Angels: Cam Bedrosian back in closer role, but for how long?

By Bill Pivetz | Jun 24, 2017

Apr 18, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Cam Bedrosian (32) delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros during the ninth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports /

The Angels have had a carousel at their closer position this season. Now, Cam Bedrosian is back and earning saves but will he be the closer in September?

The Los Angeles Angels have had issues at the closer position throughout the season. The team has been using Bud Norris in the role for the last two months. Now that Cam Bedrosian is back, he is earning saves with Norris on the DL However, there is another closer looming in the back. How long with Bedrosian be in the role?

Bedrosian was hyped up all over the fantasy baseball community. He showed great stuff in the minors and people were excited to see him as the Angels’ closer. If the first six games of the season were any sign, he was on the right track.

In that span, Bedrosian posted a 0.00 ERA, 0.900 WHIP, three saves and a 9:0 K:BB ratio. For anyone who drafted him, and there were few based on his 209.5 ADP, they got a steal. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long.

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Bedrosian landed on the DL with a groin issue in mid-April. It wasn’t until the end of May before he began his rehab assignment. He was finally activated on June 17 and appeared in his first game in 56 days. Bedrosian pitched a shutout inning with a strikeout.

In his next two games, Bedrosian recorded two holds in two innings with no earned runs and a 3:0 K:BB ratio. Despite the holds, Rotowire.com reports that Bedrosian is still the likely candidate to close games. This could be even truer because Norris is on the 10-day DL with right knee inflammation.

With no one gunning for his job, Bedrosian seems like the only option, right? Wrong. Huston Street, the pitcher many thought would be the closer to start the season, is back from the 60-day DL. He was dealing with a back issue, then suffered from right triceps tendinitis.

In his first game back, Street pitched a scoreless inning with one strikeout on June 23. Street has had his fair share of ups and downs as a closer, especially with the Angels. He posted a 3.18 ERA with 40 saves in 2015 but had a 6.45 ERA and nine saves in 26 games last year.

Bedrosian is the safer option but Street has the track record as a closer. Fantasy owners are still flocking towards Bedrosian as he’s been added in 13.1 percent of ESPN leagues over the last week while Street was added in just 2.7 percent in the same span.

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Bedrosian has the better numbers and upside going forward. But, looking at Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia’s track record, I wouldn’t doubt him going back to Street in the ninth inning. If you play in a holds league, Bedrosian can still give you something. Let’s just hope he sticks in the ninth inning.

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