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Closing Time 9/8: Ranking the Top 30 Closers Every Tuesday

Rick Graham ranks baseball's closers for the 2020 season.

Daniel Bard led all relievers in saves this past week, picking up three in just six games. The 35-year-old has been a revelation for the Rockies bullpen, but I’m still hesitant to push him up any further on the list. The Rockies have two more games in San Diego before heading home for three straight series at Coors Field. However, if you are able to survive the next two weeks and find yourself still needing saves the last week of the season, the Rockies play eight games the last week of the year, four in San Francisco, and four in Arizona.

 

Notes

 

  • Nick Anderson returned from the IL this past week and was immediately thrown right into a save situation, which he converted for his team-leading fourth save. He’s yet to allow a run this season and while he may not see every save chance from here on out, he still needs to be rostered in every league.
  • Alex Colomé has an easy schedule this week, but it gets dicey after that. Colome is having another lucky season, somehow having the same ERA as his WHIP (1.15). With a 4.27 xFIP and 4.51 SIERA, Colomé continues to defy the xStats this year, which at this point shouldn’t come as a surprise.

 

  • While he’s still considered to be in a committee, it looks like Jeremy Jeffress is beginning to run away with the Cubs closer job. While the ERA and WHIP on the season certainly look great, there’s been a great deal of luck involved (.128 BABIP). His 5.07 SIERA and 5% K-BB rate leave a lot to be desired as well. The schedule isn’t easy going forward outside of a four-game series with the Pirates.
  • Richard Rodriguez has been great this year, and assuming Keone Kela doesn’t return and take the closer role back, should be a good addition for the stretch run. The schedule isn’t exactly easy, but starting this Friday, the Pirates play every day the rest of the season, with two doubleheaders mixed in.

 

 

 

Rank Pitcher Change
1Liam HendriksT1-
2Josh Hader-
3Kenley Jansen+1
4Aroldis Chapman-1
5Giovanny Gallegos
T2
-
6Ryan Pressly-
7Edwin Díaz-
8Brad Hand-
9Taylor Rogers-
10Nick Anderson+UR
11Mark Melancon
T3
+1
12Alex Colomé-2
13Trevor Rosenthal-
14Rafael Montero-
15Raisel Iglesias
T4
-
16Brandon Workman-
17Daniel Hudson+1
18Daniel Bard+8
19Matt Barnes+1
20Brandon Kintzler
T5
-1
21Jeremy Jeffress+2
22Richard Rodríguez+5
23Ty Buttrey-6
24+1
25Anthony Bass-1
26Bryan Garcia
T6
+UR
27Yohan Ramírez+UR
28-
29Kevin Ginkel+UR
30César Valdez+UR

 

Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@freshmeatcomm on Twitter)

Rick Graham

Rick resides in the Boston area and has experience as a player and coach at the collegiate level. He has been covering relievers for Pitcher List since 2017.

3 responses to “Closing Time 9/8: Ranking the Top 30 Closers Every Tuesday”

  1. istravin@gmail.com says:

    Soto not considered the closer in DET any more or is it all just vague

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