Will Hader be the top overall fantasy reliever?
Drew Silva breaks down Milwaukee Brewers reliever Josh Hader and discusses how he will be used as a traditional closer in 2021.
Video Transcript
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DREW SILVA: The chase for saves gets more and more daunting by the year as MLB teams move away from designated bullpen roles and simply deploy their best relievers in the most high leverage spots, no matter the inning. So, finding a true ninth inning closer in 2021 is both more difficult and also more crucial, if you want to dominate your fantasy league. Brewers manager, Craig Counsell, told reporters in the second to last week of spring training that he plans to use Josh Hader in a more traditional way at the end of games, in opposition to what other clubs are doing with late inning tandems.
Hader took a step back in some areas last season, but we'll chalk that up to a small sample size. For his career, he has a 2.54 era, 0.86 WHIP, and 380 strikeouts in 223 total Major League innings. Trade rumors have been swirling for years now around Hader, but the Brewers were one of a handful of teams that actually made improvements this winter, and they should be a contender in the wide open National League Central. Hader seems likely to stick around for the duration and is a good bet to finish as the top overall fantasy reliever, given the saves and the strikeouts.