Fantasy Baseball: Closer Report (9-19)

Closers, they can drive you crazy. I mean, how hard can it be to pitch one inning and get three outs? Apparently, very. Maybe there is something to the belief that it takes a special kind of mental fortitude to finish off a game. Some relievers seem to have it, some not. The first thing I write in the first closer report each season is that out of 30 closers, at least half won’t have the job by the All-Star break for various reasons. This year that number has jumped to almost 70% at this point in time. When dealing with closers, they should be surrounded by yellow tape with a big neon sign that states “proceed with caution”.

National League

Arizona Cardinals: Archie Bradley is back at closer for the Diamondbacks after being out of the lineup for a couple of days due to back spasms. Bradley has had a solid season for Arizona after taking over the closing role. Bradley has always been the best reliever in the bullpen, but the team wanted to use him in a multiple inning role to start the season rather than just pigeonhole him in the save statistic. Bradley is not likely to be the closer next season for Arizona as they will look for an upgrade at the position.

Chicago Cubs: Craig Kimbrel is once again on the mend and could return to the bullpen for Chicago in the very near future. The bigger question for fantasy owners may be should you activate him. Kimbrel is no longer the light’s out closer he used to be. He struggles more often than not and if you’re in a head to head league, he could very well be a detriment to your WHIP and ERA. Still, if you need every save, then you have to do what you have to do.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Just when it looked like Kenley Jansen had fixed what ailed him, along come the Rays on Wednesday and yet another poor outing and blown save. Jansen gave up two earned runs, on two hits and a BB without a K in one IP. In a vacuum, this means nothing as all closers will blow a save from time to time, but with Jansen, it’s fair to worry if he has overcome the problems that plagued him through most of August. Maybe yes, maybe no as before the poor outing Wednesday he did have four clean appearances. You likely have no other choice but to start him in your lineup.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Felipe Vazquez was arrested earlier this week in Florida on various charges involving the mistreatment of a child and was immediately placed on the restricted list. I’m not here to pass judgment on what Vazquez did and did not do, just to inform you that his season is likely over and possibly his career. Keone Kela will take over the role. It might have been Kyle Crick if not for a finger injury he suffered during an altercation with Vazquez last week. Good times in the Pittsburgh bullpen indeed.

St. Louis Cardinals: Carlos Martinez was a risky start this week as he couldn’t pitch last weekend due to respiratory issues. Apparently, he may have been dealing with an asthma attack. Well, if you had the nerve to put him in your lineup, you were rewarded as CMart does have two saves already and looks like he has completely recovered from whatever was ailing him.

San Francisco Giants: Will Smith has also returned after being out of action for 10+ days due to back issues. Smith has been one of the more pleasant surprises this season as no one saw him becoming one of the more dominant closers in the game in 2019. The question will be this offseason, will re remain the closer? Will he be traded? Can he follow up this season with an equally impressive 2020 campaign? Those are questions for next season at draft time.

American League

Cleveland Indians: The Indians will have a tough decision to make in the next couple of days. Brad Hand threw a bullpen session Wednesday and by all reports, looked good doing so. It seems he could be ready to pitch for Cleveland as soon as Friday. The problem is, of course, the Indians are in a dogfight with the Rays and Athletics in trying to secure a playoff berth. Can they just throw Hand back into the closing role for the final 10 days of the season? Can fantasy owners trust that even if they do, he will pitch well? If you’re in a weekly lineup league, hopefully, you will get a chance to see Hand pitch at least once this weekend so you can make an informed decision.

New York Yankees: Dellin Betances was never going to close for the Yankees this season anyway but he is now out for the season after tearing his Achilles tendon Sunday. It appears Betances, in his first game back from the IL this season, suffered the injury when celebrating a K during the game versus Toronto. Such a brutal beginning and ending to his 2019 campaign. It’s also fair to wonder if he has pitched his last game for the Yankees.

Oakland Athletics: Like Betances, Blake Treinen is also done for the season due to injury. In the case of Treinen though, it’s a back injury that has done him in. Remember when Treinen was one of the top closers off the board at draft time? Yeah, how did that work out for you? Not well as his poor performance and injury allowed Liam Hendriks to not only take over the job but excel in it. Let’s not make the same mistake next season though and draft Hendriks early.