Finish strong with these non-closers
In all but the deepest fantasy leagues, middle relievers typically are forgotten or ignored. But highly skilled relievers do have value as they can help improve a team in ERA, WHIP and strikeouts.
If you are in a tight race and innings minimums aren’t an issue, consider replacing poor-performing starting pitchers with these safer and more effective relief options for the stretch run.
Most of these players likely can be found in your league’s free agent pool or acquired cheaply via trades.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Shawn Kelley of the Washington Nationals has put up outstanding numbers this season. The 32-year-old boasts a 2.72 ERA and 0.99 WHIP along with a career best 13.2 strikeouts per nine innings (K/9). He has done a terrific job of limiting free passes, walking 1.6 batters per nine innings (BB/9).
New York Mets right-hander Addison Reed is in the midst of his best campaign yet. He has pounded the strike zone early in the count, which has led to a noticeable reduction in walks (3.1 BB/9 in 2015; 1.8 BB/9 in 2016). The 27-year-old has bolstered his strikeout rate from 8.2 K/9 in 2015 to 10.9 K/9 in 2016. Those gains have helped propel him to a superb 1.99 ERA and 0.94 WHIP.
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Working in the shadow of Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Pedro Baez again has thrown the ball well. The 28-year-old owns a 3.38 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 10.0 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 in 59 innings. A fortunate .203 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) no doubt has aided his cause, but even with some regression during the final six weeks, he should continue to be an asset.
The San Francisco Giants’ duo of Sergio Romo and Hunter Strickland is worthy of consideration. Romo returned to action July 4 after missing three months with a strain in his right elbow, and he quickly has rounded into his typical form. Strickland hasn’t quite been able to match his stellar 2015, but he has amassed a formidable 2.70 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 8.3 K/9 in 50 innings.
The rebuilding Philadelphia Phillies have a pair of exciting young arms in the bullpen. Hector Neris and Edubray Ramos each possess intriguing ability. Neris, 27, relies heavily on a splitter that has befuddled batters all season. He has combined a healthy strikeout rate (11.5 K/9) and decent control (2.5 BB/9) to frustrate opposing offenses to the tune of a 2.24 ERA and 0.98 WHIP.
Ramos made his big-league debut June 24 and quickly has gained the confidence of manager Pete Mackanin. The 25-year-old’s fastball/slider combination has proved effective, as illustrated by a 10.0 K/9, 2.2 BB/9 and 1.19 WHIP. His 4.07 ERA isn’t pretty, but it has been inflated by bad breaks with men on base.
The Pittsburgh Pirates opened the season with Juan Nicasio in the starting rotation but moved him to the bullpen in late June after a string of poor outings. The change seems to suit him, as he has pitched much better in the new role, fanning batters at an elite clip (12.3 K/9) while inducing a 57% ground-ball rate. Though the 4.09 ERA (as a reliever) isn’t impressive, it’s largely because of an ill-fated .390 BABIP ripe for regression.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Nate Jones of the Chicago White Sox flashed closer-worthy skills in 2013, but his career was derailed by injuries in 2014. While rehabbing from May 2014 back surgery, he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and required Tommy John surgery. As a result, he was limited to a total of 19 innings from 2014-15. The 30-year-old has rebounded with a splendid 2.50 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 10.1 K/9.
Luke Gregerson of the Houston Astros has a lengthy track record as one of the game’s best relievers, compiling a lifetime 2.82 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 526 innings. The right-hander is not your typical late-inning reliever, in that his fastball registers a mere 89 mph on the radar gun, but he has worked around that by using a devastating slider a whopping 44% of the time in 2016. That pitch has carried him to great success against right-handed batters, including a 39.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio (K/BB) and .126 opponents batting average.
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The Astros bullpen also is home to the gifted arm of Will Harris, who has followed his breakout 2015 with another strong effort, posting a 2.64 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. The 31-year-old has demonstrated better control while fanning a few more batters, which has resulted in an enhanced 5.1 K/BB rate. After losing the closer’s job to Ken Giles this month, Harris should be readily available on the waiver wire.
Brad Brach has served as a vital cog in the Baltimore Orioles bullpen. He has improved his walk rate to 2.7 BB/9 while continuing to rack up strikeouts (10.1 K/9). The 30-year-old’s knack for stranding baserunners probably won’t continue at the pace he has enjoyed, but he has developed into a valuable reliever.
The Detroit Tigers relief corps has had its share of struggles in 2016, but Justin Wilson and Shane Greene have performed admirably.
Wilson, 28, has shown substantial growth in 2016, but it has been obscured by misfortune on balls put in play (.346 BABIP) and stranding baserunners. He has managed to cut his walk rate roughly in half, down to 1.7 BB/9, while maintaining his ability to miss bats (10.7 K/9) and increasing his ground-ball rate from 44% to 56%. Over the past calendar year, Wilson has emerged as one of the most talented left-handed relievers in the game.
Greene, who has spent most of career as a starting pitcher, was moved to the bullpen in June. The results weren’t there as a starter, but the 27-year-old has a 1.09 WHIP, 9.6 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9 in 32 innings as a reliever. As with many pitchers who transition from starting to relieving, Greene’s velocity has risen, going from 93 mph to 95 mph. With a little better luck stranding baserunners, he could thrive down the stretch.
Elite AL starters let fantasy owners down this season
It was tough to know what to expect from Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jason Grilli in 2016, as he was trying to come back from a career-threatening ruptured Achilles tendon suffered last July. The 39-year-old began the year slowly but has gotten better as the season has progressed, leaving him with a 2.96 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 12.4 K/9 in 46 innings.
Though he has issued more walks this season, he seems to have reined that in of late, as evidenced by a 1.9 BB/9 in 19 innings since June.