Each and every week, we will break down the pitching forecast for the upcoming week. Here, you’ll find relief pitchers with no off days (more opportunities), good matchups, and bad matchups. In addition, you will find some relievers who will start. Keep those guys in mind when your closers have bad matchups, or if you do not have any closers rostered.
Without further ado, this week’s Relief Pitcher Positional Forecast:
Closers with No Off-Days
Joe Nathan, Detroit Tigers
Jason Grilli, Pittsburgh Pirates
Rafael Soriano, Washington Nationals
Huston Street, San Diego Padres
Jonathan Papelbon, Philadephia Phillies
Koji Uehara, Boston Red Sox
Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers
Greg Holland, Kansas City Royals
Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds
Addison Reed, Arizona Diamondbacks
Trevor Rosenthal, St. Louis Cardinals
Tommy Hunter, Baltimore Orioles
Oakland Athletics
New York Mets
Houston Astros
Chicago White Sox
Good Matchups
[Player, Team, (Opponent)]
Joe Nathan, Detroit Tigers (Chicago White Sox and Twins)
Rafael Soriano, Washington Nationals (Padres)
Fernando Rodney, Seattle Mariners (Astros)
Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers (Phillies)
Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves (Marlins)
Addison Reed, Arizona Diamondbacks (Chicago Cubs and Phillies)
Bad Matchups
[Player, Team, (Opponent)]
Sergio Romo, San Francisco Giants (Rockies)
Jonathan Papelbon, Philadelphia Phillies (Dodgers and Diamondbacks)
Jason Grilli, Pittsburgh Pirates (Reds and Cardinals)
Relief Pitcher Probable Starts
[Player, Team, (Opponent, Date)]
Hector Santiago, Los Angeles Angels (Yankees, April 26th)
Drew Smyly, Detroit Tigers (White Sox, April 23rd)
Garrett Richards, Los Angeles Angels (Nationals, April 21st, and Yankees, April 27th)
Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres (Brewers, April 23rd)
Bruce Chen, Kansas City Royals (Indians, April 24th)
Joe Kelly, St. Louis Cardinals (Disabled List)
Roberto Hernandez, Philadelphia Phillies (Diamondbacks, April 25th)
Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros (Mariners, April 21st and Athletics, April 26th)
Alex Wood, Atlanta Braves (Marlins, April 22nd)
Tanner Scheppers, Texas Rangers (Disabled List)
Carlos Villanueva, Chicago Cubs (Brewers, April 25th)
Jesse Chavez, Oakland Athletics (Astros, April 25th)
Brett Anderson, Colorado Rockies (Disabled List)
Josh Collmenter, Arizona Diamondbacks (Phillies, April 25th)
Tanner Roark, Washington Nationals (Angels, April 21st and Padres, April 26th)
Lucas Harrell, Houston Astros (DNP)
Blake Beavan, Seattle Mariners (DNP)
Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland Indians (Giants, April 25th)
Robbie Ross, Texas Rangers (Mariners, April 26th)
Alfredo Simon, Cincinnati Reds (Pirates, April 23rd)
Franklin Morales, Colorado Rockies (Giants, April 22nd)
Cesar Ramos, Tampa Bay Rays (White Sox, April 26th)
Dustin McGowan, Toronto Blue Jays (Orioles, April 23rd)
