Seth Halvorsen, Victor Vodnik Competing For Closer Role
Colorado Rockies relief pitchers Seth Halvorsen and Victor Vodnik are currently competing for the closer role during spring training. The bullpen was a big reason why the Rockies lost over 100 games last season. The organization is hopeful that some of their younger arms can take big steps forward in 2025. Vodnik might be the favorite for the closer role considering he took over the role for part of the season last year. He registered a 4.28 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and 65/37 K/BB ratio across 64 games last season. He notched nine saves as well, which is decent considering the Rockies weren't winning a ton of games. Halvorsen has less MLB experience, but posted a 1.46 ERA and 0.81 WHIP across 12 games with the Rockies last season. Honestly, neither player will probably offer a ton of fantasy value unless the Rockies are able to find more success as a team in 2025.
Colorado Rockies right-handed reliever Victor Vodnik (biceps), who was placed on the 15-day injured list on Aug. 21 (retroactive to Aug. 19), threw a side session on Aug. 30. Manager Bud Black said Vodnik is scheduled for an "aggressive" side session on Tuesday in Atlanta. Depending on how that session goes, Black said the Rockies will either activate Vodnik from the IL or send him on a short minor-league rehab assignment. The 24-year-old's return to the back end of Colorado's bullpen could happen soon, barring any setbacks. When he does return, he could at least be sharing closing duties with Tyler Kinley, who has taken over as Colorado's closer with Vodnik injured. In his second year in the big leagues, Vodnik has an ERA above 4.00 but has also picked up his first nine career saves for a bad Rockies team. Fantasy managers looking for saves down the stretch in deeper leagues shouldn't forget about him.
Rockies Place Victor Vodnik On 15-Day Injured List
The Colorado Rockies placed right-handed reliever Victor Vodnik (bicep) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to Aug. 19) on Wednesday with right-bicep inflammation and selected the contract of right-hander Jeff Criswell from Triple-A Albuquerque in a corresponding move. Vodnik alerted the team on Tuesday when he was warming up that his shoulder didn't feel right, and now he'll miss at least the next two weeks. The 24-year-old had recently emerged as the club's closer after nailing down nine of his 10 save opportunities since the start of July. He has nine saves on the year with a 4.04 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 57 K's in 64 2/3 relief innings. Manager Bud Black didn't hesitate to turn to Angel Chivilli for his first career save on Tuesday, but Tyler Kinley is likely the better target for fantasy managers scrounging for saves late in the season.
Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black confirmed that right-handed reliever Victor Vodnik (shoulder) experienced soreness in his shoulder and was shut down in his warmups on Tuesday night during the contest against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. That led to the decision to go with right-hander Angel Chivilli to close out the game. Chivilli responded by recording his first career save in the 3-1 victory, allowing a hit, walking one and striking out one in his inning of work. Vodnik will be evaluated by the medical staff over the next few days but could require a trip to the injured list, so fantasy managers in deeper leagues that are desperate for saves may want to run to the waiver wire and grab Chivilli. The 22-year-old will likely be Colorado's go-to guy for saves for as long as Vodnik is out. Justin Lawrence might also be in the mix, but Black didn't hesitate to go to Chivilli in this situation.
Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Victor Vodnik was called upon to protect a one-run lead against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday. The right-hander managed to work around a hit and earn his eighth save of the season. The Rockies have struggled to find a closer all season long, but maybe Vodnik is the answer. He's a perfect 8-for-8 since becoming the closer in Colorado. The Rockies don't win a ton of games, but fantasy managers who are desperate for saves should look his way.
Colorado Rockies right-hander Victor Vodnik picked up his second save of the season in Sunday's 8-5 win over the hosting New York Mets by throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings on two hits while walking one and striking out two. Vodnik replaced Jalen Beeks in the eighth inning and has now picked up both of his saves in July. Colorado's closing situation has been a revolving door for most of the year, and Vodnik has now thrown his hat into the ring alongside Beeks as we head into the All-Star break this year. The 24-year-old former 14th-round pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2018 has a 4.73 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 59 career major-league innings since debuting in the big leagues last year, though, so fantasy managers searching for saves in deeper leagues shouldn't be expecting much from Vodnik, especially with the last-place Rockies.
Victor Vodnik
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Rockies
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