Closer Report for Week 10: Ken Giles returning to the closer role in Houston?

Well, we have seen the first closer to lose his job since early in the season, as Astros closer Luke Gregerson blew his fifth save of the season over the weekend. Will Harris earned the next save opportunity, and pitched a 1-2-3 inning for his first save of the season. If you are wondering why Ken Giles didn't get the save opportunity, it is due to the fact that he pitched two innings in their previous game. Last night, manager A.J. Hinch stated that he would go with a closer by committee going forward, so it appears Harris and Giles should get to battle for the closer role over the next week or so. I would grab Giles or Harris if they are still available on your league waiver wire. I am personally rooting for Giles to get the closer role as I own him in an AL only keeper league, and spent a whopping $33 on him in our auction in March. This league is a 4x4 league where closers are higher priced than most of the ace starting pitchers in the league.

Here are a few more updates to the bullpen configuration for several teams this week:

• The Yankees are probably going to trade at least one of their three dominating relievers by the trade deadline, and I think Andrew Miller should bring back the most in return. He can close, but he isn't demanding the ball in the ninth. He is fine with setting up, and is still one of the most dominating relievers in the game. And just about every team that is in the wild card/playoff chase will be interested in dealing for him.
• Should Miller get traded to either the Cubs or the Giants, I bet he could become their closer right away. If the Dodgers trade for him, he would set up for Jansen, and then be their full time closer next season with Jansen a free agent at the end of the season.
• I wrote about Trevor Rosenthal in last week's Closer Report, and since then he has converted two saves, but also got knocked around for 3 runs while walking three on Friday night. That said, while he is striking out more than 14 batters per nine, he is walking over 7 batters per nine as well, and is giving up close to a home run every nine innings. A few more bad outings like Friday night and he could lose his closer role. Should that happen, I see Seung-Hwan Oh as the next in line in St. Louis. He has been one of the better relievers in the game thus far, and is striking out more than 12 batters per nine.
• There are currently eight relievers in the game who have struck out 40 or more batters this season, and two of those relievers are part of a very good back of the bullpen in Miami, former Yankee David Phelps and young pitching prospect Kyle Barraclough. Barraclough is one of two relievers striking out more than 17 batters per nine innings, or two batters every inning. He has struck out 40 batters in 21 innings of work, but he does struggle with his control, as he is walking more than 7 batters per nine. He has future closer written all over him if he can get the walk rate below 3.00 BB/9. Phelps has been dominant in the set up role for closer A.J. Ramos, as he is striking out more than 11 batters per nine and owns a 40-11 K-BB rate thus far. He could be a solid closer option should Ramos lose the role, but he has pitched very well of late.
• The Reds announced over the weekend that starter Raisel Iglesias, currently on the disabled list with a shoulder injury, will move to the bullpen upon his return, whenever that is. The first thing I thought of when I heard this news was that he could take over the closer role from Tony Cingrani if he shows he can pitch effectively out of the bullpen, and I imagine he would. Cingrani is holding down the role currently, but he is far from dominant and has control issues of his own. He is a few blown saves from losing the role, in my opinion.

Closer Rankings for Week 10

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