Have you noticed those reliable closers you drafted early on? The ones you selected at a premium to avoid the weekly struggle of scouring the waiver wire for mediocre relief pitchers? It seems like that strategy has taken an unexpected turn this past week.
Of course, this is a bit of an exaggeration. Josh Hader has been performing well for those who picked him, and Mason Miller continues to shine. Meanwhile, Ryan Helsley’s position is secure, and Raisel Iglesias keeps on delivering. However, some premium options are now looking quite concerning.
For instance, Devin Williams and Emmanuel Clase were both temporarily sidelined from their closer roles this weekend due to early-season trouble. Managers from the Yankees and Guardians indicated that these changes are likely short-term, but if you invested in them early, losing a source of saves, even briefly, could be detrimental. You certainly don’t want to drop Clase or Williams.
This week, it’s worth considering adding Cade Smith and Luke Weaver to fill in. Both are exceptional relievers and could rank among the top-10 options if they assume permanent closer roles. While we anticipate that the current role changes are short-term, there’s a chance they could remain impactful contributors moving forward, particularly if they perform better than the players they’re replacing.
Meanwhile, Edwin Diaz is managing a hip injury, though he pitched Saturday with some risk. He didn’t participate in a save opportunity Sunday, which raises concerns. Ryne Stanek faltered for the Mets, making Diaz’s status this week a bit uncertain.
In terms of other bullpen dynamics, the Tigers have temporarily favored Will Vest for saves, while David Bednar may have regained his closer role in Pittsburgh, highlighting how fluid these situations are. If you’re looking to bolster your relief corps, ranking those to target this week could significantly benefit your strategy.
