RADIO
As we enter the second month of the baseball season, there have already been plenty of surprises. The NL East is...bad, actually? The AL Central might actually have more than one playoff team? The Yankees are terrible? Wait no, they're good again? The Red Sox are for real? Are the Dodgers okay? What in the world is Tony LaRussa doing?
But more surprising than any of that, more surprising than three no-hitters already this season (all of which were completed without a walk!), the most surprising thing of all: for a little while there, the Tampa Bay Rays had a Solid stability rating on our Depth Charts. Not a Questionable, not a Committee, a Solid. But of course, we could not have stability for long. Not in 2021.
Be sure to keep an eye on our RotoBaller Closers and Saves Bullpen Depth Charts. They're updated daily, or sometimes even more often in this already abnormal baseball season. With that being said, here are the closers, saves, and bullpen waiver wire pickups to consider for Week 7 - May 10 through May 16.
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Bullpen News For The Week
Tampa Bay Rays
As mentioned (quite dramatically) in the intro this week, the Rays actually had a real closer. A closer entrenched enough in the ninth inning to earn a Solid rating on our depth charts and everything. Diego Castillo was "the guy" in Tampa Bay...until he got hurt, and now it's a committee again, as is Tampa Bay tradition.
Castillo was placed on the IL this week with a groin injury. It was the same day that Peter Fairbanks returned from the injured list, and he should jump right into the committee along with Jeffrey Springs and Ryan Thompson. Springs got the first shot, earning a save in Wednesday's game, but there's not much to look into there besides that he'll be one of the guys in the committee.
Fantasy managers desperate for saves can take a guess at which Rays reliever will earn a save on any given night. Springs might be the best bet for ratios, but since he's a lefty he may end up with fewer save chances than the other two guys depending on matchups.
Risers: Peter Fairbanks, Jeffrey Springs, Ryan Thompson
Fallers: (temporarily) Diego Castillo
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks bullpen has been an adventure already this season, with guys changing roles, going on the IL, and landing on the restricted list. But, despite all of that, they've only recorded four saves. Total. That's it, just four saves.
Three for Stefan Crichton and one for Chris Devenski. Crichton also has three holds and has clearly been the most valuable reliever out of the Arizona bullpen. Heading into the season though, veteran Joakim Soria was expected to serve as the closer. He pitched just 2/3 of an inning before landing on the injured list though, and was just activated this week.
He could quickly ascend into the closer's role and while he'd be a fairly unexciting guy to have on your fantasy team, he'd certainly be able to provide some value in the role if he stays healthy. Rookie J.B. Bukauskas was also called up in April, and while he's working in medium-leverage for now, he could be the "closer of the future" in the desert and is at least worth a look in dynasty and keeper leagues.
Risers: Stefan Crichton, Joakim Soria
Seattle Mariners
Anyone got any idea what's going on in the Seattle bullpen? Just when it looked like Kendall Graveman was solidifying his place as the team's closer, he appeared in the sixth inning of a game and Rafael Montero worked the ninth. Anyone else's guess is pretty much as good as mine, but it looks like a committee in Seattle, with Graveman and Montero splitting things maybe as evenly as possible.
Keynan Middleton landed on the IL this week, so that removed his name from contention officially, but this was always going to be Graveman and Montero. Both are worth rostering in deeper formats as they'll both help ratios and should get saves. They have far more value in leagues that count holds though, as whether or not they are pitching in save situations, they'll almost always work high-leverage innings that can earn them holds.
Cincinnati Reds
What do we make of the Reds bullpen? On paper, things should have been easy heading into the season. Amir Garrett was going to close, and he'd been good in the past despite not having much closing experience. Sean Doolittle hadn't been at his best, but he had the experience you want from a closer. Lucas Sims had always had some great stuff, too. So what are we looking at now, one month into the season? Tejay Antone, a rookie who may be a starter in the future, has been easily the best reliever in Cincinnati. He's been working mostly in multi-inning outings but has been mixing into higher and higher leverage innings lately. This week, he came in and earned his first big league save after Lucas Sims got the first two outs of the inning but had no control of his pitches. Antone had his own meltdown inning as well, but that just makes him part of the Cincinnati Bullpen Family now. It's still a messy committee, but Antone could absolutely run away with this job if given the chance.
Risers: Tejay Antone
Short Relief
-Cardinals fireballer Jordan Hicks was placed on the IL this week and could miss over a month. Ryan Helsley will move into his high-leverage role, but Alex Reyes and his 0.00 ERA will continue to close in St. Louis.
-Tanner Rainey is having a hard time getting outs in 2021. A grand slam to the opposing pitcher this week moved Rainey's season ERA to 10.00. He was one of my picks for most valuable reliever not in a closer's role to start the season. Oops.
-Edwin Diaz is really, really good in save situations. Edwin Diaz is really, really bad in non-save situations. It's such an intriguing dichotomy. Every run Diaz has allowed this season has come in non-save situations, and a few of those outings have been particularly ugly.
-Julian Merryweather came out of nowhere to run with the Blue Jays closer job for a little bit, but his trip to the IL won't be over any time soon, as he was transferred to the 60-day injured list this week. The Toronto bullpen remains a committee with Jordan Romano and Rafael Dolis working most ninth innings.
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