Last week, we discussed how Archie Bradley was getting the job done despite allowing runs. This week, he has three straight saves without allowing an earned run. He has a 3.00 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in August, and he certainly looks like he will be a reliable closer the rest of the way.
Raisel Iglesias blew the save Friday and allowed a home run on Monday, but he came back to earn the save Tuesday despite allowing two hits in 1.1 innings. His ERA and WHIP are not impressive, and if he struggles his next time out, I think we could see him split closing duties with Michael Lorenzen .
Ken Giles has not allowed an earned run in three weeks, and while it was discouraging to see Derek Law pick up the save Saturday, Giles came back to earn the save Tuesday. I would still much rather own Giles, but it is certainly possible these two will split closing duties going forward.
After splitting saves with Sergio Romo the last few weeks, Taylor Rogers picked up both saves for the Twins this week. Rogers has shared the job with someone all season, so I doubt that will change, but at least we can be confident Romo isn’t going to overtake him anytime soon.
Joe Jiménez has appeared twice in the last week. Neither were save situations, and he allowed a home run in each. I still prefer Jimenez to José Leclerc , but I wouldn’t blame anyone who dropped Jimenez this week. Detroit isn’t likely to get very many save opportunities, and Jimenez is always a bumpy ride, even when he’s racking up strikeouts.
The Mariners have four saves in the last three weeks, and Matt Magill has all of them. Anthony Bass didn’t necessarily do anything to lose the closing job, but he’s not nearly good enough to trouble Magill. I would much rather own Magill than Jimenez or Leclerc, unless you really need strikeouts. And even then, Magill has 11.45 K/9 this season.
Now it is time for our weekly Braves discussion. Mark Melancon has two saves and a win in the last seven days, and he has converted five straight save chances. Luke Jackson , Chris Martin and Shane Green have all been solid of late, so I don’t think Melancon will have a very long leash, but he certainly picked a good time to stop walking people. Melancon has allowed just two walks in 20.0 innings since the All-Star break, compared to 15 walks in 36.2 innings before the break. I won’t worry about Melancon unless he starts walking people again.
The Mets only have one save since we convened last, and it went to Paul Sewald . Sewald pitched the eighth inning of a 2-0 game and was the beneficiary when the game was called after a second rain delay.
Seth Lugo hasn’t pitched since throwing two innings on Friday, and he’s gone two innings in four of his last six appearances. He is clearly the closer when available, but we can’t expect him to be available as often as most other closers. The Mets have also lost four games in a row, and if they continue to struggle, that will hurt Lugo’s ability to get saves as well. He’s probably the best pitcher we’ve mentioned so far, with the possible exceptions of Ken Giles , but I’m not sure he’ll get you more than three or four saves the rest of the way.
I find it awfully interesting Ryne Stanek blew two saves in a row but still got the save opportunity on Sunday. He converted it, so he is almost certain to get the next one, but I don’t think you want any part of that situation. I would be interested if Jarlin García got a shot to close, but there is no indication that will happen this season.
Sean Doolittle completed a simulated game Wednesday, and there is a good chance he will rejoin the Nationals this weekend. Washington hasn’t had a save since Doolittle went on the IL, but you should still get him right back in your lineup. If Doolittle was dropped in your league, snatch him up now.
Wade Davis has a 15.43 ERA over the last two weeks, but with Scott Oberg on the IL, I have no idea who else would close for the Rockies. Perhaps they will mix and match with Jake McGee , but it’s pretty hard to see them abandoning Wade Davis altogether.