Closing Time 8/16: Ranking the Top 30 Closers Every Wednesday

As owners head towards the home stretch and look towards the playoffs, it also becomes harder and harder to find saves on the waiver wire in most leagues. In most 12 team leagues that use 2 or more RP slots, you are most likely looking at the top 24 on this list or so already owned. However if you are desperate for saves for the playoff push, there are some potential lottery tickets for you. Cam Bedrosian and Kenyan Middleton may be splitting chances for the time being, but I’d fully expect Bedrosian to take sole possession of the job sooner rather than later. He should probably be owned in most 12 team leagues. Jeurys Familia is beginning his rehab assignment tonight, and is expected to be activated off the DL within a week. If he is still available in your league, he should be picked up ASAP. He slots in as a top 10-15 closer the rest of the season. Kyle Barraclough and Trevor Hildenberger are two more interesting speculative adds, with both being talented enough to supplant the veteran relievers currently closing for their respective teams. It’s probably best to stay away from the White Sox situation, at least for the moment, but for those really desperate, Juan Minaya figures to see the bulk of whatever save chances the White Sox manage over the next month plus.

TIER 1: Nothing Compares 2 U

1. Kenley Jansen (Los Angeles Dodgers)—Pedro Baez, Brandon Morrow

2. Craig Kimbrel (Boston Red Sox)—Addison Reed, Matt Barnes

The clear-cut top two closers in the game this year again proved they only belong here by each having a nearly flawless week. Kenley Jansen racked up a ridiculous 4 saves, while Craig Kimbrel earned a save (and a win) while striking out 5 and not allowing a baserunner in 2 games.

TIER 2: Save Tonight

3. Felipe Rivero (Pittsburgh Pirates)—Juan Nicasio, Joaquin Benoit

4. Roberto Osuna (Toronto Blue Jays)—Ryan Tepera, Dominic Leone

5. Corey Knebel (Milwaukee Brewers)—Jacob Barnes, Anthony Swarzak

6. Ken Giles (Houston Astros)—Luke Gregerson, Chris Devenski

7. Trevor Rosenthal (St. Louis Cardinals)—Brett Cecil, Seung Hwan Oh

8. Aroldis Chapman (New York Yankees)—Dellin Betances, David Robertson

9. Edwin Diaz (Seattle Mariners)—Nick Vincent, Tony Zych

10. Zach Britton (Baltimore Orioles)—Brad Brach, Mychal Givens

11. Greg Holland (Colorado Rockies)—Adam Ottavino, Pat Neshek

12. Wade Davis (Chicago Cubs)—Carl Edwards Jr., Justin Wilson

13. Sean Doolittle (Washington Nationals)—Ryan Madson, Brandon Kintzler

14. Raisel Iglesias (Cincinnati Reds)—Drew Storen, Michael Lorenzen

15. Brad Hand (San Diego Padres)—Kirby Yates, Phil Maton

16. Alex Colome (Tampa Bay Rays)—Steve Cishek, Tommy Hunter

I really was believing Aroldis Chapman had turned a corner last week and was going to go on a tear the rest of the season helping the Yankees playoff push. Well this past weekend sure proved that is not the case. It’s the control problems that are most concerning, as he walked 4 and hit 1 in the 2 games against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. With other dominant options in that bullpen arsenal, it’s fair to wonder if Joe Girardi and the rest of the organization have talked about moving him out of the 9th inning for a while, allowing Dellin Betances or Dave Robertson to close.
After having a couple shaky outings early in his Nationals career, Sean Doolittle has steadied over the past two weeks and for the first time all year, has finally given Dusty Baker a 9th inning option to feel confident in. He should see plenty of opportunities from here on out, and should be able to contribute with low ratios and close to a strikeout an inning.

TIER 3: Bound for the Floor

17. Kelvin Herrera (Kansas City Royals)—Joakim Soria, Brandon Maurer

18. Cody Allen (Cleveland Indians)—Bryan Shaw, Joe Smith

19. Arodys Vizcaino (Atlanta Braves)—Jim Johnson, Jose Ramirez

20. Shane Greene (Detroit Tigers)—Bruce Rondon, Alex Wilson

21. Hector Neris (Philadelphia Phillies)—Louis Garcia, Edubray Ramos

22. Fernando Rodney (Arizona Diamondbacks)—Archie Bradley, David Hernandez

23. Blake Treinen (Oakland Athletics)—Santiago Casilla, Ryan Dull

24. Cam Bedrosian/Kenyan Middleton? (Los Angeles Angels)—Blake Parker, Yusmeiro Petit

25. Alex Claudio (Texas Rangers)—Jose Leclerc, Matt Bush

26. A.J. Ramos (New York Mets)—Paul Sewald, Jerry Blevins

Cam Bedrosian is slowly but surely running away with the Angels closers gig. I really don’t see why Kenyan Middleton would even be considered, but my guess is the team doesn’t want to use Bedrosian in back to back games just yet. Bedrosian is still the guy to own in this bullpen for now, but for those in leagues that count holds as well, all four names mentioned above should be able to hold value.
A.J. Ramos is coming off one of his better weeks thus far this season, but it may end up being his penultimate as a closer this season. Jeurys Familia is expected back within the next week, and is certainly a lock to take his job back eventually. They may split time in the early stages, but at some point or another, Ramos will fade to set-up duties.

TIER 4: Better Days (and the Bottom Drops Out)

27. Brad Ziegler (Miami Marlins)—Kyle Barraclough, Junichi Tazawa

28. Sam Dyson/Mark Melancon (San Francisco Giants)—Hunter Strickland, Cory Gearrin

29. Matt Belisle/Trevor Hildenberger (Minnesota Twins)—Taylor Rogers, Tyler Duffey

30. Juan Minaya? (Chicago White Sox)—Jake Petricka, Gregory Infante

Sam Dyson has been awesome since Mark Melancon landed on the DL about a month ago, but unfortunately his time as the teams primary closer is about to end. He should still see high leverage situations, most likely protecting a lead in the 8th inning of games. Theres also a chance the team just decides to split the duties between the two from here on out, as a way to protect Melancon, their prized off-season signing, while rewarding Dyson for how well he has pitched. Either way, this is really just a situation to avoid if possible as a fantasy owner, with Melancon being no better than a low to mid 20’s option the rest of the season,.