The Arizona Diamondbacks designated relief pitcher Stefan Crichton for assignment on Wednesday. Outfielder Nick Heath was called up from Triple-A in a corresponding move. Crichton was one of the team's primary high-leverage relievers early on in the year, but he's had a dreadful season overall. Over 29 appearances, he's suffered four losses while posting a 6.04 ERA and 1.84 WHIP. He converted all four of his save opportunities, but hadn't seen an opportunity since May 10.
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Stefan Crichton picked up his fourth save of the season in Monday's 5-2 win over the Marlins. Crichton worked a 1-2-3 ninth, fanning a batter in the process. The 29-year-old seemingly saw his stock fall when he was utilized in lower-leverage situations in his last couple of outings, though the team threw him back out there in a save opportunity- and he didn't disappoint en route to his team-leading fourth save. Crichton doesn't have the usual swing-and-miss stuff one would expect from a shutdown closer, though he has yet to allow a barrel in 36 batted balls- and his expected ERA of 2.68 suggests that more good performances could be on the way.
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Stefan Crichton is likely not in the mix for save opportunities going forward, as he recorded two outs in the seventh inning of Tuesday night's extra innings victory over Colorado. Three of Crichton's four appearances so far have come in the seventh inning or earlier, and in his one game finished this year, he pitched in the eighth inning with Arizona trailing San Diego 4-2. Crichton served as the team's closer in 2020 after Archie Bradley was traded away, and with Joakim Soria on the injured list it seemed like Crichton might get a shot at the closer's job again. Tuesday night appears to be the final nail in the coffin for Crichton getting save opportunities for now, although he can still have value in SV/HLD formats as he picked up his third hold of the year last night.
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Stefan Crichton tossed 2/3 scoreless innings on Sunday, allowing two hits while striking out one as he earned his second hold of the year. Crichton took over the closer role in 2020 after Archie Bradley was traded, but now in 2021 he has made three appearances two of which came before the eighth inning with the third appearance coming in the eighth inning of Saturday's game with the Diamondbacks trailing 4-2. It appears that manager Torey Lovullo is either going to go with a closer-by-committee situation or will turn to Joakim Soria as the team's closer, although Soria exited Sunday's game with an injury. At this point, Crichton really shouldn't be on managers radars in most leagues.
Stefan Crichton Walks One In Scoreless Relief Outing
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Stefan Crichton tossed a scoreless inning of relief against the Padres on Friday night in a 4-2 loss. Making his second appearance of the season, Crichton allowed just one walk to lead off the eighth inning before inducing a double play and a ground out to end the frame. After serving as the closer in 2020, it seems that Crichton may not have the role to start the year, as he has now pitched back-to-back days in non-save situations. Joakim Soria had signed a deal with the Diamondbacks shortly before Spring Training and was considered a competitor for the closers role. But after a poor spring in which he allowed five runs in 4 2/3 innings, managers will likely want to avoid both Crichton and Soria outside of deep Nl-only formats.
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Stefan Crichton allowed his first runs of the spring on Thursday, surrendering three runs two earned on two hits while striking out one in one inning of work against the Orioles. Crichton had looked solid this spring prior to Thursday's outing, having allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out five over his first three innings. He was competing with Joakim Soria this spring to retain the closer role for Arizona, and despite the rough appearance Thursday, Crichton appears locked in to be the closer for the second year in a row. Crichton is one of the lower-tier closers in fantasy, but he should be able to provide solid value from his current 352 ADP.
Stefan Crichton Strikes Out Two in Scoreless Inning of Work
Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Stefan Crichton made his spring debut on Friday night, tossing a scoreless seventh inning in which he allowed two hits and one walk while striking out two. A two-out infield single loaded the bases for the Reds, but Crichton was able to get a fly out to retire the side and strand the runners. Crichton is competing to retain his hold on the closer's role against newcomers Joakim Soria and Tyler Clippard, and while he didn't allow a run to score, loading the bases wasn't the optimal start to the spring that he could have hoped for. He remains in the mix for the closer role, but even if he is named the Opening Day closer he will be one of the lower-end fantasy closers to choose from.