What annoys me about the Trevor Rosenthal situation is that he hit the injured list on Opening Day, without warning, for a shoulder injury that nobody other than the Oakland Athletics seemed to know about. Leading up to Opening Day, most thought the 30-year-old right-hander was fine and ready for a big season. Then, all of a sudden, he was not. Sure, Rosenthal missed time in March with a groin injury, but shoulder soreness is an entirely different problem which should scare both Athletics fans and fantasy managers alike.
Kudos to fantasy managers in ESPN standard leagues for keeping Rosenthal rostered, because normally we do not see this level of patience. After all, minutes after New York Yankees first baseman Luke Voit hurt a knee just a few weeks ago, he showed up on our most-dropped list. Voit led all of baseball in home runs last season! He should return in mid-May. He may be out there in your league. Rosenthal may or may not be. He remains among the top 10 in my fantasy reliever rankings.
Anyway, we not only lack clarity on when Rosenthal may return to the Athletics, but perhaps also who gets the next save chance. In fact, there has been nary a save chance so far for this 0-5 squad. Left-hander Jake Diekman got the predictable "vote of confidence" from manager Bob Melvin and struggled in his lone weekend outing, but so did all the Athletics. Roster Diekman for now, but J.B. Wendelken is the right-hander I would invest in over veteran Sergio Romo. I am hoping we get good news on Rosenthal this week. It could happen... and perhaps the Athletics will even tell us about it.
The reason why Rosenthal is worth keeping rostered so long as this is not a long-term absence, while others currently not getting saves (like Drew Pomeranz, Giovanny Gallegos, for example) may not be is because of the upside. Rosenthal turned his career around last season for the Kansas City Royals and then the San Diego Padres, posting a legit 1.90 ERA and an 0.85 WHIP, with 38 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings. He controlled his walks and saved 11 games. Rosenthal can be a top closer in fantasy when healthy, so here's hoping this occurs soon.
Top of the Player Rater: Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Julian Merryweather went from 0.1% rostered in ESPN standard leagues to being the most-added relief pitcher all in the course of one magical weekend. He displaced Jordan Romano, who led that list until Tuesday, but who should soon join the most-dropped list, where Kirby Yates leads the way. Things sure change quickly! Merryweather was a swingman last season and his last minor-league save came all the way back in 2015, but when he overpowered the Yankees, firing 100 mph fastballs by them, everyone noticed. Yeah, I added him in a league or two myself, just in case.
For more on Merryweather, check out what Tristan H. Cockcroft wrote about him. We also discussed him and myriad other relief pitchers on Monday's Fantasy Focus Baseball podcast.
Not top of the Rater: Chicago White Sox right-hander Liam Hendriks earned a weekend save after being summoned to get the final out of an eighth inning. This is a good thing in fantasy, in theory, as we want more innings and more chances for wins and strikeouts and everything else. It is a bit disheartening that the Milwaukee Brewers may utilize lefty Josh Hader in a more traditional, one-inning role. Hendriks did allow some runs thanks to a Shohei Ohtani home run, so his ERA is bloated. Still, his old-school manager is likely going to use him for every single save if he can, so perhaps now is a wise time to trade for someone with a 13.50 ERA.
Muddled situation to watch: Cincinnati Reds left-hander Amir Garrett and right-hander Lucas Sims seemed to be likely to share the team's closer role, but here comes Sean Doolittle, a left-hander with 111 career saves (109 more than Garrett and Sims combined). Doolittle does a lot, striking out half of the 10 hitters he has faced early on, with a win and a spotless ERA. Doolittle can be electric. He posted a 1.60 ERA in his 2018 All-Star season, but inconsistency, health issues and problems avoiding long home runs to right-handed batters have plagued him since then. He looks good today. Roster Garrett first, but it will not surprise me at all when Doolittle gets a save chance and throws this situation into flux.
Strikeout rate to watch: Brewers revelation Devin Williams took home NL Rookie of the Year honors in 2020 and everyone in fantasy wants to know who might be the next to post numbers like his. Perhaps White Sox right-hander Michael Kopech is the guy. We wanted him to start, but the White Sox nixed that plan for 2021, preferring to use him in a multi-inning relief role. Williams relies on a fastball/changeup mix, while Kopech gets his fastball into triple digits and offers up a devastating slider. He has faced 15 hitters so far and eight of them have struck out, with (again) a spotless ERA. Yeah, that will work.
Random save that may mean something: Unless there is an injury, it will take a lot for the Los Angeles Dodgers to remove the beloved Kenley Jansen from their closer role. For those rostering Blake Treinen as "next in line," maybe consider Corey Knebel instead? Remember Knebel saving 37 games for the 2017 Brewers? The Dodgers certainly do. His elbow now fixed after Tommy John surgery, Knebel saved Sunday's win at Coors Field. Jansen is the closer, and was surprisingly summoned for a five-out save on Saturday, but Treinen maybe a bit too popular in fantasy circles.
Hold on: For those seeking holds (or just solid relief innings), do not wait to add Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander David Bednar. Eventually, some saves should come. Bednar fanned 18-of-32 hitters faced over 8 2/3 spring innings, allowing three hits, one walk and nary a run. I find it hard to believe that he will remain behind Richard Rodriguez and Chris Stratton in the saves pecking order for long when he produces like this in games that count. Rodriguez is fine -- and is perhaps an underrated closer. However, he is also likely to be "trade bait" this summer.