Bullpen Report: July 27, 2016

• Guess who got the save for that Nats today? Jonathan Papelbon? Nope. Shawn Kelley? Nope. If you’ve made it down the line to Blake Treinen, you’d be right. It was actually the 28-year-old’s first “SV” of his career, although it’s a nice reward for a guy whose peripherals have been about as steady as they could be out of the pen the last three years. What does this mean for Natstown as a whole? Admittedly, Papelbon was probably getting the night off after blowing his second consecutive save on Tuesday. That said, Dusty Baker noted that a change might be in the offing, especially with Papelbon’s 4.00+ ERA and xFIP and SIERA and… Shawn Kelley could also be an option here, as he actually has the best rates in this pen (39% K%!) and already has some 9th inning outings in 2016. He might have been passed on because he warmed up on Tuesday. I’ll leave the incumbent red right now and the pecking order as it’s been but all three guys should be owned in leagues where saves are scarce.

• All good things must come to an end. Jeurys Familia’s streak of 52 consecutive was snapped tonight, sending the Mets to a crushing loss. The Mets’ closer hasn’t been quite as good as he was last year (K% down a couple percent, BB% up 3%), but is obviously performing well enough to hold down the fort (and elite ninth inning status in fantasy circles). However, after the game, Terry Collins said Familia will get the day off tomorrow, likely lining Addison Reed up for a scab save opportunity should one arise. Keep that in mind you folks who are allowed to make daily moves.

• Ryan Madson notched save #22 but, as has been the case lately, it wasn’t easy. The righty’s velocity seems fine, but the whiff numbers have oscillated month-to-month so far in 2016, diving to a season low over the last 30 days. Oddly, his 13% SwStr% portends a much higher K% than his 19% implying that something has to give. I’m not totally willing to jump ship — he’s not that different of a pitcher than he was last year stuff-wise — but his leash seems to be pretty short. I’d keep John Axford and Ryan Dull on “fantasy speed dial” (that’s not a thing, but it should be).

• Quick hits: Aroldis Chapman made his Cubs debut (albeit in a blowout after an Addison Russell granny). Brooks Baseball tells me that he threw 13 fastballs (out of 15 pitches) and none were slower than 101 mph. Justin Wilson notched a save with Francisco Rodriguez unavailable. A 1-2-3 inning against Xander Bogaerts, David Ortiz, and Jackie Bradley, Jr. is nothing to sneeze at and he reaffirmed himself as second-in-line in Motown. In that game, Brad Ziegler took the loss after allowing a solo shot to Miguel Cabrera in the ninth. Admittedly a ball that Mookie Betts usually catches, but the worse news for Ziegler owners is that Craig Kimbrel could be activated as early as next week.

Closer Grid:

[Green light, yellow light, red light: the colors represent the volatility of the bullpen order.]