After 150 days of waiting, Major League Baseball is back.
With that, fantasy baseball returns as well. 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
Grant Balfour, Tampa Bay Rays
Fernando Rodney, Seattle Mariners
Jim Johnson, Oakland Athletics
Sergio Romo, San Francisco Giants
Steve Cishek, Miami Marlins
Addison Reed, Arizona Diamondbacks
Rex Brothers/LaTroy Hawkins, Colorado Rockies
Good Matchups
[Player, Team, (Opponent)]
Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves (Brewers)
Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers (Padres and Giants)
Joe Nathan, Detroit Tigers (Royals and Orioles)
Addison Reed, Arizona Diamondbacks (Giants and Rockies)
Trevor Rosenthal, St. Louis (Reds and Pirates)
Ernesto Frieri, Los Angeles Angels (Mariners and Astros)
David Robertson, New York Yankees (Astros and Blue Jays)
Bad Matchups
[Player, Team, (Opponent)]
Greg Holland, Kansas City Royals (Tigers)
Jonathan Papelbon, Philadelphia Phillies (Rangers)
Steve Cishek, Miami Marlins (Colorado)
Fernando Rodney, Seattle Mariners (Angels and Athletics)
Relief Pitcher Probable Starts
[Player, Team, (Opponent, Date)]
Hector Santiago, Los Angeles Angels (Mariners, April 2nd)
Drew Smyly, Detroit Tigers (Orioles, April 5th)
Garrett Richards, Los Angeles Angels (Astros, April 4th)
Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres (Dodgers, April 2nd)
Bruce Chen, Kansas City Royals (White Sox, April 5th)
Joe Kelly, St. Louis Cardinals (Pirates, April 5th)
Roberto Hernandez, Philadelphia Phillies (Cubs, April 5th)
Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros (Angels, April 5th)
Alex Wood, Atlanta Braves (Brewers, April 1st and Nationals, April 6th)
Tanner Scheppers, Texas Rangers (Phillies, March 31st and Rays, April 6th)
Carlos Villanueva, Chicago Cubs (Phillies, April 6th)
Jesse Chavez, Oakland Athletics (Indians, April 2nd)
Brett Anderson, Colorado Rockies (Marlins, April 1st and Diamondbacks, April 6th)
Tanner Roark, Washington Nationals (Braves, April 4th)
Lucas Harrell, Houston Astros (Angels, April 4th)
Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland Indians (Twins, April 5th)
Robbie Ross, Texas Rangers (Phillies, April 2nd)
Alfredo Simon, Cincinnati Reds (Mets, April 6th)
Franklin Morales, Colorado Rockies (Diamondbacks, April 4th)
Stay tuned for these forecasts each and every Monday morning exclusively on XNSports.com
