Nine pitchers entered this week with multiple saves, and of that group, three of them remained available in more than 50% of ESPN standard fantasy baseball leagues. Saves are out there in deeper leagues, too, and quite a few save situations remain in flux. Others will be any day now. We focus on the relief pitchers in this space every other week, and this week, here are 10 thoughts on 10 closing situations.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Evan Phillips remains dominant, and some people may view the fact he has barely half the team's seven saves as a sign he is not really the closer, being utilized earlier in games like last season. It is not true, at least so far. Phillips has closed the four save chances when he has been available. However, Daniel Hudson is clearly next in line. The Dodgers are going to win so much that Phillips will be unavailable for more save chances than most top closers. Hudson, 37, has never saved more than 10 games in a season, and he threw only 27⅓ innings over the past two seasons due to recovery from Tommy John surgery and then a torn ACL, but he may do so in 2024.
Detroit Tigers: There has already been a major change here, as Alex Lange, saver of 26 games a season ago, was bypassed for the team's first several save chances in favor of the competent Jason Foley. Foley has pitched well, but the best pitcher in this bullpen still lurks. Veteran Shelby Miller has permitted nary a base hit in six innings, further resurrecting his career after his work last season with the Dodgers. Miller has a pair of wins and a hold, so perhaps he sticks as the shutdown fellow for the seventh and eighth innings, but there is nice upside for fantasy if he forces his way into the ninth inning.
Philadelphia Phillies: LHP Jose Alvarado boasts both of the team's traditional, ninth-inning saves, but he has been wild, and RHP Orion Kerkering may enter the ninth-inning picture once activated from the injured list, which should occur this weekend. Kerkering throws hard, and he dominates with a sweeping slider. Even with Jeff Hoffman and Seranthony Dominguez healthy, Kerkering may vault both of them to become the team's right-handed closing option soon. Keep an eye on this in deeper formats.
Toronto Blue Jays: Most assumed Yimi Garcia would save wins with Jordan Romano on the shelf with elbow inflammation, but Chad Green has the team's lone save, and he would have earned another on Monday if it was a three-run margin, not a four-run margin (how ridiculous is the save rule? There is nothing like this in other sports!). Garcia has pitched significantly earlier in games. Romano may return to active duty this week, along with presumed setup man Erik Swanson, but Green, who barely pitched the past few years, may remain in a high-leverage role, especially if others have setbacks.
Arizona Diamondbacks: One of three teams with nary a save (Athletics, Marlins), the Diamondbacks are surely the only contender among them. Paul Sewald (oblique) remains about two weeks from returning. Kevin Ginkel has blown a save and allowed runs in consecutive games, leaving the door open for Scott McGough to usurp the role, but he has lost in his past three appearances, too. Add Sewald now, for he can still save 30 games.
Miami Marlins: Well, they finally won on Sunday, but things are not going well, and closer Tanner Scott could end up on a contender soon. Why wait until late July, right? Scott has six walks and five whiffs in his first four innings, losing twice. Fellow LHP Andrew Nardi has a 2.54 WHIP. Anthony Bender saved six games last season, but we should keep an eye on George Soriano for when he moves into a leverage role soon.
Oakland Athletics: Mason Miller allowed a few runs in his season debut, entering in the ninth inning trailing 10-3 to the Guardians, and he has pitched twice since, each for two innings. Miller averages a cool 100 mph with his fastball, and everyone presumes his "closer stuff" will translate to saves. Perhaps it will. Still, Dany Jimenez, saver of 11 wins in 2022, may be first in line for save chances, should some arise.
Kansas City Royals: Will Smith sure didn't waste much time losing the closer role. The veteran lefty with 20-plus saves for three franchises still could make it four with the Royals, but it seems unlikely, as right-handed batters feast on his offerings. RHP James McArthur is off to his own disturbing start, though a .500 BABIP appears to be the culprit. Hey, anything is possible. Chris Stratton and Nick Anderson lurk as well. Relying on Smith seems dangerous, but really, do the Royals know this?
Colorado Rockies: Jake Bird rescued Nick Mears in the ninth inning Monday, earning the team's first save, while Justin Lawrence pitched a reasonable eighth inning. Mears threw 31 pitches to get two outs, only 16 of them strikes. Perhaps Bird gets the next chance as well, but it remains difficult to recommend any Rockies hurlers. Incredibly, Lawrence is the lone Rockies pitcher rostered in more than 0.7% of ESPN standard leagues, at 3.5%, and even that feels like too much.
Texas Rangers: We close this week with the champions, who enjoyed an impeccable run of solid relief pitching last September and in the playoffs. Jose Leclerc was particularly dominant, striking out 19 hitters over 13⅔ innings to finish the regular season, and in the World Series, he allowed only one of the 11 batters he faced to reach base. We all wanted to believe he would finally save 30 games. Perhaps he will, but Leclerc looks awful so far, allowing six runs in four innings, walking five and striking out two of 23 batters. David Robertson already has four holds, but Kirby Yates lurks and has closing experience, too. Leclerc cannot keep the closer role for long unless he turns things around.