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NBC Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Giants make a change as Camilo Doval assumes closer role
In this week's Closer Report, Camilo Doval has officially been named the Giants' closer as he supplants Ryan Walker. Daniel Palencia is taking advantage of his opportunity in Chicago. And the Diamondbacks get Justin Martinez back from the injured list. All that and more as we run down the last week in saves. Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners Josh Hader - Houston Astros Muñoz picked up a save with a perfect inning against the Astros on Friday, needing just seven pitches to secure his 17th of the season. The 26-year-old right-hander still holds a clean 0.00 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, and a 28/8 K/BB ratio across 22 2/3 innings. Hader got his turn on Saturday and struck out the side against Seattle for the save. He then worked around a hit, collecting three more strikeouts to lock down his 14th save against the Athletics on Wednesday. Robert Suarez - San Diego Padres Edwin Díaz - New York Mets Mason Miller - Athletics Luke Weaver - New York Yankees Jhoan Duran - Minnesota Twins Suarez had a busy week on the mound, pitching in four out of six games and picking up two saves. The 34-year-old right-hander is up to 17 this season with a 2.35 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and a 23/8 K/BB ratio across 23 innings. With Suarez getting the night off on Tuesday, Jeremiah Estrada stepped in for his first save of the season, striking out two batters against the Marlins. Díaz recorded a save and a win this week as he extended his scoreless streak to 12 appearances. He's up to 11 saves with a 2.42 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and a 31/11 K/BB ratio across 22 1/3 innings. Miller worked three straight games against the Phillies this week. His struggles continued Friday as he allowed three runs in a non-save situation. He got a save chance Saturday but allowed a game-tying homer before striking out the side. Miller finally came through with a scoreless outing Sunday, picking up his 12th save. Weaver secured two more saves over the last week against the Rangers and Rockies, then worked a scoreless inning in a non-save situation against the Angels on Monday. The 31-year-old right-hander has recorded eight saves with a 0.73 ERA, 0.69 WHIP, and a 23/7 K/BB ratio across 24 23 innings. With Weaver getting a day off, Devin Williams stepped in for the save chance with a three-run lead and surrendered two runs before converting the save, his first since April 17. Weaver's role should be safe for the time being. It was a mixed bag of results for Duran. He fell in line for a win Saturday against the Royals, then took a loss Sunday before bouncing back with a save against the Rays on Tuesday. Still, the 27-year-old right-hander holds a 1.07 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and a 30/11 K/BB ratio across 25 1/3 innings. Emmanuel Clase - Cleveland Guardians Ryan Helsley - St. Louis Cardinals Tanner Scott - Los Angeles Dodgers Jeff Hoffman - Toronto Blue Jays Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox Pete Fairbanks - Tampa Bay Rays Camilo Doval - San Francisco Giants Will Vest/Tommy Kahnle - Detroit Tigers Kyle Finnegan - Washington Nationals Raisel Iglesias - Atlanta Braves Félix Bautista - Baltimore Orioles Justin Martinez - Arizona Diamondbacks Clase worked back-to-back games against the Tigers, picking up a save Friday with a clean inning before giving up two runs, one earned, in a non-save situation Saturday. He bounced back Wednesday with his 11th save, striking out one batter against the Dodgers. Helsley held on for a save on Friday against the Diamondbacks despite giving up two runs. He then fell in line for a win with a scoreless inning Saturday and struck out two in a clean outing for a save Tuesday. The 30-year-old right-hander has converted 11 saves with a 3.32 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and a 21/11 K/BB ratio across 19 innings. Scott is in the middle of a rough stretch, giving up nine runs over his last five outings. He blew a save Friday with three runs allowed against the Mets, then surrendered a lead in the eighth with four runs given up against the Guardians on Wednesday. Hoffman gave up two runs to blow a save chance against the Padres last Thursday, then bounced back with saves on Monday and Wednesday against the Rangers. The 32-year-old right-hander has struggled this month, giving up 13 runs after taking a 1.17 ERA through April. Megill secured three saves in five days over the last week, giving him ten on the season to go with a 2.45 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and a 20/11 K/BB ratio across 18 1/3 innings. He's recorded seven saves this month after just three through April. Chapman blew a save chance Tuesday against the Brewers, then pitched a scoreless inning in a non-save situation Wednesday. He remains at eight saves with a 2.05 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and a 29/8 K/BB ratio across 22 innings. Fairbanks worked back-to-back saves against the Blue Jays this week, collecting two strikeouts over two scoreless innings. The 31-year-old right-hander is up to ten saves with a 2.05 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and a 22/12 K/BB ratio across 22 innings. This is where Doval starts in the rankings after he was anointed the Giants' closer on Wednesday. Manager Bob Melvin stated Ryan Walker will take a step back into setup duties while Doval moves forward as closer. The 27-year-old right-hander has already recorded five saves and has not allowed a run over his last 19 appearances dating back to April 7. Vest converted back-to-back saves on Monday and Tuesday against the Giants. After pitching in three of four games, Kahnle stepped in for the save Wednesday. Both relievers are up to seven saves, though Vest has been the preferred option over the last several weeks. Finnegan was sidelined for a few days as he nursed some shoulder fatigue. Jorge López stepped in for a save on Saturday against the Giants. Meanwhile, Iglesias continues his inconsistent performance and he's struggled with home runs. He gave up a solo homer on Friday against the Padres to take the loss. And in Baltimore, Bautista had some better outings this week with two clean appearances, including his eighth save of the season Monday against the Cardinals. Martinez returned for the Diamondbacks this week. He made his first appearance on Saturday against the Cardinals and surrendered two runs to blow the lead. While not the results he wanted, his velocity was back up to 100 mph. He made a clean appearance with one strikeout against the Pirates on Monday. Martinez should step into primary closing duties with Shelby Miller potentially mixing in if Martinez faces the tough part of a lineup in the eighth. AJ Puk is in the middle of his rehab from an elbow injury and is eligible to return on July 1. Daniel Palencia - Chicago Cubs David Bednar/Dennis Santana - Pittsburgh Pirates Emilio Pagan - Cincinnati Reds Jordan Romano - Philadelphia Phillies Kenley Jansen - Los Angeles Angels Carlos Estévez - Kansas City Royals Robert Garcia - Texas Rangers With Porter Hodge on the injured list with an oblique strain, Palencia has gotten the chance to run with the closer role for the Cubs. He's locked down four saves over the last eight days and holds a 1.83 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and a 21/7 K/BB ratio across 19 2/3 innings. Bednar recorded two saves for the Pirates and has three of the team's last four as it seems he's becoming the preferred option for the ninth inning. Pagan surrendered a run against the Cubs on Saturday before holding on for his 13th save. He allowed another run Monday in a non-save situation. In Philadelphia, Romano broke a nine-game scoreless streak with three runs allowed in a non-save situation against the Athletics on Friday, then bounced back with a save against the Braves on Tuesday. Jansen made one appearance this week, working around two walks and striking out one batter for a save against the Marlins on Friday. The 37-year-old right-hander is up to 11 saves with a 4.96 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and a 16/5 K/BB ratio across 16 1/3 innings. Estévez earned a win in his only outing this week as he recorded four outs and collected two strikeouts against the Twins on Sunday. And in Texas, Garcia has the last two saves and three on the season as he usurps Luke Jackson as closer. Ronny Henriquez - Miami Marlins Zach Agnos - Colorado Rockies Jordan Leasure/Steven Wilson - Chicago White Sox Henriquez was featured in last week's stash section and was given a chance to close out games this week. He picked up a win Saturday against the Angels, then converted a save with two strikeouts on Sunday. However, he gave up two runs to lose the lead when the team used him in the seventh and eighth on Wednesday. Calvin Faucher recorded the save. It's been a fluid situation all season, but Henriquez likely has the most upside of the group. Meanwhile, Agnos recorded one save for Colorado and Wilson locked down a save for the White Sox. Aaron Ashby made his season debut for the Brewers this week after missing the beginning of the season with an oblique injury. The 27-year-old left-hander once showed promise as a starting pitcher but has been much more effective out of the bullpen. He's made two appearances, pitching three scoreless innings with four strikeouts. While Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe have the late innings locked down, Ashby could be in line for multi-inning outings that could be useful for strikeouts in deeper leagues. The Angels could be getting a major bullpen upgrade with the addition of Robert Stephenson, who was activated from the 60-day injured list on Wednesday. The 32-year-old right-hander missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. Stephenson struck out two in a clean inning of work against the Yankees in his first action back and could work his way into high-leverage work in short order.
NBC Sports
22-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Phillies turn back to Jordan Romano following suspension to José Alvarado
In this week's Closer Report, Jordan Romano is thrust back into the closer role in Philadelphia following José Alvarado's 80-game suspension. Meanwhile, the Yankees aren't ready to hand ninth-inning opportunities back to Devin Williams yet with Luke Weaver holding things down. All that and more as we break down the week in saves. Tier 1: At the Top Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners Josh Hader - Houston Astros Mason Miller - Athletics Muñoz struck out one batter while recording a four-out save on Saturday against the Padres, then struck out the only batter he faced for his 15th save Monday against the White Sox. He collected save number 16 with a scoreless outing on Wednesday. The 26-year-old right-hander has started the season on a 21 2/3-inning scoreless streak with a 28/8 K/BB ratio. Hader recorded saves on back-to-back days this week against the Rangers and Rays. The 31-year-old left-hander is up to 12 on the season to go with a 1.71 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and a 29/5 K/BB ratio across 21 innings. Miller took the loss in extra innings on Saturday against the Giants, issuing three walks to end the game in the bottom of the tenth. He's struggled a bit with command of late, walking seven batters over his last four outings. Robert Suarez - San Diego Padres Tanner Scott - Los Angeles Dodgers Jhoan Duran - Minnesota Twins Edwin Díaz - New York Mets No action for Suarez this week. He remains at 15 saves with a 2.84 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, and a 21/8 K/BB ratio across 19 innings. Elsewhere in the NL West, Scott had given up just one run since April 1 before allowing three runs on a pair of homers against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday. He then bounced back with two strikeouts in a clean inning for his tenth save on Wednesday. Duran was charged with a blown save on Wednesday, giving up a run on two hits against the Guardians. He fell in line for the win when Minnesota walked it off in the bottom of the ninth. He had gone into Wednesday's outing on a 12-game scoreless streak, collecting six of his eight saves in May. Díaz struck out two batters in a clean inning against the Yankees on Saturday for his tenth save of the season. He's made nine straight scoreless appearances, recording a 2.84 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and a 27/9 K/BB ratio over 19 innings this season. Emmanuel Clase - Cleveland Guardians Ryan Helsley - St. Louis Cardinals Luke Weaver - New York Yankees Jeff Hoffman - Toronto Blue Jays Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers Pete Fairbanks - Tampa Bay Rays Raisel Iglesias - Atlanta Braves Ryan Walker - San Francisco Giants Kyle Finnegan - Washington Nationals Félix Bautista - Baltimore Orioles Will Vest/Tommy Kahnle - Detroit Tigers Clase struck out two batters in a non-save situation against the Reds on Saturday. The Guardians then put a save chance just out of reach on Wednesday, with Clase pitching the ninth with a four-run lead. Helsley tossed a clean inning against the Royals on Saturday for his ninth save. After struggling to limit walks for a stretch, he's now walked zero batters in seven of his last eight outings. Weaver got the easiest two saves a closer could ask for this week, needing only two pitches to record the final out in each of his two save opportunities. He then picked up a win with a clean inning against the Rangers on Wednesday. He's up to six saves with a 0.42 ERA, 0.55 WHIP, and a 22/6 K/BB ratio across 21 2/3 innings. Despite Devin Williams pitching much better of late, the team has stated there are no plans to put him back in the closer role, for now. Hoffman fell in line for a win Saturday with a scoreless inning against the Tigers. He then struck out one batter in a clean frame against the Padres on Tuesday for his tenth save. It's a start on the right track after giving up five runs against the Rays on May 13. It was a productive week for Chapman as he earned a win Saturday, followed by back-to-back saves on Monday and Tuesday against the Mets. The 37-year-old veteran left-hander is up to eight saves with a 1.89 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and a 26/7 K/BB ratio across 19 frames. Megill worked two scoreless innings for a pair of saves this week against the Twins and Orioles. He then pitched the tenth against Baltimore on Wednesday and gave up an unearned run. The 31-year-old right-hander has been solid in his first season as a closer, recording seven saves with a 2.35 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and a 17/8 K/BB ratio across 15 1/3 innings. Fairbanks made two scoreless appearances this week in non-save situations. He hasn't recorded a save since May 4. However, it's been mostly situational with the team putting save chances just out of reach as they did Wednesday, taking a four-run lead into the ninth. Iglesias has struggled a bit with a 7.84 ERA over the last month, going 4-for-6 in save chances in that stretch. He picked up two in the last week with back-to-back saves against the Nationals and Red Sox. Walker picked up two saves this week, giving him nine on the season with a 5.00 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and a 16/7 K/BB ratio across 18 innings. He's been much better over the last week with three perfect outings. Finnegan continues to get things done for the Nationals. He added two saves over the last week. The 33-year-old right-hander is up to 15 with a 2.55 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and a 17/7 K/BB ratio over 17 2/3 innings. Bautista blew a save chance Wednesday against the Brewers, giving up one run on two walks and a hit. It was his fourth consecutive outing with at least one run allowed after a nine-game scoreless streak. The 29-year-old right-hander has a 4.30 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and a 17/11 K/BB ratio across 14 2/3 innings while converting 7-of-8 save chances. Vest was charged with a blown save, allowing an inherited runner to score in the eighth inning on Saturday against the Blue Jays. He then locked down a save with a scoreless inning Sunday and earned the win after pitching the eighth Tuesday against the Cardinals. Kahnle pitched the ninth on Tuesday and is up to six saves to Vest's five, though Vest seems to be the preferred option over the last month. Jordan Romano - Philadelphia Phillies Emilio Pagan - Cincinnati Reds Kenley Jansen - Los Angeles Angels Carlos Estévez - Kansas City Royals Shelby Miller - Arizona Diamondbacks David Bednar/Dennis Santana - Pittsburgh Pirates Luke Jackson - Texas Rangers We got some shocking news this week when José Alvarado was handed an 80-game suspension for violating the performance-enhancing substance policy. The suspension will keep the 30-year-old left-hander out until August and make him ineligible for the postseason. Romano seems to have fixed his issues just in time to take over as the team's closer. He's picked up three saves over the last two weeks and has not allowed a run over his last eight appearances. After giving up three runs and taking the loss on May 13 against the White Sox, Pagán bounced back this week with three consecutive saves against the Guardians. He's up to 12 on the year with a 3.52 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and a 26/6 K/BB ratio across 23 innings. Jansen had a busy week on the mound, pitching in four out of five games and collecting three saves. Three of the four outings were scoreless. The 37-year-old right-hander is up to ten saves with a 5.28 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and a 15/3 K/BB ratio over 15 1/3 innings. Estévez worked a pair of scoreless outings for two saves this week to give him 14 this season. The 32-year-old right-hander has pitched well over the last month, issuing just one walk over his last 11 outings. Miller got save chances on three consecutive days this week. He pitched a scoreless inning against the Rockies on Sunday, then recorded the final out against the Dodgers on Monday before blowing the save in extra innings on Tuesday. It hasn't come easily for the Diamondbacks in the late innings, but they should be getting some help with Justin Martinez set to return from the injured list by the end of the week. Bednar and Santana have operated as a closer duo in Pittsburgh. Bednar recorded a save on Tuesday against the Reds before Santana got the opportunity on Wednesday, with both locking down saves. Jackson returned after missing nearly a week recovering from a hand injury after getting hit by a comebacker. He worked around a walk with one strikeout in a scoreless inning in a non-save situation against the Astros on Sunday before giving up a walk-off homer in a tie game Wednesday against the Yankees. Ryan Pressly/Daniel Palencia - Chicago Cubs Jesus Tinoco - Miami Marlins Zach Agnos - Colorado Rockies Jordan Leasure - Chicago White Sox Just as we thought Porter Hodge would be getting his opportunity to take over as the Cubs' closer, he landed on the 15-day injured list with an oblique injury. Palencia got two save chances on Monday and Wednesday. He blew the opportunity Monday before locking down his first save Wednesday against the Marlins. Pressly could also factor back into the ninth-inning mix until Hodge returns. Ronny Henriquez is quietly putting together an excellent season in the Marlins' bullpen. The 24-year-old right-hander was claimed off waivers from the Twins in February after posting a 3.26 ERA over 19 1/3 innings in Minnesota last season. The young righty has found something that's clicked for him this season as he's seen a drastic increase in his strikeout rate behind higher usage of his slider. After posting an 18.3% strikeout rate last season, he's striking out 30% of batters this year while recording a 1.99 ERA and six holds over 22 2/3 innings in Miami. With so much in flux in their bullpen, it wouldn't be shocking to see Henriquez put his name into the closer mix if he keeps up this level of production. In Milwaukee, Abner Uribe has been one of the best setup men in baseball, recording 12 holds with a 1.19 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a 32/10 K/BB ratio across 22 2/3 innings. The 24-year-old right-hander had a busy week on the mound, picking up a hold, a win, and a save for the Brewers while striking out the side in back-to-back outings.
NBC Sports
17-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Justin Martinez progressing towards return, Ryan Walker on the hot seat
In this week's Closer Report, Jeff Hoffman and Ryan Walker are among the closers struggling to keep runs off the board. Who's most at risk of losing the closer role? In New York, Luke Weaver is holding things down in the ninth inning. And the Diamondbacks could be getting Justin Martinez back soon. Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners Mason Miller - Athletics Josh Hader - Houston Astros Muñoz surrendered an unearned run against the Yankees on Tuesday in the ninth inning and was charged with a blown save. Still, he's 13-for-15 in save chances with a spotless 0.00 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, and a 26/8 K/BB ratio across 19 innings. After not pitching for four days, Miller got an opportunity to convert a five-out save against the Yankees last Saturday. He gave up one run in the ninth and struck out four batters to get the job done for his 11th save. A spectacular 30/6 K/BB ratio across 15 1/3 innings keeps him near the top of the rankings with full trust as one of the game's top closers. Hader locked down his tenth save of the season in a win over the Royals on Wednesday, walking around one walk and striking out one batter. The 31-year-old left-hander holds an excellent 1.89 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and a 27/5 K/BB ratio across 19 innings of work. Robert Suarez - San Diego Padres Tanner Scott - Los Angeles Dodgers Jhoan Duran - Minnesota Twins Félix Bautista - Baltimore Orioles Edwin Díaz - New York Mets Suarez had his first bad outing of the season, giving up five runs on four walks and one hit against the Angels on Monday to blow the save chance. He bounced back against the Angels on Wednesday, striking out two in a clean inning of work in a non-save situation. Scott is on a roll on the mound, with just one run allowed over his last 16 outings since April 1. He picked up his ninth save on May 9 against the Diamondbacks, the last save situation for the Dodgers. Duran has been outstanding and a valuable part of Minnesota's winning streak in May. The 27-year-old right-hander has converted six saves and earned a win this month after recording just two saves through April. Duran holds an incredible 0.84 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and a 25/9 K/BB ratio across 21 1/3 innings. Bautista's last save also came on May 9 in a perfect inning of work with two strikeouts against the Angels. He then gave up a run on a solo homer in a non-save situation two days later. It was his first run allowed since March 31. The 29-year-old right-hander gave up another run Friday, taking the loss against the Nationals. Still, he holds an excellent 2.77 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a 15/8 K/BB ratio across 13 innings. Díaz is up to seven straight scoreless outings. He picked up his ninth save of the season Tuesday against the Pirates, striking out a batter in a scoreless effort. Emmanuel Clase - Cleveland Guardians Ryan Helsley - St. Louis Cardinals Luke Weaver - New York Yankees Jeff Hoffman - Toronto Blue Jays Pete Fairbanks - Tampa Bay Rays Raisel Iglesias - Atlanta Braves Jose Alvarado/Jordan Romano - Philadelphia Phillies Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox Will Vest - Detroit Tigers Clase tossed a clean inning with two strikeouts on Tuesday against the Brewers for his ninth save. The 27-year-old right-hander is gaining some trust back with no earned runs over his last five appearances. All of the underlying metrics suggest we should continue to see Clase chip away and improve his 4.91 ERA on the season. With two strikeouts in a clean inning against the Phillies on Sunday for his eighth save, it was Helsley's first outing without a hit or walk allowed since April 1. While he's done a good job suppressing runs, it's given him a bloated 1.53 WHIP and a 16/10 K/BB ratio across 15 innings. A day after striking out three batters over two perfect innings in a non-save situation, Weaver struck out the side against the Mariners on Wednesday for his fourth save, then recorded the final out Friday against the Mets for his fifth. The 31-year-old right-hander has been incredibly effective, posting a 0.44 ERA, 0.59 WHIP, and a 22/6 K/BB ratio across 20 1/3 innings. Devin Williams has made four scoreless appearances since giving up three runs against the Padres on May 5, but continues to operate in a setup role. Another reliever working through a rough stretch, Hoffman took his second blown save after giving up five runs and recording one out against the Rays on Tuesday. That's now 11 runs allowed over his last five outings. The underlying skills suggest Hoffman should be able to get back on track. He'll be given every opportunity to do so in Toronto. Fairbanks hasn't seen a save chance since May 4. He did fall in line for a win with a scoreless inning against the Brewers last Sunday before giving up two runs in a non-save situation Tuesday against the Blue Jays. Iglesias hit a bit of a snag with four runs allowed over three outings before recovering with a save in a scoreless inning against the Nationals on Thursday. He then gave up a run Friday against the Red Sox, but held on to secure his eighth save. A home run issue has given the 31-year-old right-hander a 5.89 ERA over 18 1/3 innings. Romano has worked his way back into the saves mix with the Phillies with seven straight scoreless outings. He picked up two of the last three saves for the team with five strikeouts over two perfect innings. Alvarado stepped in to record the final two outs with the bases loaded Friday against the Pirates for his seventh save and remains the preferred reliever to roster for saves in Philadelphia. Megill picked up just his fifth save of the season last Sunday against the Rays. The save chances just haven't come for the Brewers. Still, the 31-year-old right-hander has been solid, posting a 2.92 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and a 15/7 K/BB ratio across 12 1/3 innings. Chapman picked up his sixth save with a scoreless inning against the Royals last Sunday. He then took the loss with one run allowed against the Tigers on Wednesday. The 37-year-old left-hander has been excellent, recording a 2.25 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and a 22/6 K/BB ratio across 16 innings. Vest has tossed seven scoreless innings since giving up three runs on April 29. He's been the most effective reliever in the Detroit bullpen with the most prototypical closer stuff. The 29-year-old right-hander has posted a 1.80 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and a 23/7 K/BB ratio across 20 innings. Meanwhile, Tommy Kahnle's last six outings have come in the eighth inning. While A.J. Hinch can still play the matchups on occasion, the path seems clear for Vest to operate as the primary closer through the rest of the season. Kyle Finnegan - Washington Nationals Ryan Walker - San Francisco Giants Emilio Pagan - Cincinnati Reds Kenley Jansen - Los Angeles Angels Carlos Estévez - Kansas City Royals Shelby Miller/Kevin Ginkel - Arizona Diamondbacks David Bednar/Dennis Santana - Pittsburgh Pirates Luke Jackson - Texas Rangers Porter Hodge/Ryan Pressly - Chicago Cubs Finnegan locked down saves on Wednesday and Friday with a pair of scoreless innings. The 33-year-old right-hander is up to 14 saves with a 2.70 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, and a 17/7 K/BB ratio across 16 2/3 innings. Walker's inconsistencies continue. He took the blown save and the loss against the Twins on Sunday, then worked around two walks in a scoreless inning against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday in a non-save situation. While Bob Melvin keeps going to the 29-year-old right-hander in the ninth inning, it's hard to imagine he's not on the hot seat with Camilo Doval holding a strong 1.31 ERA over 19 2/3 innings. Pagan gave up three runs against the White Sox on Tuesday, then bounced back with a clean inning against the Guardians on Friday for his tenth save. While Tony Santillan has been outstanding in a setup role, there's no one challenging Pagan for saves in Cincinnati. Jansen gave up two runs without recording an out and took the loss against the Padres on Tuesday. There's going to be some inconsistencies with the 37-year-old veteran. He bounced back with a scoreless outing in a non-save situation against the Dodgers on Friday. Estévez has made three scoreless appearances over the last week. He picked up his 12th save with a scoreless inning against the Astros on Monday with one strikeout. The 32-year-old right-hander has a 2.29 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and an 18/10 K/BB ratio across 19 2/3 innings. Miller has the last two saves for the Diamondbacks. After tossing a clean inning with one strikeout against the Giants on Monday, he gave up one run before holding on for his third save of the season Wednesday in San Francisco. Miller has helped fill the ninth-inning role with Justin Martinez and AJ Puk on the injured list. While Puk's injury is more long-term, Martinez is set to pitch in a minor league rehab game in the Arizona Complex League on Saturday and could be ready to return sometime in the next week if all goes well. The Pirates' situation has not been a very fruitful one, regardless of who's pitching the ninth inning. Santana has the team's only save in May as the team has utilized a matchup-based approach to the late innings. While Santana has the better surface stats to date, Bednar has flashed the better skills and strikeout upside. Jackson was hit on the hand back a comebacker on the first pitch he threw on Monday. X-rays showed no fracture, and the 33-year-old right-hander will avoid the injured list after sitting out a few days. Chris Martin was also sidelined by an elbow injury this week, but he should be available in the coming days after receiving a clean MRI. Shawn Armstrong recorded two saves this week, filling in for Jackson and Martin. After giving up eight runs against the Giants on May 6, Pressly's last three appearances have come in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. He tossed the eighth on Friday with a seven-run lead over the White Sox. Hodge could get the chance to take the closer role, but has battled some inconsistencies himself. He gave up three runs and took the loss Sunday against the Mets, then struck out two in a scoreless inning against the Marlins on Wednesday. Jesus Tinoco - Miami Marlins Zach Agnos - Colorado Rockies Steven Wilson/Cam Booser - Chicago White Sox Toronto's Brendon Little has been outstanding in high-leverage situations for the Blue Jays. The 28-year-old left-hander leads the team with eight holds while recording a 1.77 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 31/10 K/BB ratio across 20 1/3 innings. Despite not having the highest velocity, with a 93mph fastball, Little has been elite at missing bats, leading all relievers in swinging-strike rate behind a devastating Knuckle Curve. While he makes for an excellent addition in holds and points leagues, Little could be a name to watch if Jeff Hoffman's struggles continue, considering he isn't the only left-handed reliever in the bullpen. In Seattle, Matt Brash was once thought to be one of the best up-and-coming future closers before missing the 2024 season with Tommy John surgery. Four appearances into his return, he's working his way into a setup role behind Andrés Muñoz, recording a hold with two strikeouts in the eighth inning against the Yankees on Tuesday.
NBC Sports
08-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Cubs may need to make a change, Jhoan Duran doubles save total with busy week
In this week's Closer Report, Ryan Pressly's time as Cubs' closer may be nearing it's end. Jhoan Duran puts together his best week with three of his five saves. Emilio Pagán is gaining trust and rising in the rankings with his production on the mound. All that and more as we break down the last week in saves. Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings Tier 1: At the Top Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners Mason Miller - Athletics Josh Hader - Houston Astros After picking up his 12th save of the season Saturday against the Rangers, Munoz was charged with a blown save Monday against the Athletics, allowing an unearned run on a walk and a hit in extra innings before striking out the side. He bounced back Wednesday, striking out two for his 13th save. The 26-year-old right-hander still has a clean 0.00 ERA with a 0.83 WHIP and a 25/8 K/BB ratio across 18 innings. Miller labored a bit this week. After adding his tenth save of the season Thursday against the Rangers, he was charged with his first blown save and loss against the Marlins on Saturday, giving up a walk-off grand slam to Kyle Stowers. He then walked two batters in a scoreless inning of a tie game Monday against the Mariners. That's four walks over his last two outings after walking two total over his first 12. Even the best can have a bad week. Hader didn't see any save chances this week. He got some work in on Wednesday with the Astros up by eight runs against the Brewers, striking out two in a scoreless inning. The 31-year-old left-hander remains at eight saves with a 1.69 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and a 22/4 K/BB ratio across 16 innings. Tier 2: The Elite Robert Suarez - San Diego Padres Tanner Scott - Los Angeles Dodgers Félix Bautista - Baltimore Orioles Edwin Díaz - New York Mets Suarez leads the majors with 14 saves after adding two more this week. He's allowed just one run with an 18/4 K/BB ratio across 17 innings. The San Diego bullpen has done an incredible job shortening games with the best ERA in the majors. It was a matchup week for the Dodgers as Scott worked a pair of scoreless eighth innings to record two holds, keeping him at eight saves for the season. Evan Phillips and Kirby Yates each locked down a save. Bautista continues to make strides in his return this season. He converted his sixth save on Friday against the Royals for his eighth straight scoreless outing. Early walks as he was getting back into the swing of things inflated his walk rate, but Bautista has not issued a free pass over his last five appearances. Díaz has been solid outside of two multi-run outings early in April. He worked around a pair of hits in a scoreless outing against the Cardinals on Sunday in a non-save situation, then closed out Monday's contest against the Diamondbacks with a clean frame for his eighth save. Tier 3: The Solid Options Jhoan Duran - Minnesota Twins Jeff Hoffman - Toronto Blue Jays Emmanuel Clase - Cleveland Guardians Ryan Helsley - St. Louis Cardinals Raisel Iglesias - Atlanta Braves Jose Alvarado - Philadelphia Phillies Pete Fairbanks - Tampa Bay Rays Duran worked back-to-back saves against the Red Sox, then struck out the side as he closed out the ninth inning against the Orioles on Wednesday to give him five saves. The 27-year-old right-hander has a 1.10 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 20/8 K/BB ratio across 16 1/3 innings. Hoffman worked around a hit and a walk to convert his seventh save on Friday against the Guardians. The following two outings didn't go so well. He then entered in the eighth inning of a tie game with one out and two runners on against the Angels on Tuesday. The 32-year-old right-hander struggled in the non-save situation, giving up three runs on a pair of homers while recording just one out. Hoffman was given a chance to bounce back on Wednesday, getting the ninth inning with a two-run lead. He loaded the bases and blew the lead on a walk-off bases-clearing double. Perhaps it's just a rough stretch for Hoffman, who should still have quite a bit of leash on the closer role in Toronto. Clase is getting on track with three saves in four days this week, bringing his total to eight. He's still putting too much traffic on the bases, but it's mostly due to an incredibly inflated .436 BABIP. The 27-year-old right-hander has still shown excellent control and is getting a healthy amount of whiffs. He'll be worth monitoring after the shoulder concern that emerged a couple of weeks ago, but things are looking better at the moment. Helsley is also allowing too many baserunners. He worked a pair of scoreless outings for two saves this week, but has allowed at least one hit in each of his last five appearances. The underlying numbers don't look as encouraging for the 30-year-old right-hander as his swinging-strike rate is down six percent from last season. Iglesias has seen an uptick in strikeouts over his last few outings, collecting seven over his last three appearances. He struck out the side for the save against the Dodgers on Sunday, then fell in line for the win with two strikeouts in a scoreless inning against the Reds on Tuesday. Alvarado worked a clean inning to pick up his sixth save on Friday against the Diamondbacks, then gave up four runs and took the loss against Arizona on Sunday. Still, there's no one else challenging Alvarado for regular save chances in the Phillies' bullpen, especially with right-hander Orion Kerkering underperforming. Fairbanks worked two perfect outings against the Yankees for a pair of saves. He's up to eight with a 1.88 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and a 13/6 K/BB ratio across 14 1/3 innings. Behind Fairbanks, Edwin Uceta has made ten scoreless appearances since he last allowed a run, recording six holds. Tier 4: Here for the Saves Luke Weaver - New York Yankees Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox Ryan Walker - San Francisco Giants Emilio Pagan - Cincinnati Reds Kenley Jansen - Los Angeles Angels David Bednar - Pittsburgh Pirates Kyle Finnegan - Washington Nationals Carlos Estévez - Kansas City Royals Will Vest/Tommy Kahnle - Detroit Tigers Shelby Miller/Kevin Ginkel - Arizona Diamondbacks Luke Jackson - Texas Rangers Operating as the Yankees' closer, Weaver struck out two in a clean inning against the Rays on Friday. He was then tasked with cleaning up the eighth inning after Devin Williams allowed three runs against the Padres on Monday. Weaver wasn't able to keep the Padres off the board as he allowed a run in and was charged with the blown save. Both relievers bounced back on Wednesday, with Williams picking up the win in extra innings, working around a walk to strike out the side. Megill struck out two in a non-save situation against the Cubs on Sunday, then worked a scoreless ninth to record his fourth save of the season Tuesday against the Astros. The 31-year-old right-hander has been excellent outside of a three-run outing against the Diamondbacks on April 12. Chapman gave up a solo homer before holding on to record his fifth save against the Rangers on Wednesday. The 37-year-old left-hander holds a 2.19 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and an 18/4 K/BB ratio across 12 1/3 innings. Justin Slaten may not be pushing Chapman for save chances anytime soon, with six runs allowed over his last three outings. Things are getting dicey for Walker in San Francisco. He pitched a clean outing with one strikeout for a save against the Rockies on Saturday. Walker then blew the save chance against the Cubs on Tuesday with a two-run lead. He bounced back on Wednesday, working around a hit to earn his seventh save. The 29-year-old right-hander's inconsistencies come with diminished stuff as he's struggled to miss bats. Still, manager Bob Melvin is giving Walker every chance to get right before finding another option for the ninth inning. Camilo Doval has been effective in a setup role despite a sharp decline in strikeouts himself. Pagán gave up a run against the Braves on Tuesday to take his first blown save of the season before recovering with a scoreless outing for the save on Wednesday. He's now 9-for-10 in opportunities with a 2.60 ERA, 0.63 WHIP, and a 20/4 K/BB ratio across 17 1/3 innings. Jansen allowed his first runs of the season in an outing against the Tigers on Friday. Unfortunately, Detroit would bring in six against him, including three homers to inflate Jansen's ERA to 5.79. He bounced back the following day with a two-out save for his seventh of the year. Bednar didn't see any save chances this week. He took the loss on Saturday against the Padres with one run allowed. The 30-year-old right-hander has been much better since returning on April 19, giving up two runs with a 10/1 K/BB ratio over eight innings. Despite no save chances, Bednar and Dennis Santana's recent usage suggests Bednar will be getting the save chances. Santana was used in the seventh and eighth innings in his two appearances this week. Finnegan added three more saves to his total this week, giving him 12 with a 3.07 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and a 15/7 K/BB ratio across 14 2/3 innings. Another reliever getting it done despite not having the best skills, Estévez converted two saves. He allowed a run on three hits on Wednesday against the White Sox before holding on for his 11th save to go with a 2.65 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and a 15/9 K/BB ratio across 17 innings. His control has been better with no walks issued over his last six outings. No save situations for the Tigers. Beau Brieske was activated off the injured list, but Vest and Kahnle remain the two relievers in the mix for save opportunities. Kahnle got the eighth inning in a tie game against the Rockies on Wednesday before Vest took the ninth and tenth to earn the win in extra innings. The Diamondbacks are another likely committee situation. However, Miller got the save chance last Thursday against the Mets and converted his first of the season. He later pitched the ninth with a four-run lead on Tuesday and appears to have the leg up on save chances with Justin Martinez on the injured list. Jackson has gone two weeks without a save now, but did bounce back with a clean outing, striking out two against the Mariners on Sunday after giving up four runs in his previous outing. Tier 5: Bottom of the Barrel Ryan Pressly - Chicago Cubs Jesus Tinoco/Calvin Faucher - Miami Marlins Zach Agnos - Colorado Rockies Steven Wilson/Jordan Leasure/Cam Booser - Chicago White Sox Pressly surrendered nine runs without recording an out on Tuesday against the Giants in extra innings. It was only a matter of time for regression to strike as he had more walks than strikeouts going into Tuesday's outing, raising his ERA from 2.08 to 7.62. Pressly can't possibly retain his closer role for long with the skills he's displayed. It may be time for the team to turn to Porter Hodge, who's been excellent outside of a six-run outing on April 18 that is weighing heavily on his 4.50 ERA on the season. Both Tinoco and Faucher remain at two saves each. Faucher was charged with a blown save Tuesday against the Dodgers. Like the following situations, it's not worth chasing the saves here outside the deepest of leagues. Agnos has the last two saves for the Rockies. He's struck out only one batter over 7 1/3 scoreless innings. Good luck keeping that up in Coors Field. The White Sox bullpen as a whole still just has one save as we enter the middle of May. Booser got the ninth inning on Tuesday against the Royals but blew the save chance. Relievers On The Rise/Stash Candidates The Giants recalled 23-year-old left-hander Kyle Harrison from Triple-A Sacramento this week. Harrison was underwhelming as a starter for San Francisco last season, posting a 4.56 ERA over 24 starts. He came into the season flashing better velocity in the minors and was off to a great start with a 3.46 ERA and a 38/8 K/BB ratio over 26 innings across six starts. Harrison was hoping to compete for a spot in the Giants' starting rotation during spring training, but fell behind as he recovered from an illness that caused him to lose roughly 15 pounds. Now, the team plans on utilizing him out of the bullpen, likely as a multi-inning reliever similar to Hayden Birdsong. Bob Melvin did go to Harrison to close out Tuesday's game against the Cubs in the 11th inning, and he struck out two in a clean frame. Another reliever debuting this month was Cincinnati's Luis Mey. The 23-year-old right-hander has struck out seven batters to one walk with one run allowed over four innings so far. He's already worked his way into some high-leverage spots, pitching the seventh inning in a one-run game against the Braves on Wednesday. Mey has excellent strikeout upside in a prototypical late-inning profile as he generates whiffs on both his high-velocity sinker and his slider.
NBC Sports
01-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Félix Bautista returning to form, David Bednar reclaims closer role
In this week's Closer Report, Félix Bautista is returning to his All-Star form coming off Tommy John surgery. Justin Martinez could be in danger of missing time amid shoulder concerns. And David Bednar is getting comfortable back in the ninth-inning role with the Pirates. All that and more as we cover the last week in saves. Mason Miller - Athletics Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners Josh Hader - Houston Astros Miller gave up his first runs of the season on a two-run homer against the White Sox on Friday before holding on for the save. He struck out the side in a non-save situation Sunday, then converted his ninth save against the Rangers on Monday. The 26-year-old right-hander has a phenomenal 22/2 K/BB ratio across 11 innings. Muñoz still owns a clean 0.00 ERA over 15 innings after locking down three more saves this week, giving him 11 on the year with a 19/6 K/BB ratio. He's already halfway to his career-high of 22 saves last season. Hader converted his eighth save on Monday with two strikeouts against the Tigers before giving up two runs in a non-save situation on Tuesday. The 31-year-old left-hander has been on one of his better runs from a skills perspective, posting a 20/3 K/BB ratio across 15 innings. Robert Suarez - San Diego Padres Tanner Scott - Los Angeles Dodgers Jeff Hoffman - Toronto Blue Jays Edwin Díaz - New York Mets Suarez gave up his first run of the season in a non-save situation against the Rays on Sunday, then bounced back to close out both Tuesday and Wednesday's contests against the Giants to give him 12 saves, most in baseball. No saves for the back end of the Dodgers bullpen this week, but Scott did make a pair of scoreless appearances after blowing his most recent save chance. With Blake Treinen on the injured list, Kirby Yates moved up the bullpen hierarchy and pitched his way into two wins this week. Hoffman picked up his sixth save against the Yankees on Friday as he continues pitching well as a full-time closer for the first time with Toronto. He then tossed two perfect innings with three strikeouts to fall in line for the win in extra innings Wednesday against the Red Sox. There was some concern surrounding Díaz as he was dealing with a hip issue last week. He got the save chance on Saturday and looked healthy as he struck out the side. Díaz was then held out for another save chance on Sunday while Ryne Stanek failed to get the job done, blowing the save and taking the loss. Félix Bautista - Baltimore Orioles Ryan Helsley - St. Louis Cardinals Jose Alvarado - Philadelphia Phillies Jhoan Duran - Minnesota Twins Emmanuel Clase - Cleveland Guardians Luke Weaver - New York Yankees Raisel Iglesias - Atlanta Braves Ryan Walker - San Francisco Giants Bautista is on a bit of a roll now. He converted three saves this week and extended his scoreless streak to seven games. The control is also coming back as he's made four consecutive outings without allowing a walk. The 29-year-old right-hander will continue to quickly rise up the rankings if he can return to 2023 form. Helsley picked up a save Friday against the Brewers, then blew the chance the following day with two runs allowed. His velocity has been down a tick this season and his strikeouts have disappeared over his last several outings. Just something to keep an eye on for now. Jordan Romano picked up the only save for the Phillies this week as he closed out a game against the Cubs in extra innings on Sunday. Alvarado pitched the eighth inning against the Nationals on Tuesday, working around two hits while striking out the side. While he should still be considered the primary closer, matchup usage could lead to stretches without saves. No save chances for the Twins this week, but Duran did make two perfect appearances. The 27-year-old right-hander has posted a 1.46 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and a 12/6 K/BB ratio across 12 1/3 innings. Clase bounced back after getting five days off recovering from some shoulder soreness. He made two scoreless appearances, striking out two in a clean eighth inning on Saturday before picking up a win with a scoreless inning on Tuesday. Clase then got the save chance Wednesday and struck out three for his fifth save despite giving up a run on two hits. While he looks to be getting on track, his early struggles and shoulder concerns can't be dismissed. Devin Williams blew a save and took another loss with three runs allowed against the Blue Jays on Friday. He'll take a step back from the closer role while he works through his struggles. Stepping in is Weaver, who ended last season as the closer and has been outstanding out of the bullpen for New York. He's not allowed a run over 14 innings through April. Iglesias blew a save chance Saturday against the Diamondbacks, giving up a solo homer run. It was the fifth home run allowed by the 35-year-old right-hander, already one more than the four he gave up all last season. He bounced back with a save on Monday against the Rockies, striking out one in a scoreless inning. Walker pitched better this week after struggling over his previous outings. He struck out two batters in each of his two scoreless appearances, picking up a win Saturday against the Rangers. It's fair to wonder if an early-season back issue might have led to Walker's struggles, but it seems he'll hold on to the closer role in San Francisco, for now. Camilo Doval has been a bit up-and-down himself but would be in line to step in if Walker is ineffective. Kenley Jansen - Los Angeles Angels Pete Fairbanks - Tampa Bay Rays Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers Aroldis Chapman/Justin Slaten - Boston Red Sox Justin Martinez - Arizona Diamondbacks Emilio Pagan - Cincinnati Reds Luke Jackson - Texas Rangers Carlos Estévez - Kansas City Royals David Bednar - Pittsburgh Pirates Tommy Kahnle/Will Vest - Detroit Tigers Kyle Finnegan - Washington Nationals Ryan Pressly - Chicago Cubs Jansen is a perfect six-for-six in save chances after picking up a save last Thursday against the Pirates. The 37-year-old right-hander has tossed eight scoreless innings with an 8/2 K/BB ratio. Fairbanks had a busy week on the mound, converting three saves to get him to six on the season to go with a pair of wins. The 31-year-old right-hander still isn't getting the strikeouts he was getting before last season, but he'll continue to close as long as he can get the job done. Megill took the loss Saturday against the Cardinals, giving up a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth. He then got a save chance Wednesday against the White Sox, his first since April 18. Megill worked around a hit and a walk, striking out two for his third save. He's pitched only 8 1/3 innings this season, giving up four runs with an 11/5 K/BB ratio. No save chances for the Red Sox this week. Chapman pitched a pair of clean outings and has given up just two runs with a 17/4 K/BB ratio across 11 1/3 innings. It's time to be concerned about Martinez. He took the loss Saturday against the Braves, then converted his third save Sunday as he worked around two walks and a hit. Martinez got the save chance Wednesday against the Mets with a three-run lead and was sitting at 95 mph, significantly lower than his average of 100 mph. He gave up a leadoff homer and walked two batters before he was pulled. Following the game, manager Torey Lovullo admitted an evaluation might be required and a stint on the injured list can't be ruled out. Shelby Miller could be in line for save chances if it turns out Martinez needs some time off. Pagán locked down three more saves this week for the Reds as he continues to solidify the closer role in Cincinnati. The 33-year-old right-hander is up to eight saves with a 2.51 ERA, 0.49 WHIP, and a 14/2 K/BB ratio across 14 1/3 innings. Jackson blew the save against the Athletics on Thursday, then bounced back with a two-out save against the Giants on Friday for his eighth of the season. Jackson then took the losses on Sunday against the Giants and Wednesday against the Athletics as he entered both of the games tied. Sunday's loss came on an error while he gave up four runs to the A's on Wednesday. After blowing a save last week, Estévez bounced back with four saves over four scoreless appearances this week. The 32-year-old right-hander is up to nine saves with a 2.40 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 13/9 K/BB ratio across 15 innings. Not the most impressive skills, but he's getting the job done. Bednar has worked his way back into the closer role in Pittsburgh after a successful stint in the minors where he tossed five scoreless innings with a 7/0 K/BB ratio. He struck out two in a scoreless inning against the Dodgers on Friday for the save, then shut the door on the Cubs on Wednesday for his third save of the season. It looks like a two-man closer committee in Detroit. After Vest locked down three saves in the last week, he got the seventh and eighth inning Tuesday against the Astros and was charged with a blown save as he allowed three runs. Kahnle then got the final out in the eighth on Wednesday and converted a four-out save in Houston. Vest has displayed the best skills in that bullpen, but A.J. Hinch will continue to play the matchups in the late innings. Finnegan was charged with two blown saves this week. He entered with two outs and the bases loaded up by two against the Mets on Friday and gave up a bases-clearing triple. He then gave up two runs against the Phillies on Tuesday for his second blown save. The 33-year-old right-hander remains at nine saves with a 3.09 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, and a 13/7 K/BB ratio across 11 2/3 innings. No saves for the Cubs this week. Pressly made one scoreless appearance, his first since having his knee drained last Tuesday. While he's managed to give up just three runs over 12 innings, it's come with a 5/7 K/BB ratio. Between the diminished skills and elevated injury risk, Pressly could have a hard time maintaining the closer role all season. Jesus Tinoco/Calvin Faucher - Miami Marlins Seth Halvorsen/Tyler Kinley - Colorado Rockies Jordan Leasure - Chicago White Sox No saves for the Marlins this week. And the usage is all over the place. The same can apply to all three situations in this bottom tier. There's not much worth chasing here if looking for saves. The Diamondbacks reinstated Kevin Ginkel from the 15-day injured list on Tuesday. The 31-year-old right-hander has been recovering from right shoulder inflammation he suffered in spring training. Ginkel has been an effective reliever in Arizona over the last several seasons, at times working his way into the closer mix. He posted a 3.21 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 77 strikeouts over 70 innings while picking up five saves last season. Ginkel could be worth a dart throw as a stash in deep leagues given the velocity and injury concerns surrounding Justin Martinez. Arizona put him right into a high-leverage spot on Wednesday with a runner in scoring position and two outs in the seventh. He worked around a walk and struck out the final batter in the inning to preserve a one-run lead. Graham Ashcraft's time as a starter has come to an end as the Reds have moved the 27-year-old right-hander into the bullpen, where his high-velocity fastball should play up. That's proven true through the first month. Ashcraft has produced a 0.71 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and a 13/7 K/BB ratio across 12 2/3 innings while his swinging-strike rate has jumped to 13%, up from about 10% as a starter over the last two seasons.
