There aren't many "sure things" when it comes to closers in fantasy baseball, but if there were, certainly Brewers RHP Devin Williams and Blue Jays RHP Jordan Romano would both qualify. Well, they would have qualified until recently. Unfortunately, they do not feel like sure things today.
Williams finished last season at No. 2 among all relief pitchers in ESPN fantasy points, just a bit behind Orioles RHP Felix Bautista, who is out for the season after Tommy John surgery. Williams, with a 1.89 career ERA and a 39% strikeout rate, has two stress fractures in his back and the most optimistic reports place his return in June, at best.
Romano was the No. 10 closer in fantasy points in 2023, his second consecutive campaign with 36 saves, and since most people expect the Blue Jays to contend for the AL East again, we figured Romano would thrive again. Perhaps he will, but Romano has elbow inflammation and will start this season on the IL, with his return date undetermined, but hopefully soon.
The quartet of Giants RHP Camilo Doval, Astros LHP Josh Hader, Mets RHP Edwin Diaz and Guardians RHP Emmanuel Clase remain as the top tier of closers in ESPN average live drafts, each going among the top 60, far ahead of others. Are they sure things now? Diaz missed the 2023 season. Clase blew 12 saves and lost nine games. Perhaps we should cease describing any relief pitchers as sure things.
What is a sure thing, though, is that the rest of the regular season starts this week, so let us go team-by-team with one analyst's thoughts on each bullpen. Enjoy.
