Waiver Relief: Week 9

Waiver Relief is back following a week off, which means there’s a lot of catching up to do. So, without further ado, I’ll cover the last half-month’s worth of closer news and update my rankings for saves, holds, and SPRPs.

(stats updated through Thursday, 5/20)

 

Closer News (by team)

 

ATH

The immediate downfall of Jack Perkins as a closer these last two weeks is the most disappointing for me this season – and there are plenty of candidates. With Perkins returning to a middle-inning role for now, Hogan Harris has picked up three saves in his last six appearances. Harris, a relatively soft-throwing lefty with command issues and a 3% chase rate, provides little more than a guy to cling to for saves until the other shoe drops. He lands near the bottom of my closer rankings below, with Joel Kuhnel waiting in the wings.

 

CHW

There was plenty of excitement in fantasy circles about Grant Taylor finally picking up his first save of the season on Tuesday. I’m still not dethroning Seranthony Domínguez, nor am I assuming that Taylor is suddenly filed neatly into a traditional late-inning role. Taylor, despite his upside, is little more than a speculative pickup in standard scoring leagues. In SOLDs and points leagues, particularly where his SP eligibility plays up … it’s another story.

 

CIN

With closer Emilio Pagán sidelined for the foreseeable future, the Reds turned to a combination of Tony Santillan, Graham Ashcraft, and Pierce Johnson, who made the competition a matter of who wants the job the least. It’s through clenched teeth that I’m still calling Santillan the best option here, since he was the first to get the look, and now the last, picking up a clean save on Tuesday. Ashcraft, Johnson, and even Tejay Antone should all factor in.

 

COL

Surprisingly enough, the Rockies have a few emerging arms in the backend of their bullpen. I’ve already highlighted Antonio Senzatela’s successful transition from rotation to relief; now, Juan Mejia has begun to find success in a high-leverage role, picking up a pair of saves over the last two weeks. Even Jaden Hill is on a string of eight scoreless appearances, a stretch in which he’s struck out eight batters while walking none. For now, strictly for saves, I give the edge to Mejia, as Senzatela’s role is more flexible. Mejia lands near the bottom of my closer rankings below, with Senzatela on the green edge.

 

LAA

Despite my week off last week, not a single Angel has recorded a save since the last time we spoke. Ryan Zeferjahn and Kirby Yates seem to be in the closest orbit to the ninth inning, with Yates getting the latest save chance on Wednesday and blowing it. I’m having a hard time finding anything here, other than maybe rostering the Angels’ best reliever – Sam Bachman – and hoping he finds himself getting a look soon.

 

SF

Caleb Kilian was given the closing reins in San Francisco, with Ryan Walker being sent down to Triple-A and Erik Miller landing on the injured list. Unfortunately, this coincided with a bit of regression setting in for Kilian, whose low BABIP and high strand rate still help mask some mediocre (4.03 SIERA, 11.4 K-BB%) underlying stats. With Kilian fading and Miller unable to find the strike zone, expect Keaton Winn to finally get his turn at closer. Winn has been the best arm in this bullpen all season, and while he’s yet to notch a single save, I’m willing to bet that the next chance falls his way.

 

WSH

Clayton Beeter came off the injured list on Thursday, returning to a Nationals pen that failed to find a set closer in his absence. Expect a mix of Beeter, Gus Varland, and Richard Lovelady in the ninth inning. Varland and Beeter, in that order, are on the fringe of roster-worthiness in 12-team leagues until we see how Beeter fits back in.

 

Saves – Top 10 (<=60%-rostered Yahoo)

Recent graduates from this list include Bryan Baker, Abner Uribe, and Lucas Erceg; Paul Sewald regained eligibility.

1. Tanner Scott – LAD (47%)
2. Paul Sewald – ARI (57%)
3. Gregory Soto – PIT (41%)
4. Jacob Latz – TEX (33%)
5. Seranthony Domínguez – CHW (55%)
6. Tony Santillan – CIN (12%)
7. Hogan Harris – ATH (8%)
8. Keaton Winn – SF (8%)
9. Juan Mejia – COL (2%)
10. Gus Varland – WSH (11%)

The Watchlist: Grant Taylor (CHW), Antonio Senzatela (COL), Caleb Kilian (SF), Sam Bachman (LAA), Ryan Zeferjahn (LAA), Clayton Beeter (WSH), Graham Ashcraft (CIN), Joel Kuhnel (ATH), Yoendrys Gómez (MIN)

 

Holds – Top 10 (<=5%)

Rising names among setup men this week include Daniel Lynch IV, Sam Bachman, and Justin Slaten.

1. Daniel Lynch IV – KC (4%)
2. Brooks Raley – NYM (2%)
3. Jack Dreyer – LAD (3%) (injured list)
4. Sam Bachman – LAA (1%)
5. Justin Slaten – BOS (1%)
6. Mason Montgomery – PIT (2%)
7. Kyle Hurt – LAD (1%)
8. Yennier Cano – BAL (1%)
9. Brent Headrick – NYY (2%)
10. Braydon Fisher – TOR (3%)

NOTE: Matt Brash came off the injured list this week; while he’s too heavily rostered for these rankings, make sure he wasn’t dropped in your league.

 

SPRPs – Top 10 (Yahoo-eligible)

Rising names among SPRPs this week include Mason Montgomery, Grant Taylor, and Didier Fuentes.

1. Jack Dreyer – LAD (3%) (injured list)
2. Keaton Winn – SF (8%)
3. Ian Seymour – TB (9%)
4. Mason Montgomery – PIT (2%)
5. Jacob Latz – TEX (33%)
6. Antonio Senzatela – COL (16%)
7. Grant Taylor – CHW (12%)
8. Jack Perkins – ATH (11%)
9. Didier Fuentes – ATL (8%)
10. Tyler Wells – BAL (1%)