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
Sergio Romo, San Francisco Giants
David Robertson, New York Yankees
Tommy Hunter, Baltimore Orioles
Steve Cishek, Miami Marlins
Trevor Rosenthal, St. Louis Cardinals
Grant Balfour, Tampa Bay Rays
Casey Janssen, Toronto Blue Jays
Joe Smith/Ernesto Frieri, Los Angeles Angels
Hector Rondon, Chicago Cubs
Good Matchups
[Player, Team, (Opponent)]
Rafael Soriano, Washington Nationals (Diamondbacks and Mets)
Fernando Rodney, Seattle Mariners (Rays and Twins)
Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers (Pirates and Cubs)
Joakim Soria, Texas Rangers (Astros and Blue Jays)
Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers (Marlins and Diamondbacks)
Bad Matchups
[Player, Team, (Opponent)]
Joe Nathan, Detroit Tigers (Orioles and Red Sox)
Huston Street, San Diego Padres (Reds and Rockies)
Greg Holland, Kansas City Royals (Rockies and Orioles)
Steve Cishek, Miami Marlins (Dodgers and Giants)
Casey Janssen, Toronto Blue Jays (Angels, Indians, and Rangers)
Relief Pitcher Probable Starts
[Player, Team, (Opponent, Date)]
Drew Smyly, Detroit Tigers (Orioles, May 13)
Garrett Richards, Los Angeles Angels (Phillies, May 14)
Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres (Reds, May 15)
Samuel Deduno, Minnesota Twins (Mariners, May 17)
Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros (Texas, May 13)
Alex Wood, Atlanta Braves (Cardinals, May 17)
David Phelps, New York Yankees (Pirates, May 16)
Jesse Chavez, Oakland Athletics (White Sox, May 12 and Cleveland, May 18)
Brandon Maurer, Seattle Mariners (Rays, May 14)
Josh Collmenter, Arizona Diamondbacks (Nationals, May 12 and Dodgers, May 17)
Tanner Roark, Washington Nationals (Mets, May 16)
Drew Pomeranz, Colorado Rockies (White Sox, May 13)
Robbie Ross, Texas Rangers (Blue Jays, May 17)
Alfredo Simon, Cincinnati Reds (Padres, May 15)
Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals (Orioles, May 17)
Franklin Morales, Colorado Rockies (Royals, May 14)
Cesar Ramos, Tampa Bay Rays (Mariners, May 12 and Angels, May 17)
Hector Noesi, Chicago White Sox (Astros, May 17)
Dustin McGowan, Toronto Blue Jays (Indians, May 14)
Josh Tomlin, Cleveland Indians (Athletics, May 17)
