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Closer Report for Week 11: Will Harris and Carlos Estevez jump in rankings

Ray ranks his top 30 closers for the coming week, and there has been a change in the closer role in Colorado.

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

We have some movement in the Closer Rankings for Week 11, as Will Harris now has a firm grip on the closer role in Houston, and Ken Giles owners, me included, are beginning to wonder if his time to close will ever come. I am considering dropping him in my AL only keeper league as he has not pitched well of late and isn't sniffing any high leverage late inning situations for the time being.

More Closer Thoughts

  • Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen blew a big save in San Francisco on Saturday night, blowing a one run lead in the 10th inning after first baseman Adrian Gonzalez homered to give the Dodgers the lead. Jansen allowed 2 runs on 4 hits for his third blown save of the season. He has allowed six baserunners in his last two appearances, so I wonder who closes should the Dodgers have a lead in the Sunday Night Baseball game of the week. I assume it would be Pedro Baez, but he has had his share of troubles with the long ball this season. Jansen's strikeout rate has dropped
  • Rockies closer Jake McGee blew a save a few nights ago vs the Padres, giving up 4 runs on 4 hits, including a home run to blow his third save off the season. There were questions about McGee moving to Coors Field when he was traded to Colorado, and he has struggled before landing on the disabled list with a knee injury. His strikeout rate is down drastically, and his walks and home runs are up.
  • Taking McGee's spot as the Rockies closer is Carlos Estevez, who nailed down his first save of the season on Saturday night. Estevez throws hard, as his average fastball is in the 97-98 mph range, and he can get it up to triple digits. With the big heater comes some control issues, as he is walking more than four batters per game, with a 26.2% strikeout rate. Should Estevez struggle in the role, veteran Jason Motte is the next in line to close. Estevez is a must add at the moment.
  • I moved Giants closer Santiago Casilla down in my rankings, as he has struggled of late giving up runs in three of his last five appearances, including giving up the game winning home run to Justin Turner on Friday night. Camilla has already given up four home runs this season, after giving up just six in 2015. His strikeout and ground ball rates are up and his walk rate is down, but hitters are squaring him up more than in the past. That said, he is not in any danger of losing the closer role at the moment.
  • The Twins made a change in the back of the bullpen this week, as Brandon Kintzler and Fernando Abad will share the closer role after Kevin Jepsen lost the job earlier in the week. Jepsen was not your typical closer, as he isn't a big strikeout guy.

Closer Rankings for Week 11

Rank

Team

Name

Second Option

Third Option

Sleeper

1

Dodgers

Kenley Jansen

Pedro Baez

Joe Blanton

2

Red Sox

Craig Kimbrel

Koji Uehara

Junichi Tazawa

3

Yankees

Aroldis Chapman

Andrew Miller

Dellin Betances

4

Orioles

Zach Britton

Mychal Givens

Brad Brach

Darren O'Day (DL)

5

Royals

Wade Davis

Kelvin Herrera

Joakim Soria

6

White Sox

David Robertson

Nate Jones

Zach Duke

7

Pirates

Mark Melancon

Tony Watson

Neftali Feliz

8

Mets

Jeurys Familia

Addison Reed

Hansel Robles

9

Marlins

A.J. Ramos

David Phelps

Kyle Barraclough

10

Cubs

Hector Rondon

Pedro Strop

Justin Grimm

11

Brewers

Jeremy Jeffress

Will Smith

Tyler Thornburg

12

Phillies

Jeanmar Gomez

Hector Neris

David Hernandez

Andrew Bailey

13

Cardinals

Trevor Rosenthal

Seung-Hwan Oh

Kevin Siegrist

14

Padres

Fernando Rodney

Ryan Buchter

15

Indians

Cody Allen

Bryan Shaw

Zach McAllister

16

Giants

Santiago Casilla

Hunter Strickland

Josh Osich

Sergio Romo

17

Athletics

Ryan Madson

Sean Doolittle

John Axford

18

Blue Jays

Roberto Osuna

Jason Grilli

Joe Biagini

Drew Storen

19

Rays

Alex Colome

Enny Romero

Erasmo Ramirez

Brad Boxberger (DL)

20

Nationals

Jonathan Papelbon

Shawn Kelley

Blake Treinen

21

Tigers

Francisco Rodriguez

Mark Lowe

Justin Wilson

22

Astros

Will Harris

Luke Gregerson

Ken Giles

Michael Feliz

23

Rangers

Sam Dyson

Jake Diekman

Matt Bush

Shawn Tolleson

24

Angels

Huston Street

Fernando Salas

Joe Smith (DL)

25

Diamondbacks

Brad Ziegler

Daniel Hudson

Tyler Clippard

26

Rockies

Carlos Estevez

Jason Motte

Jake McGee (DL)

Miguel Castro (AAA)

27

Braves

Arodys Vizcaino

Jim Johnson

Chris Withrow

28

Mariners

Steve Cishek

Joaquin Benoit

Nick Vincent

Joel Peralta

29

Twins

Brandon Kintzler

Fernando Abad

Ryan Presley

Glen Perkins (DL)

30

Reds

Tony Cingrani

Ross Ohlendorf

Blake Wood

Raisel Iglesias (DL)

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