National League Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Daniel Hudson Replaces Evan Phillips as Dodgers' Closer

Welcome to this week’s edition of the National League Fantasy Baseball Closer Report! 

In this week’s article, most teams won’t get a lengthy update (you don’t need me to tell you every single week that Raisel Iglesias is the Braves’ closer). If you do want detailed coverage of every team’s situation, check out last week’s All-Star Break midseason check-in. But for this week, I’ll only go in-depth on teams where things are potentially in flux. Without further ado, let’s get into it:

Arizona Diamondbacks: Stable — Paul Sewald

Sewald picked up two more saves this week without allowing a single run. Justin Martinez got a shot at a save on Sunday because Sewald had appeared in each of the last two games … and blew it.

Atlanta Braves: Stable — Raisel Iglesias

Iglesias has made just one appearance since the break, pitching a clean ninth inning with the Braves tied against the Mariners. Atlanta as a team didn't have a single save opportunity this week: They lost three of four, with their only win being a 10th-inning walk-off.

Chicago Cubs: Stable — Hector Neris

Neris picked up a save and a win this week, allowing zero runs in his two appearances. Adbert Alzolay has started a rehab assignment and could compete for save opportunities upon his return, but he is still a couple of weeks out.

Cincinnati Reds: Stable — Alexis Diaz

Diaz is the first player on this list to have allowed a run since the All-Star break, but it was a meaningless run as he still finished off the Reds’ only win of the week.

Colorado Rockies: Shifting — Victor Vodnik Overtaking Jalen Beeks

Vodnik earned his way into the header for this section by picking up his third save of the season this week. All three of Vodnik’s saves have come in the month of July, as his usage has become much more high leverage. Meanwhile, Beeks was credited with a blown save this week, and he made a few early-game appearances that certainly don’t look like traditional closer usage.

We may be seeing a change of the guard in Colorado, but I still wouldn’t get too excited. Vodnik does have a better ERA than Beeks at 3.98, but his 4.44 xERA and 1.40 WHIP are both higher than Beeks’ (not to mention just pretty unimpressive). If you’re desperate for saves, I’d recommend Vodnik at this point … but you’d have to be really desperate.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Change! — Daniel Hudson Replaces Evan Phillips

Hudson recorded three saves this week, allowing zero runs and just two baserunners in 2.2 innings. Phillips, meanwhile, made it just 1.1 innings in his two appearances while allowing five runs (four earned).

In comments yesterday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts didn’t straight-up say that Phillips was being demoted … but he sure implied it. Hudson, who now has seven saves on the season to go with a 1.52 ERA and 0.798 WHIP, is a must-add.

Miami Marlins: Stable — Tanner Scott

Scott is still likely to be on the move at the trade deadline, but he is clearly Miami’s closer for now. He picked up two saves this week, going 2.1 innings without allowing a single runner.

Milwaukee Brewers: About To Change — Trevor Megill, Devin Williams (IL60)

It wasn’t pretty, as he allowed two earned runs along the way, but Megill picked up his 19th save of the season this week. Megill also made one other appearance, pitching a flawless 10th inning against the Twins in a game Milwaukee went on to win.

Meanwhile, Williams made his way to Triple-A; he figures to be back in the majors by this time next week … and I still think he will reclaim the closer’s job sooner rather than later.

New York Mets: Stable — Edwin Diaz

Diaz picked up two saves this week, although he did allow a couple of hits and an earned run along the way.

Philadelphia Phillies: Committee — Jeff Hoffman, Jose Alvarado

Alvarado got the only save opportunity of the week for the Phillies … and blew it, recording just one out and allowing two runs (including the walk-off winner) against the Pirates. Alvarado has now given up seven runs in his left five appearances, so don’t be too surprised if Hoffman gets the next few shots at saves.  

Pittsburgh Pirates: Stable — David Bednar

Bednar recorded a save this week, bringing his total to 18 on the season. He did allow another run in his other appearance, but that run was ultimately inconsequential as he finished the game on the mound with the Pirates ahead by three.

San Diego Padres: Stable — Robert Suarez

Suarez continued his excellent season with a four-out save against the Guardains, not allowing a single baserunner and recording one strikeout along the way. That was his only appearance of the week, as the Padres’ other two games were blowouts.

San Francisco Giants: Stable — Camilo Doval

Like Suarez, Doval recorded a save in his only appearance of the week. He did allow one baserunner (a walk) but also picked up two more Ks in an impressive outing at Coors Field.

St. Louis Cardinals: Stable — Ryan Helsley

Helsley was unable to add to his MLB-leading 32 saves this week, as the Cardinals did not have any close enough wins to provide him with save opportunities. He did make one appearance, pitching a clean ninth inning to secure a 6-2 win against the Braves.

Washington Nationals: Stable — Kyle Finnegan

This was an excellent week for Finnegan. Not only did he pick up three saves in three appearances (2.1 innings), he allowed just one baserunner. I’ve been worried that his sketchy peripheral stats would catch up to him, but at this point, we might as well just ride the wave — he is now up to 28 saves on the year.