Nearly everyone loves Seattle Mariners RHP Andres Munoz because he routinely reaches 100 mph with his fastball and there is potential for him to be a top-five closer. That has been the case for years. After tempting fantasy managers (and everyone else) with standout numbers in recent seasons, Munoz currently leads Seattle with 12 saves. Munoz, for his five-year career, boasts a 2.47 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP and a 35% strikeout rate. Those are nice numbers.
Journeyman RHP Ryne Stanek, seven years older and with four career saves entering 2024, hardly resembles Munoz statistically -- or in any other way, really. Well, guess who has been more valuable in fantasy baseball over the past 30 days. Ok, that's a bit of a trick question as they both have five saves and three holds over that span, albeit with different levels of overall effectiveness. Still, both members of this pair have exactly 63 ESPN fantasy points since mid-May.
Munoz is rostered in 82% of ESPN standard leagues. Stanek has been claimed in only 3.4%. Nobody would drop Munoz to add Stanek, but based on the stats, each fellow warrants rostering in ESPN and most leagues. These are the lone teammates among the top-10 RP fantasy scorers over the past month, and one of them is really, really available.
The Mariners last won the division in 2001, but manager Scott Servais has directed his squad to a large AL West lead. Servais does not care who earns the saves. He tends to utilize the electric Munoz -- the stopper -- when most necessary, occasionally in the eighth inning depending on who bats for the opposition. This is wise, and perhaps catching on with other managers. Games are won and lost prior to the ninth inning. Munoz, even as he deals with back problems, is better than Stanek, but not all closers need awesome stuff and experience.
Stanek has seven saves and 10 holds, making him the only pitcher in baseball with as many of both. Remember, this bullpen lost RHPs Matt Brash and Gregory Santos to injury. Neither has pitched in the majors this year. Stanek signed with the Mariners one week into March. He wasn't supposed to pitch ninth innings. Opportunity is the lure here. The numbers are not great, and he has nary a strikeout in all but one of his last seven outings. Still, his is a leverage role, and a valuable one. It's also one that is keeping Munoz from being a top-five closer.
Stock rising
Trevor Megill, Milwaukee Brewers: The No. 6 closer over the past month has not been perfect. He saved a pair of weekend wins over the Reds, but just barely. He needed an out at the plate to end one game and he allowed a run in the other. He has struck out only two of 22 hitters faced over his last five outings. Still, saves are saves and, until RHP Devin Williams returns from his back injury (if he returns, by the way), Megill is drastically undervalued and still out there in more than 80% of ESPN standard leagues. Worry about Williams later.
Ryan Helsley, St. Louis Cardinals: Helsley concerns us a bit because he has issued multiple walks in three of his last four appearances. Plus, his strikeout rate pales in comparison to recent seasons. Still, this guy is on pace for more than 50 saves. When the Cardinals win, it isn't by a lot. Wise fantasy managers, of course, should realize this hardly means Helsey will save another 24 games. If there is any relief pitcher one should float in trade talk, it's this one. Helsley has 11 saves over the past 30 days. Rangers RHP Kirby Yates, pitching better, has only three saves in that span. Trade Helsley for Yates plus something else good!
Griffin Jax, Minnesota Twins: Jax has more fantasy points than his team's closer, RHP Jhoan Duran, over the past month, mainly due to performance. Duran has outsaved him 8-1, but Jax boasts twice as many strikeouts. There is no imminent closer change coming, but Duran does pitch the eighth inning, on occasion, against certain lineup pockets, leaving the door open for Jax to earn a few more saves or vulture some wins.
Stock falling
Clay Holmes, New York Yankees: Ah, closers. Performance is never guaranteed. Holmes was the last closer to permit an earned run this season, doing so on May 20. He permitted four runs that day, and that was it until last week, when he blew a save to the Royals. Holmes has a 5.06 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP over the past month, with three blown saves. He has stopped missing bats. The extreme ground-baller has been unlucky, mostly, but what are the Yankees going to do, let RHP Luke Weaver close? Ha! Still, Holmes is a bit scary being this hittable. Weaver and journeyman RHP Michael Tonkin have more fantasy points than Holmes over the past 30 days. The Yankees may be trading for a closer soon.
Camilo Doval, San Francisco Giants: What is with the free passes, Camilo? Doval averaged 28 walks over 67 2/3 innings in the last two seasons -- still a high rate -- but this year, his walk rate has nearly doubled. His WHIP is 1.67. Doval still regularly throws 100 mph, but he lacks control. Compare him to submarining RHP Tyler Rogers, who has issued nary an unintentional walk for the entire season -- a record, actually -- and it is hard to believe. Doval may lose this role, though probably not to Rogers, who barely cracks 82 mph with his deceptive "fastball." Some will say now is a good time to trade for Doval. Nah, I disagree. This can get worse.
James McArthur, Kansas City Royals: This was a nice story, for a while, but this contending team needs an upgrade. Boston's Kenley Jansen, perhaps? Pittsburgh's David Bednar? McArthur has the team's lone save in June, but he is not pitching well. In fact, no Royals reliever has 30 fantasy points in June. What a mess. I advised you to ignore Tigers relief pitchers one month ago, notably RHP Jason Foley, and that stands. You do not want White Sox relievers, either. Add the Royals to make this an unfortunate AL Central hat trick.