All articles tagged with #closers
A flurry of August 4 MLB trades reshapes closers and fantasy value across the league, with moves like Pirates adding Luke Weaver, Giants sending Luis Arraez to the Phillies, Angels swapping Jose Soriano to the Blue Jays, and Daulton Varsho landing with the Astros. The day also features numerous prospect swaps, call-ups, and position-shift potential, along with injury updates and streaming-pitcher recommendations for daily and next-day play.
Scott White’s piece maps 31 players whose fantasy value could swing most at the MLB trade deadline, grouping them by scenarios like closer reshuffles, new call-ups, or surplus players moving to open spots. Notable potential shifts include Mason Miller or Luke Weaver in bullpen roles, Rockies outfielders Moniak/McCarthy/Condon/Veen if openings arise, and prospects like Shaw, Ramirez and Triantos who could land as impact starters on new teams; while rookies may be delayed to preserve 2027 eligibility. In short, the article forecasts fantasy impact more from deadline-driven role changes than from the mere act of trades itself.
Sal Stewart delivered a standout 2-for-4 with 6 RBIs and two homers, marking a breakout for the Reds and fueling fantasy hype, while Elly De La Cruz cruises at a 40/50 pace. The post runs through a wide weekend wrap: Ohtani and Cease shined on the mound, Shota Imanaga looked like a top starter, and closers were in flux (Enyel De Los Santos vs. Bryan King; Uribe in SF), with other standout performances, injuries (Harrison Bader IL) and suspensions (Soler) sprinkled in along with sleeper calls and streamer chatter from Streamonator. The tone remains humorous and insightful, touching on a slew of players and keeper-league angles for fantasy managers returning from the weekend.
Aroldis Chapman is having a standout season as a closer for the Boston Red Sox, with a high save rate and impressive stats, while other top relievers like Josh Hader and Andrés Muñoz continue to perform well, and several emerging options are vying for save opportunities across Major League Baseball.
Fantasy baseball experts from The Athletic, Greg Jewett and Eno Sarris, have collaborated to provide tiered rankings for closers and sleeper picks for saves in the upcoming season. They break down the top closers into four tiers based on projected performance and provide insights into potential sleepers for fantasy baseball managers to consider. The rankings consider factors such as projected strikeout rates, injury history, and potential for save opportunities, offering a comprehensive guide for drafting closers in fantasy baseball leagues.
The 2024 relief pitcher tiers for fantasy baseball draft prep emphasize the stability of the closer scene, with a focus on closers and their alternatives. The top three tiers feature robust options, including Devin Williams, Josh Hader, and Edwin Diaz in the Elite tier, while the Near-Elite and Next-Best Things tiers offer strong choices like Emmanuel Clase, Camilo Doval, and Craig Kimbrel. The article provides a strategic approach to maximizing draft picks by targeting positions nearing drop-offs and waiting on others, ultimately aiming to guide fantasy baseball players to victory.
This article provides a breakdown of key bullpen usage from yesterday's slate of games, including notable performances from closers Ryan Pressly, Devin Williams, Alexis Díaz, Raisel Iglesias, and A.J. Puk. It also highlights bullpen transactions and schedule notes, as well as updates on various relief pitchers and their performances. The article concludes with bullpen depth charts and rankings for holds and saves in fantasy baseball.
Craig Kimbrel became the eighth player in MLB history to record 400 saves, joining the likes of Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, and Lee Smith. Kimbrel achieved the milestone against his former team, the Atlanta Braves, and while he may not be the dominant reliever he once was, he will be remembered for having one of the best primes out of any closer in the history of the game.
The article provides updates on the most volatile closer scenarios in fantasy baseball, including potential replacements for struggling or injured closers. Mark Leiter and Zach Jackson are making cases for saves, while Daniel Bard has yet to reclaim the role from Carlos Estevez. The Yankees may turn to Jonathan Loaisiga, and the Phillies' bullpen usage remains unpredictable. Liam Hendriks is on a rehab assignment, and Diego Castillo is holding down the closer role for the Rays. Andrew Chafin is still the top option for the Diamondbacks, but a committee could be in the works.
Mets closer Edwin Diaz is out for the season due to a torn patellar tendon, leaving Adam Ottavino and David Robertson as the likely ninth-inning options. Braves closer Raisel Iglesias will begin the season on the injured list due to low-grade shoulder inflammation, with A.J. Minter and Joe Jimenez likely to share save situations. The Cubs' bullpen is still a competition, but Michael Fulmer and Brad Boxberger are the most likely candidates for saves. The Marlins bullpen looks like another committee, while Emmanuel Clase and Devin Williams are the top tier of fantasy closers in 2023.
The New York Mets must explore the trade market to find a new closer after Edwin Díaz's injury, which will rule him out for the entire season. The team has in-house options, including David Robertson and Adam Ottavino, but trading for a closer may be the best play. Six trade targets include Daniel Bard, Alexis Díaz, Scott Barlow, David Bednar, Alex Lange, and Aroldis Chapman. The Mets' farm system is deep enough to make a trade that would appeal to both teams, focusing on non-contending teams that are rebuilding.
Pitcher List has updated their rankings for the top 30 closers for fantasy baseball in 2023. While there haven't been many changes this spring, some players have moved up or down the list. Kenley Jansen is considered one of the safest/steadiest closers in the game, while Daniel Bard is seen as a risky pick due to his age and pitching in Coors. New additions to the list include Reynaldo López and Evan Phillips. The Cubs closer situation is still unclear, but Brandon Hughes may not be the favorite to win the job.