[holds_list_2019 list_id=”32488″ include_stats=”1″]
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With Ken Giles heading to the IL with elbow inflammation, it looks like Joe Biagini will be the closer for the time being, despite last night’s debacle. Daniel Hudson had to bail out Biagini last night finishing off the final 1.1 innings and could see the next chance, but for now, I’d consider Biagini the favorite. Giles is only expected to miss the minimum amount of time, so he could be back next weekend anyway.
- In other closer news, assuming his back is alright, Taylor Rogers looks like the new closer in Minnesota as the Twins bypassed Blake Parker the other night and instead used Trevor May to close things out with Rogers hurting. That indicates to me that Rogers will be the primary closer moving forward with May as his top setup guy while Parker works in middle relief.
- With the Red Sox continuing to search for some consistency in the later innings, Heath Hembree could be the next man up to see more setup work with Matt Barnes and Marcus Walden struggling as of late. The peripherals aren’t anything to get excited for (4.89 xFIP), but he does miss bats at a good rate. I’d also like to point out that while I have Brandon Workman listed as the Sox tentative closer this week and Barnes in a setup role, the two are basically interchangeable between lists right now. The same goes for the Rays situation with Diego Castillo and Jose Alvarado.
- Jairo Diaz has been awesome for the Rockies since being called up a few weeks back and hopefully continues to be used in a setup role even with the return of Wade Davis. Over his first 11.1 innings pitched, Diaz has a 14:2 K/BB rate while allowing just six hits and two earned runs. He and Carlos Estevez essentially swapped spots this week as Diaz has been the preferred high leverage option in that bullpen the past two weeks.
Minter and Swarzak seem awfully low on this List. We know both will be in the late inning mix for the top NL East team. Why so low? Shouldn’t Minter be in the 30s at the very least given his track record and immediate deployment in the 8th inning this week?
They’ve both been so bad this year, I want to see a little more consistency before pushing them too high up the list. That said Minter can move up real quick if he pitches well the next few weeks.
Huh??
Lugo at #5 with only 2 Holds over the past month ??
He was hurt for some time but when healthy has been the 3rd most valuable non-closer reliever in SV+HD leagues over the past 2 months with just 6 holds. He’s the 8th inning guy for the Mets so I wouldn’t be worried about holds too much.