Fantasy baseball analyst Dalton Del Don gives us an updated look at the top teams’ bullpen hierarchy.
Chicago White Sox
Michael Kopech lost in his last appearance, but remains the favorite to close out an ugly Chicago bullpen. Kopech is a first-round pick and former top SP prospect who is posting a 34.9 K% after moving into a full-time reliever role. His fantasy upside is limited playing for a White Sox team with three MLB wins so far this season, but Kopech (43% rostered) should be added in every fantasy league that counts saves as a category.
Kansas City Royals
James McArthur remains available in more than 50% of Yahoo leagues despite further cementing himself as Kansas City’s closer. Since a shaky start to the season, McArthur has not allowed a run while posting a 0.90 WHIP and a 9:1 K:BB ratio in 6.2 innings. He also recorded four saves and one win in those six appearances. McArthur sports a 2.26 SIERA and a truly elite CSW (40.0%) that ranks in the top five among 221 qualified relievers this year. He looks like one of the best waiver RP additions of the season and could be a top 10 fantasy prospect moving forward.
Milwaukee Breweries
Abner Uribe made three saves in Milwaukee’s first four games of the season but has yet to record one since. He came on during the fourth inning of Tuesday’s loss and then set up a save on Joel Payamps on Wednesday. Payamps exploded during one game, but otherwise he was scoreless in eight innings. Trevor Megill will eventually enter the picture as well, but Payamps sports a 1.57 FIP and 0.68 WHIP on the season and appears to be the current favorite to close in Milwaukee, so he needs to be added if you’re looking for defensive backs. It is available in almost 70% of Yahoo leagues.
Minnesota Twins
Griffin Jax has not recorded any saves since his first appearance of the season, as he has not been used as a traditional defenseman with Jhoan Duran sidelined as fantasy managers had hoped. Steven Okert and Cole Sands have recorded the same number of saves as Jax, and Duran is reportedly healthy and scheduled to return by the end of the month. Jax can be ruled out of most fantasy leagues.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies are using a committee to close based on matchups, but it’s worth noting that José Alvarado has some ugly peripherals. He ranks in the bottom 15 out of 221 relievers in BB% (20.0), and his 7.6 SwStr% isn’t much better. Jeff Hoffman will continue to see late-game opportunities, and the newly named Orion Kerkering remains the favorite to lead the team in second-half saves of the season. Both Hoffman (10% rostered) and Kerkering (18%) are widely available in Yahoo leagues.
Seattle Mariners
Andrés Muñoz was selected as a top-10 fantasy player, but he hasn’t seen an opportunity to save since April 6. Injuries to Seattle’s bullpen have pushed Muñoz into a high-leverage role, including him entering the seventh inning during his final appearance. Muñoz remains the Mariners’ clear PR prospect to climb into fantasy leagues, but usage of him has been incredibly disappointing. Hopefully Matt Brash’s eventual return will lead to Muñoz getting more closure.
Tampa Bay Rays
Pete Fairbanks has missed some defensive opportunities, thanks to balls at Coors Field, and has struggled mightily this season (his 7.2 SwStr% is easily a career low). But he gives great interviewsIt is Tampa Bay still trusts him. Fairbanks has strangely struggled with control (his 58.6 K% is down about 10% from the last two seasons), but he’s likely to bounce back, assuming he’s healthy. His .444 BABIP will certainly regress as well, and Fairbanks remains the favorite to close out Tampa Bay.
Texas rangers
Kirby Yates has surpassed José Leclerc (2.2 K-BB%) and is quite capable of holding the closer’s job for the rest of the season, so he needs to be added in any fantasy league where he remains available.
