We are coming down the home stretch in our quest for a fantasy baseball championship and every stat counts.
Every lineup decision you make, every free agent you acquire has massive implications on your final results.
You have plenty of category-specific options on offense, and you know exactly what you are getting when fishing for starting pitchers, but if saves are your need, this is one of the toughest times of the season.
The closer position continues to be the most volatile in both reality and fantasy.
Of the 30 MLB teams, just 12 have the same closer in September that they had in April, and five of those have had multiple players move in and out of the job.
Injuries are always an issue and, in some cases, like Clay Holmes and the Yankees, guys have lost the job, earned it back then lost it again.
Chasing saves has, once again, been a FAAB-draining exercise in futility.
Still, finding saves this late in the game can be a huge difference-maker for some.
In a standard rotisserie format, the middle of the category is usually clogged up, and just a small handful of extra saves can offer a multi-point boost in the standings.
Unfortunately, at this stage of the game, finding someone who is dominating the saves work in their respective bullpen is difficult, as your waiver wire has been routinely picked clean.
But there are a few names working in closer-by-committee situations who warrant some consideration.
Strange as it seems, the Tigers have been one of the hottest teams in baseball recently.
They are 16-7 over their past 23 games, and over their past 10, left-hander Tyler Holton has joined incumbent closer Jason Foley in the mix for saves, and Holton has three in that span.
Foley has three as well, so it is obvious that manager A.J. Hinch is going to continue playing the matchups.
Maybe he opts to ride the hot hand should one falter, but for now, Holton is an intriguing, and likely available, option.
The Rockies might not be a good team, but every save counts, so if Tyler Kinley is available, he has three saves over the past two weeks.
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His ERA and WHIP might hit you between the eyes at times, but if you can afford the ratio movement, the saves should help.
If not, then you need to keep digging.
Every league is different, and your waiver wire could have some real unheralded gems who can help.
Check out names like Edwin Uceta, Porter Hodge and Lucas Erceg. Maybe Calvin Faucher or Matt Strahm is available.
Keep a vigilant eye on who is pulling in saves, and don’t be afraid to create your own revolving door.
It is go-time for your championship, and every stat counts.
Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy baseball news and advice.
