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
Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers
LaTroy Hawkins, Colorado Rockies
Grant Balfour, Tampa Bay Rays
Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds
Good Matchups
[Player, Team, (Opponent)]
Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers (Minnesota and Miami)
Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves (Miami)
Trevor Rosenthal, St. Louis Cardinals (Chicago Cubs)
Addison Reed, Arizona Diamondbacks (San Diego)
Huston Street, San Diego Padres (Arizona)
Rafael Soriano, Washington Nationals (Houston and Philadelphia)
Fernando Rodney, Seattle Mariners (Houston)
Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds (Chicago Cubs)
Bad Matchups
[Player, Team, (Opponent)]
Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers (Reds and Cardinals)
Grant Balfour, Tampa Bay Rays (Red Sox and Yankees)
Matt Lindstrom, Chicago White Sox (Detroit)
Relief Pitcher Probable Starts
[Player, Team, (Opponent, Date)]
Hector Santiago, Los Angeles Angels (Rangers, May 2)
Drew Smyly, Detroit Tigers (Royals, May 2)
Garrett Richards, Los Angeles Angels (Rangers, May 3)
Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres (Giants, April 28 and Diamondbacks May 4)
Bruce Chen, Kansas City Royals (Blue Jays, April 30)
Joe Kelly, St. Louis Cardinals (Disabled List)
Roberto Hernandez, Philadelphia Phillies (Nationals, May 2)
Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros (Mariners, May 3)
Alex Wood, Atlanta Braves (Marlins, April 29 and Giants, May 4)
Tanner Scheppers, Texas Rangers (Disabled List)
David Phelps, New York Yankees (Mariners, April 30)
Carlos Villanueva, Chicago Cubs (Reds, April 30)
Jesse Chavez, Oakland Athletics (Rangers, April 30)
Brett Anderson, Colorado Rockies (Disabled List)
Brandon Maurer, Seattle Mariners (Astros, May 2)
Josh Collmenter, Arizona Diamondbacks (Rockies, April 30)
Tanner Roark, Washington Nationals (Phillies, May 3)
Lucas Harrell, Houston Astros (DNP)
Blake Beavan, Seattle Mariners (DNP)
Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland Indians (Angels, April 30)
Robbie Ross, Texas Rangers (Athletics, April 30)
Alfredo Simon, Cincinnati Reds (Cubs, April 28, Brewers May 3)
Franklin Morales, Colorado Rockies (Diamondbacks, April 28 and Mets, May 3)
Cesar Ramos, Tampa Bay Rays (Red Sox, May 1)
Dustin McGowan, Toronto Blue Jays (Royals, April 29 and Pirates May 4)
