Fantasy Baseball – Which Closers Are Safe In The National League?
It’s been a pretty rough year for closers, as nearly a third are out because of injury or ineffectiveness. I’ve warned Fantasy Baseball players not to go crazy when drafting a closer because of the unpredictability, but this year has been absolutely ridiculous with the number of changes to the closing position. With that in mind, it’s time to take a look at how closers across baseball are doing. Last time we took a look at some closers in the American League so this week we’ll look at the National League.
No need to worry, their job is safe:
Sean Marshall – While the Cincinnati Reds do have one of the best relievers in the game in Aroldis Chapman, Marshall should be safe for now. He’s been better as of late, and seeing as the Reds have stuck with him through his struggles, it’s likely he’ll reward Fantasy Baseball players who stick with him as their closer.
Rafael Betancourt – He strikes out a ton of hitters, he’s got an ERA right around 3, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down. He’s an above average closer, and with little to no competition Betnacourt is as safe a play as there is in the National League.
John Axford – Ignore the ugly 5.56 ERA. He’s struck out 22 batters in 11 innings, and yet he’s somehow allowed 15 hits. He’s too good to be allowing these hits, and when his bad luck runs out he’ll return to being one of the elite relievers in baseball.
Santiago Casilla – He’s been lights out since taking over for Brian Wilson. He’s not going to post a 1.72 ERA for the rest of the season, but he’s not going to be giving up home runs like he is now. He’s a solid option, although if he struggles there’s a chance the San Francisco Giants might pull the plug. For the forseeable future, Casilla is locked in and Fantasy Baseball players should continue to reap the rewards of signing a cheap closer in free agency.
Craig Kimbrel – The most automatic guy on this list. He’s as good as they get.
Jason Motte - He’s a dynamic pitcher, capable of striking out a significant number of batters while bailing his team out of any jam. Like Kimbrel, he’s an elite option as a Fantasy Baseball closer.
Brett Myers – He’s quietly been an effective closer for the Houston Astros. He’s not striking out many hitters so there is a chance he could struggle as the season goes on, but for now he’s a solid option.
Jonathan Papelbon – He’s been extremely effective, and with the Philadelphia Phillies struggling to score runs he’s bound to have a ton of save opportunities. He’s a perfect option to close for your Fantasy Baseball team.
Joel Hanrahan – The walks are up, but otherwise he’s locked in at the closer spot.
Risky plays for the 9th inning:
Henry Rodriguez – Even if Drew Storen wasn’t likely to come back in the next month or two, Rodriguez is a risky play for Fantasy Baseball owners. He’s got a high ERA thanks to an awful walk rate and complete lack of control. The fact that Ryan Mattheus was warming up in the bullpen during the 9th inning tells you all you need to know about Rodriguez room for error.
Heath Bell- He was temporarily removed from the position, but recently Ozzie Guillen has suggested he’s close to earning back his role as the closer. He has pitched a whole inning without allowing a run, and that has to be considered a step in the right direction. Or just a sign of how awful he’s been.
Anybody in the Chicago Cubs Bullpen – Seriously, don’t do it! It’s a trap!
Kenley Jansen – He’s only a risk because he’s not a “veteran closer” who stole the job because Javy Guerra underperformed. But Jansen is an outstanding pitcher, and Fantasy Baseball players would be advised to stick with him as he’s a tremendous option.
Frank Francisco – Somehow, he’s still the closer. But I would pick up Bobby Parnell as he’s been one of the better arms on the New York Mets, and when Francisco gets demoted Parnell is the next best option.
JJ Putz – It’s been a rough start to the season for him. He’s allowing home runs at a crazy rate, and he’s getting hit around despite the high strikeout total. There’s no good reason for why he’s struggling, so you might just have to stick with him for now.
Dale Thayer – He’s only closing until Huston Street gets back, but boy is he doing a fantastic job. 8 innings, 7 strikeouts, 6 hits allowed, 0 runs scored. Keep an eye on Thayer, as he could become an excellent option in the future.
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