Waiver Relief: Week 19

Now that we’re past the halfway point of the season, finding emerging relievers – let alone closers – on the waiver wire figures to be an arduous task. That’s not the case this week, however, which ended up being particularly tumultuous for bullpens in flux. A few closers found their hot seats overheating, including one of fantasy baseball’s most valuable. I’ll tackle all that below in the usual fashion, providing updates and rankings for closers, along with new targets and rankings for holds and SPRPs as well.

Note: if you’re looking for my thoughts on the upcoming trade deadline, take a look at last week’s intro, but prepare to be disappointed.

(stats updated through Thursday, 7/30)

 

Closer Notes

 

ARI

It’s with great sadness that I’m forced to write up the demotion of Paul Sewald from the closer role in Arizona. Sewald is a beloved pitcher in this space, and was my first recommendation of the season back in week one. Heeding that advice garnered 24 saves and quality ratios until some recent damage to your ERA, so we’ll call it a win. Alas, Sewald’s latest blowup was one too many, as manager Torey Lovullo announced the dreaded matchup-based approach in the ninth inning going forward. This will provide a share of save chances to Brandyn Garcia and Jonathan Loáisiga in particular. Garcia is the preferred option here; he leads my holds rankings below, and has been one of the best relievers in baseball this season. Keep in mind, though, that Justin Martinez figures to return from the injured list within a month.

In conclusion, all Diamondback relievers are deep league options only in standard leagues. Garcia will provide high-end ratios, but is likely to see action in earlier innings against LHB. Loáisiga isn’t particularly trustworthy, and comes with zero strikeout upside (18.7% rate). Martinez may or may not regain the role, but regardless it’d take some time. All full-time closers elsewhere make for better targets than these three, which is reflected by my rankings below.

 

KC

Alex Lange’s brief but inglorious era as the Royals’ closer has come to a close following a dreadful stretch that saw his ERA balloon to 6.33 on the season. Steven Cruz, meanwhile, has been on the rise both in Kansas City and in this column, and now graduates from my watchlist to a featured recommendation. While Cruz’s top-line numbers (4.38 ERA, 1.26 WHIP) leave much to be desired, they belie his solid whiff (31.5%) and strikeout (28.2%) rates. He’s also been particularly great lately, with a pair of saves and holds each alongside a 1.98 ERA and 0.88 WHIP over the past month. Closing for the Royals ain’t exactly a premier gig, but Cruz comes with enough upside to enter near the middle of this week’s closer rankings.

 

LAA

Last week, Kirby Yates dropped down my closer rankings, as Ryan Zeferjahn entered as a fringe option. This week, neither makes an appearance. Yates is nearly out of the Angels’ high-leverage mix entirely, and is without a win, save, or hold since July 10. Zeferjahn hasn’t seen the ninth inning since picking up a save on July 19, entering in the seventh on Monday and scuffling a bit.

Instead of these two, I am going with Samy Natera Jr. as a watchlist entrant this week. Natera has been putting up ridiculous numbers in his rookie season. Since allowing a whole buncha fireworks (4 ER) on July 4, he’s pitched 10.1 innings, striking out 17 batters while surrendering just three hits and three walks. On the season, he’s rocking a 37.6% strikeout rate and has allowed an earned run in just two of his 19 appearances.

Seeing as his lone save came over a month ago, I can’t put Natera anywhere but my watchlist for now. As soon as a save opportunity comes, though, I’d be scrambling to pick him up.

 

LAD

Edwin Díaz returned from the injured list this week, picking up a very underwhelming save (2 H, 1 ER, 0 K) on Wednesday night. For now, all that needs to be said is definitely do not drop Tanner Scott just yet. We’ll see.

 

PIT

Both Gregory Soto (2 SV, 0.93 ERA, 0.72 WHIP) and Mason Montgomery (2 SV, 1.69 ERA, 0.66 WHIP) have been fantastic for a month running. Montgomery even picked up his second save of the season on Sunday in a spot where Soto was likely available. My lean here still goes to Soto, but it’s looking more and more like a 1A and 1B situation. Montgomery enters my closer rankings as Soto drops a couple spots.

 

SF

As it was already trending toward last week, Erik Miller has supplanted Caleb Kilian as the Giants’ closer. Miller has San Fran’s only save over the last two weeks, and also pitched the ninth in a tie game last Friday. He’s battled terrible control issues all season (16.2% walk rate), but has walked only three batters this month while striking out 15. Otherwise, Miller’s underlying metrics look solid; besides those gaudy strikeout numbers (32.4% rate), his 27.5% Hard-Hit rate is among the best in baseball, and has generated an opposing xBA of just .178.

Miller won’t be your most stress-free addition, but a full-time closer with this sort of upside is hard to come by. He vaults off my watchlist to near the top of my closer rankings this week, as others on the list have tumbled.

 

Saves – Top 10 (<=60%-rostered Yahoo)

The top 10 undergoes an overhaul this week; new names include Erik Miller, Hogan Harris, Mason Montgomery, and Steven Cruz.

1. Yoendrys Gómez – MIN (31%)
2. Tyler Wells – BAL (15%)
3. Erik Miller – SF (2%)
4. Clayton Beeter – WSH (15%)
5. Gregory Soto – PIT (35%)
6. Hogan Harris – ATH (11%)
7. Mason Montgomery – PIT (5%)
8. Steven Cruz – KC (1%)
9. Grant Taylor – CHW (27%)
10. Jordan Romano – COL (8%)

The Watchlist: Brandyn Garcia (ARI), Tanner Scott (LAD), Samy Natera Jr. (LAA), Michael Petersen (MIA), Tejay Antone (CIN)

 

Holds

 

Top 10 (<=5%-rostered)

Rising names among setup men this week include Gabe Speier, Jeremiah Estrada, and Samy Natera Jr.

1. Brandyn Garcia – ARI (5%)
2. Colin Holderman – CLE (4%)
3. Gabe Speier – SEA (4%)
4. Tyron Guerrero – BOS (4%)
5. Jonathan Bowlan – PHI (1%)
6. Mason Montgomery – PIT (5%)
7. Juan Morillo – ARI (4%)
8. Jeremiah Estrada – SD (5%)
9. Samy Natera Jr. – LAA (1%)
10. Edgardo Henriquez – LAD (1%)

 

NAMES TO WATCH: Justin Slaten (4%) continued his road back to trustworthiness, putting up a streak of seven straight appearances with a hold. Bennett Sousa (1%) returned from a two-month stint on the injured list; it remains to be seen if he can regain top form. Dylan Smith (<1%) has become the Giants’ top setup man and hasn’t allowed an earned run since July 5. Tejay Antone (<1%) has notched four holds alongside a 0.82 ERA and 0.82 WHIP over the last month. Evan Phillips (1%) continues to shake off some rust (6.75 ERA), but looks to be a part of the Dodgers’ high-leverage mix, and has put up a 9:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his first 6.2 innings.

 

SPRPs

 

Top 10 (Yahoo-eligible)

Rising names among SPRPs this week include Mason Montgomery, Jordan Hicks, and Jovani Morán.

1. Jacob Latz – TEX (67%)
2. Grant Taylor – CHW (27%)
3. Yoendrys Gómez – MIN (31%)
4. Mason Montgomery – PIT (5%)
5. Didier Fuentes – ATL (8%)
6. Tyler Wells – BAL (15%)
7. Jack Dreyer – LAD (3%)
8. Jordan Hicks – CHW (1%)
9. Jovani Morán – BOS (<1%)
10. Bradgley Rodriguez – SD (1%)

Note: Not much as far as new SPRPs to watch this week, but runners-up include Andrew Morris, Sean Newcomb, and Huascar Brazobán.