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4 Non-Closers to Stash for Saves (Fantasy Baseball)

4 Non-Closers to Stash for Saves (Fantasy Baseball)

We’re fast approaching the All-Star Break which means that it’s time to start stashing some non-closers who may find themselves in the closer role at some point this season. One of the better strategies in fantasy baseball when it comes to finding saves is to stash dominant set-up men who will thrive if the closer ahead of them falters or gets hurt. I prefer this strategy to trading for already established closers. If you happened to stash Mets closer Addison Reed, Tigers closer Justin Wilson, or presumed new Pirates closer Felipe Rivero then this strategy has already paid off for you. However if you’re still desperate for saves, give these four non-closers a look before someone else in your league does.

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Arodys Vizcaino (ATL)

Current Braves closer Jim Johnson has been just fine with 12 saves on the season, but he’s a definite candidate to be traded this summer. Enter set-up man Arodys Vizcaino who not only is the better pitcher but has some experience closing out games for the Braves with 19 combined saves in 2015 and 2016. Vizcaino got off to a bit of a rocky start this season, but he has only let up one earned run over his last 16 innings pitched and has his ERA down to 2.16. Vizcaino is a rather simple man featuring only a fastball in the upper 90s, a hard-biting breaking ball, and a seldom-used change. He definitely has the stuff to be the closer with a K% of nearly 30% this season and has long been considered the Braves closer of the future.

Yahoo: 14% owned
ESPN: 8% owned

Archie Bradley (ARI)

Two words: Fernando Rodney.

More than two words: Archie Bradley throws fire and the only thing stopping him from being the Diamondbacks closer is Fernando Rodney.

In case you haven’t noticed, the Diamondbacks are actually pretty good this year and if they plan on being serious contenders then they are best served not having Rodney close baseball games for them. If it seems like Rodney has been around forever it’s because he has been. Now 40 years old, Rodney has registered a save for seven different teams in his career and has 16 of them for the Diamondbacks this year. That sounds good and all, but Rodney can’t throw strikes, has an ERA over five, and gives off the general feeling that he’s going to blow it each and every time out.

Archie Bradley doesn’t do any of that and is the common case of a failed starter who has transitioned into a dominant reliever a la Wade Davis. Bradley has a 1.30 ERA this season, an incredible K-BB% of 27.6%, and a fastball in the upper 90s. Rodney has been pitching better of late so no change is imminent, but a couple of classic Rodney meltdowns may signal a shift at closer.

Yahoo: 20% owned
ESPN: 10% owned

Tommy Kahnle (CWS)

There’s a good chance that White Sox closer David Robertson is going to be on the move to a contender which means somebody is going to have to step up as the new closer for the Pale Hose. Nate Jones was considered to be the successor to Robertson at the beginning of the season, but he has elbow problems and is without a timetable for a return. Fortunately, a new flamethrower has emerged for the Sox in the form of Tommy Kahnle. He will be the guy to own in the event Robertson is shipped off.

LaTroy Hawkins isn’t a big fan of Tommy Kahnle for some reason, but you should be if you want a sneaky source for saves in the second half of the season. Shockingly, leaving Coors Field has done Kahnle well and he’s been one of the best relievers in baseball this season. Ready for this one? Kahnle has struck out 46.6% of the batters he’s faced in 23.2 innings this season. 46.6%!  He’s also boasting an impressive 6.8% BB rate and 1.52 ERA. He hasn’t been getting all that lucky either with a BABIP of .282 which is actually above his career average of .269. Kahnle has been throwing his fastball a little over 75% of the time this season, but that’s something you can do when you consistently reach back to hit 98 and 99 MPH. I think LaTroy is just mad that he could never throw that hard.

Yahoo: 11%
ESPN: 7%

Carl Edwards Jr. (CHC)

Cubs closer Wade Davis isn’t going to lose his job unless he unexpectedly implodes (Davis has a 1.22 ERA and is 13-for-13 in save opportunities so don’t bet on him imploding). The Cubs have been extra cautious though with Davis and he did have forearm issues with the Royals in 2016. Those injury concerns may have played a part in the Royals puzzling decision to ship him off to the Cubs straight up for Jorge Soler this off-season. If Davis were to get hurt, Carl (CJ) Edwards Jr. would likely fill in as the closer instead of Hector Rondon and would be an auto pick-up in all leagues. Even with Davis healthy, Edwards Jr. is roster worthy with a 1.07 ERA in 25.1 innings and a fantastic K% of 37.9%. Edwards is more of a lottery ticket then the previous three relievers, but is worth rostering if you are in a deeper league with some roster flexibility.

Yahoo: 15% owned
ESPN: 6% owned


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Joey Korman is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joey, check out his archive and follow him @leaveit2divac.

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