Braves Arodys Vizcaino: 2018 Fantasy closer sleeper

After the Braves traded away Jim Johnson to Los Angeles, Arodys Vizcaino becomes a sleeper pick as a closer this season.

The Atlanta Braves are looking to make room for the future as they non-tendered three players a few days ago. The front office made another move by trading veteran closer Jim Johnson. As a result, relief pitcher Arodys Vizcaino becomes the de facto closer and a deep sleeper for 2018.

I’ve been on the Vizcaino bandwagon for over two years. I first mentioned him in August 2015, then again in April 2016 when I called him a deep sleeper for the season and recently called him a second-half sleeper this past July.

I wasn’t completely wrong on any of those takes. Vizcaino just wasn’t getting the playing time needed to break out because Johnson was still in the bullpen. Now that he’s got the job unless the Braves sign another reliever, he should be a sleeper pick this season. I promise.

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In the second half of last season, Vizcaino posted a 3.47 ERA, 1.114 WHIP, 25:9 K:BB ratio and 12 saves. He finished the season with a 2.83 ERA, 1.099 WHIP, 10.0 K/9, 3.3 BB/9 and 14 saves.

Last year, he had a 4.42 ERA, 1.629 WHIP and 10 saves in just 38.2 innings. The walk rate was over 6.0 BB/9 with an 11.6 K/9. The ratios have been all over the place in his short four-year career.

His ground ball, fly ball, strikeout, walk, first pitch and contact rates. They’ve all been on a roller coaster over the past four seasons. If he wants to see success and be a top-15 closer, Vizcaino will need to induce more ground balls. He had a 38.5 GB rate, 38th lowest out of 155 qualified relievers.

Then again, Vizcaino had a 53.8 ground ball rate in 2016, which would have ranked him 34th among qualified relievers. He did pitch in just 38.2 innings that season.

Looking at the expected Braves bullpen, Vizcaino will be supported by Jose Ramirez (different Ramirez) and A.J. Minter, both of whom don’t have any closer experience. Though, the four teams he’ll face in the majority of Braves games hit well in the ninth inning.

No team ranks worse than 16th, Miami, and the Nationals rank the highest at sixth. There are a few other NL teams ranked in between as well. If Vizcaino can keep his strikeout rate at his career average of 10.2 and keep the walk rate to under 2.0, something he, unfortunately, hasn’t done in his career, then he’ll be a top-12 closer.

Next: Will Paul DeJong be a breakout star?

As of now, Vizcaino ranks just inside my top-20 relievers, ahead of Brad Hand and Sean Doolittle. He will be worth drafting after Round 20 as your third closer. A 3.71 ERA/1.28 WHIP/75 K/28 SV line would be valuable that late in drafts.

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