While I was walking my dog Wednesday evening I heard Colby Conway and Greg Jewett say on the FantasyAlarm MLB Podcast that there wasn’t a whole lot of closer news to discuss, and I became pretty concerned there wouldn’t be a whole lot to write about for today’s Bullpen Report. Fortunately for me, Wednesday night turned out to be pretty eventful, so we have some things to discuss.
Don’t look now, but the last Dodger to pick up a save was Julio Urías . It came after Kenley Jansen had thrown three straight days, but also after Jansen allowed his fourth home run of the season. Jansen allowed 13 home runs in 2018 (and two more in the World Series), and his 6.00 K/BB, while very good, is still a far cry from his 2015-2017, when he had K/BB rates of 10.00, 9.45 and 15.57, respectively. Jansen has been a flyball pitcher for five straight years, so it’s not as if his game has fundamentally changed. He is a long, long way from being in danger of losing the closing job. That being said, Julio Urías is a weapon out of the bullpen, and they could easily decide to use him in a Josh Hader type role, in which case he will probably steal a handful of saves from Jansen even when Jansen is available. If you can find someone in your league who still thinks Jansen is a top three closer, I think you should try to sell.
Jeremy Jeffress has not allowed a base runner in his last four innings, and he looks like he is back to his old self despite having just six strikeouts and four walks in 8.2 innings. He got the hold Monday, and it is probably just a matter of time before he starts closing games. If I had to speculate on saves, Jeffress would be my number one target.
I’m not going to lie, it feels good to be proven right about José Leclerc . His manager has said the plan is to get him right and put him back in the closer’s role, but there is a pretty decent chance this is just who he is. Leclerc has a 6.00 BB/9 in his MLB career. He had a 5.86 BB/9 in Triple-A in 2016 and a 6.38 BB/9 in Double-A in 2015. You simply cannot be successful while walking that many batters, I don’t care who you are. I don’t think Shawn Kelley is losing this job, even if he isn’t striking anyone out right now.
If I’m going to take a victory lap on José Leclerc I suppose I have to admit how wrong I was about A.J. Minter . I can be really stubborn, so I can talk blame Minter’s struggles on his injury and talk myself into him regaining the job. Like Jeffress, Minter has not allowed a run in his last three outings, with five strikeouts and just two baserunners in 2.1 innings. That being said, Luke Jackson is probably going to have to do something to lose the job considering he hasn’t allowed an earned run since Opening Day. Luke Jackson can be prone to walks, and he doesn’t strike out quite enough batters to make up for it. While he is addable in all formats, I’d rather have Shawn Kelley .
It’s weird that Pedro Strop ’s hamstring strain was not enough to send him to the IL after he saved Saturday’s game, but apparently, we’re blaming it for his inability to throw strikes Monday. In any case, Joe Maddon used Kyle Ryan , Steve Cishek and Carl Edwards Jr. , in that order, to try to save a one-run game Wednesday. Cishek was the only one of the three not to allow a hit, but he did have a wild pitch that enabled Miami to score on a groundout to second. I was impressed by Kyle Ryan on Saturday, and he might actually be my choice of the three in Saves+Holds leagues. In deep leagues I think all three are addable, but if I had to pick one to lead the team in saves while Strop is out, it would be Cishek. I also wouldn’t be shocked if Tyler Chatwood pitched himself into the mix for saves as well.
I have been pretty adamant about not rostering Craig Kimbrel , though it seems my pleas have largely fallen on deaf ears. This might actually be the nadir of his fantasy value. With the June Amateur draft looming, it seems extremely unlikely any team would sign him for the next month. At the same time, he becomes a more attractive stash with every passing day. Of course, Kimbrel could still sit out the entire season, and there is a decent chance it takes him a month to get ready even after he signs. I think I’d rather own one of the Cubs relievers than waste a roster spot on Kimbrel.
Another potential bust candidate from my preseason article was Blake Treinen , who is battling elbow discomfort and ineffectiveness. Treinen has 11 walks and a 1.53 WHIP in 15.0 innings, and while an IL stint is probably more likely than a role change, I think Lou Trivino could be closing for Oakland by the next time I write this article. If you have a deep enough bench, Trivino is a great stash, especially if you’re relying on Treinen for saves.
The Angels reinstated Cody Allen from the IL Tuesday, and he pitched an inning in a blowout Wednesday and promptly allowed two runs. My guess is he still leads the Angels in saves this season, but I don’t think I’ll start paying attention to this bullpen until they make Ty Buttrey the closer.
Guess who is tied with Felipe Vázquez for the MLB lead in saves over the last week? It’s Mychal Givens . Don’t ask me how that is possible. He has saved four straight chances and he has not allowed a run in his last 5.2 innings. This is clearly his job for now, but he could easily blow his next two save chances and wind up sharing the job with six other pitchers again. Even so, I think I’d add him ahead of any of the Cubs relievers.
Sergio Romo also appears locked into his team’s closer role, and unlike Mychal Givens , I think Romo is actually pretty good. He may go weeks at a time without an opportunity, and his manager is an idiot for not using him in an extra-inning game on the road Wednesday, but I would probably take the over on 25 saves for the season.