You can rescue saves

THE MLB trade deadline was a whirlwind of activity as this season’s expanded playoff format has more teams “in it to win it” than ever before. The bullpen upheaval has made it more difficult than ever to pinpoint where you should be searching for saves.

The Padres, the team most active at the deadline, are the prime example of a bullpen that is leaving fantasy owners scratching their heads.

With Kirby Yates likely out for the season with an elbow injury and primary set-up man Emilio Pagan out with biceps inflammation, the Padres had been using lefty Drew Pomeranz to close out games.

He has been outstanding, but the team acquired Trevor Rosenthal, who had been surprising everyone in Kansas City. Many assumed Rosenthal would take over, but it appears that Pomeranz remains in the mix, and the two are likely to work the ninth as a lefty/righty platoon.

The Phillies also were active on the bullpen front. With incumbent closer Hector Neris struggling, the team traded for Red Sox closer Brandon Workman. But since that deal, Neris has regained his form, tossed 4²/₃ scoreless innings with six strikeouts and no walks, and now manager Joe Girardi says the duo could split opportunities. As if that weren’t complicating it enough, the Phillies also added a Girardi-favorite in David Phelps.

There were a number of players added to the saves mix around the league. Felix Pena is sharing the job with Ty Buttrey for the Angels, Cardinals reliever Giovanny Gallegos has a partner in Ryan Helsley, Mychal Givens could get work alongside Daniel Bard in Colorado, Archie Bradley is now sharing the load with Raisel Iglesias in Cincinnati, and Matt Barnes finds himself picking up for Workman in Boston.

If you can piece together a few of these committees, you should be able to make a push up the standings for the remainder of the season.