Week 14 Fantasy Baseball Closers: Depth Chart News, Saves Tips & Bullpen Report
New York Yankees
- Closer: Aroldis Chapman
- Backups: Chad Green, Jonathan Loasiga
The timing of Aroldis Champan’s recent stretch of implosions is suspect to say the least. He has been awful in every sense of the word. Chapman has allowed 11 earned runs over the past 3 weeks. His ERA in this stretch is 17.47!! and he doesn’t even have good enough peripherals to claim this as “bad luck". His 7.16 xFIP is obviously not as terrible as 17.47 but even regressing for home run luck can’t save Chapman’s behind. He has struck out just 6 batters in 5 2/3rd innings during this 8 game stretch, allowed 3 HR, 8 BB, and 13 hits.
Velocity does not seem to be much of an issue as he is still hitting triple-digits but pitch location and release point can essentially be chalked up to issue gripping the ball which can then be connected to a lack of sticky substances. There was a broadcast bit from Buster Olney claiming that one prominent AL East closer is essentially “useless" without sticky stuff and if this does turn out to be Chapman (the MOST prominent AL East closer), then, we have a problem…
The best advice is to ride this out and hope it’s a blip until the team demotes him and in the meantime, pick up Chad Green who looked incredible in his few save opportunities this season. With Zack Britton (hamstring) on IL, there’s a chance Green could lose the role to a former closer but Britton has struggled this season in his return from injury and may not be relied upon anytime soon.
re: Aroldis Chapman
oof pic.twitter.com/ij7m9sL9YK
— JKJ (@jkj0787) July 1, 2021
Detroit Tigers
- Closer: Jose Cisnero
- Backups: Gregory Soto, Michael Fulmer (IL)
Jose Cisnero is firmly the guy to roster in Detroit. He has been spectacular this season with a 2.83 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 30.1% K, and 8.2% BB. Prior closer Micheal Fulmer has been placed on IL and even so, he had lost grip on the closing role. Fulmer was cruising for a while and could still be productive when reinstated from IL but his stuff has not played to the same standard as Cisnero.
Gregory Soto will steal saves here and there when heavy lefty lineups are due up but even so those will be few-and-far-between. The bigger issue is probably winding up in save situations for Detroit but considering that not every team has a “full-time" closer, you can consider Cisnero one of the better low-end options. At worst, he helps your ratios and K’s in games where he pitches regardless of save opportunity.
