There are saves among us. Fantasy owners are justifiably obsessed with chasing saves, as the closer position in Major League Baseball has become a total crapshoot with under-qualified relievers slotting in and out of the role from week to week. There are precious few reliable closers, and even they operate under the increasing specter of future injury.
With that in mind, here are some underowned relievers that are either a sleeper source for saves or can help you in myriad other categories.
Sean Doolitte, Oakland A's
The A's closer situation is absolutely disgusting for fantasy owners. They paid Jim Johnson $10 million this offseason, but he lost his grip really early this offseason and gave way to Luke Gregerson. He has handled most of the save duties, but has had hiccups of his own. Through all this, Doolittle has been the best strikeout pitcher of the bunch, with a higher ERA than Gregerson but a lower WHIP.
Doolittle is posting a K/9 of 12.00 right now, which is staggering, and hasn't walked a single batter this season. While Gregerson's doing pretty well, Doolittle's looked like Diet Aroldis Chapman. Even if he gets squeezed for save chances, he'll rack up holds (points leagues) and will give you killer strikeout numbers.
Dellin Betances, New York Yankees
Betances won't be getting any save chances unless current closer David Robertson gets hurt again, but he's proven he has what it takes to be next in line. Shawn Kelley was the eighth-inning guy prior to Betances' emergence, and Adam Warren's been good too, but this "Killer B" is killing it.
In 2014 he has posted a ridiculous 15.53 K/9, looks to have harnessed his control issues, and possesses a lethal reliever's arsenal. He is whipping fastballs at 95 miles per hour, cutters at 94, and then baffling hitters with a knuckle-curve in the low 80s. That's just unfair. The advanced metrics are showing his performance is for real, and when hitters actually are making contact he's inducing ground balls.
Darren O'Day, Baltimore Orioles
O'Day might be getting a little more love in leagues as Tommy Hunter's struggles increase, but realistically he should've been named the closer already. He's sporting an 0.54 ERA right now in 16.2 innings, and the only thing he hasn't done better than Hunter to this point is throw hard.
Unlike the flamethrowers above, O'Day is a sinkerball pitcher who mixes in a tame fastball and a slider, hardly the repertoire of a traditional closer. However, Hunter's 6.36 ERA isn't a respectable number for the position, and unless he turns it around he will be out of the role. That's when having O'Day stashed will make you smile.
Kyle Farnsworth, Houston Astros
This is a guy who was not good enough for the Mets bullpen. Yet somehow, someway, he's wriggled his way to a place where save chances are conceivable. The current closer Chad Qualls has been decent, and isn't in danger right now of losing his job. However, injuries are everywhere this year, and if Qualls gets bit by the bug Farnsworth is...I can't believe I'm saying this...probably next in line for saves.
I can't in good conscience recommend stashing him after what he showed as a Met, but monitor that bullpen from time to time, and if anything happens to Qualls that's where I expect manager Bo Porter to turn.
Drew Storen, Washington Nationals
Rafael Soriano's entrenched as the closer, and Tyler Clippard has better strikeout numbers, but if Soriano goes down Clippard's 5.12 BB/9 will likely mean he gets leapfrogged by Storen for saves.
Storen's K/9 of 9.42 is nothing to sneeze at, his walks are non-existent, and his advanced metrics are great despite a potentially unsustainable strand rate.
Any suggestions on other sleeper RPs? Hit us up @SportsWN
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