Fantasy Baseball Closer Chart 4-12-21 update: Brad Hand is back! Archie Bradley and Reyes Moronta head to the IL with injuries.
Be sure to check out all the new info below and adjust your lineups/rosters accordingly!
As witnessed year-in and year-out, Relief Pitcher exemplifies the term “volatility” more than any other position in baseball. Injuries, repeated blown saves/ineffective outings, and deadline trades are just a few reasons for player movement at the position.
The Closer role is an even more-fluid position due to the influx of “Closer Committees” present throughout the league. Numerous MLB teams have adopted this philosophy, allowing for more flexibility in deploying their best pitchers during the later innings.
Last season we altered the Job Security Legend in an effort to stay true to our site’s namesake. This year, we are keeping a similar format, but we have updated the BAC Levels slightly. Here is the breakdown of updated levels of confidence from high to low:
- Sober: Who got the keys to the Jeep? This guy does, and he is the clear Designated Driver of his team’s ninth-inning duties.
- Buzzed: This player has a clear case of the hiccups, but he’s still the best choice for late-night excitement.
- Hammered: Sloppy and stumbling are continually used to describe this player’s performance. His seat at the center field bar is ripe for the taking.
- Drunk Tank: Our new Closer Committee classification (noted with an *) for teams with two-plus relievers trying to seal the deal.
Pick-up a Sixer, and come drink-in all the frothy goodness of our 2020 Closer Chart. Stay tuned weekly for any, and all, relief pitching changes throughout the fantasy season.
Be sure to check out the rest of our Fantasy Baseball content for the latest news and notes to help you win your league. Stay frosty!
Fantasy Baseball Closer Chart
| TEAMS | BAC LEVEL | LEAD CLOSER | SETUP MAN | NEXT MAN UP | IL/COVID LIST | TEAM NEWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AL EAST | ||||||
| BAL* | Drunk Tank | Cesar Valdez | Tanner Scott | Dillion Tate | Hunter Harvey | Cesar Valdez recorded his first blown save on 4/10, but no need to worry about it; he still is the Orioles best strikeout arm in the bullpen. |
| BOS | Buzzed | Matt Barnes | Adam Ottavino | Darwinzon Hernandez | Ryan Brasier | Barnes has struck out 11 of the 16 hitters he has faced. It's only a matter of time before he earns his first save. |
| NYY | Sober | Aroldis Chapman | Chad Green | Justin Wilson | Zack Britton | Justin Wilson has rejoined the team from the IL, and had two strikeouts in his appearance on 4/10. |
| TB * | Drunk Tank | Diego Castillo | Ryan Thompson | Cody Reed | Nick Anderson (60-Day IL) | Pete Fairbanks has a strained rotator cuff which could keep him out till June. |
| TOR* | Drunk Tank | Julian Merryweather | Jordan Romano | David Phelps | Kirby Yates | The Jays have been using Merryweather more in closer situations over the past few games than Romano. This recent usage suggests the Jays like Merryweather as their closer than Romano. |
| AL CENTRAL | ||||||
| CHW | Sober | Liam Hendriks | Aaron Bummer | Evan Marshall | Liam Hendriks recorded his first save on 4/2. Marshall had a blown save on 4/3 and is struggling in high leverage, and Matt Foster is nipping at his heels. | |
| CLE* | Drunk Tank | Emmanuel Clase | Nick Wittgren | James Karinchak | Emmanuel Clase recorded his first save on 4/9 and has been the most impressive reliever this season, striking out five out of the nine hitters he has faced. | |
| DET* | Drunk Tank | Gregory Soto | Bryan Garcia | Buck Farmer Derek Holland | Soto recorded a Save on 4/1, and Garcia recorded a Save on 4/3, solidifying that the Tigers have a one-two punch at closer. | |
| KC | Buzzed | Greg Holland | Scott Barlow | Jesse Hahn | Wade Davis and Jesse Hahn recorded the first two saves, but Holland is still the closer, but the seat is warm. | |
| MIN* | Drunk Tank | Alex Colome | Taylor Rogers | Hansel Robles | Although Rogers being lights out, he has only pitched in the 7th inning of games. The Twins seem set to use Colome as the closer, but if he blows any more saves, they'll have to turn to Rogers sooner or later. | |
| AL WEST | ||||||
| HOU | Sober | Ryan Pressly | Enoli Paredes | Blake Taylor | Pedro Baez (COVID) | Brooks Raley recorded the Astros' first save, but don't worry, Pressly is still the guy. |
| LAA | Sober | Raisel Iglesias | Mike Mayers | Steve Cishek | Iglesias recorded his second save on 4/8. | |
| OAK | Sober | Jake Diekman | Sergio Romo | Lou Trivino J.B. Wendelken | Trevor Rosenthal | Rosenthal could miss up to 12 weeks if he gets the thoracic surgery, so make sure you put your bids on Diekman. |
| SEA | Buzzed | Rafael Montero | Kendall Graveman | Anthony Misciewicz | Montero recorded his second-blown save on 4/10, while Graveman recorded a Win, and Middleton recorded a Save. Montero is starting to lend out over in his seat. Keep an eye on him. | |
| TEX | Sober | Ian Kennedy | Josh Sborz | John King | Jonathan Hernandez Jose Leclerc Joely Rodriguez Matt Bush | Add another arm to the Rangers' IL; Matt Bush has elbow inflammation and was placed on 10-Day IL. Ian Kennedy now doesn't have any competition behind him for Saves. |
| NL EAST | ||||||
| ATL | Buzzed | Will Smith | Sean Newcomb | A.J. Minter | Chris Martin | Chris Martin has finally been put on the IL with a shoulder injury. Sean Newcomb has been getting quite a few late-inning appearances, and Snitker has hinted that it will continue. |
| MIA | Sober | Yimi Garcia | Anthony Bass | Richard Bleier | After Bass blew his second save on 4/9, the Marlins called on Garcia to close out the game and recorded his first save on 4/10. | |
| NYM | Sober | Edwin Diaz | Trevor May | Miguel Castro | Seth Lugo (IL) Dellinan Betances (IL) | The Mets placed Betances on the IL with a shoulder injury. |
| PHL | Sober | Hector Neris | Jose Alvarado | Sam Coonrod | Archie Bradley | Bradley was placed on the IL with a strained oblique. Coonrod has the second best K/9 rate in the bullpen, so he moves up the chart. |
| WAS | Sober | Brad Hand | Daniel Hudson | Tanner Rainey | Hand has returned from the COVID IL, so the Nationals bullpen resumes back to normal. | |
| NL CENTRAL | ||||||
| CHC | Sober | Craig Kimbrel | Brandon Workman | Andrew Chafin | Rowan Wick | Kimbrel is back! he struck out five out of the six batters he has faced this season. |
| CIN* | Drunk Tank | Amir Garrett | Lucas Sims | Sean Doolittle | Garrett recorded his second save on 4/9, itching closer the being the main guy for the Reds. | |
| MIL | Sober | Josh Hader | Devin Williams | Brent Suter Freddy Peralta | Devin Williams had a tough outing allowing one earned run and a walk facing only five batters. | |
| PIT | Sober | Richard Rodriguez | Kyle Crick | Chris Stratton | Richard Rodriguez recorded his first save on 4/1. | |
| STL | Sober | Alex Reyes | Giovanny Gallegos | Andrew Miller Jordan Hicks | Despite everyone in the Cardinals' front office saying they are taking the committee approach, they keep giving the ball to Reyes in tight situations. Reyes recorded his third save on 4/8. | |
| NL WEST | ||||||
| ARI* | Drunk Tank | Stefan Crichton | Kevin Ginkel | Taylor Clarke | Joakim Soria Chris Devenski (restricted list) | Devenski is heading to the restricted list for personal reasons, which moves Taylor Clarke up the hierarchy. |
| COL | Sober | Daniel Bard | Mychal Givens | Robert Stephenson | Scott Oberg (IL) | Bard recorded his first save on 4/1 and had two strikeouts and zero runs in this late-inning work on 4/3. |
| LAD | Sober | Kenley Jansen | Corey Knebel | Blake Treinen | Brusdar Graterol | Knebel recorded his second save on 4/9, moving up the hierarchy and putting some pressure on Jansen. |
| SD | Sober | Mark Melancon | Emilio Pagan | Drew Pomeranz | It's official the Padres main closer is Mark Melancon, who recorded his fourth Save on 4/10. | |
| SF | Sober | Jake McGee | Tyler Rogers | Jose Alvarez | Reyes Moronta | McGee recorded his fourth Save on 4/10. Moronta was placed on the 10-Day IL with a right flexor strain. Alvarez moves up to the second-in-line spot. |
