Six different Seattle Mariners have registered saves so far, which seems like it might be some kind of record before May. Many regard right-hander Anthony Swarzak as the closer because he throws right-handed and has that "closer stuff," whatever that is. (I guess it
Then again, lefty Roenis Elias, a 30-year-old swingman type with no saves and just one hold in his career, leads the club with four saves. Swarzak, who started the season on the injured list, has three. Connor Sadzeck, Chasen Bradford, Nick Rumbelow and the injured Hunter Strickland are the others with saves. Game flow often determines these unclarified situations, and the team has used Swarzak as the team's "top relief pitcher," but on occasion, that means a seventh- or eighth-inning call. Elias saved two weekend wins in Anaheim, Swarzak only one, when Elias was likely unavailable.
Seems to me, this is a shared situation until performance or injury dictates change, and it will. Elias is among the most added relief pitchers but remains available in more than 80 percent of leagues. The problem here is that Swarzak could soon end up on the other side and should not. Fantasy managers want saves, but the Mariners, who are a cool and likely misleading 16-9, have provided little clarity. Elias pitched effectively out of the Seattle bullpen in 2018 -- 2.02 ERA, 1.17 WHIP in 35⅔ innings -- but he is not inducing ground balls and is not striking out hitters at any great rate. He is relying heavily on the changeup and barely on his curveball, and he has an average fastball. It's working for him, but that fancy ERA could double. Soon. His xFIP actually is double his ERA.
We all want saves, but investing in the Seattle bullpen is a tad dangerous. Strickland is out for months and with little guarantee he retains the role, so move on from there. I watched minor league closer Matt Festa closely when he was with the Mariners, but he started walking people and was sent back to Triple-A. Brandon Brennan, the Rule 5 pick plucked from the White Sox system at 27 years old, has been the team's top reliever, though he has permitted runs in two of three outings.
Swarzak remains the only Seattle reliever worth adding in standard mixed formats. That hardly means Elias can't see more ninth-inning work, but it seems unlikely his performance will demand it for long. Swarzak is rostered in 20 percent of leagues, a bit more than suddenly popular Elias, but I would be surprised if the right-hander does not save more games because he misses bats and handles lefties, in theory, with an effective slider. Two pitches is enough for a reliever if they are good ones.
• Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Hector Neris and Boston Red Sox right-hander Ryan Brasier are the most added relief pitchers who are actually being used as relief pitchers. They are save options. Neris gets little credit, but since returning from Triple-A Lehigh Valley (go to Allentown, Pennsylvania, right now for a game and eat loads of bacon) last season, he has thrown 27⅓ innings, striking out 50 hitters against seven walks with six earned runs. Brasier is excellent as well, and it seems clear, for now, that he will save more games than Matt Barnes.
• Give up on Chicago Cubs right-hander Brandon Morrow. It seems unlikely that his balky elbow will permit him to pitch in the majors any time soon, if ever again. Perhaps the All-Star break? Who knows? Morrow is rostered in more leagues than Swarzak, which seems a bit silly. There is no reason Pedro Strop cannot save 30 games this season, though I doubt he will. Strop has both of Chicago's saves so far.
• Meanwhile, Detroit Tigers right-hander Shane Greene has saved all 10 of Detroit's wins. This save business is crazy sometimes. Opportunity varies wildly. The Cubs, Nats and Rockies all have 10 wins as well yet just two saves each. Unpredictable!
• If Texas Rangers closer Jose Leclerc loses the role, I don't think Shawn Kelley would keep it. Injury always finds him. Kelley, 34, has yet to throw 60 innings in a season. I don't know why Leclerc is so wild lately, but I benched him in a few leagues, and I will be patient otherwise. If he does lose the job, it will likely be temporary.
• A week ago, I was concerned about Cincinnati Reds closer Raisel Iglesias, and he answered that concern with three consecutive appearances in which he struck out the side. To be fair, the velocity on his slider has fluctuated this season but looked great last week. Glad I could help.
• Will Smith investors have to wonder why outgoing Giants manager Bruce Bochy keeps telling everyone that right-hander Mark Melancon, with a spotless ERA so far but diminished stuff, will earn save chances soon. Perhaps he says this so that other teams will ignore that Melancon is no longer a closer yet trade for him and his bloated contract anyway as if he is Craig Kimbrel. I don't know. But it seems unlikely that Smith saves 25 games. The Giants are bad, and Smith could be dealt any day, and he would likely assume a setup role for a contender.
Monday recap
Box scores
Highlights:
• Dexter Fowler, OF, St. Louis Cardinals: 4-for-5, HR, 4 RBI, 3 R
• Jorge Polanco, SS, Minnesota Twins: 4-for-5, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R
• Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies: 3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
• Steven Matz, SP, New York Mets: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
• J.A. Happ, SP, New York Yankees: 7 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Lowlights:
• Lorenzo Cain, OF, Milwaukee Brewers: 0-for-3, 2 K
• Logan Forsythe, 1B/2B, Texas Rangers: 0-for-4, 3 K
• Brad Keller, SP, Kansas City Royals: 6⅓ IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
• Tyler Anderson, SP, Colorado Rockies: 3 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
• Zack Godley, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks: 4 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
Monday takeaways
.@Pirates reinstate OF Gregory Polanco from 10-day IL; option LHP Steven Brault to Triple-A Indianapolis.
- MLBRosterMoves (@MLBRosterMoves) April 22, 2019
• Baseball teams hardly need to be forthright with their plans, but the Pirates had said Polanco and his troublesome shoulder would possibly come off the injured list later in the week. Fantasy managers took that as a sign to leave Polanco on their benches. Instead, Polanco batted third on Monday and contributed a single and a double in the 12-4 loss. Polanco, rostered in a mere 23 percent of ESPN standard leagues, has been a top-20 outfielder in the past -- as much for his potential as for his actual statistics. I happen to think Polanco is overrated in our world. He has yet to hit .260 in a season, and the power/speed profile is enticing but just not enough when combined with constant injury concerns. Still, he should be among the most added players soon, because even when disappointing, he can be a top-50 outfielder for sure.
• White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez, whom I doubt we will compare to Polanco any time soon but who is off to a rather slow start, is on the bereavement list, meaning the 22-year-old rookie will be dropped even more. This is, of course, a mistake. Jimenez will hit. Nobody knows what the young player is dealing with. Nicky Delmonico gets a few days in the majors as Jimenez's replacement. When talking other White Sox outfielders, watch Ryan Cordell, a Triple-A repeater and well past prospect status but with the capability of double digits for home runs and steals. I still think Jimenez hits more than 20 home runs in the majors this season.
• Bad job by Phillies hothead Bryce Harper getting himself thrown out of a tight game against the Mets. Harper fanned twice against Mets lefty Steven Matz and for the first time this season did not reach base in a game. Harper will be fine. He is what he is and remains a top-20 fantasy option. Matz remains what he is as well. Yes, the Phillies embarrassed him last week, when he failed to retire a hitter and allowed eight runs. On Monday, predictably, against a lineup missing a few regulars, he bounced back. Matz was an excellent buy-low option if managers cut him, and that is not hindsight. Always look at top-60 pitchers after a brutal outing and see if they are hurt, long-time strugglers or simply unlucky for one 30-minute period like Matz was.
Health report
• Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland shut down the Phillies at Coors Field over the weekend but began this week on the injured list for a blister. Freeland performed surprisingly well a season ago, and it might be too late to buy low on future production. Perhaps he misses only one start, but as we have seen with Aaron Sanchez and Rich Hill, among others, blisters can be a long-term issue. In this case, Freeland can still be a top-40 starter.
• Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus and Mets utility option Jeff McNeil left games prematurely after being hit by pitch on the hand. As of now, neither situation appears dire. Andrus was not good in 2018. Nobody pretends he was. In 2017, however, he hit 20 home runs and stole 25 bases -- and it seems everyone forgot it. Andrus already has three home runs and four steals. I am just saying I think it is real. McNeil, by the way, is versatile and a terrific batting average option, though with little pop or speed. If the Mets give McNeil 500 PA, that .300 batting average will really help.
W2W4
• Rain cost the Tigers and Red Sox a Monday game, so they will play two -- weather permitting -- on Tuesday. We could say watching the likes of Michael Chavis -- whom I love, in a fantasy baseball sorta way -- and Niko Goodrum is important, but it is really all about Sox lefty Chris Sale and his 8.50 ERA and 0-4 record. I think things will improve today. Sale is great. His velocity, movement and control are a bit off, but it is April. Give him time. I would not shy away from Tigers starters Matthew Boyd and Spencer Turnbull, either, if you normally rely on them. Boyd is among the leaders in strikeouts per inning.
• Christian Yelich was held in check against the Cardinals on Monday but few discuss that Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt hammers the Brewers as well. Tuesday's starters are Zach Davies and Daniel Ponce de Leon, so more home runs seem likely. Or do they? Davies has permitted two home runs in four starts, a figure that belies his average stuff. Davies avoids hard contact somehow. He did in his relevant 2016 and 2017 seasons, at least. Ponce de Leon is an extreme fly ball hurler, however, which in this era seems like a problem.
Monday, April 22: Weekend wrap, injured stars edition
Thursday, April 18: Free agents to get, led by several Tampa Bay Rays
Wednesday, April 17: Garrett Hampson, Steven Matz, Blake Snell
Tuesday, April 16: Closer report, Raisel Iglesias struggles
Monday, April 15: Weekend wrap, Clayton Kershaw value