Fantasy: Yankees' Betances-Miller time-share highlights weekly closer grid
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Every week we'll look at each team's closing situation - who's in, who's out, who's next in line - and provide fantasy-related tidbits.
AL East
Team | Closer | Next in line |
---|---|---|
Blue Jays | Miguel Castro | Brett Cecil/Roberto Osuna |
Orioles | Zach Britton | Tommy Hunter/Darren O'Day |
Rays | Brad Boxberger | Ernesto Frieri/Grant Balfour |
Red Sox | Koji Uehara | Edward Mujica/Junichi Tazawa |
Yankees | Andrew Miller | Dellin Betances |
- The Blue Jays may be operating with more of a committee approach in the ninth, but rookie Miguel Castro has the team's only two saves.
- Andrew Miller has outpitched Dellin Betances early and collected the Yankees' only two saves. Miller appears to have a leg up on Betances for now, but manager Joe Girardi could make this a matchup-based role.
AL Central
Team | Closer | Next in line |
---|---|---|
Indians | Cody Allen | Bryan Shaw |
Royals | Greg Holland | Wade Davis/Kelvin Herrera |
Tigers | Joakim Soria | Al Alburquerque/Joba Chamberlain |
Twins | Glen Perkins | Casey Fien |
White Sox | David Robertson | Zach Putnam |
- AL Central closers have extremely good job security for the most part. Something to watch will be if Joakim Soria can keep the job once Joe Nathan returns from injury. Soria converted all three of his save opportunities entering play Wednesday.
AL West
Team | Closer | Next in line |
---|---|---|
Angels | Huston Street | Joe Smith/Fernando Salas |
Astros | Luke Gregerson | Chad Qualls/Pat Neshek |
Athletics | Tyler Clippard | Dan Otero |
Mariners | Fernando Rodney | Danny Farquhar |
Rangers | Neftali Feliz | Shawn Tolleson/Keone Kela |
- Fernando Rodney's job is safe, but he hasn't done fantasy owners any favors, allowing six runs on seven hits over his last two appearances.
- Sean Doolittle could be out at least another month for the Athletics, which may be enough time for Tyler Clippard to prove he deserves to stay in the role even upon the hard-throwing lefty's return.
NL East
Team | Closer | Next in line |
---|---|---|
Braves | Jason Grilli | Jim Johnson/Luis Avilan |
Marlins | Steve Cishek | Mike Dunn/A.J. Ramos |
Mets | Jeurys Familia | Carlos Torres |
Nationals | Drew Storen | Blake Treinen/Matt Thornton |
Phillies | Jonathan Papelbon | Ken Giles |
- Jason Grilli has gotten off to a strong start in the post-Craig Kimbrel era in Atlanta, and has likely afforded himself a longer leash.
- Jeurys Familia has taken over the Mets' closer's role after Jenrry Mejia got hit with an 80-game ban for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. Bobby Parnell, who was limited to one appearance last season after saving 22 games in 2013, could threaten him for the role upon his return. Parnell just began a rehab assignment.
NL Central
Team | Closer | Next in line |
---|---|---|
Brewers | Francisco Rodriguez | Jonathan Broxton |
Cardinals | Trevor Rosenthal | Jordan Walden |
Cubs | Hector Rondon | Pedro Strop/Jason Motte |
Pirates | Mark Melancon | Tony Watson |
Reds | Aroldis Chapman | Kevin Gregg/Jumbo Diaz |
- Pirates closer Mark Melancon has been throwing with diminished velocity, though manager Clint Hurdle is unconcerned.
- Aroldis Chapman has been lights out, as usual, throwing more 100-plus mph pitches than all but one player in the game, according to Baseball Savant.
NL West
Team | Closer | Next in line |
---|---|---|
Diamondbacks | Addison Reed | Brad Ziegler |
Dodgers | Joel Peralta | J.P. Howell/Chris Hatcher |
Giants | Santiago Casilla | Sergio Romo |
Padres | Craig Kimbrel | Joaquin Benoit |
Rockies | Adam Ottavino | LaTroy Hawkins/Rafael Betancourt |
- The Dodgers haven't locked in on one pitcher yet and appear to be employing a by-committee approach to the ninth inning until Kenley Jansen returns.
- Adam Ottavino rightfully took over the closer's role in Colorado on Tuesday. He responded by striking out the side in his first save opportunity of the season and has began the 2015 campaign with five scoreless appearances.