2021 Fantasy Baseball: Weekly Closer Report and Bullpen Depth Chart
With the fantasy baseball season entering the stretch drive, the number of teams in contention for a league prize dwindles with each passing week. For example, gaining fantasy points in saves in 5 X 5 roto formats in September tends to come with a price (wins and strikeouts), but a team in a good position in those two categories can stabilize ERA and WHIP while adding more roster slots to make up ground in saves. As a result, the lineup battle tends to be a week-to-week reflection based on the success of your team and your standings within each category in each league.
Over the first 22 weeks of the season, I worked my way through each team's bullpen, trying to find the next closer in waiting. At the same time, I'm reflecting on the stability of the current closers to see if I need to project a bullpen with closer-in-waiting insurance. So from now on, I'll update the closer grid but only add insight to a bullpen that looks in flux.
Baltimore Orioles
Cole Sulser improved his scoreless run to 6.2 innings with two walks, four strikeouts, and a save. His last chance to close a game came on September 10th, when he tossed two shutout innings. Sulser enters the final nine days of the season with a 2.90 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 71 strikeouts over 59 innings while converting seven of 10 saves chances.
Despite getting drilled in back-to-back outings, Baltimore still gave Tyler Wells their next save opportunity (six runs, seven baserunners, and one home run over 1.2 innings). He tossed two shutout innings over the past week with no hits allowed, one strikeout, and a save.
Boston Red Sox
Adam Ottavino has not pitched with the game on the line in the ninth inning since September 4th. He has 2.08 ERA and six strikeouts over his previous 4.1 innings with a pair of wins.
The surprise closer of late for the Red Sox has been Garrett Richards. Over his last 11 matchups out of the bullpen, he posted a 1.29 ERA and 15 strikeouts over 14 innings with a win, two saves, and a hold.
Since returning from his battle with Covid-19, Matt Barnes allowed a run and five baserunners over 1.1 innings with two strikeouts in his two games. I don’t expect him to pitch with the game on the line in the ninth inning for the rest of the season.
Chicago Cubs
The fun closing ride for Rowan Wick ended over the past week. The Brewers beat him for six runs and 10 baserunners over 1.1 innings in back-to-back outings, sending his ERA (4.74) and WHIP (1.37) plunging. When given a chance to finish games, he went 4-for-6.
Codi Heuer gave up a run in three of his previous six contests, but he still has a 1.69 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over 26.2 innings in the National League. His only save in 2021 came on August 17th for the Cubs. Chicago should give him a closing chance or two down the stretch.
Detroit Tigers
A finger injury on Gregory Soto’s pitching hand clears the way for Michael Fulmer to finish the year as the Tigers closer. He extended his shutout streak to 15.2 innings with 14 strikeouts and four saves. On the year, Fulmer has 11 saves in his 15 tries.
San Francisco Giants
The last appearance by Jake McGee came on September 12th due to him suffering an oblique injury. The Giants remain in a dog fight with the Dodgers to win the NL West, but they don’t need to rush McGee back to the mound.
Tyler Rogers served as their closer over the previous 12 days. He struggled twice over this span, leading to five runs, eight baserunners, and one home run over his last four innings of work. Rogers has 13 saves in his 19 opportunities while ranking highly in holds (28).
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays continue to win games and churn the backend of their bullpen. With Andrew Kittredge on the shelf with a neck issue, Tampa will ride the hot hand late in games over the final 11 days of the baseball season.
This year, Pete Fairbanks has five saves while trending upward over his last four innings (no runs, three hits, and four strikeouts). His last save came on July 18th while spending almost all of August on the injured list.
J.P. Feyereisen also missed a month this summer with biceps and shoulder issues. He had a mini-run (three saves) closing in late May after the Rays acquired him from the Brewers. Over his previous five innings, Feyereisen pitched five shutout innings with five walks and five strikeouts. Command (32 walks over 52 innings) has been an issue all season.
Since returning from the injured list, Nick Anderson allowed two runs, five baserunners, and one home run over five innings with one strikeout. He doesn’t have a save chance or hold over this stretch.
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Senior analyst Shawn Childs is a multi-sport, high-stakes fantasy legend with lifetime earnings in the high six-figures. He has been providing in-depth, analytical break downs for years all while helping his subscribers to countless titles and winnings across season-long & DFS. An inaugural inductee of the NFBC Hall of Fame, Shawn can teach you how to prep like a champ!
