Reliever Report
The MLB trading deadline has come and gone and with that has brought some new opportunities for saves. This week we have some new closers to discuss as well as some relievers who may be solid speculative adds. We also see the return of Nick Anderson who, when given the chance, could be a top-10 reliever.
Greg Holland - Kansas City (#34)
The Trevor Rosenthal trade opened up the closer role in Kansas City and Greg Holland looks like he will get first crack at the job. Holland racked up 166 saves across four seasons from 2013-2017 (he was out all of 2016) so he has experience and he’s been effective. Holland has been sneaky good so far this year despite the fact he doesn’t possess overwhelming velocity on his fastball. The biggest reason why? He is using his slider almost 51% of the time - a career high. He has a 36.6% whiff percentage with it and he’s been throwing it harder than he has in the past. Holland should be a priority add and he makes his top-100 debut this week.
Wade Davis - Colorado (#70)
How bad are things in Colorado’s bullpen? So bad that the potential return of Wade Davis looks like an upgrade. The Rockies bullpen ranks 29th in baseball with a -2.6 WAR and in 131.1 innings this year, Rockies relievers have given up a whopping 111 runs. Even with the acquisition of Mychal Givens at the deadline, things are dire. Davis is two years removed from saving 43 games but he had an ERA north of 9.00 in 2019. He’s working his way back from a shoulder strain so he is unlikely to be 100% when he does return. Unless your fantasy team’s pitching staff looks as bad as Colorado’s, I wouldn’t be kicking the tires here.
Nick Anderson - Tampa Bay (#17)
Nick Anderson was activated from the DL and rejoins a Tampa Bay team that has the best record in the American League. Anderson has yet to give up a run over 9.1 innings but the real question is whether or not the Rays will give him the chance to be the full-time closer. He got the save Friday night in his first outing back, though there were some tense moments with a leadoff walk and an error. The walk was uncharacteristic of Anderson (just the second he has issued this season) but he bounced back to retire the final three hitters he faced. With the Rays facing several key injuries in their bullpen, I believe Anderson will be their primary option in high leverage situations. Deploy him with confidence.
Jose Cisnero - Detroit (#47)
Gregory Soto got two saves in the last week but he had a blowup on Friday in the second game of a doubleheader. Enter Jose Cisnero who came in to close things out and in the process looked like he might have earned some future save opportunities. He came in to close yesterday, however, and blew the save chance in a 4-3 loss to Minnesota so we might be back to square one. Cisnero has a tidy 23/7 K/BB ratio to go along with a 2.21 ERA and prior to yesterday he went 11 straight appearances without allowing a run. He has been Detroit’s most effective bullpen arm but he might be better served in a setup role. That said, both Soto and Joe Jimenez are probably rostered so Cisnero is your speculative add here. I will be putting in a modest bid tonight in TGFBI.
Stefan Crichton - Arizona (#81)
Kevin Ginkel has received the first couple of save opportunities after Archie Bradley was traded but he’s been a gas can this year. If I had to add someone in Arizona it would be Stefan Crichton and he’s going to be significantly cheaper in the way of FAAB. Crichton is primarily a sinkerball pitcher who keeps the ball out of the air with just a 19.2% flyball rate. That will help in an NL West that has some of the most offensive friendly environments in baseball. Crichton is averaging a strikeout per inning and carries a 2.89 ERA so the ratios are solid. Don’t go overboard here but throw out a “keep them honest” big on him tonight.
SPARP Update
Seth Lugo - New York Mets (#8)
Lugo fired five innings of one-run baseball on Saturday night striking out 8 and throwing 81 pitches in the process. He did take a ball off this throwing hand in his final pitch of the night but x-rays came back negative. Lugo said he wasn’t worried about the injury after the game so he looks like he is good to go for his next start. Assuming that is true, he lines up against Toronto this week in a favorable matchup. He is still two starts away from gaining starting pitcher eligibility but he should be rostered in points leagues. He is vastly under owned across every platform as his stuff can be nasty:
Randy Dobnak - Minnesota (#6)
Should Randy Dobnak start to get serious consideration for American League Rookie of the Year? I think it possible he should. He doesn’t have gaudy strikeout numbers but he is one of the most effective arms in baseball right now. He went five innings on Friday night striking out four and limiting the Tigers to just five baserunners in picking up his sixth win of the year. His ERA is sitting at 2.72 right now which is eighth among starter in the American League. I have Dobnak comfortably inside the SPARP top-10 and he should be owned in all formats.
Chad Green - New York Yankees (#15)
Green has been spectacular for the Yankees so far with a 25/5 K/BB ratio. He picked up his first save of the season Friday in the first game of a doubleheader. He hasn’t been used a starter yet but I moved him inside the top-15 SPARP rankings because he has been pitching in long relief and he could luckbox his way into a win here and there.
This week I moved Drew Pomeranz way down the rankings for both traditional relievers and SPARP’s. He can still be useful but without getting all the save opportunities, he loses quite a bit of value. Same with Emilio Pagan who landed on the DL and may not be back in the regular season. Edwin Diaz had a decent week striking out seven over three innings and picking up a win in the process. He is still being plagued by walks but the swing and miss in his game seems to be back. I am holding steady with him in the rankings. Holland, Cisnero, and Cricthon make their top-100 debuts and are ranked according to their respective situations.
Dynasty Bonus: Trevor Gott is out as closer in San Francisco so he moves down and almost out of the top-100 for now. I know these are re-draft rankings but for those of you in dynasty leagues, here is a name I would go grab for the future in San Francisco: Camilo Doval. He is reportedly up to 98 mph on his fastball in Sacramento and he struck out 80 California League hitters in just 56 innings last season. Scoop him if is available.