Closer to the End of the Season (Fantasy Baseball Tips)
With only a few beach days left, the fantasy baseball season is coming to an end. In my Yahoo! league, we are halfway through the second-to-last week. My team is almost set for its third-straight playoff appearance.
Throughout the season, fantasy owners need to pay close attention to the saves category. Closers are not static, and the saves category is usually won by the owners who pay the most attention. I never take a closer in the early rounds of the draft because they never usually pan out.
Most likely, all the top closers like Bobby Jenks (White Sox) and Francisco Rodríguez (Angels) are already taken by your league (and hopefully you have a few). Luckily, there is still hope if you have an empty slot. Here is where you should look:
- Cleveland Indians: Since trading Bob Wickman, the Indians have yet to settle on a replacement. Rotowire says that Tom Mastny has the job, so pick him up if you have room. Since, Brian Sikorski has blown two save opportunities and Jason Davis hasn’t gotten a chance in a week, I think that’s a safe move.
- Oakland Athletics: As of August 20th, Huston Street is on the 15-day DL. Justin Duchscherer is filling in during his absence.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Tom Gordon has been on the DL since August 13th and is set for a return by hump day next week. In the meantime, the team appears to be using a committee (Arthur Rhodes, Ryan Madson and Geoff Geary) with no set replacement. Pick up Gordon if he was dropped by a team in your league.
- Cincinnati Reds: All of the save opportunities were going to Eddie Guardado, until he developed left elbow tendinitis (15-day DL as of August 20th). It seems that David Weathers is back in the closer role, but things don’t look too certain in Cincy. Manager Jerry Naron said the Reds will close with “whoever is alive down there in the ninth inning.”
- Milwaukee Brewers: It’s been a bumpy road for Derrick Turnbow. Luckily, Fransisco Cordero has stepped forward and has been getting all the save opportunities since August 1st. Somebody probably already snagged him, but I figured I would mention it.
- Houston Astros: Life hasn’t been easy for Brad Lidge either. He recently lost his stronghold on the closer spot, and the Astros are now using a closer by committee. Dan Wheeler will get the majority of save opportunties.
That’s all! Good luck.
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