Pick up Jenrry Mejia and Zach Britton if you need saves
By Mike Marteny
We are on the last of our ten part series of available players than can help you chase specific categories in roto or H2H category leagues.
I will give you three players each for standard, moderate, and deep leagues. Standard league players will be available in 10-50 percent of leagues. Moderate league players will be available in 50-90 percent of leagues. The deep leagues will focus on players owned in ten percent of leagues or less.
This column will focus on pitchers that can help you in saves. This will be a little more difficult since most closers are owned in all leagues already. We will have to dig a little deeper and find the guynry s who could step in at a moment’s notice.
Keep in mind that John Axford, Jim Johnson, Jim Henderson, and Matt Lindstrom have already lost their closer jobs. It is not out of the realm of possibility to think that a few more closers could be supplanted by season’s end.
The hitters who can help you in average are here. Runs scored are here. Home runs are here. RBI are here. Stolen Bases are here.
The pitchers that can help in wins are here. ERA is here. WHIP is here. Strikeouts are here.
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Mark Melancon (35) pitches against the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park. . Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Standard Leagues:
LaTroy Hawkins, Rockies: Hawkins is an anomaly among closers. He has allowed more runs (8) than batters he has struck out (7). Given the struggles of Rex Brothers lately, Hawkins still seems to have a long leash. That said, Adam Ottavino has been dominant out of the Rockies’ pen, and could see chances considering his high strikeout totals (22 in 21.1 innings).
Grant Balfour, Rays Yes, he is still the closer. And as long as he is, he should probably still be owned. The ERA (5.49) and WHIP (1.58) suggest that as soon as a suitable option emerges in the Rays’ bullpen, Ballfour will be walked out of the closer role. Until then, he is the only guy on the team who can get you saves though!
Mark Melancon, Pirates: Melancon was outstanding while incumbent Jason Grilli was out. So much so that Melancon has saved two of the three games since Grilli came off of the disabled list! The Pirates may use a closer-by-committee approach. If they do, both of them should be owned. Melancon has the better peripheral numbers of the two as well.
New York Mets starting pitcher Jenrry Mejia (58) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Moderate Leagues:
Jenrry Mejia, Mets: Mejia seems to be solidifying his role as the closer for the Mets. Jose Valverde was rocked again yesterday, and was finally released because of it. This leaves Mejia as pretty much the only late inning option. That said, he has not given up an earned run since taking over the closer role ten days ago.
Chad Qualls, Astros: The 35-year-old Qualls is just keeping the seat warm until Josh Fields or some other youngster proves he can take over the role. Until that happens though, Qualls has value. He has pitched very well as the teams closer, but will not get many opportunities playing for Houston. If you are desperate though, he is a good pickup.
Zach Britton, Orioles: Britton was officially named the Orioles’ closer on Sunday. He has responded by saving back to back games to put his season total at three. Considering how poorly Tommy Hunter was pitching prior to landing on the DL, I find it hard to believe that he will get him job back. At least until the Orioles decide that Britton is more valuable out of the rotation. I tend to believe that the latter will not happen until next year at the earliest.
Cleveland Indians pitcher Bryan Shaw (27) delivers against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Deep Leagues:
Brett Cecil, Blue Jays: Cecil seems to be the favorite for vulture saves from the Jays’ bullpen. Casey Janssen will be given more rest over the next few weeks, and Cecil picked up the save the first time when Janssen was given rest. He is worth a short term pickup on the chance that he picks up a save or two. The fact that he hasn’t been scored on since May 11th also helps.
Jean Machi, Giants: Sergio Romo is still cemented in as the Giants’ closer, but Machi has vultured two saves this month. And who wouldn’t want his stellar 0.37 ERA and 0.86 WHIP while waiting on that save?
Bryan Shaw, Indians: The Cleveland bullpen is really in flux right now. With Cody Allen struggling as much as he succeeds, it is likely that Shaw and Scott Atchison will see more save opportunites. It looks as though Shaw would get first crack at saves when Allen falters for good. He is worth stashing in deep leagues.
Come back tomorrow when I will tackle OPS! This was a request via email. If you have another category you would like to see covered, let me know! I aim to please!