Arizona Diamondbacks
After tossing six shutout innings with two hits, eight Ks, and five saves over his previous six games, Brad Boxberger blew his first save in 12 chances on May 9th when he allowed a game-tying HR to the Dodgers. Over 16 innings in 2018, Boxberger has a 2.25 ERA with eight walks and 22 Ks. Archie Bradley improved his scoreless run to ten innings with three hits and nine Ks. Yoshihisa Hirano struggled in two of his last four games (three runs and six baserunners over 3.2 innings with four games) while his ERA (2.81) and WHIP (0.88) remain in a winning area.
Atlanta Braves
Over the last two weeks, Arodys Vizcaino picked up four saves while allowing one run over five innings with three walks and five Ks. Vizcaino has one blown save in six opportunities. His biggest issue is ten walks allowed over 15.2 innings. A.J. Minter doesn’t look closer-worthy based on his last eight games (5.40 ERA and 2.10 WHIP). Dan Winkler has been exceptional over his last 7.2 innings (one run and 12 Ks).
Baltimore Orioles
Mychal Givens has been the Orioles best reliever since the middle of April. Over his last 9.1 innings, he has a 0.96 ERA with 15 Ks. I believe the next save chance in Baltimore will go to Givens. Darren O’Day has two saves over his last six games with a 2.70 ERA and nine Ks in 6.2 innings. O’Day is still in the mix for saves. Over the last week, Brad Brach allowed one run over 2.1 innings with seven baserunners and four Ks. He remains outside looking in for saves. Zach Britton is about ten days from pitching in a minor league game. His next step is pitching batting practice, which will take place next week.
Boston Red Sox
Craig Kimbrel tossed two perfect innings over the week with five Ks and one save. Kimbrel lowered his ERA to 1.23 with 21 Ks while converting nine of his ten save tries. Joe Kelly sure looks closer-worthy over his last 15.1 innings when he didn’t allow a run with two walks and 16 Ks. Matt Barnes has a 0.72 ERA over his last 9.2 innings with 15 Ks.
Chicago Cubs
Brandon Morrow is 8-for-9 in save conversions with a 1.38 ERA and 11 Ks over 13 innings. Over his last three innings, Morrow allowed two runs and five baserunners with a save and a blown save. Carl Edwards extended his shutout streak to 15 innings with 27 Ks. Batters don’t have a hit off of Edwards in his last 6.1 innings. He sure looks to have the skill set to close in 2018 if given an opportunity. Steve Cishek hasn’t allowed a run in 4.1 innings with three Ks and a save.
Chicago White Sox
Nate Jones hasn’t had a save chance since April 27th forcing Fantasy owners to guess on his role in the White Sox bullpen. Over his last five games, Jones gave up two runs and seven baserunners with four Ks. Joakim Soria struggled in two of his last three games (three runs and five hits over 2.1 innings with three Ks). Soria blew the last save chance in Chicago on May 1st. Luis Avilan has a 3.18 ERA over his last 5.2 innings with seven Ks.
Cincinnati Reds
Over the last month, Raisel Iglesias only has three save chances with one save chance resulting in failure. Iglesias has a 1.32 ERA over his last 13.2 innings with 14 Ks. David Hernandez threw the ball much better over his last three games (no runs over 3.1 innings with four Ks). Amir Garrett has a 1.35 ERA over his last 6.2 innings with ten Ks. The Reds need to win more games to create save chances.
Cleveland Indians
Cody Allen pitched as though he was hurt over his last five games. He allowed six runs, nine hits, and six walks over his last four innings with two Ks. Allen has five saves in six chances. Andrew Miller should be activated off the DL later this week, which may lead to him taking over the 9th inning. Tyler Olsen pitched poorly over three innings (six runs and 11 baserunners with four Ks).
Colorado Rockies
The Rockies have been productive in saves over the last year or so. Wade Davis is 14-for-15 in save conversions with a 2.35 ERA and 18 Ks over 15.1 innings. Over his last six innings, Wade allowed two runs and eight baserunners with eight Ks. Adam Ottavino issued six walks over his last 8.1 innings, but he only gave up two runs and four hits with 13 Ks. Bryan Shaw has a 3.00 ERA over his last six innings with five walks and ten Ks.
Detroit Tigers
Shane Greene has three saves in May with no runs allowed over 4.1 innings with no walks and eight Ks. On the year, Greene has two blown saves in nine chances. Joe Jimenez has been a disaster over his last 7.1 innings (8.59 ERA and 1.91 WHIP) putting him miles away from saves. Buck Farmer threw the ball well over his last 5.2 innings (one run, one hit, and seven Ks).
Houston Astros
Other than a disaster game on May 1st (four runs, four hits, and a home run over one-third of an innings), Ken Giles hasn’t allowed a run over his eight innings with two hits and six Ks with four save conversions. Chris Devenski saw his 11.1 innings scoreless streak on May 5th when he allowed a run and three baserunners over two-thirds of an innings. Brad Peacock improved his shutout streak to seven innings with nine Ks.
Kansas City Royals
Kelvin Herrera is 7-for-8 in save tries with one run allowed over 13.2 innings with no walks and 14 Ks. Brad Keller has a 1.42 ERA over his last 6.1 innings with two Ks. Tim Hill looks like the second-best arm in the Royals’ bullpen over his last 11 innings (3.27 ERA with ten Ks).
Los Angeles Angels
Keynan Middleton should return from the DL this week after spending ten days on the DL with a sore right elbow. He’s 6-for-7 in save tries with fade in his game over his last 5.1 innings (5.06 ERA and 1.69 WHIP). Based on the other closing option in LA, Middleton should move right back into the closing role. Blake Parker is trending back toward saves after allowing one run and five hits over his last seven innings with eight Ks. Cam Bedrosian blew a save on May 1st, and the Angels don’t have confidence in his arm in the 9th inning. Over his last two innings, Bedrosian allowed two runs and six baserunners with one K.
Los Angeles Dodgers
After a tough start to the year, Kenley Jansen is trending upward over his last seven games (1.13 ERA with seven Ks and three saves in eight innings). His ERA (4.30) and WHIP (1.36) still need plenty of work. Jansen has five saves in seven chances. Josh Fields struggled over his last five games (four runs and eight baserunners over five innings with two Ks). Pedro Baez lost his way over his last seven innings (six runs, 11 hits, eight walks, and 11 Ks).
Miami Marlins
Brad Ziegler threw the ball much better over his last 3.2 innings (no runs, two hits, no walks, four Ks, and two saves), but his ERA (6.28) and WHIP (1.40) is miles away from being playable. Ziegler has four blown saves in seven opportunities. Drew Steckenrider has been an electric over his last seven innings (no runs, two hits, no walks, and ten Ks). Over his last seven innings, Kyle Barraclough has a 2.57 ERA while allowing four hits and seven walks. Steckenrider should be the top choice for saves over the long haul.
Milwaukee Brewers
Corey Knebel will return from the DL on May 9th. He’ll have much more competition for saves with Josh Hader pitching at a high level. Hader allowed two runs and two baserunners over two innings with seven Ks, a win, and a save. Josh has a 1.64 ERA over 22 innings with 46 Ks and five saves. Jeremy Jeffress extended his scoreless streak to 14.2 innings with four hits and 13 Ks.
Minnesota Twins
Fernando Rodney hasn’t allowed a run over his last five innings with one hit, four Ks, and three saves. Rodney has five saves in eight tries. Based on his last 7.2 innings (5.87 ERA and 1.43 WHIP), Addison Reed may not be next in line for saves. Trevor Hildenberger hasn’t allowed a run over his last 4.1 innings with one hit, no walks, and four Ks.
New York Mets
Jeurys Familia only has one save over the last two weeks. Familia is 10-for-13 in save chances with a 1.59 ERA and 20 Ks over 17 innings. A.J. Ramos allowed a run and five hits over his last four innings with five Ks. Robert Gsellman blew up over his last 5.2 innings (six runs and 11 baserunners with three Ks).
New York Yankees
Aroldis Chapman blew his first save in nine opportunities on May 4th when he allowed a run in one inning or work. Chapman has a 0.90 ERA over his last ten innings with 20 Ks. Dellin Betances blew up again in his last game on May 6th when he allowed three runs and three hits over one inning. Over his last 7.1 innings, Betances has a 3.68 ERA with two walks and 15 Ks. David Robertson has three wins and a save over his last five games with a 1.80 ERA and seven Ks over five innings.
Oakland A’s
Over the last week, Blake Treinen tossed four shutout innings with eight baserunners, four Ks, and two saves. Treinen is 5-for-7 in save chances with strength in his ERA (1.13). Santiago Casilla threw four shutout inning in his last three games with only one K. Ryan Dull extended his scoreless run to 6.2 innings with five Ks.
Philadelphia Phillies
Hector Neris blew his second save in nine chances on May 6th when he allowed two runs and four baserunners while failing to record an out. Over his last nine innings, Neris has a 2.00 ERA with eight walks and 11 Ks. Tommy Hunter hasn’t been sharp over his last 4.1 innings (6.23 ERA and 1.85 WHIP). The new kid on the block on the Phillies is Seranthony Dominquez. He packs a high 90s fastball with a nice start to the 2018 season (three runs over 17.2 innings with 22 Ks and three walks) over three levels of baseball. The Phillies converted Dominquez to the bullpen this season. Edubray Ramos has a 1.42 ERA over his last 6.1 innings with eight Ks.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates only have one save opportunity over the last three weeks. Felipe Vazquez hasn’t blown a save in six chances with no runs allowed over his last 5.2 innings with six Ks. Michael Feliz improved his shutout run to seven innings with nine Ks. Richard Rodriguez hasn’t electric since being called up from the minors on April 17th. Rodriguez has a 0.79 ERA with 21 Ks and one walk over 11.1 innings.
San Diego Padres
Brad Hand has nine saves in 11 tries. He tossed three shutout innings over the last week with six Ks and three saves. Kirby Yates hasn’t allowed a run over his last 4.2 innings with five Ks and two wins. Phil Maton has a 0.69 ERA on the year with 14 Ks in 13 innings.
San Francisco Giants
Over the last two games, Hunter Strickland allowed three runs, four baserunners, and a home run over two innings. His ERA (2.87) and WHIP (0.96) remain in a favorable area while converting eight of ten saves on the year. Tony Watson extended his shutout streak to eight innings with no walks and six Ks. Mark Melancon threw a bullpen session last week, which puts him a couple of weeks away from the returning to the majors. I still don’t trust his health. Sam Dyson hasn’t allowed a run over his last 8.2 innings with two Ks.
Seattle Mariners
Edwin Diaz picked up a loss and a blown save in his last three games after allowing three runs, four baserunners, and two HRs over his last three innings with two Ks. Diaz is 13-for-14 in save conversions with a 1.96 ERA and 0.82 WHIP over 18.1 innings. Juan Nicasio stumbled in his last three games (three runs and seven baserunners over three innings with three Ks). James Pazos improved his shutout run to 10.1 innings with no walks and ten Ks.
St. Louis Cardinals
Bud Norris is battling a right triceps issue, but he may avoid the DL. His last appearance came on May 5th. Norris has seven saves in as many chances. Over his last two games, Bud allowed two runs and four baserunners over 1.2 innings with one K. Greg Holland tossed two shutout innings over the last week with one K, but he remains empty in the save department in 2018. Jordan Hicks issued 13 walks in 17.1 innings in the majors with seven Ks. John Brebbia has been impressive in his four games in the majors (no runs over seven innings with no walks and nine Ks). Brebbia could be a dark horse for saves if Norris lands on the DL.
Tampa Bay Rays
Alex Colome picked up a pair of losses in his last four games when he allowed a run in each game. Colome looks better over his last 8.2 innings (2.08 ERA with 11 Ks) leading to two saves and two wins). Alex has six saves in eight chances. Jose Alvarado extended his scoreless run to five innings with three Ks. Jonny Venters hasn’t allowed a run over 3.1 innings with no Ks.
Texas Rangers
Despite pitching poorly over his last 6.2 innings (eight runs and 12 baserunners), Keone Kela hasn’t blown a save in seven chances on the year. Most of the damage came on May 5th when Kela allowed four runs and five baserunners over one inning with two Ks. Jose Leclerc struggled in his last three games (three runs and five baserunners over three innings with four Ks). Alex Claudio has been a disaster over his last 7.1 innings (7.36 ERA and 2.32 WHIP).
Toronto Blue Jays
Fantasy owners can’t be happy with the decision making of Roberto Osuna over the last week off the field. A domestic issue led to him being suspended indefinitely until his court case is resolved. Seung Hwan Oh should get the first chance at saves. Oh didn’t allow a run or hit over his last four innings with three Ks. He has a 0.84 ERA over his last 10.2 innings with 11 Ks. Tyler Clippard has closing experience as well. Over his last 8.2 innings, Clippard didn’t allow a run with six walks and 11 Ks. Ryan Tepera struggled over his last two games (three runs, seven baserunners, and two HRs over two innings). John Axford is a dark horse for saves after pitching well over his last 8.1 innings (no runs with seven Ks).
Washington Nationals
Sean Doolittle remains on the path for an elite season after allowing only three runs in 15.2 innings with 24 Ks and six successful saves. Over his last 7.2 innings, Doolittle allowed no runs and one hit with eight Ks and four saves. Ryan Madsen didn’t give up a run over his last 2.2 innings with two Ks. Brandon Kintzler has a 0.61 ERA over his last 14.2 innings with 14 Ks.
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