Leo Nunez - Fantasy News & Updates
Leo Nunez - Fantasy News & Updates
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Heading into the season, the Marlins bullpen was regarded as a question mark. Many questions were answered, and for the most part, the 'pen did a terrific job, considering how many innings it had to log. Nunez enters arbitration, and he has to continue to show he can handle the closer's role. Matt Lindstrom, who opened the year as the closer, dealt with injuries and a lack of command when he was healthy. The closer spot projects to be battled for in Spring Training. Kiko Calero, a free agent, had a strong year, and it may be hard to retain him. Dan Meyer and Brian Sanches were nice surprises and both should be back.
Nunez has nailed down 24 of 28 save chances in 37 appearances since June 29. He's produced a 29/11 K/BB ratio during that time to reinforce his value as one of the finer ninth-inning men in the NL.
Nunez has closed the door without allowing a hit in each of his last three save chances since a three-run implosion that resulted in a blown save and loss on Sept. 6. The 26-year-old first-year fireman has done an admirable job in the role, converting 21-of-27 save opportunities.
Sanchez certainly deserved a better fate then this after firing 58 of his 92 pitches for strikes in his second straight quality outing since returning from the disabled list on Aug. 21. There are risks when choosing to start the injury-plagued righty as his 1.62 WHIP and pedestrian 46/27 K/BB ratio would indicate, but few readily available starters have the kind of strikeout upside that Sanchez does. He'll get another crack at the Nationals at home on Sept. 12.
Nunez has closed the door on his last five opportunities since blowing a save on Aug. 11. He’s surrendered just three hits and one earned run over 5 2/3 innings in that stretch, lowering his ERA to 3.77. For the year, he’s 17-for-21 in converted save chances.
It hasn't always been a walk in the park for the hard-throwing youngster, who has yet to post an ERA under 2.00 in any month this season and has surrendered nine big flies in 55 1/3 innings, but a 52/20 K/BB ratio and his 16 saves have kept him relevant in all formats. So long as he can hold on to ninth-inning duties in Florida, he's worth owning.
Nunez took over the closer role while Lindstrom was sidelined, and the right-hander entered Tuesday's series opener against the Mets with 14 saves in 18 opportunities. During his stint as the closer, Lindstrom was 14-for-16 in save chances. Although his season has included some injuries, Lindstrom could become valuable in the final weeks. He appeared in three games on the Marlins' recently completed road trip, and he was used in back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday in Atlanta. That two-game stretch represented the first time Lindstrom had pitched in successive games since June 20-21.
The 25-year-old right-hander last pitched six days ago, when collected a two-out save against the Rockies in a game he allowed a three-run homer to Chris Iannetta. At 6-foot-2, 180-pounds, the slender hurler has a herky-jerky delivery, which can add stress to his body. And because he isn't overly big, the team is doing what it can to prevent him from breaking down. "He has that violent delivery, and we are being careful," Gonzalez said. With Nunez getting some extra time on the pine, Matt Lindstrom and Dan Meyer could step in and pilfer a save or two in his absence.
It wasn't a save opportunity, as Lindstrom checked in with a five-run lead before giving up a one-out, two-run double to Carlos Lee. That said, by allowing three runs (one earned), it created a save opportunity for Nunez, who further entrenched himself in the closer role by pocketing his 12th save and his third in the last four days. The chances of Lindstrom reclaiming his old job look dim. His ERA sits at an unhealthy 6.12, and he's yet to convert a save since returning from the 15-day DL on Aug. 2.
It wasn't an entirely flawless outing from Nunez, who balked in a run before striking out Hunter Pence to shut the door. Nunez owners can at least take comfort with the knowledge that the run was charged to Lindstrom, as well as the fact that Nunez has notched three saves in the last four days. Lindstrom is unlikely to reclaim his closer job as long as he continues to struggle, especially with the Marlins in the hunt for the NL Wild Card.
It hasn't come easy for Nunez lately, as the young righty has surrendered runs in four of his last seven outings. Still, it's hard to argue with the end result, as Nunez has successfully converted his last eight opportunities.
Nunez will likely continue to close until the recently activated Matt Lindstrom is in top form, and may continue to split time even after that. This wasn't a save situation, but it obviously wasn't Nunez's best work, either. Neither he nor Lindstrom are ideal fantasy closers -- they don't miss bats, they do give up hits -- but saves are saves, and owners need to get them somewhere. This outing notwithstanding, Nunez will likely be getting most of the saves for the Fish.
Lindstrom returns to the big leagues after missing over a month with right elbow problems. The right-hander was 2-1 with a 6.52 ERA and 26 strikeouts over 29 innings before his injury, but did convert 14 of 16 save opportunities. With Leo Nunez pitching effectively in Lindstrom's absence, the Marlins will likely continue to deploy a closer-by-committee approach in the near term. Fantasy owners with an interest in either Lindstrom or Nunez should obviously monitor this situation closely.
Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said Lindstrom will next pitch for Double-A Jacksonville on Wednesday. After that, it should be a short matter of time before he's back up with the Marlins. "Maybe by the end of the week, if everything goes well -- knock on wood everything goes well," Gonzalez said Tuesday. It's uncertain what effect Lindstrom's return will have on Leo Nunez and Dan Meyer, who have been sharing save opportunities in Lindstrom's absence.
Word came down on Friday that Matt Lindstrom was progressing well in his rehab efforts, but that manager Freddi Gonzalez would not bestow the closer-duties on him immediately. That means Nunez's job is safe for the time being, so enjoy the saves while they last.
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