Fantasy Baseball Prep Week: RP, A New Way to Win
- iAmMizz!
- Jul 16, 2020
- 7 min read
Relief pitchers have become more and more important in fantasy baseball as the years have gone by, being that teams use some relievers as often as some catchers start per week. For me, there are three important factors to look at when drafting RP's;
Do they play for a winning team? If their team is never winning, it becomes a lot harder for the pitcher to get holds and saves.
How often are they used in high-leverage situations? You want your RP's to be the managers go-to-guys out of the pen. They don't necessarily have to be the closer (although saves are nice), but they do have to pitch very often to warrant a roster spot, and in as many hold or save situations as possible.
Do they strike batters out? Relievers don't have too many ways to accumulate points, so strikeouts are even more key here than they are with starters. Look at K/9 averages.
Format: Using projected ESPN Fantasy (points) ranks, I'll list each position's notable players and highlight sleepers and busts (in relation to their draft stock). Projected points are based on settings used in a league I have been a part of for 10+ years, and do not always correlate to rank:
Inning Pitched- 3, Strikeout- 2, Quality Start- 5, Win- 10, Save- 10, Hold- 5
(BONUSES) Complete Game- 5, Shutout- 10, No Hitter- 15, Perfect Game- 20
(NEGATIVES) Hit- 1, Earned Run- 2, Walk- 1, Hit By Pitch- 1, Loss- 5, Blown Save- 5
*Eligible but non-primary relief pitchers will be listed at the bottom of this article, and discussed in more detail during their own primary position write-up.
Before reading on, here are the links to the other baseball previews I've published for 2020:
TIER 1- Entrenched as THE GUY
**Key- Position Rank/Overall Rank. Player Name, Team (projected points)
1/61. Josh Hader, Brewers (238): (LIKE) The best reliever in the game right now. Hader has filthy stuff and posted a ridiculous 16.4 strikeouts per nine innings last season. He also pitches multiple innings at a time if needed, showing off his rubber arm early in his career. Could possibly be traded, but he would be a fantasy asset on any team.
2/66. Kirby Yates, Padres (232): (LIKE) Rejuvenating his career in San Diego at age 30, Kirby Yates has come completely out of nowhere to become one of the most reliable closers in the game. His ERA's were 2.14 and 1.19 in 2018 and '19, with 41 saves and 15.0 K/9 last season. Not sure if Yates discovered the fountain of youth, or just perfected his craft, but he's no longer a one-year wonder.
3/79. Roberto Osuna, Astros (228): (LIKE) One of the better closers in the league pitching for one of the better teams in baseball, enough said.
4/89. Liam Hendricks, Athletics (229): (LIKE) More similar to Hader starting his career as a high-leverage reliever, Hendricks has taken over the closer role ever since Blake Treinen starting struggling (then left). He's a flamethrower who will try and overpower most hitters. Like his situation in Oakland, A's usually know how to manage their bullpen effectively.
5/93. Aroldis Chapman, Yankees (184): (DISLIKE) It's not just that Chapman is currently out with a case of covid, he's been tailing off for years and extremely susceptible to the long-ball. With a very deep bullpen around him, the Yankees seem to baby him, limiting his total appearances.
6/96. Kenly Jansen, Dodgers (217): (LIKE) One of the most steady closers over the last five years, maybe the most. It doesn't hurt that Jansen also pitches for the Dodgers (they win a lot).
TIER 2- Should Keep Closer Job
8/104. Taylor Rogers, Twins (198): (SLEEPER) Twins should win a lot of games in 2020, if Rogers can hold onto the closer role you'll definitely want him on your team.
9/106. Edwin Diaz, Mets (182): (UNSURE) If you are willing to take the risk, Edwin Diaz could be the ultimate bounce back candidate in 2020. Dellin Betances and Seth Lugo loom behind him.
11/121. Brad Hand, Indians (205)
12/125. Ken Giles, Blue Jays (211)
13/128. Nick Anderson, Rays (213): (NEITHER) Technically has not been named the closer, Tampa has opted to use a closer by committee strategy. Having said that, the 28-year old MLB rookie had 15.2 K/9 with the Marlins and Rays in 2019.
14/131. Hector Neris, Phillies (186): (BUST) Neris is on what feels like his fifth or sixth opportunity to nail down the closer job in Philadelphia, he'll blow it before the year is done. EDIT- Questionable for Opening Day because of a positive covid case.
15/133. Raisel Iglesias, Reds (189): (SLEEPER) The Reds are an up-and-coming team and Iglesias has quietly pitched to a career ERA of 3.17 in five seasons for Cincy. His strikeouts numbers aren't as prolific as some of the other top RP's, but Iglesias knows how to close out games.
TIER 3- Job Up For Grabs
16/138. Brandon Workman, Red Sox (199)
17/142. Craig Kimbrel, Cubs (135): (BUST) It will take a lot for Kimbrel to lose his job, but I don't want any part of that atrocious 6.53 ERA from last season.
18/147. Archie Bradley, Diamondbacks (168)
21/166. Alex Colome, White Sox (186): (SLEEPER) Not a big strikeout pitcher but Colome is coming off two of his best seasons and is finally pitching for a team with playoff aspirations.
23/175. Jose Leclerc, Rangers (199)
24/177. Hansel Robles, Angels (166): (BUST) I watched Hansel Robles get bombed year after year when he was on the Mets. Now the Angels sign him and magically he's closing games?? Call it spite if you want but I don't buy it.
26/188. Ian Kennedy, Royals (139)
28/200. Joe Jimenez, Tigers (152)
30/207. Sean Doolittle, Nationals (140): (BUST) If he does start the season as the closer, and that's still a pretty big "if," he'll have Daniel Hudson and Will Harris waiting for the first sign of a slip-up to take over the role.
31/214. Giovanny Gallegos, Cardinals (153): (UNSURE) I like Gallegos, but this whole bullpen is an unknown right now with Jordan Hicks out for the year. Will Carlos Martinez close again? Will he start? What about veteran Andrew Miller and Korean Baseball signing Kwang-hyun Kim?
32/227. Keone Kela, Pirates (168): Day-to-Day, possibly covid related.
34/237. Mark Melancon, Braves (169): (BUST) With this projection, ESPN seems to think Will Smith is going to immediately take Melancon's job, and I can't necessarily argue against them.
44/299. Brandon Kintzler, Marlins (107)
48/314. Hunter Harvey, Orioles (78): (UNSURE) Either Harvey or Mychal Givens will close games in Baltimore.
51/332. Wade Davis, Rockies (44): (BUST) Only God and Bud Black know why Wade Davis is still the closer for Colorado, he's been a stick of dynamite waiting to explode most appearances.
53/342. Matt Magil, Mariners (121)
54/353. Tony Watson, Giants (154): (UNSURE) Gabe Kapler likes to use a closer by committee strategy, taking away what little value Watson may have had.
LONGSHOTS- Key Set-Ups/Closer Replacements
(espn rank may actually be higher than some closers above for certain players below)
20/160. Will Smith, Braves (94): (SLEEPER) He isn't the 20th ranked reliever on ESPN for no reason. Smith is lights out and even if Melancon gets more save opportunities, Smith will likely play the more key fantasy role for Atlanta. Asymptomatic for covid, back soon.
25/181. Carlos Martinez, Cardinals (188): (UNSURE) As stated above, St. Louis has yet to decide on whether C-Mart will be starting or pitching out of the bullpen this year.
29/205. Josh James, Astros (168): (SLEEPER) James is a long-man who K's tons of batters. If he can get his ERA down, he's a younger fantasy baseball version of Andrew Miller or Seth Lugo.
35/244. Seth Lugo, Mets (125): (SLEEPER) Still a must-roster in the modern era, Lugo doesn't close but he pitches multiples innings and gets high-point holds almost every time he takes the mound.
37/265. Ryan Pressly, Astros (162)
39/273. Zack Britton, Yankees (134): (SLEEPER) No one knows how long Chapman will be out, Britton is the favorite to start the season as the Yankees closer in the meantime.
40/278. Dustin May, Dodgers (116)
41/287. Scott Oberg, Rockies (150): (WATCH LIST) If Wade Davis keeps up the bad work, Oberg is the likeliest candidate to replace him.
42/289. Daniel Hudson, Nationals (94): (WATCH LIST) Hudson closed games for the Nationals during their World Series run, but word is that Doolittle will step back into the role. Keep your eye on things in Washington, Will Harris is also in the mix.
46/307. Dellin Betances, Mets (140): (WATCH LIST) Edwin Diaz will get his chance at redemption, but Dellin Betances will be the first man up if he falters.
49/323. Drew Pomeranz, Padres (66): (SLEEPER) I like Pomeranz as a possible Seth Lugo/Josh James type in 2020... SP eligibility.
50/325. Emilio Pagan, Padres (122)
52/339. Diego Castillo, Rays (114) [SP eligible]
56/358. Mychal Givens, Orioles (104): (WATCH LIST) Still competing for the Orioles' closer role.
58/377. Corey Knebel, Brewers (110): (SLEEPER) Supposedly healthy, could reclaim the closer role if they want to use Hader in a more lucrative high-leverage way.
59/405. Blake Treinen, Dodgers (108)
60/407. Will Harris, Nationals (141)
61/414. Trevor May, Twins (106)
63/432. Matt Barnes, Red Sox (143)
64/435. Andrew Miller, Cardinals (54)
65/436. James Karinchak, Indians (110): (WATCH LIST) Not sure how he'll be used in Cleveland yet, but Karinchak has a flamethrower arm that should quickly make headlines.
67/445. Adam Ottavino, Yankees (120)
78/502. Yoshihisa Hirano, Mariners (141)
OPT-OUTS
Jordan Hicks, Cardinals- Injury/covid.
RP Eligible, but not considered relief pitchers by trade
10/110. Carlos Carrasco, Indians (234): SP/RP
19/158. Julio Urias, Dodgers (174): SP/RP
22/172. Kenta Maeda, Twins (202): SP/RP
33/234. Ryan Yarbrough, Rays (162): SP/RP
36/262. Yonny Chirinos, Rays (156): SP/RP
38/268. Ross Stripling, Dodgers (191): SP/RP
43/293. Kevin Gausman, Giants (142): SP/RP
45/306. Nathan Eovaldi, Red Sox (137): SP/RP
47/312. Adrian Houser, Brewers (136): SP/RP
62/417. Brad Peacock, Astros (102): SP/RP
Last year with my winning fantasy baseball team, I did it mostly on the backs of a brutish offense and a relief pitcher heavy staff that pitched early and often. My starters were mostly terrible, and often ripped on by other managers in the league, but in the end I took the crown. I'm not saying you cannot win with good starting pitching, you can win using any strategy so long as you execute that strategy well. My point is that people often sleep on the power of relief pitching in fantasy, especially the long-relievers that pitch multiple innings and get holds rather than saves. These players have value, a lot of it, and the right ones will supply a new way to win in 2020.
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