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• Angels' Ben Joyce: No longer expected to close

  02/12/2025 • By RotoWire

  Joyce is unlikely to be the Angels' primary closer with the team's signing of Kenley Jansen (shoulder) on Monday, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. The Angels and Jansen agreed on a one-year, $10 million contract Monday, which DiGiovanna notes will likely give Joyce "another year to grow into [the] closer role." It wouldn't make much sense for Los Angeles to have signed Jansen for any other reason than to serve as the team's primary closer, as he currently sits first among active players -- and fourth all-time -- with 447 regular-season saves. While Jansen may be nearing the end of his storied career, he showed he still has gas left in the tank with his performance for Boston last year, which included a 3.29 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 28.4 percent strikeout rate and 27 saves. It's still likely that Joyce will get an occasional save opportunity, per Sam Blum of The Athletic, but at least for one season it appears he will be an understudy to Jansen, which cuts down Joyce's fantasy appeal in most formats considerably.

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• Angels' Ben Joyce: Appears set for closing role

  02/03/2025 • By RotoWire

  Joyce is likely to open 2025 as the Angels' closer, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. Joyce enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, posting a 2.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 33:14 K:BB over 34.2 innings across 31 appearances. He worked his way up to a high-leverage role and recorded six holds and four saves over his final 18 appearances. The right-hander certainly has closer-type stuff -- he recently said that he thinks he can top the 105.5 mph fastball he tossed against the Dodgers last year, per Bollinger -- and it appears he'll have the chance to begin 2025 in that role. The Angels don't have much in the way of closer-type arms to offer Joyce competition, so his biggest obstacle to success may be the shaky control he's demonstrated throughout his pro career and his elevated injury risk due to his unmatched velocity.

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• Angels' Ben Joyce: Done for season

  09/15/2024 • By RotoWire

  Angels manager Ron Washington confirmed Sunday that Joyce (shoulder) won't return from the 15-day injured list this season, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. Joyce's placement on the IL is retroactive to Sept. 7, but the Angels won't rush him back for the final week of the season even though an MRI on his right shoulder returned clean. The hard-throwing right-hander has been diagnosed with an impingement in his right shoulder, but he should be in store for a normal offseason. Barring any high-profile additions to the bullpen this winter, Joyce will likely head into spring training as the favorite to open the 2025 campaign as the Angels' closer. After getting called up from the minors in early June, Joyce produced a 2.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 33:14 K:BB over 34.2 innings while collecting two wins and eight holds and going 4-for-4 in save opportunities.

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• Angels' Ben Joyce: Converts save Sunday

  09/02/2024 • By RotoWire

  Joyce allowed a hit and struck out one over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Mariners. Joyce's scoreless streak is up to seven innings over his last six appearances. In that span, he has three saves, a hold and a win while striking out eight and walking none. The flame-throwing right-hander is up to four saves and eight holds while pitching to a 2.14 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 31:14 K:BB through 33.2 innings in the majors this season.

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• Angels' Ben Joyce: Nabs second win

  09/01/2024 • By RotoWire

  Joyce (2-0) picked up the win over the Mariners on Saturday, allowing one hit over one inning while striking out one. Joyce took over in the top of the ninth with the score tied at 4-4 and retired the leadoff batter before hitting Randy Arozarena with a pitch and then giving up a single to Justin Turner. However, the 23-year-old was able to work his way out of the jam and was then rewarded with his second win of the campaign when the Angels walked it off in the bottom of the frame. Joyce has not allowed any runs or walks in five straight appearances while posting seven strikeouts over that stretch. He has, however, allowed at least one hit in three consecutive outings.

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