2017 Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report: Taking Shape

Most bullpens and closing situations are really starting to take shape. Only one job lands on the closers in flux section this week, with most closers seeming to lock into their role. Of course that can always change on a moment’s notice.

Closers in flux

Hector Neris has struggled since taking over the closer role and is losing his grip on the job.  After a strong start to the season, Neris has now given up runs in four out of his last six appearances which has seen his ERA rise from 0.00 to 4.61. Joaquin Benoit has been pitching well since losing the job to Neris and could find himself getting save chances over the next few days. For now, both guys are worth owning until one of them takes a firm grasp on the role.

Blown Saves

*Top 10

Who’s Hot?

Kenley Jansen (99% owned) had a strong week for his fantasy owners. He converted both of his save chances, and tallied ten strikeouts across 3.1 shutout innings. Yes, you read that right, every single out was via the strikeout. He also picked up a win and allowed just one runner to reach base. Jansen is elite, and this kind of week is exactly what fantasy players were expecting when they paid highly for the closer on draft day. Jansen will continue to provide outstanding strikeout rates and saves for his owners barring injury. YTD stats: 10.2 innings, 7 saves, 20 K, 1.69 ERA.

Craig Kimbrel (97% owned) put out another strong showing this week for the Sox and for fantasy owners. He converted all three of his save chances and struck out seven hitters across four shutout innings. Like Jansen he allowed just one runner to reach base. Kimbrel has given his owners great ratios to this point in the season and continues to be a top-tier closer. He is currently second only to Greg Holland for the league lead in saves. YTD stats: 13.1 innings, 10 saves, 24 K, 1.35 ERA.

Cody Allen (95% owned) has been tremendous this season and this week was no different. He converted all three of his save chances and had five punch-out’s across three shutout innings. Allen has been amongst the league’s best so far this season and is picking up strikeouts at crazy rates. His K/9 currently sits at 18.00 which is the best among all closers. Allen has a strong leash as the closer and should continue to bring good results to his fantasy owners. He was just named AL Reliever of the Month. YTD stats: 11 innings, 7 saves, 22 K, 0.82 ERA.

Who’s Cold?

Fernando Rodney (61% owned) continues to operate as the Dback closer and continues to pitch awful. He pitched two times this week, converting one of his two save opportunities. In his blown save he gave up three runs raising his ERA even further into the double digits. Rodney now has two blown saves on the season and the only thing he is doing well is striking batters out. There are not many good options in the Dback bullpen to take the closer role from Rodney, which is why he remains the closer despite the miserable start. His seven saves are helpful, but his performances are ratio killers. YTD stats: 11 innings, 7 saves, 14 K, 11.45 ERA.

Kelvin Herrera (91% owned) pitched just one time this week and had zero save chances. He gave up one run and his slow start to the 2017 season continues. Herrera hasn’t pitched terribly to start the season but his saves chances are so minimal, given the Royals struggles, that it is really hurting his value. His strikeout rate is also down from where it normally sits, but that should get back up to his usual rates as the season continues. The lacking save totals has owners disappointed to this point in the season. He is a solid buy-low candidate as the Royals likely won’t be this bad all season, but keep your hopes in check as the Royals likely still won’t be very good even with a little progression.  YTD stats: 9 innings, 3 saves, 6 K, 3.00 ERA.

Middle Relievers of note

J.J. Hoover (8% owned) is pitching really well out of the Dback bullpen and has moved himself into being next in line for saves if Fernando Rodney continues to pitch himself out of the closers role. It is a bit of a surprise how well Hoover is pitching, given his track record, but the change of scenery this past offseason seems to be helping him. He is someone to keep an eye on as regression could be coming soon. YTD stats: 10.2 innings, 4 holds, 16 K, 1.69 ERA.

Joakim Soria (6% owned) is pitching well in the set-up role for the Royals. He does have Kelvin Herrera in front of him getting saves, so barring injury, Soria will likely not see any save chances any time soon. If an injury did occur to Herrera; Soria would make for a solid own, even despite the Royals early struggles as a team. YTD stats: 11.2 innings, 2 holds, 15 K, 2.31 ERA.

A pair of Mets: Hansel Robles (7% owned) and Jerry Blevins (2% owned) are both pitching well through the first month of the season. Neither is likely to see any save chances with both Addison Reed and closer Jeurys Familia in front of them, but they make for decent owns in holds leagues. They both pitch a lot and can help with ratios. Robles has closer-stuff, but his control keeps him from being an elite reliever. He does; however, already have four wins and five holds. Jerry Blevins operates as a lefty-specialist for the Mets, which allows him to make a lot of appearances. Opposing hitters are struggling to do anything off him and he is striking out batters at a career-high rate. Lefties are just 2-23 (.087) against Blevins so far this season with 14 strikeouts. He has already pitched in 16 games this season. YTD stats for Robles: 15.1 innings, 5 holds, 17 K, 1.76 ERA. YTD stats for Blevins: 10 innings, 4 holds, 16 K, 0.90 ERA.

The full 2016 breakdown for these 4 guys can be found in the chart below.

Holds

*Top 10

*Ownership percentages are based off Yahoo