Cubs' Michael Fulmer: Could be primary closer option
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Fulmer and Brad Boxberger are viewed as the primary options at closer for the Cubs, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
It could ultimately wind up being more of a carousel, with Brandon Hughes, Rowan Wick and Adbert Alzolay also somewhere in the mix, but Fulmer has expressed a strong desire to claim the job and Boxberger boasts 82 career major-league saves. Fulmer, 29, signed a one-year, $4 million contract with Chicago in February after working to a 3.39 ERA with 61 strikeouts over 63.2 innings last season between the Tigers and Twins. He picked up three saves along the way.
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Cubs' Michael Fulmer: Pitching well this spring
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Fulmer has yet to allow a run across three Cactus League appearances. He's struck out three.
Fulmer has been steady so far in spring training action, and he should be able to carry that over into the regular season after posting strong numbers out of the bullpen in 2021 and 2022. The veteran righty should have a high-leverage role with the Cubs, possibly even closing out games, though Brandon Hughes and Brad Boxberger are also in the mix at the end of games. Fulmer's fantasy value would obviously increase if he's seeing regular save opportunities.
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Cubs' Michael Fulmer: Joining Cubs' bullpen
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Fulmer agreed to a contract with the Cubs on Friday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
The terms of the deal are not yet known. Fulmer's velocity and strikeouts were down a bit in 2022 but he remained mostly effective, posting a 3.39 ERA and 61:28 K:BB over 63.2 innings for the Tigers and Twins. The 29-year-old has some closing experience and could be in the mix to get some saves as part of a Cubs bullpen which lacks established high-leverage options.
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Twins' Michael Fulmer: Picks up third save
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Fulmer recorded the save Thursday against the Yankees, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one in two-thirds of an inning in a 4-3 win.
Fulmer entered the game in the ninth inning with one out and a runner on first. He allowed a double and an intentional walk to load the bases before retiring the final two batters without allowing a run to score. It was his third save of the season and first for Minnesota. Since being acquired by the Twins before the trade deadline, he's compiled a 3.38 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB in 16 innings across 18 appearances. Jorge Lopez was used earlier in the game in a high-leverage situation, and Fulmer will likely return to his setup role for future outings.
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Twins' Michael Fulmer: Moved to Minnesota
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Fulmer was traded from the Tigers to the Twins on Tuesday in exchange for right-handed pitcher Sawyer Gipson-Long, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Fulmer gave up multiple runs several times recently, but he otherwise shined for the Tigers prior to the All-Star break. He figures to join the late-inning mix with his new squad.
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Tigers' Michael Fulmer: Charged with blown save Monday
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Fulmer allowed two runs on four hits while retiring just one batter in Monday's extra-inning loss to the Twins.
Fulmer got the bottom of the eighth inning with Detroit up 2-0 and started the frame with a strikeout. It went downhill quickly from there, however, as the righty allowed four straight singles. The final hit from Jose Miranda brought home two runs and got Fulmer out of the game, saddling him with his fourth blown save of the year. Despite the setback, Fulmer has been mostly solid this season with a 3.20 ERA and 39 strikeouts across 39.1 innings.
Fulmer (3-4) pitched a scoreless inning of relief and earned the win Wednesday against the Padres.
Fulmer pitched the top of the ninth with the Tigers down 3-2, then earned his third win of the season when Detroit scored twice in the bottom of the inning. The righty has pitched well this season with a 2.84 ERA and 1.16 WHIP across 38 innings, and he could be someone the rebuilding Tigers decide to move before the trade deadline next week. Fulmer is set to become a free agent after the season.
Fulmer (2-4) allowed two runs on two hits while retiring two batters and took the loss Friday against the Guardians. He walked two and struck out one.
Fulmer has been good this season but the righty didn't have his best stuff Friday, allowing an earned run for the first time in his last six outings. Fulmer actually made it through all of June without allowing an earned run, and he still has a strong 2.38 ERA for the year despite the hiccup. The 29-year-old should remain one of Detroit's better relief options in front of closer Gregory Soto.
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Tigers' Michael Fulmer: Takes tough-luck loss Sunday
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Fulmer (2-3) allowed two unearned runs while retiring two batters and took the loss in Sunday's contest against the White Sox.
Fulmer was on his way to three straight flyouts in the eighth inning, but Robbie Grossman misplayed a ball, allowing Luis Robert to get to second. The Tigers then intentionally walked Jose Abreu and called on Gregory Soto from the bullpen. Soto proceeded to allow both inherited runners to score, saddling Fulmer with a tough-luck loss. The righty has been solid this year despite the losing record, as he now has a 1.93 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 32 strikeouts across 32.2 innings. Fulmer also has two saves in four opportunities, though Soto seems to have a pretty firm grip on the closer role at the moment.
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Tigers' Michael Fulmer: Picks up save
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Fulmer earned a save with a scoreless inning in Friday's win over the White Sox. He gave up a hit and struck out one batter.
Fulmer plunked Tim Anderson and gave up a single to AJ Pollock but he was able to retire the next two batters to finish off the 7-5 win. He's allowed just one earned run over his last 16.2 frames, lowering his season ERA to 1.97 alongside two saves and 15 holds. Closer Gregory Soto didn't pitch Friday after throwing 21 pitches in Thursday's win over the White Sox.
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Tigers' Michael Fulmer: Secures 10th hold
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Fulmer tossed a scoreless inning of relief to earn a hold in Sunday's win over the Rangers. He struck out one.
Fulmer is up to 10 holds this season, and he's pitched well with a 2.16 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 26 strikeouts across 25 innings. He's surpassed the nine holds he recorded last year, though he also posted 14 saves in 2021 as the Tigers were a bit more fluid with the closer role. This year, Gregory Soto leads the team with 13 saves, while Fulmer has just one so far. It looks like he'll continue to rack up holds, but Soto has the closer role fairly secure at this point.
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Tigers' Michael Fulmer: Looks good again Tuesday
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Fulmer pitched a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts in the Tigers' 4-0 win in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Twins.
It wasn't a save situation, but Fulmer still effectively shut the door on Minnesota, needing just 10 pitches to retire the side. The righty is behind Gregory Soto in the pecking order for saves at the moment, though he's pitched well with a 2.89 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 18 strikeouts across 18.2 innings this season. Fulmer did have 14 saves a season ago, so it's possible he gets a look in the closer role at some point if Soto stumbles, though the latter has also looked good with a 2.16 ERA and nine saves in 10 chances.
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Tigers' Michael Fulmer: Looks sharp in loss
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Fulmer struck out all three batters he faced in Tuesday's loss to the Twins.
Fulmer hadn't appeared in a game since Wednesday, as the Tigers are just 1-5 in their past six contests, so they haven't turned over too many leads to their more high-leverage relievers. The righty didn't show any rust, as he made quick work of the Twins in the seventh inning. Fulmer now has 14 strikeouts across 16.1 innings this season to go with a 3.31 ERA.
Fulmer (2-2) allowed one run on a hit and a walk to get credited with a blown save Monday against the Rays, though he was able to earn the win.
Fulmer started the bottom of the eighth inning out with a strikeout, but got into some trouble by allowing a double and a walk with one out. He then tossed a wild pitch, and the lead runner would later score on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 2-2, though the Tigers would score in the top of the ninth to go back ahead. Fulmer has now blown two saves this season to go with his 3.14 ERA, and while closer Gregory Soto has seemingly been on thin ice lately, the latter did wrap up Monday's contest with a clean ninth inning. For now, Fulmer should stick in a setup role, with Soto the top option for saves in Detroit.
