Closing Time: Cincinnati's messy bullpen, post-hype Padres

The Cincinnati Reds have lost 86 and 98 games the last two seasons, and they’re not expected to contend for the playoffs this year. They’re one of the handful of NL clubs that could easily push 100 losses in 2016.

That said, we want their handshakes just the same. They’ll support a 30-save closer, assuming one man can take the job and run with it.

At the moment, preseason favorite J.J. Hoover doesn’t look like that guy. He’s been scored upon in four of his seven appearances, compiling an ugly pitching line (5.1 IP, 8 H, 10 R, 9 R, 4 BB, 4 K). He’s already given up three homers, and the ERA has swelled to 15.19.

Hoover struggled in a high-leverage (but non-save) situation Tuesday, allowing a two-run homer to Mark Reynolds. Hoover finished the game and the Reds escaped with a one-run victory, but manager Bryan Price openly admitted the team’s closing gig was in question.

Hoover is going to rest Wednesday, no matter the game situation. It’s a chance for Tony Cingrani or Caleb Cotham to step forward.

You probably remember Cingrani, now 26, making a splash as a starter in the second half of 2013 (2.92 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 10.3 K/9). He struggled the following year (two-pitch pitchers often struggle as starters), and wasn’t an effective reliever last season (5.67 ERA, 1.68 WHIP). He’s allowed two runs in 5.2 innings this year, with a bunch of walks (five) and strikeouts (seven).

Cingrani is also left-handed; some teams will allow that as a closer, some teams try to shy away from it. For his career, he's been terrific against lefties, but still effective against righties.

Maybe Cotham, a 28-year-old righty, can throw his hat into the ring. He’s allowed just one run, unearned, over eight innings of work (3 BB, 5 K). He spent six years in the minors before a cup of coffee (bitter, 6.52 ERA) with the Yankees last year.

Jumbo Diaz? He’s not in the mix right now. The Reds optioned him to Triple-A on Tuesday.

So there you have it, save chaser. Place your bets. Can Hoover get back on the beam? Is Cingrani another failed starter that turns into a relief ace? Is Cotham more your speed? Or are you going to ignore this situation until someone actually converts in the ninth?

The windows are open. Cingrani is free to grab in 92 percent of Yahoo leagues, while Cotham waits for work in 99 percent of our world. I have some deep-league shares of both (in pools where you have to get to the new closers before they're fully minted), but if I could take either guy, I'd try Cingrani first.

• Francisco Liriano was one of the DFS darlings for Tuesday, set up at Petco Park, but the Padres messed up the script. Liriano didn’t make it out of the fifth (6 H, 4 R, 5 BB, 4 K, 2 HR) and the Padres held on for a 5-4 victory.

The Padres were a handy punchline last week when Vince Velasquez mowed them down (16 K, 0 BB), but maybe this offense has a little punch to it. The Padres are in the middle of the pack in runs scored. Everyone respects the No. 3 hitter in the lineup, Matt Kemp, and two other names of note are off to solid starts.

Wil Myers is currently holding down the No. 2 spot, and despite a gaggle of strikeouts, he’s off to a good push (.281/.300/.474). He homered off Liriano on Tuesday, his third of the year. He’s still just 25, only four years removed from his uber-prospect days. If Myers can last a full season — injuries have always been the bugaboo with him — we should see a useful fantasy season. He was a wallet player back in March.

Melvin Upton Jr. drew three walks and stole a base, his fourth, in Tuesday’s victory. He’s currently the team’s cleanup man, off to a .298/.377/.511 push. He ripped a dramatic walk-off homer Saturday night. I’ve been fooled by false Upton positives in the past, so maybe I’m the wrong guy to ask. But Upton might have something left in the tank at age 31. Power-speed combos are forever the sirens, singing.

There's time for many of you to get in, if you so desire. Myers trades at 50 percent in Yahoo leagues, while Upton is owned in just 16 percent of The Y.

We also have to stay open minded about Petco Park; it was actually a homer-friendly yard last year, and the run tax was a modest seven percent (compare that to the 17-percent hit scoring took in 2013-14). In past seasons, we could comfortably look at Petco as an extreme pitcher's park, capable of hiding mistakes and suffocating scoring. The playability of the park might always favor the pitcher, but the extreme nature of the park could be a thing of the past.

• Dr. Behrens gave you a strong Jake Lamb endorsement in this space 24 hours ago, so you don’t need a full rehash. Just know Lamb was effective again in Tuesday’s win at San Francisco, with a triple and a walk. He scored a run, knocked one in. So long as he can hang onto the No. 2 gig in this offense, fun stuff should ensue. Jean Segura looks like a factor as the leadoff man, and you know how dangerous Paul Goldschmidt is.

Maybe Lamb won’t do much against Madison Bumgarner on Wednesday — heck, it wouldn’t be a bad time for a day off. But this is someone who should be owned in far more than 17 percent of Yahoo leagues.

• Speaking of post-hype cases, Jarrod Saltalamacchia was a big deal not that long ago, off an explosive 2007 debut with the Rangers and Braves. He was a major piece of the Mark Teixeira trade in the middle of that summer. He was all over the prospect lists in 2006 and 2007.

A lot has happened to Salty since then. Contact problems. Defensive problems. A terrible haircut. He’s also been well-traveled, checking in with five teams over the years. When the Tigers added Salty as their backup catcher in December (stop No. 6), no one paid much attention.

Alas, James McCann is hurt in Detroit, forcing Saltalamacchia into the starting lineup. And apparently there are still some thunderbolts in that bat. Uncle Salty blasted his fifth homer of the year in Tuesday’s loss at Kansas City, giving him four dingers in his last 22 at-bats. He’s been chased up to 39-percent ownership in Yahoo leagues.

The under-the-hood stats are rarely going to be kind to Salty. He’s still striking out a ton (36.4 percent of the time). But given the ugly state of catcher these days (and with McCann on the 15-day DL, ankle), why not kick some tires? Saltalamacchia did slug .474 in his brief stop at Arizona last year. He’s part of a plus lineup. Add some spice to your fantasy roster.