Fantasy Baseball: Closer Report (9-13)

There are only two-plus weeks left in the MLB regular season. If you’re still reading this column it likely means that you’re still in contention in your league, congratulations. It’s been a difficult year for closers, but it always is. They just can’t be relied on. Not from one year to the next and certainly not in season. This shouldn’t change your draft strategy next season or keeper decisions during the off-season. When in doubt, go with another player whether it be a starting pitcher or a position player. Think about this for a minute. Coming into the season nearly every ranker had Edwin Diaz of the Mets and Kenley Jansen of the Dodgers as a top-three closer this season. Diaz has been terrible and lost the job and Jansen has only kept his job because of the lead the Dodgers have in the division. The point is you don’t want to rely on a closer. They can break your heart and tend to over and over again.

National League

Chicago Cubs: Well that didn’t take long now did it? Craig Kimbrel had just come off of the injured list with a knee injury, pitched in seven games, and then had to be placed back on IL due to an elbow injury. This has not been a great season for Kimbrel. He signed late due to not finding a contract to his liking. He’s pitched adequately at best and that’s being kind with a 5.68 ERA and 1.53 WHIP and has hit the IL several times. As for his prognosis, what we do know is that he won’t be activated Thursday, the first day he is eligible. Kimbrel has been throwing but has yet to have a bullpen session so best-case scenario for his return would seem to be the middle of next week, but that’s just a shot in the dark.

Los Angeles Dodgers: There really is no change in the status of Kenley Jansen. He has only pitched three times in the month of September and only once during a save situation (converted). Still, he has given up runs in four of his last seven outings and is still a work in progress right now. The Dodgers will do all they can to get Jansen ready for the MLB playoffs and that might include frequent rest whether or not the team requires a save during the game that day.

St. Louis Cardinals: Carlos Martinez has been very steady of late so there are no worries as to who the closer will be for St. Louis from here on out. What is of interest is that the Cardinals have let it be known that they haven’t given up on the idea of CMart returning to the starting rotation next season. This may be true, but it also may be true that they will float his name out there in trade rumors once again this offseason, and a starting pitcher almost always has more value than a relief pitcher, even if that RP is a closer.

San Francisco Giants: Will Smith is dealing with a back injury that has kept him out of the lineup of late. If this wasn’t September, he would’ve more than likely found himself on the IL, but with rosters expanded to 40 players, there was little need for the Giants to make this accounting move. Smith is scheduled to throw Thursday and if all goes well, expected to return to his closing role over the weekend versus Miami.

Washington Nationals: Sean Doolittle has returned from the IL for the Nationals. Doolittle has made four appearances and hasn’t allowed a run and only permitted one hit and a walk during those appearances. Still, he hasn’t garnered a save opportunity yet as the Nationals like the Dodgers may be easing his workload as they have little to play for until the playoffs begin.

American League

Cleveland Indians: According to the Indians, Brad Hand has been dealing with a tired arm and that’s why he has struggled of late (9.00 ERA last 10 appearances). The good news is that his MRI came back clean, but the bad news is that the team will try and rest him if possible. Cleveland is still fighting for a playoff spot so rest may not be possible, so they just may choose to use Hand in lower leverage situations and thus have Nick Wittgren close out games.