My level of commitment to fantasy sports depends on the season and my expected level of time. Some years, I’ll play in 10 or more leagues, and in others, I’ll pare down and temper myself and just play in my core keeper leagues.
Such was the case this season…I just committed to my three-keeper leagues. One is AL-only, one is NL-only, and one is a mixed league. When looking at players to check availability and percentage of ownership, I like to look at my AL and NL leagues because they each have 10 teams and are on the same platform.
This week, in looking at relief pitchers who are free agents, there are 33 in my AL-only league and 32 in my NL-only league. Of those there are five pitchers in the AL-only league available who have three saves. Of those, one is head and shoulders above the rest. In the NL-only league, there is a pitcher with five saves. Although he is sitting at an awful 8.10, if the goal is to get saves, you’ll have to bite the bullet.
If you are starving for saves, consider picking them up. Neither of these two will string together 20, but they each stand to get a few for you.
Here they are:
Taylor Saucedo, Seattle Mariners:
In 21 appearances Saucedo is sporting a 2.70 ERA and 1.26 WHIP, with a 2-0 record and 3 saves. Much of this production happened after closer Andres Munoz went on the shelf. Munoz is back off of the IL, which should affect Saucedo’s production. However, in pitching so well, Saucedo has proven to be more than a viable alternative if Munoz can’t go, which will put him in line for the random save. And, he’ll assuredly be pitching in high-leverage spots, which could vulture the random win as well, entering tied or one-run games.
Tyler Kinley, Colorado Rockies:
His ratios are awful. He’s sitting with an 8.10 ERA and 1.80 WHIP. But the Rockies have faith in him, as he’s made 29 appearances. He has struck out 30 batters in 26.2 innings, and he has a solid 3-1 record to go along with 5 saves.