9).

 

 

 

Giants Will Use A Hot Hand, Committee Approach For Late-Game Situations

Camilo Doval, a 2023 All-Star and the 2023 NL leader in saves with 39, was not only removed as the Giants’ closer on Friday, but he was sent down to the team’s Triple-A affiliate. Doval converted 22 of 27 save opportunities this season but he has had issues with his control and has posted career highs in ERA (4.70) and WHIP (1.614). 

Manager Bob Melvin suggested that the team's closer situation would be fluid for now, but Ryan Walker has converted the Giants’ first save in the post Doval era. The 28-year-old Walker is enjoying a career year in his second season in the major leagues. The Giants have been using him in the 6th, 7th and 8th innings of games lately and he has 20 holds on the season. Walker is no stranger to pitching in big spots. Combining his big league, minor league and college career Walker has 27 career saves. 

It seems that Tyler Rogers and Taylor Rogers have been pitching in late-inning, high-leverage situations for the Giants forever, and they could also be called upon to close out games for the Giants as well. Tyler is a right-hander who has 19 career saves and 25 holds this season. Taylor is a left-handed reliever and a former primary closer for the Twins and Padres. He has 83 career saves. 

Melvin might also opt to use Jordan Hicks to in occasional save situations moving forward. Hicks, who was recently removed from the Giants’ starting rotation, has 32 career saves. He’s been more effective as a reliever (3.62 ERA) than as a starter (4.32 ERA) in his career.

 

 

 

Justin Martinez Appears To Be The New Closer For The Diamondbacks

In our last fantasy baseball closers article, we talked about how the Diamondbacks appeared to be using a committee approach to managing the back end of their bullpen. Since then, Martinez has recorded the team’s last two saves but there is still a lot of depth within their bullpen. Left-handed reliever A.J. Puk, who is very tough on lefty batters, can record an occasional save against lefty loaded lineups. 

Martinez induces a lot of ground balls (63.7 ground ball rate this season) but his 4.5 BB/9 this season could eventually get him in trouble, so continue to keep an eye on Ryan Thompson. He has set up Martinez’s last two saves, but if Martinez is unavailable or slumps, he’s likely next in line.

Seranthony Dominguez Looks Like The Orioles Closer

Orioles relievers have only recorded five saves since Craig Kimbrel recorded his last save for the Orioles on July 7th. Cionel Perez has one of them, Yennier Cano has two of them and Dominguez has recorded the last two for the O’s. He recorded his most recent save for the Orioles on Wednesday night against the Nationals. 

Dominguez’s season has taken off since he was traded from the Phillies to the Orioles. In nine innings pitched for the O’s, he’s given up just one run (1.00 ERA) and he has struck out 10 batters and walked just three. Dominguez has two saves and a hold during his time with the Orioles.

 

 

 

Rostering Clay Holmes? You Might Want To Invest In Tommy Kahnle/Luke Weaver

If you listen to New York sports talk radio, you know that there are a lot of New York Yankees fans who want Holmes removed from his traditional MLB closers role. Holmes now has a league-leading nine blown saves and in his last outing on Sunday, he narrowly escaped from blowing another. 

Holmes threw a season-high 45 pitches in that appearance, and it was Jake Cousins picking up the New York Yankees’ next save on Tuesday night. Cousins has 12 minor league saves, but it was his first in the big leagues. Cousins has pitched well this season (2.25 ERA, 1.000 WHIP), but it’s more likely that Kahnle or Weaver would take over as the Yankees’ closer should they look to make a move.

David Bednar’s Recent Struggles Means More Work For Kyle Nicolas, Aroldis Chapman

In his last 10 appearances, Nicolas has pitched to a 0.73 ERA, and he has struck out nine batters and walked three in 12.1 innings pitched. The Pittsburgh Pirates have been using him late in games recently. 

The fact that he’s given up 15 hits and opposing hitters are batting .300 against him during that time frame is a bit concerning. However, even though the Pirates were just seven games out of a Wild Card spot entering Wednesday’s action, they might want to see what they have in the 25-year-old Nicolas and start planning for next season. 

Bednar has had a tough season that started with him on the IL with a lat injury. He went back on the IL with another lat issue midway through the season. Bednar has given up at least one run in his last five appearances (11.81 ERA). He still managed to save two games during that time span, but he also blew two saves as well. 

Despite Nicolas pitching well of late, it would probably be Chapman who would take over for Bednar should the Pirates look to give him a break from closing games. Chapman is still throwing heat (he recently hit 105.1 mph on the radar gun). This “slower” 104.7 mph pitch froze Manny Machado last Wednesday and caused both he and Chapman to smile.