Kenley Jansen

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says Kenley Jansen will open the season as the team's closer.

Fantasy Impact

"He's earned that opportunity to start off the season as our closer," Roberts said. This isn't huge news as Jansen has been closing for the Dodgers since 2012. However, his effectiveness has waned in recent years and he particularly struggled in the 2020 playoffs. It would take a pretty rough start for LA to turn away from him as the primary closer. Fantasy players should consider him a safe source of saves entering spring training.

Kenley Jansen took the loss and blew the save on Saturday when he surrendered two runs (one earned) on two hits with a walk and a strikeout in the Dodgers 8-7 loss to the Rays in Game 4 of the World Series.

Fantasy Impact

Jansen entered in the bottom of the ninth inning to protect a one-run Dodgers lead. He was able to get out two of the first three batters he faced with Kevin Kiermaier reaching via a single. Jansen then walked Randy Arozarena, who had homered earlier in the game and took Jansen deep on Friday night, before giving up a two-run game-winning single to Brett Phillips. Chris Taylor mishandled the ball in center field, which allowed Arozarena to score. The series is now tied at 2-2 with a crucial Game 5 looming on Sunday evening.

Kenley Jansen worked a drama free ninth inning on Saturday when he allowed no runs on zero hits to secure the save in the Dodgers 3-1 win over the Braves in Game 6 of the NLCS.

Fantasy Impact

Jansen needed just six pitches to pick up his second save of the postseason when he got Austin Riley, Nick Markakis, and Pablo Sandoval to line out. He's 2-for-2 in save opportunities this postseason with a 3.38 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and a 6:1 K/BB ratio over 5 1/3 innings.

David Roberts says that Kenley Jansen is open to pitching before the 9thinning.

Fantasy Impact

Whether that means coming in for a high intensity situation, or completing a two-inning save, Jansen may not operate as a conventional closer this postseason. The Dodgers righty has a career 1.97 ERA across 50.1 playoff innings. While the Dodgers have a plethora of options to go to before the 9th, Jansen is now another one

Kenley Jansen picked up the save on Wednesday when he allowed no runs on no hits with a walk and a strikeout in the ninth inning as the Dodgers held on to beat the Brewers 4-2.

Fantasy Impact

Jansen entered the ninth inning with Los Angeles holding a 4-2 advantage and promptly got the first two batters out via a fly out and ground out. He then walked Jace Peterson before Christian Yelich, representing the tying run, stepped to the plate. Jansen struck him out to end the threat and the game and the Dodgers are now one win away from advancing to the NLDS.