Atlanta Braves
Entering the start of the season, A.J. Minter and Arodys Vizcaino will battle for the lead closer role for the Braves. Minter looks to be in the back seat out of the gate due to a left shoulder injury, which may require a DL stint. In his three appearances this spring, Vizcaino allowed two runs and four base runners over 2.1 innings with four Ks.
Arizona Diamondbacks
This season Archie Bradley has the inside track to the closing role in Arizona. Over two innings this spring, Bradley allowed one run and four hits with no walks and five Ks. Yoshihisa Hirano has closing experience in Japan and success in his first year in the majors in 2018. Greg Holland will look to rebound after a poor season. He’s a dark horse for saves based on his major success in the 9th inning.
Baltimore Orioles
There isn’t a lot of save excitement in the Orioles’ bullpen in 2019. Mychal Givens should have the closing job by default even after a below-par season, but he’s been a disaster so far in spring training (nine runs and 11 baserunners over 2.2 innings with three Ks). The best two arms for the Orioles in March have been Paul Fry (no runs over six innings with five Ks) and Miguel Castro (no runs, three hits, no walks, and eight Ks over five innings). Castro has a 9th inning fastball (95+), but he needs to throw more strikes to close games. He may be a viable flier on the waiver wire in Week 1.
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox lost Craig Kimbrel to free agency, which leaves a big hole for Boston in the 9th inning. Matt Barnes looks to have the first shot for saves in Boston with Ryan Brasier battling a toe injury this spring. Barnes hasn’t been sharp in his two games in March (three runs and seven baserunners over two innings). Kimbrel could return to Boston if no other suiter steps up to pay him in the free agent market.
Chicago Cubs
Last season Pedro Strop pitched well for the Cubs as a late cover for saves, which was expected to give him the first shot at the 9th inning with Brandon Morrow starting the year on the DL. A hamstring issue in mid-March may push Strop to the 8th inning when the lights come on for the regular season. Pedro struggled in his first two appearances in March (one run and five baserunners over 1.2 innings with one K). Carl Edwards looks electric so far in spring training (no runs over four innings with five Ks). Edwards has an elite arm if/when he figures out how to throw more strikes. Almost a steal on draft day as he could steal the closing job and run with it.
Chicago White Sox
The closing job for the White Sox in 2019 appears to be a toss-up between Alex Colome and Kelvin Herrera with Fantasy owners taking more of a stance on Colome in mid-March. A foot injury that required surgery last September has put Herrera on a slower path than expected in spring training. He may even start the year on the DL. Colome pitched poorly in his four games in spring training (three runs and seven baserunners over 3.2 innings with one K.
Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati has a top option for saves with minimal competition. Unfortunately, the Reds suggested that Raisel Iglesias will pitch multiple innings within games in 2019, which may lead shorter save chances than expected. Iglesias allowed two runs and four baserunners over three innings with four Ks in his three spring training games.
Cleveland Indians
Brad Hand ranks as a top-five option for saves in 2019 in most Fantasy drafts. The Indians needs to rebuild their bullpen in the 7th and 8th inning with no arm standing out as we approach the start of the season. Hand hasn’t allowed a run over four innings with two hits, one walk, and seven Ks.
Colorado Rockies
The Rockies still haven’t figured out a way to add more arms of value to bridge their starters to the 9th inning. Wade Davis grades as top closer even with moments of speculation on his future value in 2018. Davis tossed three shutout innings in March with two hits, one walk, and four Ks.
Detroit Tigers
2019 could be the year where Joe Jimenez emerges as the top option for saves for the Tigers. Shane Greene pitched well in his six games (1.50 ERA over six innings with two Ks) in March while not separating himself from Jimenez (one run over six innings with no walks and seven Ks). It’s Greene’s job to lose, but Joe is the arm with the most upside.
Houston Astros
Roberto Osuna should be the value closer to own in 2019. His skill set projects high while pitching for a team that will win a ton of games. Osuna hasn’t allowed a run over four innings with no walks and three Ks. The back of the bullpen has plenty of strength with anyone of three arm emerging as the top man to pitch in the 8th inning.
Kansas City Royals
This season Brad Boxberger will handle the 9th inning for the Royals. Boxberger finished with 29 saves last year, but his game had plenty of warts. Kansas City only has one arm (Wily Peralta) to unseat him in April, but his experience closing games should be enough to keep the job most of the year if he cleans up his command. Boxberger struggled in his first two games (four runs and five baserunners over on3e inning) in spring training.
Los Angeles Angels
LA signed Cody Allen to close games in 2019 after posting a subpar year. Allen has 123 saves over the last four seasons while never delivering an impact year in saves. Over five games in March, Cody has a 3.86 ERA and six Ks over five innings. Ty Buttrey is the favorite to pitch in the 8th.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Kenley Jansen remains the second closer off the board in most Fantasy leagues. Jansen has 206 saves over the last five years. Last year he struggled early in the year with another rough patch over the summer during his battle with an irregular heartbeat, which was corrected in the offseason. Kenley tossed three shutout innings with no walks and three Ks in spring training.
Miami Marlins
Miami hopes Drew Streckenrider pitches at a most consistent level in 2019 helping him secure the closing job. Based on his play in March (seven runs and ten baserunners over 4.1 innings), Steckenrider may have already lost the 9th inning. Sergio Romo did a serviceable job in the 9th for Tampa even with some disaster value in home runs allowed. Romo pitched well over his first four games (one run and three baserunners over four innings with six Ks) in spring training.
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers have two electric arms to pitch late in games. If healthy, Corey Knebel should receive about 75 percent of the save chances while offering upside in Ks. Josh Hader is the impact reliever to own behind Edwin Diaz, but saves will be an issue. Knebel pitched three shutout innings in spring training with three Ks, but he couldn’t match the dominating arm of Hader (three perfect innings with eight Ks).
Minnesota Twins
This bullpen will have many twists and turns in 2019 unless the Twins sign Craig Kimbrel to close. I’m not buying the 25.2 innings of success by Trevor May in 2018. Fantasy owners continue to draft May as the closer for Minnesota with more acceleration after pitching well in March (one run over 5.1 innings with six Ks). My advice is to stay clear of all options until the waiver wire presents a viable long term option.
New York Mets
Diaz is the closer with the most dynamic upside in 2019 while being drafted in the fourth round in 15-team leagues in the high-stakes market. Edwin allowed one run over four innings this March with five Ks. Lockdown closer with a significant edge expected in saves and Ks.
New York Yankees
The Yankees will win a ton of games this year, which gives Aroldis Chapman a chance at a career high in saves. Even with a great arm, Chapman has failed to pitch over 60 innings in four of the last five seasons while never recording more than 38 saves in any season. Aroldis has a 2.25 ERA over four innings in March with four Ks.
Oakland A’s
2019 was an excellent season for Blake Treinen. Even with an edge in ERA, WHIP, and Ks, Treinen offered a special season in wins (9) for a closer. Treinen took a long time to develop, but he does look like the real deal. This spring he has 1.80 ERA over five innings with six Ks.
Philadelphia Phillies
The closing job in Philly should be interesting to follow this year. David Robertson should earn the job out of the gate based on his experience in the majors, but Seranthony Dominguez is the arm with more explosive upside. Robertson logged only one shutout inning this March with no walks and two Ks while Dominguez had a 1.69 ERA over 5.1 innings with five Ks.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates have one of the most trusted closers in baseball. Felipe Vazquez stumbled early in 2018 before pitching well over the second half of the year. Vazquez pitched two clean innings this spring with three Ks.
San Diego Padres
Kirby Yates pitched the best ball of his career in 2018, which came at the age of 31. In the past, he struggled with home runs. Fantasy owners rank him in the top ten in saves despite only 14 saves in his major league career. Yates carried his success into his March games in 2019 (no runs over three innings with five Ks). Looks the upside part, but even the best-looking options don’t always live up to expectations.
Seattle Mariners
Entering 2019, I’m not a fan of Hunter Strickland long term. I don’t trust his command, and he’s already been battling a back issue in spring training. Anthony Swarzak looks like a trap as well while battling a right shoulder injury in early March. My dark horse for saves in Seattle this year is Matt Festa. In spring training, Festa allowed four runs and six baserunners over seven innings with seven Ks. David McKay is another name that may emerge in Seattle’s bullpen (five shutout innings with two baserunners and seven Ks).
San Francisco Giants
This season Will Smith is going to be a tempted second-tier arm at closer. After missing 2017 and the first month of 2018, Smith offered K ability and saves over the second half of the season. He pitched two shutout innings in March with one strikeout. Mark Melancon has no chance at the 9th early in the year based on failure this spring (four runs, eight baserunners, and three home runs over 3.2 innings).
St. Louis Cardinals
This bullpen is loaded with live arms covering the last three innings if Andrew Miller is healthy and pitches up to his success with Boston and Cleveland. Jordan Hicks is the sexy reliever thanks to a triple-digit fastball, but he walks too many batters. Hicks hasn’t allowed a run over three innings with four walks and eight Ks. Miller has a 5.79 ERA over 4.2 innings with seven Ks. Alex Reyes remains the wild card on this roster. St. Louis will start him out in the bullpen. With success, Reyes could push his way toward the 9th or into the starting rotation. Look for Miller to start the year at closer while one of the other two elite righties to try to figure out how to throw more strikes. The winner will be the player to own over the second half of the season.
Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa may be overlooked by the Fantasy market this year. They have talent in the bullpen with multiple arms offering big fastballs. Jose Alvarado is the player to own for saves early in the year while tossing only one shutout inning in March with two Ks. Diego Castillo struggled in his five appearances (three runs and eight baserunners over 5.1 innings with two Ks). Castillo has the talent to compete for saves if Alvarado doesn’t throw strikes.
Texas Rangers
Most Fantasy owners consider Jose Leclerc a safe closing option in 2019, but his spring hasn’t been great (four runs and seven baserunners over 3.2 innings with nine Ks). Texas doesn’t have an option to challenge Leclerc for saves.
Toronto Blue Jays
Ken Giles will look to regain his previous luster in the Blue Jays’ bullpen this season, but his arm isn’t giving Fantasy owner much confidence in March (four runs and eight baserunners over 2.2 innings with seven Ks). David Paulino struggles to stay healthy. Toronto will try to massage him by using him in relief this season Paulino has a 9.00 ERA over three innings with seven Ks.
Washington Nationals
There’s a lot to like with Sean Doolittle as a closer, but he does injury risk. Doolittle hasn’t allowed a run over four innings with three Ks in spring training. Trevor Rosenthal should be much better in 2019 after having TJ surgery. His fastball has been elite in March, but his results are trailing (two runs and eight baserunners over 5.2 innings with five Ks).
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