In a shocking move Tuesday, the Cubs release closer Hector Neris. Neris led the team with 17 saves with a 3.89 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 44 innings. This comes after Neris blew a save Friday by allowing 3 earned runs to the Blue Jays. In a corresponding move, the Cubs promoted their 18th overall prospect Jack Neely who was acquired at the trade deadline from the Yankees.
Cubs Closer Going Forward
While it is yet to be seen who manager Craig Council will utilize most in the remaining save opportunities for the north siders, Porter Hodge got the call for the save opportunity on Tuesday 8-20-24. Hodge now has two saves on the season with a 2.08 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP with 36 Ks in 30.1 innings pitched.
There is speculation however that reliever Jorge Lopez could factor into the higher-leverage situations as well, as he has 3 saves already this season with a 2.44 ERA a 1.25 WHIP, and 42 Ks over 48 innings pitched between two teams. As of right now, all signs point to a closer-by-committee situation for the Cubs until someone steps up and takes the closer role.
Both relievers have been called upon to record a save since Neris’s blown save on Friday and each guy converted the save with little issue. If you’re in a deeper league and need to pick up one of these players to replace the saves you’re losing with Neris, Lopez is far more experienced as he has been in the league for 9 seasons and Hodge is in his rookie year.
If I’m choosing between the two I’m taking the more experienced Lopez over the rookie Hodge, but I would feel better about picking one of them up if you’re in a saves + holds league as opposed to the traditional saves only. Odds are though there are better options on waivers until there’s more clarity in Chicago.
Available Options at Closer
Lucas Ercig, Kanas City Royals
Ercig was traded to the Royals from the A’s at the trade deadline and seems to be the go-to option for save opportunities since he was acquired. Ercig has only allowed three hits over 7.2 scoreless innings since coming to Kansas City with an 8-0 strikeout to walk ratio.
Ercig should hold onto the closer role for the Royals unless his performance goes downhill drastically as former Royals closer James McArthur has a 5.01 ERA on the season. Ercig is only rostered in 10 percent of ESPN leagues so he should be widely available.
Seranthony Dominguez, Baltimore Orioles
Dominguez has taken over the closer role in Baltimore recently due to Craig Kimbrel’s struggles this season. Dominguez is only rostered in 5.6 percent of ESPN leagues, making him a viable option to replace the saves you lose from Neris. Dominguez had posted five scoreless outings in a row this month but has given up a run in each of his last two outings.
Dominguez should remain in the closing role unless his struggles continue in which case he would likely be replaced by Baltimore’s primary setup man Yennier Cano.
Edwin Uceta, Tampa Bay Rays
Uceta has been promoted to the closer role since Rays reliever Pete Fairbanks went on the IL Monday. Uceta currently has a 10.1 scoreless inning streak and should remain Ray’s go-to guy for save situations if he continues this dominance. Uceta emerged as the setup man after the all-star break and has a 0.90 ERA with a 0.57 WHIP and 36 Ks over 30 innings this season.
Uceta is only rostered in 1.9 percent of leagues so he should be available for you to pick up but is last on my list of pickups as Tampa Bay is known to use more of a closer-by-committee approach rather than rely on one guy.
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