MLB Closers 2024: Closer Report For Fantasy Baseball This Week, July 18
Baseball’s major league save leader Ryan Helsley, who has dealt with various injuries over the past few years, skipped the All-Star game, opting to keep his workload in check. Still, many of fantasy baseball’s best closers and late-inning, high-leverage relievers were on full display during the game’s mid-summer classic.
Oakland Athletics closer Mason Miller and Miami Marlins closer Tanner Scott, both expected to be traded ahead of MLB’s July 30th trade deadline, were flawless and Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase, who has the second most saves in baseball (29) closed out the AL’s victory over the NL All-Stars.
As we’ve mentioned in previous MLB closer report columns, several late-inning, high-leverage relievers will be on the move ahead of MLB’s trade deadline. The A’s will be asking a king’s ransom for Miller, and if he’s moved, Lucas Erceg would likely take over as the team’s closer. That is, if Erceg doesn’t get traded as well.
A.J. Puk is still the favorite to take over as the Marlins’ closer should Scott be moved in a trade. We’ll continue to regularly update our fantasy baseball closer grid as transactions take place.
Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: MLB Closers 2024
Speaking of our closer grid, we recently moved New York Yankees closer Clay Holmes out of the elite section of the grid. Holmes doesn’t appear to be in jeopardy of losing his job, but he took an ugly blown save and loss on Sunday (his defense did let him down) against the Orioles and he now has a league-leading six blown saves.
Holmes is going through a rough patch, much like last season, and has three blown saves and a 7.45 ERA in his last 10 appearances. The Yankees and their cross-town rival New York Mets will both be in the market for bullpen depth via the trade market in the coming weeks.
The Kansas City Royals’ acquisition of Hunter Harvey, who had 10 saves last season and is tied for the MLB lead with 26 holds this season, is just the first of what could be many trades for bullpen arms between teams looking to make the playoffs this season and those simply looking to add depth for a future run at a championship.
As this article is being written, Toronto Blue Jays reliever Yimi Garcia was still on the IL. He was expected to be activated ahead of the Jays’ game last Sunday. Here are some other observations regarding late-inning, high-leverage MLB relievers as we enter the dog days of summer.
Hunter Harvey Can Slide Into The Closer Role If The Royals Need Him To
As a Kansas City Royal, Harvey slides right into a role as the Royals’ setup man behind closer James McArthur. McArthur has pitched well of late, saving six games and pitching to a 1.84 ERA in his last 15 outings but he’s been pitching to contact, striking out just seven batters and walking four in 14.2 IP during that stretch.
With a .286 BAA right-handed batters and a .288 BAA left-handed batters, fantasy baseball managers rostering McArthur – and the Royals, for that matter – don’t want him pitching to contact. Harvey has a bloated 4.20 ERA and 4.18 xERA, but other ERA estimators like FIP (3.16), xFIP (3.22) and SIERA (3.00) suggest that he’s pitched much better than that this season.
Left-handed batters have a .287 BAA him, but he has been much more effective against right-handed batters (.209 BAA). In Harvey, the Royals have someone who can step in and close out games for them if McArthur becomes unavailable.
Devin Williams Looked Impressive In His First Rehab Assignment Appearance
Williams began his rehab assignment on Sunday. In his first appearance on Sunday for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the Milwaukee Brewers’ High-A affiliate, Williams struck out the side in his only inning of work. He dominated opposing hitters, throwing 14 pitches – nine of which were for strikes.
Tayler Scott Should Be On Your Holds Watchlist
With the Houston Astros coming on strong after their early season slump, expect their relievers to get more opportunities to pitch with a lead. Scott will be one of those relievers and could be a good resource for post All-Star break holds.
The Astros have primarily been using him in the sixth and seventh innings of games and in his last 16 appearances spanning 18.2 IP, he has five wins, three holds and a 0.96 ERA. He’s familiar with pitching in high-pressure situations. In 14 seasons (four in the minor leagues and 11 in the major leagues), he has recorded 24 saves.
The Angels Will Likely Increase Their Use Of Ben Joyce Post All-Star Break
It seems like a foregone conclusion that Los Angeles Angels closer Carlos Estevez will be moved before MLB’s trade deadline, and if he does, Luis Garcia will likely take over as the team’s closer. However, Joyce hasn’t given up a run in his last 14.1 IP and he has struck out 15 batters and walked four during that time span. Joyce, who didn’t make his season debut until June 5th, has largely been used in the seventh and eighth innings of late.
Joyce has a win and three holds this season and six saves in three minor league seasons. Another Angels reliever who could see himself used in more late-inning, high-leverage situations is Hans Crouse. He gives up a few more walks than we’d like to see (7 in 12.2 IP), but in 11 appearances this season dating back to June 22nd, he has 15 strikeouts, three wins and he has pitched to a 0.71 ERA.
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Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.
José Soriano allowed three runs over five innings while not factoring in the decision Thursday against the Blue Jays.
Soriano left with a 4-3 lead, but it was erased quickly after his departure. The 26-year-old was not exactly dominant in his outing with eight hits allowed and four free passes, but he did strike out six to help balance things out a smidgen. Soriano takes an even ERA of 4.00 into a scheduled start against the Padres in San Diego on Tuesday. There should be better options for that one.