2019 Fantasy Baseball Rankings (AL)

Treinen was simply phenomenal for Oakland last season, and he enters 2019 neck-and-neck with Edwin Diaz for the title of fantasy's number one closer.

Aroldis Chapman was his typical dominant self last season and enters 2019 as the clear closer in the Bronx. This shapes up as arguably the best bullpen in baseball, however, so the Yankees will have no shortage of potential replacements should Chapman struggle or get hurt.

The Indians let Andrew Miller and Cody Allen walk in free agency, clearing the path for Brad Hand to serve as the team's clear-cut closer this season. At age 28, Hand has put together three straight seasons with an ERA under 3.00 and a WHIP of 1.11 or better, and his already impressive K/9 rate grew to 13.25 last season. Hand didn't experience any drop-off after moving from San Diego to Cleveland, and with little in the way of competition, he is fully capable of being one of the very best closers in fantasy baseball this year.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch has affirmed that Osuna will again serve as the team's closer, a role he inherited last year upon returning from a 75-game suspension and getting traded from the Blue Jays. Osuna was a dominant closer from 2015-2017, but his K/9 rate alarmingly fell to 7.58 between Toronto and Houston last year. The good news is that he maintained an above-average 14.7 percent swinging-strike rate, indicating that he should return to striking out over a batter per inning while maintaining elite control. Save opportunities should also be plentiful on the World Series-contending Astros, so it makes sense for Osuna to get drafted as one of the first 10, if not five, closers off the board.

Leclerc emerged from relative obscurity in 2018 to become a dominant closer, producing a 1.56 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and 13.27 K/9. That performance clearly impressed manager Chris Woodward, who has left no doubt that Leclerc will be the Rangers' closer again in 2019. He could be one of the better fantasy closers in the league even if Texas doesn't win a ton of games.

The Blue Jays took on Ken Giles in the Osuna trade last year. Although Giles' 2018 stats don't look pretty at first glance, his underlying numbers - including a terrific 53-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio - weren't too bad. Giles actually makes for a decent bounce-back candidate and potential draft-day value if your leaguemates are scared off by last year's 4.65 ERA.

The Rays appear to be in no hurry to name a closer, and they may not assign the job to a single pitcher. But the early frontrunner should be Jose Alvarado, who earned eight handshakes last year while posting helpful ratios.

Although Baltimore may only win 50 games, Givens is one of the closers who has no competition for saves on his team. Even 25 save opportunities is better than what someone like Josh Hader or Zach Britton will get. Pair that with another 80 strikeouts and respectable ratios and we are looking at a top 30 fantasy reliever.

Although you may expect Herrera to be the closer battle in Chicago, some reports are suggesting that Colome has the upper-hand in the competition. This will be one to watch in spring training to see how it plays out. If Colome gets the job, he would be a top 25 closer.

A former elite prospect, Glasnow couldn't quite get his act together in Pittsburgh, but things started looking up when he was moved to the Rays. He struggled mightily with the long ball during his brief stint in Tampa, but the much more important thing is that he nearly cut his walk rate in half. Glasnow can miss bats with the best of them, so if he can stop giving away so many free passes we could suddenly be looking at a pitcher who can provide solid ratios to go along with the elite strikeout numbers. He's an exciting breakout candidate.

Assuming Craig Kimbrel does not return, Barnes is reportedly the favorite to serve as Boston's closer. Barnes is coming off an impressive 2018 campaign in which his 14.01 K/9 was fourth-highest among all pitchers who threw at least 60 innings. His struggles with command (3.85 career BB/9) should keep his ERA north of 3.00 and WHIP above 1.20, but he can still be a pretty significant mixed-league asset if he's earning most of the team's saves.

Betances is merely a closer in waiting, but besides Josh Hader, the best in the game. He is a sure bet for 90+ Ks, with upside ranging to nearly 130. Likewise, his ratios will be terrific each year and you can even rely on a handful of wins and saves too.

Plenty are suggesting that Blake Parker was brought in to be the closer for Minnesota, but

McHugh was terrific in relief for the Astros last season and is now slated for a return to the starting rotation. This is a pitcher capable of helping in ERA, WHIP, and strikeouts, and the win potential is certainly there as well. He's a nice sleeper.

Peacock has been very effective as both a starter and reliever for the Astros over the last two seasons and looks likely to open the season in Houston's rotation this year. While it's possible he's eventually pushed out by Josh James or Forrest Whitley, Peacock can be nearly as valuable as a reliever, particularly in innings-capped roto leagues. He's well worth drafting.

Herrera was presumably signed to close for the White Sox, but they also added Alex Colome who has closing experience. This one is too close to call for now so you may want to add both in a late round just to make sure you get some saves.

Assuming the Red Sox keep their word and don't re-sign Kimbrel, Braiser will be battling it out with Matt Barnes for one of the most coveted closer jobs in the league. If he wins it, you can count on stellar ratios to go along with all the save opportunities.

Ottavino might be stuck behind Chapman, Betances, Britton and Chad Green for the closer job, but he is a force of nature who could strike out 100 batters this season to go with sparkling ratios and a handful of wins. Don't hesitate to add him late in drafts to boost you in three categories.

Green wasn't as electric in 2018 as the year before, but he still registered 94 strikeouts with excellent ratios and 8 wins. He isn't the closer, nor does he have a path to saves, but you can certainly make a case for drafting him even in standard sized leagues.

Pressly isn't expected to pick up more than a save or two this season because of Roberto Osuna's presence, but if Osuna were to suffer an injury, Pressly would likely take over the job and be a top 10 closer right away.

 

Britton isn't going to be the closer in New York, nor is he likely the next man up since Dellin Betances is also ahead of him, but Britton is still well worth owning if your league allows you to start four or five relievers. He will help your ratios significantly while adding nearly 80 Ks as usual.

Most depth charts have Shane Greene slotted into the closer role for Detroit but this job is up in the air. Jimenez was an all-star last season, and while he pitched poorly down the stretch, don't sleep on him winning the job this spring.

Boxberger is expected to have the closer job in Kansas City to start the season, but he is among the worst closers in baseball so keep Peralta on speed dial in case he takes over the job.

If you play in a deeper league, Castillo can be a ratio master that racks up plenty of saves, or better yet, if you employ the Marmol Strategy, Castillo qualifies as a starting pitcher so you can plug him on days where you don't have enough starters going.

 

 

 

 

 

May and Parker are seemingly in a batter at the top of Minnesota's depth chart, but Rogers is the type of guy who could find himself in the role at some point, and if it were to happen, he would dominate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The closer job in Chicago seems to be between Herrera and Colome, but don't be shocked if Fry jumps in at some point in the season, as he has the best raw stuff and numbers.