With so many bullpens remaining clouded due to slow starts or poor performance, Cleveland’s blueprint went according to plan closing out the Orioles on Monday night. Andrew Miller worked two-thirds of an inning giving up a hit and striking out one. Then Cody Allen entered to strikeout the side en route to his fourth save of the season.

Oddest save of the night goes to Chris Beck of the White Sox. He worked 2.2 innings allowing six hits and two earned runs with a strikeout. It’s the first save of his career and it feels dirty.

Not to be overlooked, Cincinnati dusted off Raisel Iglesias using him to retire the last four batters with a strikeout for his third save of the year. Although the Reds prefer to use Iglesias in a more traditional closer role in one inning appearances, two of his three saves required him to record four outs. It’s a shaky bridge getting to him, so perhaps the team realizes a non-traditional role like last year will be necessary.

Keynan Middleton worked for the third straight day notching his sixth save. He did allow a lead-off single and a walk, but recovered with two strikeouts and a walk-off umpire review resulting in a caught stealing. Middleton’s been solid as the Angels closer. It will be interesting to see who gets the save chance Tuesday with Blake Wood landing on the disabled list.

No more speculation on who backs up Kenley Jansen. The Dodgers closer received Monday night off with his velocity starting to bounce back. Enter Josh Fields who worked a scoreless ninth giving up a hit but no other damage for his first save this season. Another arm to track in this bullpen, Tony Cingrani. Cingrani’s pitched 8.1 innings so far with 15 strikeouts, no walks, a 64 percent ground ball rate and a minuscule 0.48 WHIP.

Bounce back performance by Hunter Strickland who recorded his fourth save giving up a walk with two strikeouts against the Nationals. There’s reports about Mark Melancon starting a throwing program, however, until he starts a rehab assignment, there’s no timetable for his return.

Quick Hits: It’s only April and the Texas bullpen’s in shambles. Over the last four games, the Rangers relievers have allowed 18 runs in 14 innings, yielded a home run in each of these contests, 25 hits, nine walks, a blown save and three losses. Keep tabs on Blake Treinen who’s been used heavily to start the season. According to the television crew last night, Treinen was not available for the save. Fortunately, the Rangers bullpen made it possible for him to rest. Marlins reliever Tayron Guerrero lit up the radar gun in Los Angeles. He’s turned in five straight scoreless outings with 13 strikeouts, five walks and two hits allowed in 5.1 innings of work. Speaking of Marlins, Kyle Barraclough took the loss giving up two hits and the go ahead run to the Dodgers in the eighth inning.

Brandon Morrow is now a perfect 4 for 4 in save chances, but his most recent save was far from perfect. In Sunday’s series finale against the Rockies, Morrow allowed a pair of singles to Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story and then loaded the bases with a two-out walk to David Dahl. With Ian Desmond at the plate, Morrow uncorked a wild pitch that initially appeared to allow the Rockies to slice the Cubs’ two-run lead in half. Arenado had been called safe on a close play at the plate, but he was called out on review.
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Jeurys Familia has been absolutely brilliant to begin the 2018 season. Coming into Saturday’s games he had allowed 0 ER on 5 H with a 13/5 K:BB ratio over 11.1 IP. But as in life, all good things must come to an end at some point. Familia was summoned in the eighth inning with two outs and a man on third. The Mets had already allowed two runs in the inning (Ramos/Blevins made appearances), hence the decision to not mess around and bring Familia in. He would make quick work of Preston Tucker – striking him out on four pitches. He came back in for the ninth inning with the Mets continuing to cling to a 3-2 lead. He walked the lead-off man – Dansby Swanson – on four pitches, and fell behind Johan Camargo as well.

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Life is full of guarantees… death, taxes, and Fernando Rodney finding himself on the closer hot seat. Its only April baseball and yet here we are again. Rodney fialed close it down Friday night with just a one-run lead. He would cough this one up in a fairly strange sequence of events.

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With managers relying more on relievers and less on starters last season, and with the emergence of fantasy-relevant non-closers like Chris Devenski, Chad Green and Archie Bradley, fantasy owners have been taking more interest in relievers who aren’t in line to get steady saves. Andrew Miller has long been on the fantasy radar, and he is currently owned in more than 60 percent of ESPN and CBS leagues. However, Bradley and Adam Ottavino are about as popular as some lower-end closers, as both are owned in more than one-third of the leagues on ESPN and CBS. Devenski, Green and Dellin Betances aren’t far behind in popularity.

On Thursday, the season reached its three-week mark, so we are not quite one-eighth through the schedule. In 2017, only five relievers exceeded 80 innings, but so far this season, there are already 43 relievers who have pitched at least 10 innings. Not everyone in this group will keep up this pace, and it’s not hard to imagine that some who stay on this pace will wear down and may even need some DL time.
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All 13 Tampa Bay Rays fans in attendance last night almost got a little too much excitement with their “closer” once again. Romo and Colome were both warming in the bullpen, up by three runs, as the Rangers threatened with two on, two out in the bottom of the eighth.

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• Something might be brewing in Milwaukee as Josh Hader recorded another six out save for his second of the year. Since his last two save opportunities came via the two inning variety, it’s still unlikely that he’s used as a traditional closer so consistent saves while Corey Knebel is on the shelf may be unlikely. But, things are still s trending in the right direction, especially if Matt Albers and Jacob Barnes are less than stellar. Regardless of save opportunties, Hader is becoming one of the most valuable relievers and on the season Hader has 25 strikeouts in 11.2 innings supporting a 61% K% and a 0.21 SIERA. Damn.

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Heading into Monday’s schedule, the Braves were the only team in the majors to not have recorded a save, but Arodys Vizcaino put an end to that shutout. In limiting the Phillies to a Nick Williams single in the top of the ninth inning, Vizcaino protected a 2-1 lead and gave himself his first save of 2018.

Much of Vizcaino’s save drought can be tied to the Braves having played in several lopsided contests early in the season. When he was finally presented with a save opportunity last Wednesday against the Nationals, he let a one-run lead evaporate by giving up a solo home run to Matt Adams. Even if Vizcaino had some save chances earlier on, he may not have fared well. He walked six batters over his first four appearances, which covered 3.2 innings, and he threw a paltry 52.4 percent of his pitches for strikes.
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Six of Sunday’s 15 scheduled games were postponed, robbing us of a potential opportunity to see if Arodys Vizcaino could get on track for the Braves or whether Joakim Soria or Nate Jones gets the next save opportunity for the White Sox.

Despite the limited schedule, we got yet another chapter in the Brewers’ bullpen saga. Craig Counsell brought Matt Albers into a 2-2 tie with the Mets in the bottom of the ninth inning, and he got within one out of delivering his team into extra innings. Instead of prolonging the game, Albers allowed Wilmer Flores‘ walk-off solo homer. Despite having pitched only once over the previous four days, Jacob Barnes was nowhere to be found in the seventh and eighth innings, as Counsell chose to set Albers up with Jeremy Jeffress and Dan Jennings. Barnes has apparently pitched his way out of the Brewers’ closer mix.
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So many bullpen situations and so little time. Obviously, in regards to Ken Giles, Houston clearly has a problem. After micromanaging him a one out save in Minnesota earlier this week, which he almost blew when Byron Buxton launched a long fly ball foul, Giles did record his first save. However, he’s among three Astros relievers to do so this season. Brad Peacock also owns one, but his ability to work multiple innings could preclude him from ascending to a full time role as the closer. Friday night, with Chris Devenski already warming up during a then tied game, he entered the ninth with a one run lead and the first two Texas hitters being left-handed. This will prove to be important going forward due to Devenski’s ability to mitigate left-handed bats evidenced by their .110/.178/.236 slash line against him last season. Devenski did allow a single to rookie Ronald Guzman and hit Robinson Chirinos with a pitch (no penalty to his WHIP) then bounced back to strikeout the last two batters he faced.

Suffice it to say, Houston’s bullpen going forward will be fluid. There’s no closer and A.J. Hinch said as much on the radio musing Giles, “May not be the full-time closer”. Recent usage reinforces this sentiment. When there’s a lower leverage save chance, Giles could get a chance to gain confidence, shaky as it appears right now. If a situation requires more than three outs, it should be Peacock who’s clearly in the mix for saves in future contests. Last, if a team features left-handed hitters in the ninth inning, Chris Devenski should be in line for the save chance. If Hinch proved anything last postseason, he’s not afraid to make changes to high leverage late innings to insure a win. Houston does not have a problem with its bullpen, but fantasy owners need to consider it fluid.

Usually contracts indicate who a team will turn to in the late innings. To be fair to Greg Holland, he entered a save chance too soon upon his arrival. Still rounding into form, Holland’s pitched 1.1 innings this year with five walks and zero strikeouts. His last appearance did not yield a run, but this could take a little time. Friday night, St. Louis turned to Bud Norris for the save and he responded by striking out the side. Of course, it did take five batters for this to happen since he also allowed a hit and a walk, but it’s his second save and Cardinals beat writer Derrick Goold suggests it may trend this way going forward, which you can read by clicking here. Fantasy owners need to adjust and it’s probably too late for Holland owners to handcuff with Norris, but in the short term it will be Bud closing for the Cardinals, which seems somewhat fitting. Do not forget Norris recorded a 2.23 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 36.1 innings during last years first half.

There could be some rocky rides ahead, but Keynan Middleton notched his third save of the year in Kansas City. He did yield a lead-off single to Jon Jay to open the inning but erased him inducing a double play on the next pitch. However, Middleton walked Whit Merrifield with Mike Moustakas on deck. Inexplicably, Merrifield attempted to steal second with the Angels catcher Rene Rivera throwing him out. Game over, save Middleton. As a former first round pick by the Angels, pedigree’s there for Middleton who features a fastball which can hit 98 MPH and with confidence in his arsenal, he could hold the role. However, trusting Angels relievers can be difficult, especially due to the whimsy of manager Mike Scioscia. Through 8.2 innings this year, MIddleton’s struck out seven, walked four with a 1.04 ERA and impressive ERA- of 27 and a 1.15 WHIP. Like any young “closer”, growing pains will happen, but recent usage indicates it’s his job to lose right now.

Although clarity in the Brewers bullpen seems far from certain, Jacob Barnes worked the seventh and eighth innings on Friday night in a game Milwaukee trailed by two when he entered. Barnes did pitch well allowing a hit with two strikeouts in his two innings of work, but it also signals he would not get a save chance on Saturday along with he may be out of the mix for saves in the near term. This should help out those with Matt Albers on the roster while those with Josh Hader continue to benefit from his strikeout upside. On the other side of the diamond, Jeurys Familia locked down his seventh save in the 12th game of the year for the Mets. Familia’s dealing 11 strikeouts in nine innings this year without giving up an earned run and a 0.78 WHIP. So far, so good.

As for Alex Colome, he looks lost. In spite of increased swinging strike and chase rates with lower contact allowed, he’s sporting a 10.80 ERA and a 3.20 WHIP after taking his second loss of the season Friday night. Colome yielded a double to Scott Kingery and a go-ahead single by Jorge Alfaro amidst striking out the side. It seems like this encapsulates his year to this point. Owners may need to bench him if possible until he can work this out. Whether it’s mechanical or mental, something’s afoot with Colome. He’s allowed 12 hits and six earned runs in five innings with the same amount of walks as strikeouts (four). Perhaps it will be Sergio Romo who’s been working in the ninth inning or Matt Andriese as a wild card, but the Rays fell to 2 – 7 in one run games this season, a change may be needed, even if temporary.

Quick Hits: Two Braves relievers worked to preserve a shutout against the Cubs. A.J. Minter seems to be rounding into form. He allowed a double but struck out two in the eighth with Arodys Vizcaino bouncing back to pitch a clean ninth. Wade Davis racked up his sixth save with two strikeouts. Teammate Adam Ottavino worked two-thirds of an inning, striking out both hitters he faced raising his total to 18 strikeouts against 27 total batters this year. Another tough appearance by Dellin Betances who allowed five hits and three earned run. Aroldis Chapman did record his second save by striking out the side. Phillies closer Hector Neris walked one, but registered his second save. Rough outing for Archie Bradley allowing three hits, two walks and two earned run, but Brad Boxberger closed out his fifth save giving up a hit with a strikeout. Edwin Diaz finally issued a free pass, but also struck out one en route to his fifth save as well. Kazuhisa Makita yielded two hits in the ninth forcing Brad Hand into action. Hand responded by retiring the last two hitters for his fifth save. Roberto Osuna and Shane Greene both worked clean ninth innings in non-save appearances. Last, Kenley Jansen yielded a hit in the ninth, but it’s his fourth straight outing without giving up a run with five strikeouts over them.