Closer report: Trouble in Texas

There have been some bullpen shakeups around the league and there are certainly more to come. The closer report has you covered.

Week two of the regular season has come to an end and there’s already been some notable shuffling in some bullpens. From Jeanmar Gomez and Sam Dyson’s struggles to Zach Britton’s forearm strain I’ve got you covered.

The season is still young, but the data is slowly accumulating. For now, I’ll list the traditional stats and as the season progresses we will dive into stats like swinging strike rate, velocity, and walk rates. These metrics can be indicators of pitchers who are over performing or underperforming.

Arizona Diamondbacks

• Fernando Rodney 4.1 IP, 12.46 ERA, 2.54 WHIP, 5 K’s, 4 saves

Rodney just shut the door on the Dodgers Sunday, but the rest of his week wasn’t so hot. He got tagged for five earned runs in 2.1 innings pitched this week. I think Rodney’s job is still firmly in tact.

Atlanta Braves

• Jim Johnson 6.0 IP, 0.83, WHIP, 1.50 ERA, 7 K’s, 3 saves

Johnson went three for three in save opportunities this week while only allowing one hit, further solidifying himself as the lead guy in Atlanta.

Baltimore Orioles

• Zach Britton (Injury) 7.0 IP, 1.86 WHIP, 1.29 ERA, 6 K’s, 5 saves
• Brad Brach 6.0 IP, 0.67 WHIP, 0.00 ERA, 10 K’s

Zach Britton was officially diagnosed with a left forearm strain and will be out until at least April 26. Brad Brach is slated to be the next man up, but relievers Michael Givens and Darren O’Day are also options. If you are in dire need of saves you can grab Bach. However, I wouldn’t drop him for anyone worthwhile or spend a big part of my FAAB on him.

Boston Red Sox

Craig Kimbrel 5.0 IP, 1.00 WHIP, 1.80 ERA, 7 K’s, 5 saves

Kimbrel is locked in as the Red Sox closer. The veteran provided three shutout innings this week while registering two saves on only one hit.

Chicago Cubs

Wade Davis 5.1 IP, 0.75 WHIP, 0.00 ERA, 6 K’s, 2 saves

The Cubs are 6-6 and Wade Davis hasn’t had a ton of save opportunities. Davis is still elite and the saves will come (he did pick up a win this week).

Chicago White Sox

• David Robertson 4.0 IP, 0.25 WHIP, 0.00 ERA, 8 K’s

Robertson has been dominant to start off the season, going three for three in save chances this week. The only thing to be careful of is he could be traded as the trade deadline approaches.

Cincinnati Reds

• Raisel Iglesias 7.2 IP, 0.65 WHIP, 1.17 ERA, 8 K’s, 3 saves

The Reds are using Iglesias and Michael Lorenzen as some type of “super-relievers”. Meaning, that Iglesias and Lorenzen will pitch two innings at a time a lot. Iglesias is the lead guy in the pen, but Lorenzen notched a save this week. Raisel Iglesias was brought into the game to pitch the 5th and 6th innings against the heart of the Brewers order and picked up the win.

Cleveland Indians

Cody Allen 4.2 IP, 1.07 WHIP, 1.93 ERA, 11 K’s, 2 saves

Allen is a strikeout machine and will not lose his closer job. Don’t worry that he hasn’t gotten to many save chances these first two weeks.

Colorado Rockies

• Greg Holland 7.0 IP, 0.71 WHIP, 0.00 ERA, 9 K’s, 7 saves

Holland has been absolutely lights out to start the year and curtailed all talks of him sharing save opportunities with Ottavnio. The Rockies have a lot of home games coming up so don’t be surprised if he gives up a home run or two.

Detroit Tigers

• Francisco Rodriguez 6.0 IP, 1.50 WHIP, 4.50 ERA, 6 K’s, 5 saves
• Justin Wilson 6.1 IP, 0.47 WHIP, 0.00 ERA, 8 K’s

K-Rod picked up four saves this week but they weren’t all that pretty. Rodriguez gave up two runs in 3.2 innings of work this week, but I don’t see the Tigers giving the job to Wilson yet even though he is much better.

Houston Astros

Ken Giles 5.0 IP, 1.80 WHIP, 9.00 ERA, 9 K’s, 2 saves

In his last three appearances Giles has given up two, two, and one run. According to the Astros manager, Giles is still the closer and will be in most of the games.

Kansas City Royals

• Kelvin Herrera 5.0 IP, 0.60 WHIP, 3.60 ERA, 2 saves

Herrera looked better this week, only surrendering one solo home run. He picked up two saves and a win and looks ready to dominate.

Los Angeles Angels

Cam Bedrosian 4.0 IP, 0.75 ERA, 0.00 ERA, 2 saves

Bedrosian has the all the makings of a top-notch closer. The chances may not be plentiful, especially if the Angles decide to use him in the 8th against the heart of a team’s order sometimes. He’s the arm to own for the Angels.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Kenley Jansen 4.2 IP, 1.07 WHIP, 3.86 ERA, 6 K’s, 3 saves

2.1 IP with four K’s and zero runs this week, just what you expect out of a guy like Jansen.

Miami Marlins

• AJ  Ramos 6.0 IP, 1.00 WHIP, 1.50 ERA, 7K’s, 2 saves

Ramos tallied a win, a loss, and a save this week. His only earned run of the season handed him the loss, but Ramos will be the Marlins closer all season.

Milwaukee Brewers

• Neftali Feliz 4.2 IP, 0.43 WHIP, 1.93 ERA, 6 K’s, 4 saves

We’ll get more into the pitch by pitch stats next week, but Feliz is silencing any of the nay-sayers he had in the offseason.

Minnesota Twins

Brandon Kintzler 6.1 IP, 0.95 ERA, 0.00 ERA,  4K’s, 3 saves

Kintzler isn’t a high strikeout guy, but he has been extremely efficient. If a healthy Glen Perkins ever appears I believe Kintzler is still the closer.

New York Mets

Addison Reed 7.2 IP, 0.78 WHIP, 3.52 ERA, 8 K’s, 3 saves

Don’t get used to this, Familia will step into the closer role in a few days.

New York Yankees

Aroldis Chapman 4.2 IP, 0.64 WHIP, 0.00 ERA, 8 K’s, 3 saves

Pure dominance from Chapman, you don’t need me to tell you who he is.

Oakland Athletics

Santiago Casilla 5.0 IP, 0.60 WHIP, 3.60 ERA, 6 K’s, 1 save

Sean Doolittle 3.1 IP, 1.50 WHIP, 5.40 ERA, 7 K’s, 1 save

Here we have a real closer by committee and there is nothing more annoying. The A’s are going to play the matchups so if there are lefties coming up in the eight then Doolittle will pitch and Casilla will get the ninth and vice versa. I personally think Casilla is better, but I’m not in charge. Have fun playing closer roulette with these two.

Philadelphia Phillies

Joaquin Benoit 5.2 IP, 1.06 WHIP, 4.76 ERA, 6 K’s, 1 save

The Phillies newly appointed closer was having a solid week until he met Bryce Harper on Sunday. One bad pitch brought him the blown save and 3 earned runs. Watch Bryce absolutely rock him below.

I think Benoit holds onto the job for now. Rumor has it the Phillies don’t want Neris to close because it will increase his salary in arbitration.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Tony Watson 6.0 IP, 1.50 WHIP, 1.50 ERA, 4 K’s, 4 saves

Watson doesn’t strike many hitters out, but he gets the job done and that is all that matters. The closer gig is his unless he runs terribly bad over an extended period.

San Diego Padres

Brandon Maurer 4.0 IP, 0.50 WHIP, 4.50 ERA, 5 K’s, 1 save

Maurer hasn’t gotten much action lately, but he’s still the top arm for the Padres.

San Francisco Giants

• Mark Melancon 3.2 IP, 1.91 WHIP, 4.91 ERA, 3 K’s, 2 saves

The Giants haven’t been winning many games so Melancon hasn’t had many opportunities. Don’t let his early season struggles worry you just yet.

Seattle Mariners

Edwin Diaz 5.2 IP, 1.59 WHIP, 6.35 ERA, 7 K’s, 2 saves

Diaz had a successful save and then a win after giving up a run in a tied game. If Sam Dyson was any better Diaz would have got stuck with the loss. I still have full faith in Diaz and I am sure the Mariners do as well.

St. Louis Cardinals

• Seung-Hwan Oh 4.2 IP, 1.71 WHIP, 9.64 ERA, 2 K’s

Oh no! Oh has had four outings and allowed a run in three of them. Thankfully his last appearance he held the Nationals scoreless. Trevor Rosenthal is lurking, but I think Oh’s leash is long enough for him to maintain the job.

Tampa Bay Rays

Alex Colome 5.0 IP, 0.40 WHIP, 0.00 ERA, 3 K’s, 3 saves

One of my favorite mid-tier closers to draft this year and he is showing why. Hopefully the Rays can get him enough opportunities throughout the season.

Texas Rangers

• Sam Dyson 4.1 IP, 4.38 WHIP, 27.00 ERA, 3 losses
• Matt Bush 4.2 IP, 0.86 WHIP, 3.86 ERA, 8 K’s
• Jeremy Jeffress 6.0 IP, 0.83 WHIP, 3.00 ERA, 3 K’s

What a mess. Jeff Bannister won’t fully quit on Dyson yet, but you should prepare yourself. Bush looked good on Sunday and I think he steals the closer job. Jeremy Jeffress could sneak in there, but I think Bush is more likely.

Toronto Blue Jays

• Roberto Osuna 2.0 IP, 1.00 ERA, 4.50 ERA, 2 K’s

Osuna is back from injury and straight into the closer role as expected. Don’t fret about the blown save his job is very safe.

Washington Nationals

Blake Treinen 6.0 IP, 2.00 WHIP, 6.00 ERA, 7 K’s, 3 saves

Treinen has been getting knocked around a bit, but he’s the best option the Nationals currently have. He has the stuff, he just needs the control to become a serviceable closer.

Next: Top 30 MLB breakout stars in 2017

That’s it for week two of the closer report! Stay tuned to the situations in Texas, Philadelphia, and Oakland throughout the week.