Middle Relievers in Fantasy Baseball: MRI Options for 2014

Aug 22, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Washington Nationals relief pitcher Drew Storen (22) is congratulated by catcher Kurt Suzuki (24) for a victory against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The Nationals beat the Cubs 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

It’s easy to write for Crackerjacks. All you have to do is take a side on things – in this case the pro-bullpen side – and…

Actually, that’s it. There is no Step 2. Well, press “publish.”

So this is my pro-bullpen piece, as us Crackerjacks have learned through experience how employing middle relievers wisely can help you win your fantasy baseball league. Good middle relievers are readily available in fantasy leagues, even in the 23% of fantasy baseball leagues that count holds as a category. Oxymoronically, cheap fantasy baseball players are a goldmine. Every fantasy owner should be looking for cheap fantasy assets that can produce extra value relative to their price.

In addition, middle relievers in fantasy baseball help to drive down ratio stats like ERA and WHIP, and can vulture a Win here and there. Not nearly enough fantasy baseball owners utilize their bench spots to cycle solid middle delivers into their lineups. I aim to change that by highlighting some of fantasy’s best middle relievers.

Let’s get started, so if you would be so kind, hit “Next.”

May 22, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Tyler Clippard (36) delivers to the plate during the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Nationals defeated the Phillies 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The bespectacled Tyler Clippard is a rarity among middle relievers.

Yes, those sport specs became uncool when Kareem Abdul Jabbar reared in 1943, but I’m not saying they are the rarity. Clippard is the rare consistent middle reliever.

Critics of the MRI (maximizing relief innings) strategy will rightly criticize that relievers are volatile. (Data shows that less than 40% of fantasy first round picks return first round value, so I’d argue that volatility is simply a part of fantasy baseball, but that doesn’t make it less true that middle relievers are a big part of that volatility.)

Meanwhile, Clippard is as steady and consistent as they come for the Washington Nationals. He’s been so steady that he typically goes drafted in the late rounds of snake drafts, something that is quite rare for middle relievers.

Feb 25, 2014; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Brett Cecil (27) poses for a photo at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Wait, there is another middle reliever with sport specs? Where do you even buy those things nowadays? Is this a new hipster thing I missed? Anyway.

With 9th inning status of the Toronto Bluejays up in the air, Brett Cecil has actually picked up a save or two. Last year he solidified his role in the bullpen, which is a good thing. As long as Cecil can stay in the bullpen, he may be a decent option. His career FIP as a reliever is 2.71 FIP, but it’s 4.78 as a starter. However, he still has SP eligibility in most fantasy leagues, which comes in handy in leagues that differentiate pitching roles.

September 9, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt (9) is congratulated by his team after hitting a walk-off RBI-single to score center fielder Angel Pagan (16, not pictured) against Colorado Rockies pitcher Adam Ottavino (0, right) during the 10th inning at AT&T Park. The Giants defeated the Rockies 3-2 in 10 innings. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Adam Ottavino is a player that I’ve written about before.  He is a 6’5″ righty for the Colorado Rockies. Ottavino has always had a big K/9 rate largely due to his 95 mph fastball, which he throws over 50% of the time, but outside of his slider, he never had much secondary stuff.

This works just fine from the bullpen, where he never cycles through hitters twice. On top of his big strikeout numbers, he’s also generating a career 44% ground ball rate, which helps him at Coors Field.

Currently, he’s barely walking 1 batter per 9, so that will surely settle back closer to his career mark of 3+, but that aside, there isn’t reason to think he’ll totally implode.

Aug 3, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Cody Allen (37) pauses before throwing a pitch against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The writing is on the wall that Cody Allen will take over 9th inning duties for the Cleveland Indians.  Chris Perez has always been a meltdown waiting to happen and he’s also banged up. Surprisingly, the also banged-up Vinnie Pestano got the 9th inning nod over Allen, but long-term, it’s Allen’s job.

He’ll reward fantasy owners with excellent strikeout rates, while he also does a good job keeping the ball in the years, which – unsurprisingly – does wonders for a pitcher’s ERA.

Grab him off the waiver wire and use his middle relief innings to bolster your fantasy pitching staff.

May 7, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Mark Melancon (35) pitches against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Mark Melancon first flashed his potential for the Houston Astros, which is a weird thing to type.

But after he ultimately found his way to the Pittsburg Pirates, he sliced his walk rate significantly, which led to all sorts of good stuff for the 29-year-old righty.

Taking over closer duties in 2013 for the injured Jason Grilli, Melancon earned an All Star selection on the strength of a 1.80 ERA and 0.80 WHIP. Fantasy owners who made a quick waiver claim on Melancon turned that $0 investment into at least a ten spot.

And so far so good again in 2014.

May 4, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Carlos Martinez (44) reacts after the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Siegrist and Carlos Martinez are two talented relievers for the St. Louis Cardinals, who have an unfair amount of talent in their bullpen when you also include closer Trevor Rosenthal.

Carlos Martinez seems like he’ll always be surrounded by the starter-turned-reliever-turned-starter discussion, but fantasy owners should take advantage today of his nice bullpen numbers.

Siegrist flies more under the radar, but to overlook him is to overlook his 11+ K/9 rate in the Major Leagues. While not the first middle reliever I’d grab, he’s an excellent option for deeper leagues that count holds.

Feb 23, 2014; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Jean Machi (63) poses for a photo during photo day at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

There are many, many more of course, and that’s really the point. In middle relievers you have excellent pitchers who are readily available and deliver numbers that add up to a staff Ace.

I didn’t even mention Jean Machi, who has been sharp for the San Fransisco Giants, Chris Withrow, who is racking up Ks for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Drew Storen, who pitches the 7th inning, but has 9th inning stuff, or Tyler Thornburg, who is making a name for himself with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Find one of these guys who looks like a good fit for your team and pluck it off the wire. Then notice who over the course of the season he’ll help drive down your team ERA and WHIP.