RADIO
For all the wildness that has already happened in bullpens across the league this season, this week was a nice little respite. That's not to say that nothing went down, just that it wasn't an overwhelmingly non-stop bullpen news week like every other week had been. We have a few committees settling into more specific roles at the same time as other committees are becoming more and more open. A few guys who may have been looked at as temporary fill-in closers have solidified their roles and closed committees as well.
The Rays looked like they had an actual guy for the ninth inning for a little bit, the Reds might need to make a switch soon, and the Marlins might have an excellent closer ready as long as their manager doesn't get in the team's way. The Rangers got a big arm back from injury, and the Dodgers look like they have the outstanding vintage version of their closer back.
Remember 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 5 - April 26 through May 2.
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Bullpen News For The Week
Tampa Bay Rays
For a little bit there, for the first time in recent memory, it looked like the Rays bullpen had an actual closer. A guy who would pitch the ninth inning to save a game in which they had a three, two, or one-run lead. The Rays! The team from Tampa Bay! An actual closer! But yeah, that ended up not being a thing. Just as it looked like Diego Castillo was locked into the ninth, he came in to pitch in the seventh inning of a game. He stuck around for the eighth as well, but then Jeffrey Springs closed out the game for the first save of his career. Later in the week, Castillo came in for a save but ended up blowing the chance against the Royals. It's still going to be Castillo more often than anyone else when the Rays have a save chance, but this is still a committee, as is Rays tradition.
Risers: Jeffrey Springs, Ryan Thompson
Fallers: Diego Castillo (ever so slightly)
Cincinnati Reds
Amir Garrett is a really good pitcher, but he's having a really hard time getting guys out in 2021. After blowing another lead late in the week, his ERA has ballooned up to 16.20. In five innings, he's only struck out four while walking eight and allowing nine runs. That just won't do for any pitcher, let alone a guy who was expected to close. Meanwhile, Lucas Sims has been pitching well as has Sean Doolittle, who also has plenty of closing experience. Manager David Bell gave Garrett a post-game vote of confidence, but it's hard to see him calling on him again the next time a save chance comes up. This would seem to be a platoon-type committee situation going forward, where Sims should get a good portion of the save chances with Doolittle mixing in when tough lefty bats are due up to bat. All that being said, the Reds bullpen exploded on Thursday, with four different relievers allowing at least two runs each while getting three outs or less. Yikes.
Risers: Lucas Sims, Sean Doolittle
Fallers: Amir Garrett
Toronto Blue Jays
Speaking of wild bullpen news, the Blue Jays started spring training thinking Kirby Yates (flexor) would be their closer. Then he got hurt and we all thought Jordan Romano (arm) would do it. Then rookie Julian Merryweather (oblique) appeared out of nowhere and took the ninth inning. Then he got hurt, so it was back to Romano. Then Romano got hurt, and now it's a mess. Rafael Dolis should still see the majority of saves in this bullpen, but there was some interesting bullpen usage this week by the Blue Jays. Dolis pitched the eighth inning (an arguably higher leverage inning than the ninth due to the batters due up, but still), and then Tim Mayza was called upon for the ninth. For the last out of the game, however, Mayza was pulled and Anthony Castro came in and recorded the first save of his career in just the fifth big league appearance of his life. Dolis is still the arm to roster here for now, but expect some more interesting bullpen finagling in Toronto going forward. In fact, Jordan Romano may actually return from the injured list this weekend and would presumably slide into the closer's role as long as he shows that he's healthy.
Risers: Jordan Romano, Tim Mayza, Anthony Castro
Fallers: Rafael Dolis
Short Relief
-Yimi Garcia is really, really good in the closer's role. Marlins manager Don Mattingly implied that he wanted Anthony Bass (8.10 ERA) to get the job back over Garcia (0.87 ERA). If that happens, maybe it'll finally mean a new manager in Miami.
-Cesar Valdez got a chance to take the Orioles closer job and run with it, and that's exactly what he's done. With an almost unhittable changeup, he should be a solid fantasy closer for all formats despite perhaps not getting quite as many save chances as closers on some other teams.
-Remember when we were all worried about Kenley Jansen and thought the Dodgers bullpen would be a committee? Jansen has been outstanding and threw his hardest pitch in years this week (still with typical Kenley cutter movement). There's nothing to worry about in the Los Angeles bullpen.
-Lou Trivino seems to have solidified his role as the ninth inning guy in Oakland. Jake Diekman should still pick up plenty of holds and provide strong ratios, though.
-The Diamondbacks bullpen is a mess, but they called up rookie J.B. Bukauskas this week (who has SP eligibility in Yahoo! leagues!) He won't take the job right away, but Bukauskas likely has the best stuff in the Arizona bullpen and there's a clear path to saves there.
-Joely Rodriguez is off the injured list and right back into significant high-leverage innings for the Rangers. Ian Kennedy's hold on the ninth inning is safe, but Rodriguez is a good holds league choice and could take over at closer if Kennedy is injured or traded.
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