08-04-20 Update: It’s been just over a week since our last major update. But, we have seen plenty of action across MLB’s bullpens in that time!
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. This year we are going to have to deal with even more with expanded rosters and COVID-19 IL.
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 | Buzzed | Cole Sulser | Mychal Givens | Miguel Castro | Hunter Harvey (IL) | With Harvey starting the season on the IL with elbow soreness, Cole Sulser has taken the reigns as Baltimore's go-to-guy in the 9th. |
| BOS | Buzzed | Brandon Workman | Matt Barnes | Heath Hembree | Brandon Workman owns both of Boston's Saves on the short season. But, at only 3-7, the Save opportunities just haven't been there for the Red Sox yet. | |
| NYY | Buzzed | Zack Britton | Adam Ottavino | Chad Green David Hale | Aroldis Chapman (CL) Tommy Kahnle (IL) | Tommy Kahnle appears to be headed for Tommy John surgery after being put on the IL on 7/31 with a UCL issue. Look for Chad Green and David Hale to fill-in for Kahnle |
| TB * | Drunk Tank | Oliver Drake | Nick Anderson | Jose Alvarado | Oliver Drake is the "current" lead-man for TB, but the Rays have five-straight losses after opening the season 4-1. | |
| TOR * | Drunk Tank | Anthony Bass | Rafael Dolis | Jordan Romano | Ken Giles (IL) | Giles has been diagnosed with a mild strain of the flexor mass in his right forearm, and will stay on the IL for the time being. He could still return for 2020, but won't be able to throw until mid-August at best. |
| AL CENTRAL | ||||||
| CHW | Sober | Alex Colome | Aaron Bummer | Evan Marshall | Both Bummer and Marshall have been fantastic to start the season, but Colome should continue to close games for Chicago. | |
| CLE | Buzzed | Brad Hand | James Karinchak | Nick Wittgren | Brad Hand earned Saves in his first two outings, but got rocked on 7/29, taking the Loss. Karinchak was used in the 9th on 7/30, and notched his first career Save. If Hand struggles, Karinchak could be the beneficiary in Cleveland. | |
| DET | Sober | Joe Jimenez | Buck Farmer | Gregory Soto | Soto has earned a place in this hierarchy with an 8:1 K/BB ratio and two Holds across 5.2 IP in 2020. | |
| KC * | Drunk Tank | Ian Kennedy | Greg Holland | Trevor Rosenthal | Kansas City's Manager, Mike Matheny, brought his old pal, Trevor Rosenthal, in to get the Save on 7/30, a trend that garners watching since 2019 KC Closer, Ian Kennedy, has yet to earn a Save this year. | |
| MIN | Sober | Taylor Rogers | Sergio Romo | Cody Stashak | Tyler Clippard was used as the Opener for MIN on 8/2, so we're shifting him out of this hierarchy for now. | |
| AL WEST | ||||||
| HOU | Buzzed | Ryan Pressly | Blake Taylor | Andre Scrubb Fernando Rodney (Minors) | Roberto Osuna (IL) Chris Devenski (IL) | Both Osuna (arm) and Devenski (elbow soreness) hit the IL over the weekend, so look for Ryan Pressly to take over as the Closer. But, it must be noted that Houston has officially signed Fernando Rodney to a Minor League deal, so he could be someone to watch, as well! |
| LAA | Hammered | Hansel Robles | Ty Buttrey | Felix Pena | Hansel Robles has been obliterated so far in 2020, surrendering nine runs in only four appearances. A change could be coming if Robles doesn't turn it around soon. | |
| OAK | Sober | Liam Hendriks | Jake Diekman | Joakim Soria | Jake Diekman has been solid as Oakland's lead Setup Man, but Soria could continue to get favored for Saves when Hendriks needs rest. | |
| SEA * | Drunk Tank | Taylor Williams | Dan Altavilla | Anthony Misiewicz | Yoshihisa Hirano (CL) | Taylor Williams moves into the lead spot of this Closing Committee after notching his second Save on 7/31. |
| TEX * | Drunk Tank | Edinson Volquez | Jonathan Hernandez | Jesse Chavez | Jose Leclerc (IL) Rafael Montero (IL) | Jose Leclerc was put on the 45-day IL on 7/30 with a shoulder injury. Edinson Volquez jumps into the lead-role of Texas's Closer Commitee for now. |
| NL EAST | ||||||
| ATL | Sober | Mark Melancon | Shane Greene | Chris Martin | Will Smith (CL) | Chris Martin enters the Braves hierarchy after picking up a Save on 7/31. |
| MIA | Sober | Brandon Kintzler | Brad Boxberger | Richard Bleier | Even with COVID-19 running rampant through Miami's roster, it's seemed to stay away from the bullpen arms. But, Miami did trade for Richard Bleier to help keep bodies on the field, so we're adding him to the back-end of this hierarchy. | |
| NYM | Hammered | Edwin Diaz | Seth Lugo | Dellin Betances | Edwin Diaz already blew his first Save of the season, so if he continues to falter, his hold on the Closer role will disappear. | |
| PHL | Buzzed | Hector Neris | Adam Morgan | Jose Alvarez | Seranthony Dominguez (IL) | Dominguez will miss the rest of 2020 and probably most, if not all, of 2021, after his Tommy John surgery. Hector Neris now has a longer leash as Philly's Closer. |
| WAS * | Drunk Tank | Daniel Hudson | Sean Doolittle | Tanner Rainey | Will Harris (IL) | Will Harris hit the IL on 7/31 with a strained groin, but in bigger news, Daniel Hudson appears to have a tighter grasp on the Closer role for Washington. Sean Doolittle is still working on his mechanics, and Hudson continues to get the call. |
| NL CENTRAL | ||||||
| CHC | Buzzed | Craig Kimbrel | Rowan Wick | Jeremy Jeffress | Kimbrel has looked bad so far in 2020, but Rowan Wick continues to impress first year skipper, David Ross. Keep an eye on things, especially if Kimbrel continues to pitch poorly. | |
| CIN | Sober | Raisel Iglesias | Pedro Strop | Amir Garrett | Things remain status quo in Cincy, with Iglesias atop their hierarchy. | |
| MIL | Sober | Josh Hader | Corey Knebel | David Phelps | After David Phelps pitched not one, but two, clean extra innings with runners starting at 2B, he moves into Milwaukee's bullpen hierarchy. | |
| PIT * | Drunk Tank | Nick Burdi | Richard Rodriguez | Michael Feliz | Keona Kela (CL) Kyle Crick (IL) | Kela remains out due to COVID-19, and will need to show he can throw off a mound numerous times prior to activation. Meanwhile, PIT placed Kyle Crick on the IL with a right shoulder/lat muscle strain. Nick Burdi gets the nod atop this Closing Committee. |
| STL | Buzzed | Kwang Hyun Kim | Andrew Miller | Giovanny Gallegos | Kim has officially shed the Closer Committee asterisk and will remain in the Closer role for the time being. | |
| NL WEST | ||||||
| ARI | Sober | Archie Bradley | Kevin Ginkel | Hector Rondon | After a rough first outing in 2020, Archie Bradley has settled in with two-straight Saves. | |
| COL * | Drunk Tank | Jairo Diaz | Carlos Estevez | Daniel Bard | Wade Davis (IL) Scott Oberg (IL) | Scott Oberg started the season on the IL, and is now joined by the Closer everyone thought Oberg would overtake in 2020, Wade Davis (shoulder strain). Colorado will implement a Closer Committee until Davis or Oberg returns. |
| LAD | Sober | Kenley Jansen | Blake Treinen | Pedro Baez | With both Jansen and Treinen unavailable on 7/30, Pedro Baez earned the Save. This hierarchy remains unchanged, though. | |
| SD | Hammered | Kirby Yates | Drew Pomeranz | Emilio Pagan | Kirby Yates has been terrible to start 2020, and feels he needs to make some mechanical adjustments to get back on-track. If he doesn't figure things out soon, he could cede Saves to Drew Pomeranz. | |
| SF * | Drunk Tank | Trevor Gott | Tony Watson | Tyler Rogers | Trevor Gott now has two Saves and one Hold in his 3.0 IP in 2020. He could shed the Committee asterisk if he continues to pitch well for SF. |
