Mychal Givens

Givens was tracking toward a career-best season in 2020, but he struggled mightily after he was traded to Colorado. He carried a 1.38 ERA with the Orioles over the first half of the season, but he sputtered to a 6.75 ERA during the final month of the 2020 campaign. While the right-hander posted a 3.63 ERA over the entire season, his 5.41 xFIP and 4.31 SIERA were the worst marks of his career. He also struggled in several key areas that could lead to some headaches in the Colorado altitude, notably a career-worst 23.2 GB% and 32.1% hard-hit rate. Givens provided some late-game experience for the banged-up Rockies last year, but he converted on just one of his three save chances with the team. While nobody cemented themselves as the closer in 2020, Givens should maintain a setup role for Colorado, which hinders his fantasy value, especially since he'll be heading into his first full season at Coors Field.

Givens' 2019 numbers were typical of a dominant flyball pitcher: low WHIP and high ERA. That said, his 4.57 ERA was even more out of sync with his tidy 1.19 WHIP due to 13 homers allowed in just 63 innings. While Given was the Orioles' primary closer, his issues with the long ball pushed him out of ninth inning duties on a few occasions. He still led Baltimore with 11 of their 27 saves, but he also blew eight chances. When not closing, Givens notched seven holds, so he was still deployed in high-leverage scenarios. After averaging 76.2 innings from 2016-2018, Givens only threw 63 frames, in part due to opportunities but also ineffectiveness. While it's probable Givens works in some late-inning capacity, he's not assured to close. Even if he does secure the role, the Orioles will not provide many chances so consider Givens a third closer in mixed formats and a volatile second option in AL-only.

For three seasons, many of you drafted Givens as the insurance policy for saves in Baltimore based on his skills. For three seasons, he performed well and had exactly zero saves to show for it. He finally had the chance to get saves in 2018, yet had his worst statistical season nearly across the board. He enters the 2019 season as the favorite to have the full-time role. Givens has been relatively split neutral of late, but his delivery and arm slot still make it very tough on righties to get good wood on the baseball. One of the things that made Zach Britton so good in Baltimore was how frequently he generated groundballs, minimizing the risk of the long ball in Camden's cozy dimensions. Givens is more of a flyball pitcher, so the homer risk is tough to overlook, and expecting a 5.0% HR/FB rate again this year is not wise. Expect a few more homers, but if he can get the walks back down, he should be fine as a low-end second closer.

Make no mistake about it, Givens is mixed-league material. He has all the makings of a solid closer, and now he may have the opportunity to earn saves with Zach Britton expected to miss the first half of the 2018 season with an Achilles injury. Givens has put up consecutive solid seasons in the bullpen as he has helped get the ball to whomever is closing behind him while picking up a number of wins thanks to his work in medium- and high-leverage situations. He misses bats at a good clip (10.1 K/9), and showed improvement with his control last season, trimming his BB/9 from 4.3 to 2.9. Brad Brach figures to step into the ninth inning to begin the year, but Givens should be next in line, at least for the duration of Britton's absence.

Givens quickly powered his way through the minor leagues and made his big league debut in 2015. He put together a superb rookie season (1.80 ERA in 30 innings) and earned himself a spot on the Orioles' 2016 Opening Day roster. His walk rate more than doubled in 2016, causing his overall numbers to decline a bit, but he was still able to put together an overall effective campaign. Givens posted a 3.13 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 13 holds while maintaining his ridiculous strikeout rate at 30.7 percent over 74.2 innings. His walk rate increased from 5.1 percent in 2015 to 11.5 percent in 2016, as the command of his changeup and slider declined a bit. Givens is a sure bet to remain an important piece in the Orioles' bullpen going forward, but he isn't likely to garner much fantasy value until he's able to work his way in a more consistent setup or closer role.

Givens' transition from shortstop to pitcher bloomed nicely in 2015, as his dominance at the Double-A level earned a promotion to the Orioles. Drafted in 2009, Givens was converted to a relief pitcher in 2013. He has a fastball that can reach the upper-90s and he complements it primarily with a slider that sits in the mid-80s. He also has a changeup that he throws with less frequency that also sits in the mid-80s. Givens had a 12.4 K/9 at Double-A and an 11.4 K/9 with the Orioles. The big step forward was his control, as Givens went from a 6.0 BB/9 at High-A and Double-A in 2014 to a 2.5 BB/9 at Double-A and just a 1.8 BB/9 with the Orioles. Givens seems like a shoo-in for a bullpen spot in 2016. With the easy transition straight from Double-A to the Orioles, Givens may have proven he is ready to move into a setup role sooner rather than later.