I recently wrote about the RP-eligible SPs to target for fantasy baseball this year. Now, I turn my attention to the relievers with starting pitcher eligibility. Thankfully, the unorthodox management of pitching staffs and the advent of the opener have resulted in a collection of useful SP-eligible RPs. I’ve narrowed down my favorite SP-eligible RPs to a quartet. However, I suggest you also make a note of the honorable mentions, namely if you’re in a larger league where non-closing relievers have value.
Average Draft Position (ADP) referenced via FantasyPros consensus ADP
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Corey Knebel (PHI): ADP – 221.0, SP64/RP21
The Phillies and Knebel agreed to a one-year pact for $10-million before the lockout. The money, Knebel’s skills, and the construction of the rest of Philadelphia’s bullpen position Knebel as the favorite to lead the team in saves. However, lefty Jose Alvarado could snipe some saves from his right-handed counterpart.
Last year, Knebel was sharp for the Dodgers, pitching 25.2 innings, saving three games, opening four (hence his SP eligibility), spinning a 2.45 ERA, 3.33 SIERA, and 0.97 WHIP, 8.9 BB%, 29.7 K%, and 29.3 CSW%, per FanGraphs. Further, he was throwing nearly as hard as before Tommy John surgery in the spring of 2019. Add it all up, and Knebel is a rock-solid second closer for fantasy squads.
Andrew Kittredge (TB): ADP – 298.8, SP77/RP38
In my reliever rankings, Kittredge is directly behind Knebel, making him a smoking deal at his average draft position (ADP). Unfortunately, the Rays often use a closer by committee, including in 2021. In all, 14 players saved games for the Rays last year. However, Kittredge had a prominent hand in saving games, with his eight saves representing the second-highest total for Tampa Bay behind Diego Castillo‘s 14 saves. Last year, the Rays traded Castillo to the Mariners, leaving Kittredge as the top closing option.
The veteran righty was outstanding last year. In 57 appearances totaling 71.2 innings, he spun a 1.88 ERA, 2.95 SIERA, 0.98 WHIP, 5.3 BB%, 27.3 K%, 31.2 CSW%, and 53.5 GB%. Additionally, he was great against righties and lefties, holding the former to a .243 wOBA and the latter to a .270 wOBA. Therefore, he’s not a liability with the platoon disadvantage. If it appears Kittredge will dominate the save situations for the Rays in 2022, I’ll shoot him up the board. For now, I expect that he’ll lead the team in saves while ceding some opportunities to others.
Dinelson Lamet (SD): ADP – 328.8, SP96/RP41
Lamet was limited to 47.0 innings (nine starts and 13 relief appearances) last year, pitching through a UCL strain suffered in 2020 and spending time on the Injured List due to forearm issues. Therefore, Lamet is an injury risk, whether the Padres attempt to deploy him as a starter or a reliever.
Regardless, San Diego has a vacant closer role. Mark Melancon led the team with 39 saves. He’s since left, signing a two-year deal with the Diamondbacks. If the Padres feel Lamet’s best chance for staying healthy is pitching out of the bullpen, he’s equipped with a bat-missing, high-octane arsenal that profiles well for a closer job.
The hard-throwing righty’s 4.40 ERA in 47.0 innings last year wasn’t anything to write home about. Nonetheless, his 4.00 SIERA was a pinch better, and his 27.3 K% and 30.9 CSW% were excellent. As a result, he’s a name to track in spring training and an intriguing dart throw at his cheap ADP.
Adbert Alzolay (CHC): ADP – 304.0, SP156/RP80 (CBS and RTS are skewing his SP and RP rankings)
First, let me address the elephant in the room. It probably behooves the rebuilding Cubs to give Alzolay another crack at starting. He’ll have more long-term value to the organization as a starter than a reliever. However, I’m less interested in Alzolay in 2022 as a starter.
Last year, the 26-year-old righty was tattooed by lefties, coughing up a ghastly .384 wOBA to them. However, he dominated righties, holding them to a .246 wOBA. Alzolay pitched 125.2 innings in 2021, starting 21 games and pitching out of the pen in eight games. In 106.1 innings as a starter, he had an unsightly 5.16 ERA. Admittedly, his 4.02 SIERA was rock-solid. Unfortunately, I’m skeptical of Alzolay being merely unlucky, as his struggles against lefties offer a logical explanation for underperforming his ERA estimators.
In the bullpen, Alzolay was lights out. He twirled a 1.40 ERA, 2.86 SIERA, 0.93 WHIP, 2.7 BB%, 28.0 K%, and 28.0 CSW% in 19.1 innings. Moreover, he recorded more than three outs in seven of eight relief appearances. Could he be the next elite multi-inning reliever? Maybe! At Alzolay’s cost, he’s a viable dart throw.
Other Notable SP-eligible RPs: Cristian Javier (HOU), Michael Fulmer (DET), Collin McHugh (TB), Craig Stammen (SD), and Dominic Leone (SF)
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
