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2024 Closer Situations: Team Analysis
ARI
ATL
BAL
BOS
CHC
CIN
CLE
COL
CWS
DET
HOU
KC
LAA
LAD
MIA
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NYM
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Arizona Diamondbacks
Team: Arizona Diamondbacks
Total Saves: 44
Closer: Paul Sewald
(3/4) After several months of Torey Lovullo using various relievers to close games during the 2023 season, the Diamondbacks found their 9th-inning man, acquiring Paul Sewald at last season's trade deadline. Sewald posted a career-high 34 saves and 32.1 percent strikeout rate, thus entering the 2024 campaign with high stability as the D'Backs' closer. Kevin Ginkel emerged as Arizona's primary setup man last year, while Scott McGough and Miguel Castro have closing experience should Sewald or Ginkel be unavailable.
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Atlanta Braves
Team: Atlanta Braves
Total Saves: 52
Next in Line: A.J. Minter Day-To-Day, Joe Jimenez
(3/4) Raisel Iglesias missed the first month of the 2023 season with a sore shoulder, but finished 8th in the league with 33 saves. His stability as Atlanta's closer remains high, while A.J. Minter has solidified his role as the team's primary setup man. Atlanta has made several offseason moves to address their bullpen, re-signing Pierce Johnson and trading for Aaron Bummer. Reynaldo Lopez was also signed as a possible starting pitcher with success in relief. Joe Jimenez remains to round out the high-leverage ladder in front of Iglesias. Keep an eye on Ken Giles as a possible high-leverage candidate as well, as he's been surging this spring.
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Team Notes
  1. 6/29:A.J. Minter, who logged his first save of the season Tuesday at Philadelphia, has appeared in 3 games in 4 days. This makes Will Smith the likeliest candidate for a save chance if one were to arise Wednesday.
Baltimore Orioles
Team: Baltimore Orioles
Total Saves: 49
(3/4) Felix Bautista (elbow) was the best reliever in baseball last season, racking up 33 saves, a 1.48 ERA and near-50% strikeout rate prior to his season-ending injury last August. The Orioles closer will miss the 2024 campaign as well after undergoing Tommy John surgery in October. While Baltimore will miss his production in the late innings, the team recently signed veteran closer Craig Kimbrel to a 1-year deal. 2023 breakout relievers - Yennier Cano and Danny Coulombe - could also be contributors in the 9th inning, while Dillon Tate could re-emerge in a leverage role after missing all of last season.
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Boston Red Sox
Team: Boston Red Sox
Total Saves: 43
Closer: Kenley Jansen Day-To-Day
Next in Line: Chris Martin Day-To-Day, Greg Weissert
(3/14) Kenley Jansen recorded his 400th career save last May and kept racking them up during his age-35 season, finishing with 29 across his 51 appearances. While he did show signs he's on the downswing of his career, expecting another 25+ saves from him in 2024 is not unreasonable. However, a trade is possible in the coming weeks - potentially before Opening Day - with Boston interested in moving on from Jansen's salary. Veteran setup man Chris Martin is in the same bucket, and if both pitchers are moved, the door would be wide-open for Tanner Houck, Isaiah Campbell, Justin Slaten or Greg Weissert to emerge and take over closing duties.
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Team Notes
  1. 6/27:Tanner Houck was placed on the restricted list Monday prior to Boston's three-game series at Toronto. Matt Strahm and John Schreiber are the likeliest candidates for save opportunities should any arise during the series.
  2. 10/11:Hansel Robles exited Game 3 of the ALDS on Sunday due to a stomach illness after allowing two runs in two-thirds of an inning. He should be considered day-to-day due to his illness. Assuming he tests negative for COVID-19, it wouldn't be surprising to see the right-hander available for Game 4 on Monday. It was the first earned run he's allowed since August 29.
  3. 10/5:Entering tonight's AL Wild Card game against the Yankees, Hansel Robles has not allowed an earned run in 15 consecutive outings. Both he and Adam Ottavino enter tonight's contest with two-days rest, while Garrett Richards and Garrett Whitlock have had one day of rest after both pitched on Sunday.
Chicago Cubs
Team: Chicago Cubs
Total Saves: 35
(12/30) Adbert Alzolay established himself as the Cubs' best reliever last season and took over closing duties in June. He received the majority of the team's save chances over the summer, securing 21 of 23 saves from June through August. A forearm strain last September left Alzolay's persistent injury woes fresh in fantasy manager's minds, as he's missed time in each of the past three seasons with various ailments. Despite a strong season, Alzolay is not guaranteed the closer role to open 2024 with the Cubs expected to be active on the relief market.
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Cincinnati Reds
Team: Cincinnati Reds
Total Saves: 53
Closer: Alexis Diaz
Next in Line: Emilio Pagan , Lucas Sims
(1/13) Alexis Diaz emerged last season as one of the best closers for fantasy purposes, boasting nine wins and 37 saves with solid ratios and a 30% strikeout rate. While his save total was fourth highest in the majors, Diaz only accounted for 69.8% of the Reds' 53 saves. Cincinnati was more competitive last year, but led the league in one-run games and recorded a save in a league-leading 64.6% of their 82 wins. As such, expecting Diaz to approach the 40-save mark again in 2024 might be a mistake, especially given the 27-year-old's perennially high walk rate. The Reds also added Nick Martinez and Emilio Pagan as capable late-inning options. Pagan, in particular, has 32 career saves and is coming off a strong season.
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Cleveland Guardians
Team: Cleveland Guardians
Total Saves: 47
Next in Line: Scott Barlow , Sam Hentges Day-To-Day
(1/13) Emmanuel Clase once again led the league with 44 saves, his second straight season with 40-plus. However, he also led the league in blown saves (12) and regressed in many categories. His ratios were not Clase-like and he posted a career-worst 21.2 percent strikeout rate. His upside in the save category remains high for his 2024 prospects, but his metrics put him a tier below the game's elite closers. On the plus side, he doesn't have much competition for saves in Cleveland. Scott Barlow is new to the team with 56 career saves, but is coming off a down year. Trevor Stephan was inconsistent last season as Cleveland's primary setup man, while James Karinchak has elite strikeout upside, but has yet to harness his control.
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Team Notes
  1. 7/1:Emmanuel Clase has appeared in each of the last 3 games. It's likely that Eli Morgan or Trevor Stephan would receive a save chance if one were to arise tonight against the Yankees.
Colorado Rockies
Team: Colorado Rockies
Total Saves: 32
Closer: Committee
(1/13) Colorado was bottom five in the league last season with 32 saves. With no significant upgrades to the team this offseason, the Rockies are likely to finish on the bottom-half of the league in the category again in 2024. The closer role is seemingly wide open heading into spring training, with Justin Lawrence, Tyler Kinley and possibly even Daniel Bard as the most likely candidates to win the job. Kinley closed out 2023 in the role, but Lawrence has higher upside and Bard has the most experience. Until we receive more clarity later this spring, it's probably best to avoid Colorado relievers when looking for saves. Even if someone emerges from that trio, the odds of them holding the role all season aren't great.
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Chicago White Sox
Team: Chicago White Sox
Total Saves: 28
Closer: Committee
(3/16) With the White Sox declining Liam Hendriks' team option for the 2024 season, then trading Gregory Santos, it's difficult to project who will receive Chicago's first save opportunity of the 2024 season. John Brebbia (calf) may be the favorite for closing duties, but his status for Opening Day is in question. Jordan Leasure is impressing in White Sox camp and could seize the role and run with it. Newly acquired Prelander Berroa has closer-of-the-future upside, but may open 2024 in the minors while he works on his command. Perhaps Garrett Crochet finally realizes his potential that's been looming for years? Tanner Banks, Tim Hill and Steven Wilson are dark-horse candidates for saves in this otherwise lackluster bullpen.
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Detroit Tigers
Team: Detroit Tigers
Total Saves: 41
Closer: Alex Lange
(1/13) Alex Lange's 2023 might be best described as a roller coaster. He was dominant out of the gate and took over closing duties for the Tigers, but his control issues persisted, making it tough for Detroit to fully trust him in the role. Jason Foley got a decent share of save opportunities and figures to remain in the mix in 2024, though he doesn't have the swing-and-miss stuff that Lange possesses. Detroit recently added Shelby Miller and Andrew Chafin for depth, while Tyler Holton emerged in a multi-inning role last year.
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Houston Astros
Team: Houston Astros
Total Saves: 42
Closer: Josh Hader
Next in Line: Ryan Pressly , Bryan Abreu Suspension
(1/19) After losing Hector Neris, Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek in free agency and Kendall Graveman out for 2024 after shoulder surgery, the Astros' bullpen was left fairly thin beyond Ryan Pressly and Bryan Abreu. Enter Josh Hader. MLB's all-time leader in K/9 and opponent's batting average signed a 5-year, $95 million deal with Houston, returning to the organization he came up with before being traded to the Brewers in 2015. This relegates veteran Ryan Pressly back to a setup role, while also decreasing Bryan's Abreu's chances of closing anytime soon.
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Team Notes
  1. 7/1:Ryan Pressly has recorded a Save in each of the past 2 days. He has yet to work 3 games in a row this season, so it's likely a save chance would go to Rafael Montero on Friday.
  2. 9/29:Ryan Pressly is currently managing a knee issue and hasn't pitched since Saturday. Kendall Graveman was placed on the paternity list Tuesday. Look for Ryne Stanek or Yimi Garcia as the favorites to pitch in potential save opportunities for the next couple days if Pressley remains unavailable.
Kansas City Royals
Team: Kansas City Royals
Total Saves: 28
Closer: Committee
(1/13) Kansas City tied for a league-low with 28 saves last season. With Scott Barlow, Aroldis Chapman and Taylor Clarke no longer with the Royals, James McArthur stands as the team's most promising late-inning holdover. His strong performance last September makes him a strong candidate to close games early in 2024, but recently-added veterans Will Smith, Nick Anderson and potentially Chris Stratton join him as competition for closing duties. Smith has the most experience with 113 career saves, and may be the favorite entering camp, but this may ultimately become a committee unless someone emerges from the pack during spring training.
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Los Angeles Angels
Team: Los Angeles Angels
Total Saves: 43
(1/24) Carlos Estevez was mostly effective as the Angels' primary closer during his first year pitching outside of Colorado. He tied for 11th in the league with a career-high 31 saves and posted a career-best 27.8 percent strikeout rate. However, Estevez struggled with his command, his 11 percent walk rate his worst mark since his rookie year. He's a wild card for fantasy purposes since he's in the final year of his contract with the Angels, but 12-to-15 saves is not out of the question in the first half of the season, even if he ends up traded. Newly signed Robert Stephenson stands to benefit if Estevez is not the Angels' closer, while Matt Moore recently re-signed with the Halos for much needed experience in the late innings. Ben Joyce and Jose Soriano are upside relievers to target from this bullpen, while Luis Garcia and Adam Cimber provide veteran depth.
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Los Angeles Dodgers
Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Total Saves: 44
Next in Line: Brusdar Graterol Out, Joe Kelly
(1/14) Evan Phillips was outstanding for the second year in a row, converting a career-high 24 saves while once again leading qualified relievers with a 0.83 WHIP. The 29-year-old only accounted for 54.5% of the Dodgers' 44 saves, but he was clearly their top reliever. While he did go long stretches without recording a save, Phillips was still valuable for fantasy purposes. He boosted ratios while striking out batters at a respectable 28.2% clip. Phillips is establishing himself as one of the top high-leverage relievers in the game. If you could guarantee 30-plus saves, he'd likely be a top 5 closer, but the Dodgers are rumored to be in the mix to sign free agent Josh Hader. Even if they don't land Hader, Los Angeles likely won't be exclusive with Phillips' usage in the 9th inning, as Brusdar Graterol, Joe Kelly and possibly even Blake Treinen and Daniel Hudson could mix in for saves.
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Team Notes
  1. 10/14:Corey Knebel will serve as the opener for Thursday's NLDS Game 5 matchup against the Giants. Knebel filled the opener role four times during the regular season, allowing one run in a combined 5.2 innings of work. Julio Urias is expected to follow him in bulk relief.
  2. 10/6:The Dodgers' highest-leverage relievers are well rested, as Jansen, Treinen and Vesia enter Wednesday's NL Wild Card game against the Cardinals on 4 days rest.
Miami Marlins
Team: Miami Marlins
Total Saves: 43
Next in Line: Andrew Nardi , JT Chargois Out
(1/14) Miami used a few different closers last season and may employ the same approach in 2024 under 2nd-year coach Skip Schumaker. Tanner Scott enters spring training as the favorite for closing duties after a stellar campaign with career-best marks across multiple categories. However, A.J. Puk and Andrew Nardi are viable alternatives with Anthony Bender (elbow) a dark-horse candidate after previously handling the role in 2022. Puk, in particular, racked up 15 saves and 7 wins across 58 appearances last season. Nardi's first full season in the majors was a success, working his way from middle relief to a setup role. For what it's worth, Scott, Puk and Nardi are all southpaws, but the trio is a strong and versatile bunch that should hold down the late-innings for Miami. Scott is the one to target, though, given his strikeout ability.
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Milwaukee Brewers
Team: Milwaukee Brewers
Total Saves: 46
Closer: Committee
(3/14) After finishing 5th in the league last season with 36 saves and winning his 2nd NL Reliever of the Year award, Devin Williams (back) is set to open the 2024 campaign on the IL. With two stress fractures in his back, the Brewers' closer will not throw for six weeks and is expected to miss approximately three months, leaving Milwaukee without a clear 9th inning man. Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill are the upside relievers to target while Williams is out. Uribe throws 100-mph plus and may be the best fit for the closer role, but needs to exhibit better control. Joel Payamps went from a journeyman reliever to a rock solid setup man last year, but can he sustain his improved strikeout and walk rates to earn save chances? Elvis Peguero and DL Hall are dark horse candidates for saves, but new manager Pat Murphy has not yet named a replacement closer.
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Minnesota Twins
Team: Minnesota Twins
Total Saves: 38
Closer: Jhoan Duran Out
(3/14) Jhoan Duran is on the verge of becoming a top-5 closer after recording 27 saves for Minnesota last season for a 71.1 percent team save share. The flamethrower averaged 102 mph on his 4-seamer while generating a 45.9% whiff percentage on his curveball. His 65.9% groundball percentage complemented his 96th percentile strikeout rate (32.9%), but Duran issued more free passes with a below-average walk rate that approached 10%. That said, his stability as the Twins' closer remains high. Griffin Jax and Brock Stewart candidates for ancillary saves.
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New York Mets
Team: New York Mets
Total Saves: 34
Closer: Edwin Diaz Day-To-Day
(1/14) The Mets were dealt a crushing blow last offseason when Edwin Diaz suffered a season-ending knee injury during a World Baseball Classic celebration. Veteran David Robertson filled in admirably as the Mets closer with a strong first half, but was traded at midseason with the club falling out of the playoff picture. Adam Ottavino stepped up the rest of the way, but no Mets reliever finished with more than 14 saves. With Diaz deemed fully healthy from his knee surgery last March, he should have plenty of time to settle back into the closer role by the time Opening Day arrives. Given his dominance during the 2022 campaign, he has the upside to be the number one closer in 2024.
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New York Yankees
Team: New York Yankees
Total Saves: 44
Closer: Clay Holmes
(1/14) Yankees manager Aaron Boone was true to his word when he said he'd use Clay Holmes in spots outside the 9th inning last season. Still, Holmes finished with a career-high 24 of the Yankees' 44 saves for a 54.5% team save share, which was an improvement over 2022. Holmes also posted a career-best 27.1% strikeout rate to go along with an elite 2.4% barrel rate (99th percentile) and 66.7% groundball percentage (100th percentile), making him a high-end CL2 target. Boone's fluid late-inning usage benefitted others in the saves category, including Ron Marinaccio, Tommy Kahnle and Ian Hamilton. Scott Effross (elbow) should also be back in 2024 as a viable closer candidate, while newcomers Victor Gonzalez and Cody Morris could also join the mix.
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Team Notes
  1. 7/1:Aroldis Chapman was activated from the 15-day IL. Clay Holmes has worked 3 games in the last 5 days, but did not pitch yesterday. Don't be surprised if the Yankees elect to give Holmes another day of rest with Chapman back. It's possible Chapman gets the call tonight if a save opportunity were to arise.
  2. 6/29:Aroldis Chapman is likely to return Friday.
  3. 10/5:Entering tonight's AL Wild Card game, Aroldis Chapman has a career 6.43 ERA and 2.07 WHIP in 14 innings at Fenway Park. However, he logged a 2.70 ERA against Boston this season with a 8:4 K:BB in 6.2 innings, albeit with two home runs allowed.
  4. 9/29:Jonathan Loaisiga (shoulder) will likely be activated Wednesday.
Oakland Athletics
Team: Oakland Athletics
Total Saves: 29
Closer: Committee
(1/14) Oakland was 28th in the league with 29 saves last season, with the majority of them going to the now-retired Trevor May. Dany Jimenez and Zach Jackson were both expected to be factors in the late innings, but missed extensive time with injuries. If health prevails, they should be late inning mainstays for the A's in 2024, with Jimenez one of the favorite candidates to close. Joining him is the far more attractive option for fantasy purposes, Mason Miller. Miller could see work as the A's closer in 2024, but he too missed the majority of last season with a UCL sprain. If Lucas Erceg works around his control issues, he could join the mix for saves as well, as could newcomer Trevor Gott. With Oakland expected to be among the worst teams in the league again in 2024, this bullpen is ultimately one to avoid, with the exception of Miller.
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Philadelphia Phillies
Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Total Saves: 45
Closer: Committee
(1/14) Craig Kimbrel was phenomenal for the Phillies last season, but with the veteran closer now in Baltimore, look for 22-year-old Orion Kerkering to fill his shoes in the late innings. While Kerkering may not open 2024 as Philadelphia's closer, he's a strong candidate to emerge in that role during the upcoming season. Kerkering got his first call to the majors last September and was a key contributor in the late innings during the Phillies' postseason run. If all goes well during spring training, he should break camp with the team and support veterans Jose Alvarado, Gregory Soto and Jeff Hoffman in the late innings. Alvarado is the market favorite to close, but has had trouble staying healthy in recent years. Hoffman finally emerged as a relief pitcher and could see some save chances in 2024, while Soto has been a successful closer in the past. Keep a close eye on this bullpen during spring training to see if one reliever emerges from the pack.
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Pittsburgh Pirates
Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
Total Saves: 47
Closer: David Bednar Day-To-Day
Next in Line: Aroldis Chapman , Colin Holderman Day-To-Day
(1/14) Health prevailed for David Bednar, who established career-highs across multiple categories last season. His 39 saves for the Pirates were tied for 2nd-most in the majors and his 83% team save share was 3rd-highest among closers. Bednar enters 2024 with very high security due to the lack of competition within his own bullpen. Plus, his consistency from year to year makes him a bona-fide top 10 closer with the ceiling to be top five. The only thing holding him back are his strikeout and walk rates are above average, not elite. Colin Holderman and Dauri Moreta figure to be next in line for saves in Pittsburgh, but as long as Bednar is healthy, he should receive the majority of opportunities once again.
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San Diego Padres
Team: San Diego Padres
Total Saves: 36
Closer: Committee
(1/14) Yuki Matsui signed a five-year, $28 million contract with the Padres in December, a deal which suggests he has the chance to close for his new club. San Diego is no stranger to the overseas reliever market, having signed Robert Suarez out of NPB prior to the 2022 season while also adding Woo Suk Go from the KBO this winter. Those two may wind up being Matsui's primary competition for the ninth inning this season, and if he can come anywhere close to repeating his numbers from Japan, he'll emerge as the favorite. The lefty may stand just 5-foot-8, and his four-seamer sits a modest 92-94 mph, but its rising action pairs perfectly with his devastating splitter, leading to a 2.40 ERA and 236 saves across his 10-year career in Japan. Over the last three years, he's produced ERAs of 0.63, 1.952 and 1.57, producing a 36.4 K% over that stretch. He hasn't always shown great control, with a 10.9 BB% for his career, but that number dropped to 5.9% last season. With a strong spring, Matsui could quickly emerge as the Padres' frontrunner for closing duties.
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Seattle Mariners
Team: Seattle Mariners
Total Saves: 44
Next in Line: Matt Brash Out, Gregory Santos Out
(3/4) Andres Munoz, who tallied 11 of the Mariners' 18 saves after Paul Sewald was traded last year, enters 2024 as the favorite for closing duties in Seattle - especially since his greatest competition, Matt Brash (elbow) and Gregory Santos (lat), status for Opening Day are in jeopardy. Munoz has demonstrated tremendous upside in the past, but health has been his biggest obstacle, making it difficult to project him for 30-plus saves in 2024. That mark is certainly achievable, though, if he can avoid the injury bug that has plagued him throughout his career. Brash has earned more high-leverage opportunities after demonstrating improved control with a 35% strikeout rate, but his draft stock has plummeted after reports suggested he was dealing with a serious elbow injury. The injury may not be as severe as initially thought, as he's set to resume a throwing program. If all goes well, a mid-April return may be in the cards for Brash. The newly-acquired Santos saved a handful of games last season, giving Seattle an alternate option to close games. Gabe Speier and Trent Thornton may be forced into setup roles until Brash and Santos are healthy.
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San Francisco Giants
Team: San Francisco Giants
Total Saves: 50
(1/14) Tied for 2nd in the majors with a career-high 39 saves, Camilo Doval cemented himself as one of the top closers in the game last season. After introducing a sinker to his arsenal during the second-half of 2022, the pitch wasn't as effective last year (.303 BAA), but Doval generated a career-best 49.3% whiff rate on his slider, while his 100-mph cutter was the best it has ever been. The 26-year-old struck out far more batters with his cutter than years past, with 36 of his career-high 87 strikeouts coming via the pitch. Still, Doval mixed his three pitches quite evenly, making it more difficult for opposing hitters to predict what was coming. Walks are still an issue for Doval, leading to a higher WHIP than you'd like to see for a closer, but he balances that out with a 50-plus percent groundball rate. Doval led qualified relievers with a 2.14 gmLI and he has little competition in San Francisco, thus making him a back-end top 10 closer for 2024. Tyler Rogers is likely next in line for saves, while the newly signed Jordan Hicks plans to start, but has not been successful in that role in the past. Don't discount the possibility of Hicks returning to a late-inning, high-leverage relief role in 2024.
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Team Notes
  1. 5/18:Camilo Doval has recorded a save in 3 straight games for San Francisco. The Giants are off on Thursday, but Doval may get a breather on Friday after his recent heavy usage.
  2. 10/4:The Giants bullpen gets a much-needed break after winning the NL West. Camilo Doval, in particular, pitched 4 times in 5 days during the final week.
  3. 10/1:Doval, Rogers and Leone have worked 2 out of the past 3 games, with Rogers throwing 47 pitches over that span. Strong possibility Rogers gets the night off against San Diego.
  4. 9/30:Doval earned his 2nd big-league save on Wednesday and may be the new closer in San Francisco.
  5. 9/29:The plans for Jake McGee (oblique) beyond Wednesday aren't entirely clear, but so long as he gets through mound work without any setbacks, a return to the Giants' bullpen for the final regular-season series against the Padres might not be out of the question.
St. Louis Cardinals
Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Total Saves: 36
(1/14) Sustaining the level of success he achieved during his breakout 2022 season was a longshot, but Ryan Helsley's follow-up campaign certainly fell short of expectations. Injury was mostly to blame as the hard-throwing righty missed two-and-a-half months with a right forearm strain. Injuries have been a constant for the 29-year-old, who has missed time during each of his five seasons to date. Prior to the forearm strain, Helsley split closing duties and struggled to a 1.26 WHIP. Upon returning from injury in September, the flamethrower ended the year on a high note, recording 7 of the Cardinals' final 8 saves while routinely hitting triple-digits on the radar gun - maxing out at 102.8 mph. Helsley posted a 0.77 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 19:6 K:BB ratio over his final 11.2 innings to remind fantasy managers of the upside he possesses. However, weighing that upside against the risks may prove too difficult for some, especially since Helsley has yet to post a 20-save season. JoJo Romero, Giovanny Gallegos and the newly-acquired Andrew Kittredge should fill late-inning roles for St. Louis.
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  1. 10/6:The Cardinals' highest-leverage relievers are well rested, as Gallegos, Cabrera and Reyes enter Wednesday's NL Wild Card game against the Dodgers on 4 days rest, while Garcia is on 3 days rest.
  2. 10/1:Garcia earned his 2nd save of the season Thursday night as the Cardinals give Gallegos some much deserved rest before the playoffs. Gallegos has logged a new career-high 79.1 innings this season.
Tampa Bay Rays
Team: Tampa Bay Rays
Total Saves: 45
Next in Line: Jason Adam , Colin Poche
(1/14) No stranger to the injury bug, Pete Fairbanks hit the IL twice (forearm inflammation, hip inflammation) during the first half of 2023. However, once he returned in mid-June, he surprisingly stayed healthy for the rest of the season, establishing career-best marks in games played (49), innings (45.1) and strikeouts (68). He also converted a career-high 25 saves, as Rays manager Kevin Cash altered his late-inning approach. Quite simply, when Fairbanks was healthy, he was the Rays primary closer. Otherwise, Jason Adam received the majority of save opportunities. Fairbanks closed out 2023 in dominant fashion, striking out 51 batters in 28 innings after the All-Star break. He's a solid mid-tier closer as long as you plan for some likely time missed due to injury.
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Team Notes
  1. 10/11:Collin McHugh will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher Monday against the Red Sox as part of a bullpen day in Game 4 of the ALDS, Manager Kevin Cash hasn't appointed a primary pitcher to work behind McHugh, as the Rays will instead likely turn to a cadre of arms to fill innings out of the bullpen. Josh Fleming, JT Chargois, Pete Fairbanks, J.P. Feyereisen, Andrew Kittredge and Matt Wisler tossed 20 pitches or fewer in Sunday's 13-inning loss, so the Tampa Bay bullpen should be relatively fresh for Monday's contest.
Texas Rangers
Team: Texas Rangers
Total Saves: 30
Next in Line: David Robertson , Josh Sborz Day-To-Day
(1/14) Despite 90 wins in the regular season and an eventual World Series title, the Rangers were 27th in the league last year with only 30 saves. The majority went to Will Smith, who is now in Kansas City, leaving Jose Leclerc and Kirby Yates as the most experienced closer candidates on the current roster. Texas is rumored to be among the favorites to sign free-agent Josh Hader, but even if the southpaw lands elsewhere, this bullpen could still look very different by spring training.
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Toronto Blue Jays
Team: Toronto Blue Jays
Total Saves: 51
Next in Line: Erik Swanson , Tim Mayza
(1/14) Romano racked up 36 saves for the second consecutive year. It wasn't always pretty, as his 1.22 WHIP was his worst since his rookie season, but the right-hander remained effective in closing out games for Toronto. In fact, he set a Blue Jays franchise record with 26 successful conversions in a row. Romano maintained a 96.7 mph average fastball velocity that was in the 90th percentile despite dealing with lower back inflammation near mid-season, an injury that forced him from the All-Star Game after just five pitches, then subsequently resurfaced a few weeks later. Romano was able to return after a near-minimum IL stint, but he wasn't as sharp down the stretch, walking nine batters over his final 17 innings. He finished the season with a below-average 9.7% walk rate, but actually improved his strikeout percentage (29%), swinging strike rate (17%) and whiff percentage (35.9%). There's still a lot to like in Romano's profile to safely project him for another 30-plus saves in 2024. Meanwhile, Erik Swanson, Tim Mayza and Yimi Garcia are setup men capable of closing should Romano be unavailable.
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Washington Nationals
Team: Washington Nationals
Total Saves: 42
Closer: Committee
Next in Line: Kyle Finnegan Day-To-Day, Hunter Harvey , Tanner Rainey
(3/10) After finishing dead last in the majors with 28 saves in 2022, Washington played more competitive baseball last season and finished middle of the pack with 42 saves. Kyle Finnegan led the charge with 28, but Hunter Harvey racked up double-digit saves as well and proved to be the better pitcher when healthy. Harvey missed 4 weeks last year with an elbow strain and is a perennial injury risk, but finished with career-best marks in the innings pitched and the holds categories. If health prevails, he's the pitcher to target from this bullpen. Finnegan added a sweeper, which help him become less predictable since he throws his 4-seamer and splitter 95% of the time. Don't forget about Tanner Rainey, who made one relief appearance at the end of last season after recovering from 2022 Tommy John surgery. Dylan Floro has late-inning experience, while Matt Barnes and Richard Bleier signed minor-league deals with the Nats in hopes of breaking camp with the team.
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Team Notes
  1. 9/23:Tanner Rainey earned the save for the Nationals last night and has worked 3 out of the last 4 games. Expect Kyle Finnegan, who hasn't pitched since Sept. 19, to get the save chance if one presents itself against the Cardinals tonight.