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The first few weeks of this baseball season (and even a couple of weeks leading up to Opening Day) were absolutely littered with bullpen news and notes. It seemed like almost every single day, some team was tinkering with its bullpen, or some closer was getting hurt, or some previously well-established closer was slumping while guys behind him were thriving.
It was a lot to open the season. And it continued on from there for several weeks. But now? Right now we seem to be in a sort of holding pattern in most bullpens. Not a lot went down this week. A few committees got shifted around, a couple of strong holds guys landed on the injured list, and a few closer off days gave some clarity about who is "next up" in a few bullpens. But big news? Not much of it this week, which is a nice respite before 2020/2021 strikes again and somehow 30 closers go on the injured list next week or something.
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 8 - May 17 through May 23.
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Bullpen News For The Week
Washington Nationals
The Nationals bullpen has been mostly straightforward this year. At the very start of the season, COVID-19 issues made things a little interesting, but since then, it's been Brad Hand closing, Daniel Hudson setting up, and Will Harris helping out as well. Hand started off fine, allowing just four hits and striking out nine in 8 1/3 scoreless innings.
Lately though? It's been a different story. Hand has blown two saves and taken two losses in his last three appearances. There were plenty of preseason concerns about Hand's decreased velocity, but his hot start put a lot of that aside. Now a hot seat makes things interesting in the Washington bullpen. Hand may get another chance or two, but if he struggles again, Daniel Hudson could quickly take over the ninth inning.
Risers: Daniel Hudson
Fallers: Brad Hand
Oakland Athletics
The A's bullpen was supposed to be anchored through the signing of free agent Trevor Rosenthal (shoulder), but an injury knocked him out before the season even began. Jake Diekman was the one everyone thought would take over, and it looked like he would for a while, but the A's ultimately went with Lou Trivino as their closer. Soon after though, Diekman worked his way back up while Trivino was just okay, forming another committee in the Oakland pen. For a bit, Trivino was getting the bigger piece of the pie and looked like the better fantasy option.
But this week, Diekman earned saves in two consecutive days, and has just overall been the better pitcher. Diekman has five saves and a 2.12 ERA to go with a 34.7 K% and a 9.7 BB%. Meanwhile, Trivino has six saves (one blown save) with a 3.66 ERA, 26.2 K%, and 13.1 BB%. Basically, Diekman has been better in almost every meaningful predictive metric. Trivino should still have value in deeper leagues, but this seems like a classic baseball case of talent winning out. Diekman is the better fantasy asset right now.
Risers: Jake Diekman
Fallers: Lou Trivino
Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays bullpen alone may have more injury transactions this season than some entire other teams. The latest victim is Rafael Dolis (calf), who was placed on the injured list with a calf strain. Jordan Romano has been getting the high-leverage innings, but A.J. Cole actually earned the save on Wednesday. It was a scheduled day off for Romano, but Tyler Chatwood stuck in his usual eighth inning, so Cole got the ninth.
That would seem to mean that Romano is at least somewhat locked into the ninth, and Chatwood the eighth. Dolis isn't expected to miss too much time, so things could get complicated again in the Toronto pen, but at least for now, Romano looks like he could be "the guy" for the Jays.
Risers: Jordan Romano
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers bullpen hasn't been much for fun anyone this season. Okay, maybe for opposing teams. Gregory Soto has been getting most of the few save chances the Tigers have been providing, but on Thursday, for the second time in May, he had to be bailed out by Michael Fulmer. Fulmer now has two saves and a 26:8 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Both of Fulmer's saves have come when he's been brought in to rescue Soto after a bad start to the inning. For now, Detroit is still a messy committee with Soto at the top, but it's hard to see them keep going with him if he keeps needing to be bailed out. Fulmer would seem to be next in line if Soto is given time to "work on things" in lower leverage innings some time soon. Jose Cisnero is striking out plenty of guys, but also has an ERA over six.
Risers: Michael Fulmer
Fallers: Gregory Soto
Short Relief
-The Miami Marlins just keep on using Anthony Bass in high-leverage innings despite his 5.11 ERA (backed up by a 5.53 FIP), but at least it seems like Dylan Floro (1.08 ERA, 1.90 FIP) has taken over the top setup role ahead of closer Yimi Garcia.
-Chris Martin is back in the Braves bullpen and should take over a key setup role right away. Shane Greene was recently signed and could work his way through Triple-A quickly and rejoin the Braves pen to pitch late innings soon.
-Kendall Graveman and Rafael Montero continue to form the two-man committee in Seattle's bullpen. Graveman seems to be getting a little bit of separation from Montero though, as Graveman is sporting a 0.00 ERA and a 16:3 K:BB ratio compared to Montero's 5.51 ERA and 14:5 ratio. Both have four saves, but Montero has been saddled with five blown saves while Graveman has none.
-The Diamondbacks seem to really want veteran Joakim Soria to work his way into the closer's role. Stefan Crichton is doing fairly well, but it could be a very small margin for error for Chrichton once Soria starts pitching well.
-Daniel Bard, one of the best stories of the 2020 season, is having a much harder time in 2021. He has three saves in six chances and a 7.11 ERA. The team seems committed to letting him figure things out, but they can't stick with him long if he keeps this up. Mychal Givens is the next guy up, with Robert Stephenson possibly mixing in as well.
-Paul Fry has been outstanding this season out of the Baltimore bullpen and has moved into the primary setup role ahead of closer Cesar Valdez. Tanner Scott will take a step down the ladder below Fry.
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