There are not many closers who last the 🦹entire season as their team’s ninth-inning💃 man. They change about as often as a Kardashian changes their profile picture on Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram or Friendster (that’s still a thing, right?).
San Diego’s Fernando Rodney is in no danger of losing his job, and had collected 10 saves in 10 opportunities (including the rare two in one day Wednesday against the Cubs) before Friday night’s action. He hadn’t allowed an earne🃏d run over his first 14 innings, and his 0.929 WHIP was also his lowest mark since his 48-save, All-Star campaign with the Rays in 2012.
The 39-year-old is generating a lot of soft contact, striking out 23 percent of batters and is producing swings-and-misses 20.ﷺ9 percent of the time while throwing 96 mph heat.
The most shocking thing about Rodney is this: He is the closer for the Padres yet is availabℱle in more than 30 percent of Yahoo leagues and about 50 percent at ESPN.
Yes, sooner or later he will falter and give up a run — as his 2.72 FIP (fielding-independent pitching), .206 BABIP (batting average on balls🐬 in play) and 92.9 percent strand rate indicate. This may make him a sell-high candidate in some books, but, for Roto Files, his numbers equal relief. And that is why he should be owned in all formats.
There are many endgame situations worth monitoring as the season goes on — whether a certain closer is struggling, you’re lookingꦓ for the next big closer or you just need help improving your ratios. Here is a look at some endgame situations:
— Aroldis Chapman returned to claim his spot as the Yankees’ closer, but it doesn’t mean you should drop Andrew Miller or Dellin Betances. Miller has a career-low ERA and WHIP, is striking out 47.1 percent of batters and will get the occasional save opportunity. Betances compiled a 1.45 ERA and 266 strikeouts over 174 innings between 2014-15. Together, they will help your ERA and WHIP while giving you 100-plus strikeouts each.
— With Glen Perkins’ rehab moving slower than molasses and Kevin Jepsen having trouble closing games (two saves in five opportunities, 5.40 ERA), Minnesota’s Trevor May should be on your radar. May has a 96 mph fourseam fastball and is striking out a career-high 12.8 per nine innings. He also fares better as a reliever (4-2, 2.73 ERA, 66 strikeouts over 52 2/3 innings) than he ever did as a starter (7-14, 5.61 ERA, 115 strikeouts over 126 2/3 innings).
— There is no way you could have predicted the Phillies would have a winning record and Jeanmar Gomez would lead the league in saves (13) at any point this season. (If you did, there’s an email address below to send lottery numbers.) While Gomez and the Phils overachieve, do yourself a favor and don’t forget about Hector Neris, who has one save and is striking out 34.9 percent of the batters he faces (Gomez is at 17.9 percent).
— Tony Cingrani is the “closer” in Cincinnati, but Roto Files is not sold. First, there are not many save chances with the Reds. Second, he has blown two of his four chances since April 20. Third, he has pitched better in non-save situations (1.23 ERA, 11.0 strikeouts per nine) than in save situations (5.00 ERA, 5.0 strikeouts per nine). It is not a situation to get involved in, which is why he is available in 75 percent or more of leagues.
— Alex Colome (owned in just 50 percent of ESPN leagues and 68 percent at Yahoo) has collected nine saves in nine opportunities while striking out a career-high 34.6 percent of the batters he faces. He also is walking a career-low 5.5 percent and has a career high 22.7 percent swinging-strike rate, but he is merely a placeholder for Brad Boxberger, who may return as early as next week.
— Concerned how the Orioles’ Zach Britton would react after his ankle injury? Don’t be. He’s fine. He 9-for-10 in save opportunities with a 1.88 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings.
— Joe Smith is the man of the hour for the Angels (at least until Huston Street returns) and has recorded two saves in three chances. He is available in more than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues and more than 75 percent at ESPN.
Big hits
Marcell Ozuna, OF, Marlins
Over his previous 17 games before Friday, he raised his average from .206 to .295 by going 24-for-63 (.381) with four homers, 10 RBIs, eight walks, 11 runs and a 1.117 OPS in that ಞspan.
J.A. Happ, SP, Blue Jays
Despite striking out a career-low 5.6 per nine innings, the lef♛ty is 5-0 with a 2.05 ERA. He has not allowed morꦍe than three earned runs in any of his starts.
Brandon Phillips, 2B, Reds
In nine games from May 2-We✅dnesday, the 34-year-old middle infꦡielder went 11-for-35 (.314) with five homers, 10 RBIs, a 1.096 OPS and seven runs scored.
Aaron Nola, SP, Phillies
H𒁃as allowed just four runs over his past four starts, while going 2-0 with 26 strikeouts, a .147 opponent average and just five walks in that span.
Big whiffs
Mark Teixeira, 1B, Yankees
Though April wasn’t all that great for the 36-year-old, hꦚis first nine games in May have been worse. He is hitting .215 with one RBI, 12 strikeouts and a .347 OPS heading into Friday.
Mat Latos, SP, White Sox
Don’t let his record (5-0) or ERA (3.40) fool you. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 7.63 ERA, eigꦐht walks and just six strikeouts over his past🐷 three starts. He has allowed 13 earned runs on 25 hits over his past 15 1/3 innings. Be careful.
Matt Moore, SP, Rays
After going 1-0 with 21 sꦍtrikeouts and a 2.95 ERA over his first three starts, the 26-year-old is 0-3 with a 6.35 ERA and 11 walks over his past four starts.
Kolten Wong, 2B, Cardinals
He has been downright awful through his first 31 games, hitting .213 𓄧with one homer, five RBIs and a .560 OPS. After his first 31 games last year, he was hi🗹tting .336 with four homers, 17 RBIs and .898 OPS.
Quick hits
Jonathan Villar had stole six bases in 14 games since April 29 before Friday, the first day of Dee Gordon’s 80-game suspension. If you’re struggling with steals, he is a 🐈viable option who won’t kill you in other areas.
From April 5-23, Jackie Bradley Jr. was hitting .222 with no homers, four RBIs, 14 strikeouts and 🌌a .5ꦿ86 OPS. In 18 games since, he was 28-for-68 (.412) with six homers, 25 RBIs, a stolen base, 13 runs scored and a 1.290 OPS.
Drew Pomeranz struck out 10 while allowing just three hits over six shutout innings against thꦍe Cubs this week. The oft-injured lefty has been impressive, going 4-3 with a career-low 1.80 ERA and 1.075 WHIP, as well as a career-high 11.5 strikeouts per nine. He should be owned in all formats.
Odd numbers: Over his first 66 appearances with the Twins, Phil Hughes has all⛄owed 52 homers, but has walked ju🔯st 40 batters (he allowed 29 homers last season, but walked just 16).
This date in history: On May 14, 1804, Lewis and Clark began their tri♔p up the Missouri River. How long did it take? Well, they completed their journey in less time than it took for Bartolo Colon to round the bases.
Team name of the week
The Balking Dead
(Submitted by @DavidVLynch)