Angels Bud Norris hits the DL: Fantasy Fallout

By Brad Kelly | Jun 20, 2017

Jun 6, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Bud Norris (20) pitches in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Bud Norris has been a revelation for the Angels out of the bullpen this season. But, now that he is headed to the DL, what is the fantasy fallout?

If the Angels played the New York Yankees 162 times this season, they would be headed to the World Series. The Halos continued their success versus the Yanks this season on Monday, but not without the prior news of putting Bud Norris on the DL. Now that he is on the DL due to a nagging knee injury, what is the fantasy fallout?

Bud Norris is in the midst of one of the more unlikely solid relief seasons in 2017. Norris currently holds a tidy 2.43 ERA/11 SV/42 K line over 33 innings of work for the Angels. He has locked down the closer role after the early season injury to incumbent option, Cam Bedrosian.

Fantasy owners at first were hesitant to trust Norris, he did have a 5.10 ERA last season for a reason, but it seems that he has refined his arsenal out of the bullpen. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and a knee issue has caused the team to be cautious and place him on the DL.

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In 2016, Bedrosian saved the bullpen after Huston Street continued to implode. Yet, they lacked depth and sported one of the worst relief staffs outside of Bedrosian last season.

This season though, of course in large part to Norris, the emergences of Blake Parker (2.16 ERA), and Keynan Middleton (3.79 ERA) and bounce back from veteran David Hernandez (2.38 ERA) all of a sudden gives the team depth.

Norris took Bedrosian’s job after he went down with a groin injury, so the logical thinking would be that Bedrosian is in line to take the job back. He did just return, so the team will ease him back in at first, but he will surely get the ball in the ninth here soon.

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If Bedrosian is on the waiver wire, owners should move in quick and snag him. His fastball still sits in the mid-90s and his slider looked good during his appearance on Monday. The Angels currently sit at .500 on the season and Mike Trout should be back relatively soon, meaning that SV opportunities are there to be had. Bedrosian has the stuff to be one of the best relievers the rest of the way.

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