Tag: Sean Doolittle

  • Top 15 Middle Relievers for 2017

    Below is a ranking of our top 15 middle relievers, based on their likelihood to get saves this season — not necessarily their skill level. As an example, Pedro Strop is a very good reliever who’s unlikely to get any save chances, because he’s stuck behind Wade Davis and Hector Rondon. So although Strop is a much better pitcher than a number of…

  • 2017 AL West Preview

    February 27, 2017 Houston Astros – Ken Giles will certainly hope for a better start to 2017 than he had last year. After losing the closer’s job in spring training, Giles yielded 10 earned runs over 10 innings in April. By mid-August, Giles reclaimed the closer job and never looked back, gathering 14 saves over the final…

  • All the Bay Area closers stink

    September 20, 2016 Oakland A’s – Ryan Madson continued his free fall last night, getting touched up for two runs on three hits and taking the loss. He has struggled mightily in September, going 1-3 with a 7.71 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. While this is terrible news for Madson owners during fantasy playoffs, it…

  • Sean Doolittle ever more likely to return to closing in Oakland

    September 17, 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates — Tony Watson converted his 13th save in the tenth inning of Friday’s game, but the real stories happened in front of him. Swingman Juan Nicasio set a club record with his 28th straight relief appearance with at least one strikeout, and Antonio Bastardo picked up the win with a clean ninth inning. Neftali Feliz hasn’t…

  • Wade Davis returns from the DL

    September 3, 2016 Kansas City Royals — Wade Davis was activated from the DL on Friday, and Ned Yost immediately threw him into the fire. After the Royals took a one-run lead, Davis got a save opportunity in his first action since July. He promptly hit the first batter he faced, and after a double and…