Andrés Muñoz DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz has already racked up seven saves in his team's nine wins this season. He pitched a clean ninth inning against the Reds in Cincinnati to secure the 5-3 win. He didn't give up a hit or run but did need 19 pitches to get through the inning. The 26-year-old righty has appeared in nine games for the Mariners this year, allowing only five hits and racking up 12 strikeouts in nine scoreless innings. He'll continue to be one of the top closers in baseball since his team plays so many close games, and he is so effective closing them out. The Mariners finish their series in Cincy on Thursday afternoon.

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz picked up his fourth save of the season on Monday night, moving within one save of the Major League lead. Munoz has shut the door on each of the Mariners' four wins this season and held the Astros without a runner in a clean inning that included a strikeout of Yainer Diaz. He has not allowed a run in five innings over five games while issuing four walks and allowing two hits but also recording eight strikeouts. He's one of the top closers in the American League and should continue to anchor the back end of the Mariners' bullpen. Seattle should continue to be in enough close games that he stays among the league leaders in saves most of this season.

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz earned his third save of the season and helped the Mariners avoid a sweep at the hands of the visiting Tigers. It wasn't as stress-free as Munoz, the Mariners, or his fantasy owners would have liked it to be, but he ultimately got the job done. He entered the 3-2 game to start the ninth inning and walked the first two batters he faced. After a strikeout, he gave up a single to load the bases with one out. However, he bounced back and retired Javier Baez on a fielder's choice that got the out at the plate and then struck out Zack McKinstry on three straight pitches to put the game in the books. Munoz has picked up three saves in three games while working three innings. He does have three walks but has also picked up five strikeouts. He and the Mariners have Thursday off before a three-game set in San Francisco against the Giants over the weekend.

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz is working on a changeup. During his recent bullpen session on Saturday, Munoz showed off a changeup that had a 10-inch vertical drop. Munoz relies heavily on a slider and four-seamer and occasionally mixes in a sinker. Last season, the right-hander held a 2.12 ERA with a 0.96 WHIP across 59 1/3 innings of work. He tallied strikeouts at an elite 33.2% percent rate. He also generated a strong .198 xBA and a 54.0 percent ground-ball rate, both well above the average marks and placed him in the 98th and 92nd percentile, respectively. If Munoz can develop this changeup, he could become an even better pitcher with an even higher strikeout upside. Fantasy managers should view Munoz as a high-end option for saves and strikeouts in all formats.

Seattle Mariners closer Andres Munoz (elbow) said he has been dealing with some elbow soreness recently and that he was only going to be used with a lead for the first two games of the series in Oakland against the division-rival A's. Munoz has downplayed the severity of his injury, though, and said he should be fine. He hasn't pitched since Aug. 31, when he allowed a solo home run in two-thirds of an inning for a loss. But since blowing a save on Aug. 20 with a three-run outing, Munoz has settled down by allowing just the solo home run while striking out eight and walking two in 3 2/3 frames in his last four outings. The 25-year-old's status is worth watching going forward, and if his elbow soreness worsens, Austin Voth or Collin Snider could be in line for some save opportunities down the stretch in the final month of the regular season. Munoz has been excellent with a 1.92 ERA and a career-high 19 saves this year.