Read on for The Game Day’s Week 11 Fantasy Closers: Depth Chart News, Saves Tips & Baseball Bullpen Report. See which MLB relief pitchers are locked into save chances and which are in jeopardy with their job security. Keeping up with bullpen depth charts is vital for fantasy baseball teams, so identifying sleepers for saves and closers on the rise should be on your radar.
See our full 2021 Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings & Depth Charts for every MLB bullpen.
Week 11 Fantasy Baseball Closers: Depth Chart News, Saves Tips & Bullpen Report
Texas Rangers
- Committee: Josh Sborz, Joely Rodríguez, DeMarcus Evans
With closer Ian Kennedy hitting the IL with a mild left hamstring strain, the Rangers’ bullpen is now in flux. There are actually some good options to consider here, but the most likely candidate for saves should be Josh Sborz. DeMarcus Evans possesses the “stuff" necessary to consistently close, but he’s too young and inexperienced. Joely Rodríguez is talented but also a lefty, which is often the last resort for managers.
Sborz is a former Dodgers reliever who has reinvented himself in Texas. His 30.5 K% and 7.6 BB% are both phenomenal, helping produce a 2.85 SIERA and a 2.79 xFIP. Those numbers, along with his 3.11 FIP and 3.36 xERA, all suggest that his 4.38 ERA should come down as the season progresses. Sborz already has 1 save on the season, and even with Kennedy not expected to miss much time there is still reason to add Sborz for the next week or two of potential save opportunities.
Colorado Rockies
- Closer: Daniel Bard
- Committee: Mychal Givens, Carlos Estévez
Well, it looks like Daniel Bard is back (again). After struggling over the season’s first month, Bard has settled down and returned to form. Since May 5th, he’s compiled a 0.60 ERA with a 23:5 K/BB ratio and 5 saves in 15 innings. Bard’s been even more dominant lately, racking up 17 strikeouts over his last 7 appearances.
Given his recent performance, Bard should be rostered across the board. There’s no need to worry about Coors Field hurting his numbers, either, as he’s flourished there with a 2.08 ERA and a 14.0 K/9 rate this year. There haven’t been too many leads for him to protect, unfortunately, but he’s proven capable of closing the door when given the chance.
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More Fantasy Baseball Closer News
- Baltimore Orioles reliever Paul Fry looks like the guy in that bullpen with César Valdez pushed out of the closer role. Yes, Cole Sulser did receive a recent save opportunity, but that was only due to Fry resting.
- Kansas City Royals closer Josh Staumont is back from the IL, which likely pushes Scott Barlow, Kyle Zimmer, and Greg Holland back to setup roles. Staumont has had success closing this year, but his underlying metrics are a bit rough. His 5.04 xFIP and 4.16 SIERA indicate that he may be headed for regression, so I’ll be surprised if he stays in the closer role all year.
