Fantasy Sports: Reds’ Chapman opens list of top closers

Mike Trout … Clayton Kershaw … Aroldis Chapman.

No, you don’t need to go into that Sesame Street rendition of “One of These Things Is Not Like the Other” that still exists in your brain. For even if it is not quite as apparent, Reds closer Chapman is as dominant in his spot as are Trout and Kershaw.

Now don’t misunderstand me, I’m not saying that Cincinnati is a good team, but Chapman is so good that it doesn’t matter. He struck out batters at a 52.5 percent rate last year, giving him a K/9 ratio of 17.67. With a number that huge it almost doesn’t matter, but his ERA (2.00) and WHIP (0.83) were also good and he racked up 36 saves. The only way he loses value is if the Reds are so bad that they decide they would be better served with Chapman starting games.

If you wanted to quibble, it is possible that you could opt for the Braves’ Craig Kimbrel or the Royals’ Greg Holland as your top closer and I wouldn’t even think you were being that foolish. After all, we are only talking closers, the position on a fantasy baseball team that requires the least amount of concern.

Everyone needs them — no other position can get you saves — but every team uses one, so there is always a pool from which to pick. That means you don’t need to waste a high draft pick on one and need not worry too much if one of your relievers goes down during the season.

Take the Indians’ Cody Allen as an example. Last year, he did not get his first save opportunity until May, and only finished that month with three saves. He held the closer job from there, though, and finished with 24 saves. That number may not be overwhelming, but he also had a 2.07 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, while striking out 91 batters in 69 2/3 innings. Those aren’t bad numbers for someone who came as a midseason pickup.

Then there is Baltimore’s Zach Britton, who also didn’t become his team’s closer last year until May. He does not strike out batters as often as one likes to see from elite fantasy closers, but he still finished with 37 saves, a 1.65 ERA and 0.90 WHIP.

So which team will be the first to seek a new closer this season? I put in an early vote for the Cardinals to fill that position. Trevor Rosenthal may have recorded 45 saves for St. Louis last season, but his 1.41 WHIP and six losses indicate he let a lot of people on base while getting that number.

Injuries also allow surprise pitchers to get save opportunities, and there are already three teams that find themselves in that situation.

The Dodgers’ Kenley Jansen is among the game’s top closers — having struck out 101 batters in 65 1/3 innings last year — but will start the season on the disabled list following foot surgery. Manager Don Mattingly said he would go with a closer-by-committee approach to start the season, but also said that J.P. Howell and Joel Peralta were the first two pitchers to lock down a bullpen slot. They then look like good bets to head that committee.

Oakland’s Sean Doolittle has progressed to throwing socks in his shoulder injury rehab, which I suppose is better than not being able to throw a sock. The team also has Tyler Clippard, though, and he is able to throw baseballs and appears poised to record some early-season saves.

Then in Tampa Bay, Jake McGee looks to start the season on the DL with Kevin Jepsen the leading candidate to pick up the bulk of the Rays’ save opportunities. McGee should not be out long, but keep in mind that to get more shots later, all Jepsen has to do is outperform someone named Jake McGee.

The Yankees also bear watching, for Dellin Betances appeared to be the favorite for the job, but has yet to receive a full vote of confidence from manager Joe Girardi. He still enters the season as the team’s most valuable reliever, but it could also be worth taking a late-round flyer on Andrew Miller if you have the bench space. Both of them have shown they can pitch well, just neither has yet to be a full-time closer.

Finally, let me dub the Rangers’ Neftali Feliz as a potential sleeper. Feliz became the team’s closer after Joakim Soria was traded during to the Tigers last season. Feliz was then successful on 13 of 14 save opportunities and posted a 1.99 ERA and 0.98 WHIP.

Feliz, however, was also the team’s closer in 2010-11, recording 72 combined saves in those two years, before getting a chance at being a starter and then having Tommy John surgery. Still only 26 years old, continued opportunity may be all he needs.

Josh Bousquet writes for The Worcester (Mass.) Telegram & Gazette. Contact him at jbousquet@telegram.com.