Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: 3 Risers and 3 Fallers Over the Past Two Weeks

Let's turn our fantasy baseball attention to closing pitchers. We'll look at closers trending up and down here.

We will be looking at stats since July 8 (our last closer update) to come up with our lists. 

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Trending Up

Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox

Chapman is the league's hottest closer, thanks in large part to the Red Sox' resurgence over the past couple weeks.

He has five saves over six appearances in that time, and remember, we had the All-Star break in there. Chapman is 1-0 with no runs allowed over six innings in that span. He's allowed three hits and four walks, but struck out five to work out of trouble.

Chapman is an elite fantasy reliever, but Boston wasn't winning enough early on to support him as a fantasy asset. Now with the Red Sox winning more, Chapman is a high-end option again, so hold him tight and hope the Red Sox keep winning going forward.

Tanner Scott - Los Angeles Dodgers

Scott has three saves over four appearances in the past couple of weeks.

He hasn't allowed a run over 4 2/3 innings, and he's given up just two hits. Scott has no walks and six strikeouts as well.

While all those signs point to a reliever on the rise, his time as the Dodgers' closer could be coming to an end, as Edwin Diaz is expected back shortly. Scott could still be a decent fantasy asset if he's not earning saves, so only drop him in standard leagues when Diaz is activated off the injured list.

Riley O'Brien - St. Louis Cardinals

O'Brien is second in the league over the past couple weeks with four saves.

He's appeared in six games overall. In the two games he didn't earn a save, he took a loss and a blown save, so it hasn't all been positive for O'Brien. He's allowed two runs on four hits and five walks (and three hit batters), while striking out nine.

There's still a lot to like with O'Brien, but if he continues to allow baserunners, more blown saves/losses could be coming, and it could eventually lead to him losing the closer role, so keep tabs on him.

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Alex Lange - Detroit Tigers 

Lange has been the team's No. 1 option for saves, but he's struggled of late.

He blew two saves and has a 6.23 ERA over his past six appearances. Lange has a win and a loss, and just one save. He's allowed eight runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out four.

Kansas City hasn't been winning enough to support him that much anyways, and Lange isn't helping his fantasy cause of late. He's a guy to keep tabs on, but he's a better deep-league fantasy asset until his results on the bump improve a bit.

Paul Sewald - Arizona Diamondbacks

Sewald has three saves over the past couple weeks, but a loss, blown save and high ERA has him on the trending down list overall.

In his five appearances, Sewald has been tagged for four runs on five hits and a walk. He's pitched 4 1/3 innings only, striking out seven along the way. 

Sewald can be a pretty solid fantasy asset, but he's been a bit too up and down to own in all fantasy leagues this season. He's a better deep-league asset right now, but could be worth standard league usage if he improves and continues to lock down saves.

Josh Hader - Houston Astros

Hader has pitched in four games over the timeframe we are using today. He only has one save, and while he doesn't have a blown save, a loss and a couple runs allowed are forcing me to put him on the trending down list.

Over just three innings pitched, he's allowed two runs on seven hits. He hasn't walked a batter, but he's only struck out four over that span. His lack of appearances and wins/saves is holding him back of late.

Hopefully this is just a blip for the otherwise high-end fantasy reliever. Hader could be traded away at the deadline if the Astros decide to sell, so that's something to keep in mind. Hader is trending down right now, but he could get back on track in a hurry, so hold out hope with him and don't be too quick to drop him/trade him away.