The often-injured Hunter Harvey landed on the injured list in mid-March, which puts him on the sidelines until early June.
Tanner Scott looks to be the early favorite for saves for the Orioles despite questionable command. Scott allowed one run over 4.1 innings with three walks and six strikeouts.
In 2020, Baltimore gave the early save chances to Cole Sulser before he started to fade. He’s allowed two runs over five innings this spring with seven strikeouts.
The Orioles picked up Tyler Wells in this year’s Rule 5 draft after missing 2019 with TJ surgery and sitting out last season. Over three seasons in the minors, mainly as a starter, he posted a 2.82 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 288 strikeouts over 255.2 innings. Wells gave up one run over six innings in relief this spring with six strikeouts. He’s worked hard to get in better shape, giving him a chance to surprise in Baltimore’s bullpen.
READ MORE: National League Closer Reports
Boston Red Sox
The expected coin flip for saves in Boston earlier in the year is between Matt Barnes and newly acquired Adam Ottavino. Both players will walk many batters with a combined 34 saves on their major league resume.
Barnes has a rising HR/9 rate (1.6), and his command continues to move in the wrong direction. At age 30, his window to be a viable ninth-inning arm is closing. This spring, he allowed no runs over 4.1 innings with two walks and eight strikeouts.
Ottavino could be the lesser of two evils while being tougher to hit. I wouldn’t fight for either arm as a dark horse in the bullpen should emerge at some point in 2021. At age 35, I would temper my expectations.
Garrett Whitlock threw the ball well in the minors in 2018 and 2019 (2.28 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 182 strikeouts over 197 innings. His arm has stood out in spring training (1.00 ERA over nine innings with no walks and 12 strikeouts). He is also a Rule 5 addition in 2021. Whitlock had TJ surgery in 2019. His fastball sits in the mid-90s with sinking action while also offering a slider of value.
Tanner Houck pitched his way back to the minors after walking 10 batters over his 6.1 innings in March. He may play a role in Boston’s bullpen this season. His high 90s fastball has closing upside.
Aroldis Chapman is the lockdown closer for the Yankees when he is healthy. He’s never had a difference-maker season in saves, and innings tend to fall below 60. Chapman added a split-finger fastball this year, which may be an impact pitch if he can get batters to swing at it when he is ahead in the count.
New York lost Zack Britton for a good portion of the season after suffering a left elbow injury early in March. He is expected to miss half of the season.
Tampa Bay Rays
Nick Anderson was the Rays' top reliever in 2020, but he did miss some time with a forearm issue. His arm projects well, but Tampa likes to rotate their relievers late in games. Anderson allowed one run over three innings in March with two strikeouts.
The first contender to unseat Anderson for saves is Diego Castillo. He can pitch late in games, but Castillo tends to walk too many batters with risk in home runs allowed at times. He's yet to give up a run in spring training over four innings.
Pete Fairbanks has a big fastball with some wildness. He has more bad than good on his career resume in the minors and majors.
Tampa may turn to Shane McClanahan late in games after looking electric in spring training. He brings a triple-digit fastball with success in March (no runs over three innings with no walks and seven strikeouts). The Rays stated they still view him as a starter, which is why they already shipped him back to the minors.
Toronto Blue Jays
The news on Kirby Yates’ right arm didn’t sound promising, which is a significant blow to the Blue Jays’ bullpen. He stated that he expected to miss multiple weeks. Before the injury, Yates tossed two shutout innings with two strikeouts.
Jordan Romano looks poised to take over the ninth inning after pitching well in spring training (one run over five innings with 12 strikeouts). He is a former starter whose arm made a jump in value after a move to the bullpen.
