Brad Hand , who has been out for the last 10 days with a tired arm, was scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday. He could be back closing games as soon as Thursday, though I wouldn’t be shocked if he needs at least one more bullpen session before he returns for Cleveland. The Indians are just half a game behind Tampa Bay for the second Wild Card spot, so they probably won’t run Hand out there if they don’t think he’s close to 100 percent. Oliver Pérez , who is approximately 100 years old, blew the save on Saturday but picked up the save on Sunday. Righty Adam Cimber got his first career save last Tuesday, and he got the hold on Saturday. You’d have to be pretty desperate to add Perez or Cimber, as Terry Francona will likely continue to mix and match until Hand returns. If you’ve had Brad Hand this long, you should probably just hold on, though it’s tough in September when guys don’t go on the IL and can return any time.
It looks like Archie Bradley is available to pitch after missing the last three days with back spasms, though we won’t know for sure until Arizona gets another save chance. Kevin Ginkel got the save Monday, and while I think he’s going to walk too many batters long term to be effective, he would probably get the next opportunity if Bradley is unavailable.
It’s impossible to convey how horrible the charges against Felipe Vázquez are, so I’m not even going to try. For our purposes, his presence on the restricted list opens up save opportunities in Pittsburgh. Keone Kela and Richard Rodríguez are tied for the Pirates lead with three holds in September, and while Kela will probably get the first crack at saves, they could both be involved, along with Michael Feliz and the immortal Francisco Liriano . Kela hasn’t allowed an earned run over his last six innings, with three hits, eight strikeouts and a walk in that span. Michael Feliz is the youngest of the closing options, and it is possible they’ll want to get a look at him as the possible closer of the future, assuming Felipe Vázquez is in line for a lengthy suspension at the very least.
Anthony Bass appears to have the closing gig in Seattle locked down, for whatever that is worth. Bass hasn’t had a save chance in the last week, and I’d probably take the under on 2.5 saves the rest of the way. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that he probably won’t hurt you too much.
José Leclerc has converted all four save chances in September with a 1.29 ERA and nine strikeouts in seven innings, and I am begging you not to take the bait when fantasy analysts start talking him up during Spring Training. He has five walks in those seven innings, to bring him to 5.29 BB/9 on the season. The saddest part is that’s still better than his 5.70 career BB/9.
Jairo Diaz blew the save at home Wednesday against the Mets, but it’s hard to imagine him losing the closing job the rest of the way. Wade Davis has one more year left on his three-year, $52 Million deal, plus a vesting option for 2021. On the one hand, the Rockies probably don’t want Davis to finish 30 games next season and have the option vest. On the other hand, are they really going to pay him $17 million to not be the closer? The problem for Jairo Diaz for 2020 is even if Wade Davis doesn’t close, Scott Oberg is probably ahead of Diaz for save opportunities.
Alex Colomé will be more of the more interesting closers for fantasy next season. Colome has 27 saves, but his 7.76 K/9 is his lowest since 2015 and his 3.57 BB/9 is his highest since 2014. He’s gotten by thanks to the lowest BABIP allowed of his career. Colome’s ERA is almost always lower than his FIP, but a 2.64 ERA and 4.08 FIP is pretty crazy, even for him. Colome almost always falls too far in drafts, and next year will probably be no exception, but it will be impossible to feel good about playing him in 2020.
It’s obviously a minuscule sample size, but José Ureña has a 9.00 ERA as a reliever. Miami has no reason to take him out of the role this season, and if anything, this probably eliminates any chance they try to use Urena as a closer in 2020. That being said, Urena and his 6.08 career K/9 has very little fantasy value as a starter anyway.