Relievers To Stream for Wins and Saves – 9/18

With the MLB season in its final stretch run, some bullpen hierarchies have stayed steady, while others have become more and more muddled. Though some managers may keep fantasy owners guessing, it is important to at least have an idea of who has a chance at a save, and who is most likely not even going to appear in a game today. Don’t sleep on saves! In a shortened season, they all count that much more.

Notes

• There are 18 games on the docket for today, with three sets of doubleheaders (PHI @ TOR, STL @ PIT, WAS @ MIA). That means we’ll see plenty of relievers in action!
• Matt Barnes nabbed his fourth consecutive save without allowing a run and should get whatever few save chances remain for Boston. They’ll get the Yankees and Orioles at home before ending on the road in Atlanta, so there might not be a whole lot of saves left for the woeful Red Sox. Ryan Brasier also managed a hold and is the best option for them in that bullpen if you’re desperate.

• Alex Colomé hasn’t struck out batters like we expected, but he once again got the job done in a four-out save. Zero strikeouts isn’t ideal, but the 0.89 ERA and 12 saves (tied for second-most in the league) are more than enough to keep us happy. The White Sox end the season against the Reds, Indians, and Cubs, so Colomé should get plenty more opportunities to notch a save before the season is over. Evan Marshall is the top holds option and should also get a few more chances in the next three series.
• The normally reliable Sergio Romo and Tyler Clippard picked up the blown save and loss for the Twins, combining for three hits allowed, a walk, and two earned runs. Thankfully for the Twins, this was the last of the White Sox they’ll see this season and should have plenty more holds and saves with a road series against the Cubs followed by a five-game home stand against the Tigers and Reds.

• Ty Buttrey and Félix Peña both put in some work in non-save situations for the Angels, and while the former got the one out he was asked to get, Peña was asked to record five outs. He allowed two hits and one run while striking out two, and if nothing else it muddied the waters in terms of what the roles are in this bullpen. I’m more or less avoiding it for the end of the season if I can.
• The Giants used the entire back end of their bullpen in their win over Seattle, with Tony Watson and Tyler Rogers picking up holds and Sam Selman getting the save. I’m not reading too much into the order of appearance here, as it seems more like they were trying to play platoons as they continue their playoff push.

• Diego Castillo tossed 34 pitches over 1.2 innings yesterday to get the win, leaving Nick Anderson as the clear top option should a save chance appear tonight.
• Aroldis Chapman picked up just his third save of the season, though it was his sixth consecutive outing with multiple strikeouts and his fifth consecutive outing with no earned runs allowed. The Yankees draw the Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Marlins to close out the season, which should get Chapman at least two or three more chances to record a save.

• Edwin Díaz tossed 29 pitches in his third straight day of action, so Miguel Castro is probably in line for the save if needed today for the Mets.
• Brooks Raley recorded the first save of his career for Astros with Ryan Pressly unavailable. Raley spent the last five seasons in Korea and actually started this season with the Reds before heading to Houston. He has a hold and a save in his last two outings as one of the last lefties standing in that bullpen, so he could be an option for those in deep leagues that count holds for the final stretch.

• Teams that I think are most likely to see a vulture win due to a short start are the White Sox (against CIN), Cardinals (against PIT), Dodgers (against COL), and Rangers (against LAA). There will be other teams who likely get the chance, but I like these four the best due to who is starting and who their opponent is.