In life, we forget things every day.
The keys when you leave the house. Turning off the stove when you’re done cooking dinner. The next sentence you thought of for your fantasy baseball column …
Just like we forget things in life, fantasy managers forget there are players hidden on the waiver wires who can help their fantasy team — especially closers and relievers. Whether they rack up saves, holds or strikeouts, they all can be valuable to your team.
Carlos Estevez could be the guardian Angel your team has been looking for. (Get it? Because he’s on the Angels. Sorry for the bad dad joke.)
Estevez started strong out of the gate, limiting opponents to a .067 average while picking up three saves over his first five appearances. His next 11 appearances were far more shaky, going 0-3 with four saves in seven chances, a 7.36 ERA, three homers allowed, 13-3 strikeout-walk rate and .340 opponents’ average.
The 31-year-old righty, however, turned things around over 11 appearances heading into Friday. Not only had he allowed just two hits (against 34 batters faced), but he didn’t allow a run or issue a free pass in those 11 innings. He was 1-0 with nine saves, a .059 opponents’ average, .118 OPS and a 14 percent swinging-strike rate.
This is a pitcher whose fastball velocity (96.3 mph) ranks in the 86th percentile, and he owns an expected ERA (2.40) and FIP (2.94) that indicates he has been unlucky.
Despite ranking 11th in the majors in saves (16) and having the sixth-lowest walk rate (1.0 per nine innings) to go along with a 3.00 ERA, 27 percent strikeout rate, .196 opponents’ average, 0.81 WHIP and 12.3 percent swinging-strike rate, Estevez is rostered in just 35 percent of ESPN leagues.
He might not be the flashiest of closers, but he certainly is not putting up numbers that will harm your squad — especially not since May 15, when he has picked up 10 saves in 10 chances while owning a 0.59 ERA, 13-3 strikeout walk rate and a .137 opponents’ average.
A look at some other widely available relievers who could offer assistance now, as well as in the future:
Among qualified relievers from June 1 through Thursday, Milwaukee’s Trevor Megill ranked second in the majors in saves (10) and had the seventh-lowest ERA (0.63). He had a .163 opponents’ average in that span and a 17 percent swinging-strike rate. In 30 appearances this season, he is 18-for-19 in save chances with 10.2 strikeouts per nine and a 0.988 WHIP.
Megill has been undervalued for most of the season and still remains available in about 70 percent of ESPN leagues. Don’t worry about Devin Williams looking like he will make a return after the All-Star break, just focus on the numbers Megill can put up.
One closer destined to be dealt at the deadline is Miami’s Tanner Scott — who remains available in more than 40 percent of ESPN leagues despite going 6-2 with a 0.61 ERA, 34 strikeouts, 17 percent swinging-strike rate, a .144 opponents’ average and 11 saves in 12 chances over his past 29 appearances.
When Scott gets traded, A.J. Puk (16.5 percent) could be next in line for a shot at the ninth-inning gig, and he could prove to be valuable until then. Despite going 0-4 with a 9.22 ERA and .328 opponents’ average in four starts, he is 2-4 with a 2.95 ERA, 0.938 WHIP, one save and .203 opponents’ average in 20 games out of the bullpen. He has allowed one earned run over his past 10 appearances while going 2-1 with three holds, 14 strikeouts (in 12 innings) and a 16 percent swinging-strike rate.
Griffin Jax (14 percent) is not Minnesota’s closer and has just two of his six saves since May 17, but he still provides plenty of fantasy value. He has seven holds and has allowed just two earned runs over his past 20 appearances while maintaining a 0.92 ERA with a 28-3 strikeout-walk rate, .169 opponents’ average and a 20.9 percent strikeout rate.
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Among qualified relievers since May 17, Jax ranked fourth in swinging-strike rate, seventh in strikeout rate (37.3 percent), 15th in WHIP (0.75) and 23rd in walk rate (4 percent). He has seven saves in 10 chances this season, and there is no reason to believe he can’t reach double-digit saves.
You also can see if Tampa Bay’s Pete Fairbanks (56 percent) is available in your league. He is 2-1 with a 1.52 ERA, 21 strikeouts, five walks and .183 opponents’ average while converting 11 of his 12 save attempts in that span. He has 14 saves on the season.
If you’re desperate, you can look to Detroit’s Jason Foley (26.5 percent), who has 13 saves in 15 chances and entered Friday having allowed one earned run over his past nine appearances.
Big hits
Vladimir Gurrero Jr. 1B, Blue Jays
After hitting just five homers in his first 58 games, he has hit eight in 28 games since June 3 and has batted .306 with 24 RBIs and a .937 OPS.
Bailey Ober SP, Twins
Won three of his past four starts with a 1.65 ERA, 35-5 strikeout-walk rate, .194 opponents’ average and an 18 percent swinging-strike rate.
CJ Abrams SS, Nationals
Not only did he steal six bases in 26 games since June 4, but he hit .347 with four homers, 17 RBIs, 21 runs, 14 walks and a 1.035 OPS.
Michael Wacha SP, Royals
Since allowing seven earned runs on May 4, he has not allowed more than two earned runs in his past eight starts. He is 4-2 with a 2.31 ERA, 44 strikeouts and a .189 opponents’ average during that stretch.
Big whiffs
Matt Olson 1B, Braves
Had nine hits in his past 59 at-bats (.153) with 25 strikeouts and a .422 OPS before Friday. Had one extra-base hit in that span — a homer on June 21.
Carlos Rodon SP, Yankees
His last win came on June 10, and he is 0-4 with a 10.89 ERA, seven homers allowed, a 26-8 strikeout-walk rate, a robust .356 opponents’ average and 1.135 OPS.
Marcell Ozuna DH, Braves
Average dipped from .327 on June 15 to .296 before Friday after going 10-for-60 (.167) with one homer, five RBIs, 21 strikeouts and a .563 OPS.
Hunter Harvey RP, Nationals
Allowed 13 earned runs while going 0-3 with a 10.32 ERA, three homers, two blown saves and a .373 opponents’ average over his past 11 ¹/₃ innings.
Check swings
– Jonathan India had at least one hit in 25 of his previous 32 games before Friday — batting .370 with three homers, 18 RBIs, 24 runs, three stolen bases and a 1.045 OPS. He was the third-most added player in ESPN leagues this week, but remains more than 65 percent available.
– Christian Yelich has been on a tear, entering the weekend with at least one hit in 18 of his past 22 games while going 30-for-85 (.353) with three homers, eight RBIs, 17 runs, nine stolen bases and a .962 OPS.
– Jake Irvin (48.7 percent rostered) has allowed more than two earned runs to score just once in his past nine starts while going 5-2 with a 1.79 ERA, 56 strikeouts, a 12 percent swinging-strike rate and .184 opponents’ average.
– Despite having the second-highest walk rate in 14 starts from April 1 to June 15, Luis Gil was 9-1 with a 2.03 ERA, 96 strikeouts. a 12 percent swinging strike rate and .142 opponents’ average. In his last three starts, he’s lasted just 9 2/3 innings and is 0-3 with a 14.90 ERA, 6:9 strikeout-walk rate and .333 opponents’ average.
– Despite stealing seven bases over his past 35 games before Friday, Andres Gimenez saw his average plummet from .276 on May 31 to .245 after going 29-for-141 (.206) with two homers, 13 RBIs, 16 runs and a .535 OPS in that span.
– Taj Bradley (31.9 percent rostered) was striking out 11.7 per nine innings, and was 2-1 with a 1.24 ERA, 40 strikeouts and a .175 opponents’ average over his past five starts before Saturday. He was 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA, 33 strikeouts, .177 opponents’ average and a 13 percent swinging-strike rate over his previous four starts, which included two 11-strikeout efforts. Only major downfall is the fact he is walking 3.3 per nine.
Team name of the week
You Don’t Have to Yelich
