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 all relievers who will start a game this week. 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
Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers
Huston Street, San Diego Padres
LaTroy Hawkins, Colorado Rockies
Sergio Romo, San Francisco Giants
John Axford, Cleveland Indians
Jonathan Papelbon, Philadelphia Phillies
Fernando Rodney, Seattle Mariners
Joakim Soria, Texas Rangers
Greg Holland, Kansas City Royals
Steve Cishek, Miami Marlins
Glen Perkins, Minnesota Twins
Joe Nathan, Detroit Tigers
Aaron Loup, Toronto Blue Jays
Matt Lindstrom, Chicago White Sox
Hector Rondon, Chicago Cubs
Good Matchups
[Player, Team, (Opponent)]
Jonathan Papelbon, Philadelphia Phillies (Blue Jays and Mets)
Steve Cishek, Miami Marlins (Mets and Padres)
Joe Nathan, Detroit Tigers (Astros and Twins)
Matt Lindstrom, Chicago White Sox (Cubs and Diamondbacks)
Greg Holland, Kansas City Royals (Padres and Mariners)
Bad Matchups
[Player, Team, (Opponent)]
LaTroy Hawkins, Colorado Rockies (Rangers and Reds)
Addison Reed, Arizona Diamondbacks (Brewers and White Sox)
Glen Perkins, Minnesota Twins (Indians and Tigers)
David Robertson, New York Yankees (Angels and Brewers)
Houston Astros’ closers (Tigers and Orioles)
Relief Pitcher Probable Starts
[Player, Team, (Opponent, Date)]
Hector Santiago, Los Angeles Angels (Yankees, May 7)
Drew Smyly, Detroit Tigers (Astros, May 8)
Garrett Richards, Los Angeles Angels (Blue Jays, May 9)
Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres (Marlins, May 9)
Bruce Chen, Kansas City Royals (Disabled List)
Samuel Deduno, Minnesota Twins (Indians, May 6 and Tigers, May 11)
Joe Kelly, St. Louis Cardinals (Disabled List)
Roberto Hernandez, Philadelphia Phillies (Mets, May 9)
Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros (No projected starts yet)
Alex Wood, Atlanta Braves (Cubs, May 10)
Tanner Scheppers, Texas Rangers (Disabled List)
David Phelps, New York Yankees (Angels, May 6 and Brewers, May 11)
Carlos Villanueva, Chicago Cubs (No projected starts yet)
Jesse Chavez, Oakland Athletics (Mariners, May 6)
Brett Anderson, Colorado Rockies (Disabled List)
Brandon Maurer, Seattle Mariners (Royals, May 10)
Josh Collmenter, Arizona Diamondbacks (Brewers, May 6)
Tanner Roark, Washington Nationals (Athletics, May 9)
Lucas Harrell, Houston Astros (No projected starts yet)
Blake Beavan, Seattle Mariners (No projected starts yet)
Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland Indians (No projected starts yet)
Robbie Ross, Texas Rangers (Rockies, May 6 and Red Sox, May 11)
Alfredo Simon, Cincinnati Reds (Rockies May 10)
Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals (Seattle, May 8)
Franklin Morales, Colorado Rockies (Rangers, May 8)
Cesar Ramos, Tampa Bay Rays (Orioles, May 7)
Hector Noesi, Chicago White Sox (Cubs, May 6)
Dustin McGowan, Toronto Blue Jays (Angels, May 9)
Josh Tomlin, Cleveland Indians (Twins, May 6 and Rays, May 11)
