RADIO
The All-Star break is now behind us and the trade deadline is quickly approaching. Let's use a car metaphor: the All-Star break is in the rear view mirror and the trade deadline is a semi coming right at you on a one-lane road as you suddenly realize you are driving the wrong way and there are barriers on both sides of you so you have no options. It's going to be a wild one, folks. Teams are reportedly preparing for a "frenzy" of trades this season, and bullpen arms are always a huge part of every July 31. Check out last week's Closers and Saves Report for some more trade deadline chatter.
This week though? Back to baseball and back to saves, holds, blown saves, wins, and losses. We saw a closer who had been perfect his entire career blow his first save in grand fashion. We saw a committee that had been a committee all season finally (maybe?) stop being a committee. We saw the reliever many people thought would leapfrog Josh Hader both in the Brewers bullpen and in the "best fantasy RP" discussion end up on the injured list. A lot happened this week, let's talk about it.
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 wild 2021 baseball season. With that being said, here are the closers, saves, and bullpen waiver wire pickups to consider for Week 17 - July 19 through July 25.
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Bullpen News For The Week
Milwaukee Brewers
Before the season began, some people who write about fantasy baseball and specialize in bullpens said that Josh Hader wouldn't be that good this season and that Devin Williams (elbow) would take over the closer's role in Milwaukee and the role as the most valuable relief pitcher in fantasy baseball. It wasn't me. Definitely not me. Don't look it up, just trust me. Williams landed on the injured list this week with an elbow issue.
Even before the injury though, Williams was not living up to the lofty numbers he posted in 2020. While a 2.97 ERA and 36.1 K% aren't bad numbers by any stretch, they don't compare to the 0.33 ERA and 53.0 K% he put up in a similar number of innings last season. Meanwhile, Hader has a 1.45 ERA, a 45.4 K%, and is fifth in baseball with 21 saves. Oops. I got that one wrong. Williams is hoping to only miss the required amount of time on the injured list, but as long as he's gone, Brad Boxberger and Jake Cousins figure to work ahead of Hader.
Risers: Brad Boxberger, Jake Cousins
Fallers: Devin Williams, my credibility
Pittsburgh Pirates
Kyle Crick was working in a setup role ahead of closer Richard Rodriguez for most of this season. Crick hit a rough patch recently though, and the Pirates decided to cut ties, designating Crick for assignment. That leaves David Bednar as the primary setup man as well as presumably the guy who will take over the closer's role if Rodriguez is traded.
There's already been chatter about teams interested in the Pirates closer, so there's a decent chance Rodriguez will be pitching for another team in August. Chris Stratton has moved up to a setup role as well, but based on usage and upside, Bednar is clearly the guy they'll go to if Rodriguez leaves. Crick will almost certainly get picked up by another team, but won't work in a leverage role at least for a while.
Risers: David Bednar
Fallers: Kyle Crick
Baltimore Orioles
Here's hoping there's more clarity in the Orioles bullpen after the trade deadline because right now? It's a mess. While we were all debating between Paul Fry and Cole Sulser with a side of Tanner Scott, a man named Tyler Wells jumped right into the middle of the conversation. Wells got two high leverage situations this week that weren't quite save spots, but almost everyone else in the Baltimore bullpen messed up their leverage innings while Wells excelled.
The Orioles broadcast team is already calling Wells the closer even though the team hasn't said it yet. There's a cap to how much value a Baltimore reliever can have, but for fantasy managers desperate for a save or two, Wells is almost certainly on your waiver wire.
Risers: Tyler Wells
Fallers: Paul Fry, Cole Sulser, Tanner Scott
Short Relief
-Looks like it's no longer a committee in Detroit, as All-Star Gregory Soto has received and converted the last four Tigers save chances. Jose Cisnero has settled in as the primary setup guy.
-Zack Britton is back, but he's gotten off to a rough start. With Aroldis Chapman also struggling lately, the Yankees bullpen finally knows how the Mets bullpen feels.
-Speaking of the Mets bullpen, Edwin Diaz has been doing Edwin Diaz things again this year: one day he'll look like a guy that no one will ever get a hit off of, then the next day he'll look like a guy that might never get someone out. For now, he's still the Mets closer, but Trevor May has been pitching very well and could see a save chance soon if Diaz gets in a slump.
-J.P. Feyereisen (biceps) landed on the injured list, pushing Jeffrey Springs into his spot in the Tampa Bay closer committee.
-Tyler Rogers and Jake McGee continue to split save chances, but both might turn into setup men if the Giants acquire a full-time closer at the deadline.
-Alex Reyes finally blew a save. After starting his career with 24 saves in 24 chances, he had a terrible outing this week in which he allowed three inherited runners to score before allowing three of his own base runners to score as well. Reyes is in no danger of losing his job, but his ridiculous walk rate of almost a batter per inning remains concerning.
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