[closing_time_2019 list_id=”31542″ include_stats=”1″]
- A bunch of minor changes this week, but nothing too drastic. Tier 4 once again is the committee tier, but I think there’s a strong case to be made that all 8 names need to be owned. The Rays’ situation didn’t get any clearer this past week, with Jose Alvarado seeing 2 save chances (and blowing his first one) to Diego Castillo’s 1. Castillo has earned 4 holds to just 1 save the past two weeks, with his last outing coming in a 6th inning meltdown in New York. It looks like things could be shifting back towards Alvarado’s favor despite having just one save in over two months. That being said, don’t be surprised to see Emilio Pagan jump back into the conversation, as he’s been their best reliever over the past month.
- It’s been exactly a month now since Ryan Brasier’s last save, and it now seems like the Sox are going to be using a bigger committee approach in the 9th than previously believed. Matt Barnes is the temporary favorite for saves, but the team prefers bringing him into the 7th or 8th to face the opposing team’s best hitters. Despite the amazing ratios, he still only has three saves, and just two over the past month. The team is getting hot right now and blowing out a lot of their competition, but they will soon find themselves in some save situations, so hold tight on Barnes, and Brasier too if you have the room. Even in deeper leagues, it may be worth taking a flier on Brandon Workman, whose terrible BB rate has been on the decline this month.
- Nothing has changed in Minnesota, as it still looks like a 70/30 split between Blake Parker and Tyler Rogers. Parker’s peripherals are really concerning (low K rate, BABIP, high LOB, xFIP/SIERA), however, so proceed with caution going forward with him. Too bad they traded away Ryan Pressly for next to nothing.
- Shawn Kelley returns today and that’s all fine and dandy—he is worth owning in most leagues for the time being—but I think it’s time to start hyping up Jose Leclerc again. His last three outings have been what we had always hoped for with Leclerc, with a 10/0 K/BB, 0 H and 0 R allowed over 4.1 innings. It’s tough to get excited about a three-game sample, but we can still call it a trend, and it’d going in the right direction. I’m still sticking with my late-May, early-June timeline for him to regain the closer role, and with his buy low window is coming to a close, the time is now to add him where available.
- Despite not factoring into the save situation much lately, Anthony Swarzak was traded from Seattle to Atlanta yesterday, where he will likely work in a middle relief role for the time being. Seattle now turns to Roenis Elias, I suppose, as their closer, and while he’s been decent, I still don’t see a ton of long term value here. In 12 teamers where saves are hard to come by, sure, he’s worth a shot, but if you can get anything of value in a trade for him, go for it.
