March 30, 2023
Miami Marlins — Skip Schumaker has tabbed a closer committee of A.J. Puk, Dylan Floro, and Tanner Scott to start the season, with Matt Barnes and his lower K rate relegated to the middle innings. We’ll move Floro to the top of the committee if only because he’s the only righty of the three, and has by far the best career numbers against righthanded batters.
Updated hierarchy: *Floro | Puk | Scott.
* = closer-by-committee
Arizona Diamondbacks — All-Star lefty Joe Mantiply (shoulder fatigue) will join Mark Melancon on the injured list to start the season. Torey Lovullo is promising a “fluid” approach to the ninth, but 33-year-old rookie Scott McGough, owner of 69 saves over the last two seasons for the Yakult Swallows of the Japanese league, looks like the top option. Lefty Andrew Chafin, Miguel Castro, and Kevin Ginkel will also be in the mix, with rookie Carlos Vargas a long-term option.
Updated hierarchy: *McGough | Chafin | Castro.
* = closer-by-committee
Chicago White Sox — Good news here, as Liam Hendriks’s fight against cancer is going so well that the team has elected to place him on the 15-day IL instead of the 60-day IL, auguring a potential return as early as June. Garret Crochet (Tommy John surgery) could also rejoin the team as early as May.
Hierarchy remains: *Graveman | Kelly | Bummer.
* = closer-by-committee
Chicago Cubs — Brandon Hughes, the Cubs’ only lefty reliever, is expected to start the season on the IL due to knee inflammation. Chicago’s bullpen is not full of great late-inning options. Brad Boxberger and Michael Fulmer are still battling to close, and we still give the edge to Boxberger after Fulmer was rocked for five runs in the ninth over the weekend. Adbert Alzolay leads the rest of the pack for a spot in the seventh.
Updated hierarchy: *Boxberger | Fulmer | Alzolay.
* = closer-by-committee
San Diego Padres — Robert Suarez (arm stiffness) will join Drew Pomeranz on the injured list to start the year, leaving the seventh inning to the likes of Steven Wilson, Nabil Crismatt, and lefty Tim Hill.
Updated hierarchy: Hader | Garcia | Wilson.
St. Louis Cardinals — Genesis Cabrera will start the season in the minors, leaving Jordan Hicks and his 104.6 mph fastball as the Cardinals’ best option for the seventh inning.
Updated hierarchy: Helsley | Gallegos | Hicks.
Baltimore Orioles — Mychal Givens left a simulated game on Sunday with pain in his left knee and is expected to start the season on the injured list. Bryan Baker haunted the hierarchy last year in his rookie season and should slide right in again.
Updated hierarchy: Bautista | Perez | Baker.
Pittsburgh Pirates — Yerry de los Santos has been optioned to AAA Indianapolis, returning Duane Underwood Jr. to the Pirate hierarchy.
Updated hierarchy: Bednar | Crowe | Underwood.
