Closer In Waiting Power Rankings: May 26, 2017: Rivero Assumes Top Spot & More
by Eric Stashin (aka The Rotoprofessor)
Are you someone constantly on the lookout for the next potential closer? That’s what we are trying to pinpoint here, with our Top 5 Closer In Waiting Power Rankings. These rankings look at the pitchers who appear capable of taking over their team’s respective closing duties (though in some cases, will need some help to get there). Keep in mind, if a pitcher is currently part of a committee they will not be included in these rankings despite not currently “holding” the job outright.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at how things stand:
|
Rank
|
Player
|
Team
|
Current Closer
|
Note
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Felipe Rivero (2) | Pittsburgh Pirates | Tony Watson | Watson has converted 10 of 12 saves, but that doesn’t mean he’s been very good. He’s coming off an absolute implosion, his second in his past four outings, as he allowed 2 ER on 3 H and 1 BB over 0.2 IP. With a 1.62 WHIP he’s been pitching into and out of trouble (25 H & 8 BB over 20.1 IP) and it’s now starting to catch up with him. Rivero, meanwhile, has been dominant with a 0.76 ERA and 0.80 WHIP, as he’s posted 25 K vs. 4 BB on the season. A change is coming, it’s just a matter of when. |
| 2. | Shawn Kelley (NR) | Washington Nationals | Koda Glover | Glover has officially been named the closer, at least for now, and he does deserve it with the way he’s pitched (2.57 ERA, 1.00 WHIP). Of course he’s still a pitcher with limited MLB experience and it remains to be seen if he can handle the pressures of the role. While a trade still seems most likely, seeing Kelley returned to the role is also a possibility. |
| 3. | Alex Wilson (NR) | Detroit Tigers | Justin Wilson | Justin Wilson has suddenly found home run troubles, giving up long balls in two of his past three appearances. With Francisco Rodriguez also continuing to have some issues, Alex Wilson could become a realistic option for consistent saves. He’s actually picked up two already, and owns an impressive 1.40 ERA and 0.93 WHIP on the season, he’s just lacked the strikeout stuff we generally look for (11 K over 19.1 IP). Know the limitations, but as we’ve seen with others it doesn’t mean he can’t perform. |
| 4. | Kyle Barraclough (3) | Miami Marlins | A.J. Ramos | The Marlins always appear to be looking to replace Ramos, and while his recent struggles have come in non-save situations they give the team an excuse to revisit the thought (2.0 IP, 5 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K). He owns a 5.40 ERA and 1.60 WHIP on the season, so a change would be justified. Barraclough has looked like a closer in waiting at times, though his control is a question (17 BB over 20.1 IP). If he can correct that for an extended stretch, there’s a good chance he gets an opportunity |
| 5. | Joakim Soria (5) | Kansas City Royals | Kelvin Herrera | It’s hard to imagine Herrera being removed from the role, though with the way he’s pitching we can’t rule it out any more. Over his past four outings he’s allowed 4 ER on 10 H and 1 BB over 4.0 IP, though he only blew one save over this stretch. Still it’s worth monitoring, especially with his name being included in trade rumors. For his part Soria has appeared to turn back the clock (1.83 ERA) and should be able to seamlessly step into the role if called upon. |
Graduated:
- Brad Hand – San Diego Padres (1)
Dropped Off Rankings:
- Darren O’Day – Baltimore Orioles (4) – Brad Brach has seemingly found his footing, and that means O’Day is going to stick in a setup role
Committees Not Currently Included:
- None
Others We’re Monitoring:
- Archie Bradley – Arizona Diamondbacks
- Mychael Givens – Baltimore Orioles
- Will Harris – Houston Astros
- Tommy Kahnle – Chicago White Sox
- Ryan Madson – Oakland A’s
- Trevor Rosenthal – St. Louis Cardinals
- Drew Storen – Cincinnati Reds
- Hunter Strickland – San Francisco Giants
- Arodys Vizcaino – Atlanta Braves
Injured Setup Men To Monitor:
- Jake Barrett – Arizona Diamondbacks
- Carter Capps – San Diego Padres
- Sean Doolittle – Oakland A’s
Make sure to check out all of our updated rankings:
|
Position
|
Posted
|
|---|---|
| Catcher | April 25 |
| First Base | April 26 |
| Second Base | May 1 |
| Third Base | May 4 |
| Shortstop | May 8 |
| Outfield | – |
| Starting Pitcher | – |
| Relief Pitcher | – |
Source: http://rotoprofessor.com/baseball/?p=33159
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