We’ll round up notable changes and trends affecting the major fantasy baseball statistical categories. In pitching, we’ll focus on the major counting statistics (Wins, Losses and Saves) and the cumulative statistics (ERA and WHIP).  Our intent is to provide you insight that allows you to identify waiver wire pickups or optimize your daily/weekly starting lineups.

Now that Manager Jim Leyland has learnt his closer-by-committee won’t cut it for a leading AL contender, the Tigers have handed the closing reigns back to Jose Valverde. Valverde re-joined the organization two weeks ago on a minor league contract and the club brought him back after he showed improved command in Florida. He’ll be the closer for a very good Tigers team.  Here’s two shocking things about their closer and closing situation, both of which you should read if you’re considering picking up Valverde:

• Valverde’s SO/9 rate in prior years:
  2006 - 12.59 K/9
  2007 - 10.6 K/9
  2008 - 10.4 K/9
  2009 - 9.3 K/9
  2010 - 9.0 K/9
  2011 - 8.6 K/9
  2012 - 6.2 K/9
   
• The Tigers had  just one 2013 save opportunity prior to Valverde’s arrival, as when they’ve held a lead, they’ve consistently had a four-plus run lead. 

If either of these trends hold and you pick up Valverde expecting saves, you’ll be sorely disappointed have have occupied a roster spot with a dead weight. 

Well-travelled Edward Mujica has taken the reigns as the St. Louis Cardinals’ closer after Mitchell Boggs failed miserably through the first three weeks of the season.  There’s a wide-open opportunity for a season of saves here; with Jason Motte’s season-ending surgery, the bullpen has a lot of live arms that will have save opportunities.  Mujica’s the hot hand and is four for four in save opportunities thus far. He’s being helped by a 100% strand rate and unsustainable .174 BABIP.  I’d veer away from him unless you have an open P roster spot.  My money’s on Trevor Rosenthal settling in as closer by the All Star break.

Of course, starting pitching is so much harder to find, so feast your eyes on Arizona Diamondbacks’ Patrick Corbin.  He’s owned in 65% of ESP fantasy leagues, but going fast.  Here’s what you need to know: SP on a team projected for 88-90 wins; ground-ball pitcher in a home-run prone ballpark; he’s already won two games and is limiting batter damage through a low walk rate. While he does’t deliver enough value in other counting (SO), I’d grab him, hold him for a few weeks, then dangle him in front of another team that’s in desperate need of SP.

In a similar vein as above, Justin Grimm is filling in admirably in Matt Harrison’s absence.  Grimm is slotted in the Texas Rangers starting rotation and has delivered three solid outings and two wins.  Rangers are short arms in their rotation, so if Grimm can retain any of the performance shown thus far 2 W, 7.94 SO/9, 1.59 ERA based on a 2.70 FIP) there’s a lot of cheap wins and SO you can grab here for your fantasy rotation.