Howard Smith – USA Today Sports
The Pittsburgh Pirates haven’t been a great source of fantasy baseball stars over the years outside of the recent emergence of Andrew McCutchen. In 2013, however, the team has numerous fantasy studs, including some of the best relievers in the league.
A 36-year-old career middle reliever doesn’t usually become a fantasy star, but that’s exactly what closer Jason Grilli has been this season. Throughout his career, Grilli had managed an ERA under three in just one year before coming to the Pirates. After missing all of 2010 with a knee injury, he joined Pittsburgh and suddenly found something.
Grilli pitched well in 28 games in 2010 and became one of the better relievers in baseball in 2011. He was rewarded with the closers job in 2012 and has been the base source of saves in fantasy this year. In 13 innings pitched, Grilli has allowed just one run and four walks while striking out a ridiculous 21 on his way to a league-leading 12 saves in 12 chances.
During his career Grilli had tried to incorporate a curveball and changeup, but in the past two seasons he has become a two-pitch pitcher, throwing his fastball and slider almost exclusively. Hitters are making contact just 71.7 percent of the time against the veteran, and right now he is arguably the best closer in baseball.
It’s not just Grilli, though, who has been lights-out in the Pittsburgh bullpen. Mark Melancon leads the league in holds with 11 and has yet to walk a batter in 16 innings pitched. He’s struck out 15 while allowing just one earned run on the year to create the best 1-2 punch at the back end of the bullpen in baseball through the early part of the season. Should anything happen to Grilli, Melancon would slide right in as the team’s closer.
Tony Watson is also in the top 10 in the league with six holds and started out the year allowing just one run in his first 8.1 innings before struggling of late. The team also recently called up Jose Contreras after recovering from Tommy John surgery. In his first appearance on May 5 he pitched in the seventh inning of a one-run game and struck out two in the scoreless frame. He is worth keeping an eye on in holds leagues and very deep standard leagues as a source of strikeouts.
Rich Arleo is a fantasy sports expert with Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @Rarleo, ‘Like’ him on Facebook and add him to your networks on Google.
