Fantasy Baseball Category Impact: Saves

Welcome back, FA Nation! Get ready for this week’s edition of Category Impact! If you’re new to the site or just forget how this article works since last week, let me offer a quick refresher.

Category Impact will offer up anywhere from four to six players that can help you out in a certain category, whether it is stolen bases, home runs, or strikeouts. Some weeks, there will be an added focus on a specific categories, while others will be just players that you will want to pick up, but there will be in-depth analysis detailing exactly what category, or categories, a certain player will be of added benefit.

This week’s featured category is…. SAVES!

Jose Leclerc , TEX RP – Leclerc has been dealing of late and is in line for saves with Keone Kela being dealt to the Steel City. He threw in three straight days from July 28-July 30, allowing just two hits and striking out three batters. Again, Kela is out of town and while Claudio remains, Leclerc is the guy that should be named as the guy to close out ball games in Arlington.

The 24-year-old right-hander has 56 strikeouts in just 39.2 innings this season, good for a 12.71 K/9. It would be nice to see him generate some more groundballs, but it’s hard to complain with the dominance he’s asserted this season. He’s getting the opposition to chase out of the zone nearly one-third of the time and his 15.5 swing strike percentage (per Fangraphs) is wonderful. Again, let me quote myself from the paragraphs above: “Again, Kela is out of town and while Claudio remains, Leclerc is the guy that should be named as the guy to close out ball games in Arlington.”

Will Smith , SF RP – Smith is absolutely dealing of late and the saves are starting to pile up for the southpaw. Since a rough outing against the Athletics about a week and a half ago, Smith has logged 4.1 shutout innings, allowing just two hits in the process with an astounding 8:1 K/BB ratio. The version of Smith we are seeing is far and away the best of his career. His ERA is microscopic and his current K/9 would be the second best mark of his career. The Giants, even as they fall farther and farther behind other teams in their division, would be smart to let Smith to finish out the year as the team’s ninth-inning man. If the strikeouts stay high and the walks stay at a career low (1.83 BB/9), he could easily be a top-10 option the rest of the way.

Even if the save opportunities aren’t as frequent as one would like, Smith’s ability to rack up the strikeouts will keep him fantasy relevant the rest of the way. Scoop him up before it’s too late, because his ownership is steadily rising.

Kirby Yates , SD RP – Yates is in line to be a top-8 or top-10 closer the rest of the way. Yates sports an 11.27 K/9 on the season and with Brad Hand out of the mix, it’s all up to Yates to close out ball games for the San Diego Padres. Yates was good last season, but he’s sacrificed a few strikeouts for some more groundballs in 2018, which has been excellent for his statistical output this season. Yates has adopted the closer mentality this season as he’s been much better in higher leverage situations, compared to lower level situations.  See the following (per Fangraphs)

There’s no doubting that San Diego isn’t one of the more potent teams offensively, but even bad teams can get its closer a decent number of save opportunities. Yates’ ownership is steadily increasing by the day, so if you want him on your squad, it’s imperative you act quickly. Don’t miss out.

Mychal Givens , BAL RP – Givens has just one career save, but given the trades of Zach Britton (Yankees) and Brad Brach (Braves), Givens is the man that will be responsible for closing out ball games for the Orioles. He struggled a few nights ago against the Yankees and has struggled of late, but he’s proven to be a dominant reliever at various points of his young career. In 2016, across 74.2 innings, Givens posted a 3.13 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and a whopping 96 punch outs. In 2017, Givens followed up an excellent 2016 with an even better 2017, to the tune of a 2.75 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and an 88:25 K/BB in 78.2 innings. He’s certainly taken a step back this season, but he’s still striking out over a batter an inning and he’s done an excellent job in keeping the ball in the ballpark. Givens has been knocked around a bit more than year’s past, but with runners in scoring position, he’s allowing a slash line of just .207/.355/.276.

Anytime someone is getting saves, they must be owned, but just remember what Givens has been able to accomplish in year’s past. He could end up being a top-12 guy at his position the rest of way, even with the scrap heap that is left in Baltimore.

Wily Peralta , KC RP – Peralta has six saves in his entire career, spanning nearly 720 innings of work out on the bump. All six of those saves have come this season, in fact, all six of these saves have come within the last 35 days! Peralta was a pedestrian starter but things seem to be clicking for him in the ninth inning for the near-hapless Kansas City Royals. A big reason for his success is being able to limit the damage by the opposition when runners reach base. Take a look at his splits by game situation:

Peralta is far from the most dominant closer in the game, but let’s not ignore his recent success. This could be a flash in the pan, but production is production, and we are certainly getting that from the veteran right-hander.