Mark Melancon News

Mark Melancon

34-Year-Old PitcherRP

Atlanta Braves

2019 Stats

W-L

5-2

ERA

3.61

WHIP

1.32

Rest-of-Season Projections

W-L

ERA

WHIP

Unlock Our Projections

2019 Fantasy Outlook

Melancon underwent forearm surgery in September of 2017 and hit the disabled list with an elbow flexor strain in March. After returning June 1, the righty posted his lowest K/9 since his 2009 rookie year and his highest BB/9 since 2010. During the second half his cutter velocity kicked back up, but Melancon will need to fix his walk rate to help offset his diminishing strikeout punch. At least Melancon still has the groundballs -- he has posted at least a 50% groundball rate in all but one big-league season. To no one’s surprise, the 34-year-old didn’t opt out of his albatross contract, which may force San Francisco to keep him hovering around the closer discussion, but even with the improved form from late in 2018, his skills don’t befit an endgamer. We'll bet on Will Smith taking the job, leaving Melancon to gather holds and vulture occasional wins in the middle innings. Read Past Outlooks

RANKSFrom Preseason

#542

ADP

Overall

Reliever

Add To Watchlist

League Majors

Bats R

Throws R

40 Man Yes

Height 6'2"

Weight 215

DOB 3/28/1985

Drafted 9th Rd 2006

Expected to remain primary closer

PAtlanta Braves

November 14, 2019

Melancon is expected to remain as the Braves' primary closer next season, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

ANALYSIS
Atlanta's bullpen became even more crowded Thursday when the team signed Will Smith, who recorded 34 saves last season with the Giants. However, the Braves still plan to use Melancon as their primary closer in 2020 after he recorded a 3.61 ERA with 12 saves last year. Melancon will likely have a shorter leash as a closer next season since the Braves have several other capable closers in Smith and Shane Greene.

Read More News

Pitching Stats

Loading Pitching Stats...

MLB Game Log

Calculate Stats Over Time

Just click on any two dates.

Scoring

FanDuel

DraftKings

Yahoo DFS

FantasyDraft

Head2Head

Loading Pitching Game Log...

Minor League Game Log

Calculate Stats Over Time

Just click on any two dates.

Loading Minor League Pitching Game Log...

Pitching Appearances Breakdown

Average Pitch Count

Last 10 Games

Last 5 Games

How many pitches does Mark Melancon generally throw?

1-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

41-50

51-60

61-70

71-80

81-90

91-100

101-110

111-120

121+

1-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

41-50

51-60

61-70

71-80

81-90

91-100

101-110

111-120

121+

1-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

41-50

51-60

61-70

71-80

81-90

91-100

101-110

111-120

121+

What part of the game does Mark Melancon generally pitch?

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

Extra

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

Extra

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

Extra

% Games Reaching Innings Threshold

% Games By Number of Innings Pitched

Left/Right Pitching Splits

Since 2017

-2%

BAA vs LHP

2019

-5%

BAA vs RHP

2018

-13%

BAA vs RHP

2017

-32%

BAA vs LHP

	BAA	Batters	K	BB	H	2B	3B	HR
Since 2017vs Left	.282	240	55	19	62	10	2	2
Since 2017vs Right	.289	348	73	19	94	16	1	7
2019vs Left	.278	106	25	9	27	4	1	0
2019vs Right	.265	178	43	9	44	5	0	4
2018vs Left	.328	64	17	5	19	3	0	0
2018vs Right	.287	110	14	9	29	6	1	2
2017vs Left	.246	70	13	5	16	3	1	2
2017vs Right	.362	60	16	1	21	5	0	1
More Splits→	View More Split Stats

Home/Away Pitching Splits

Since 2017

-49%

ERA at Home

2019

-30%

ERA at Home

2018

-54%

ERA at Home

2017

-70%

ERA at Home

	ERA	WHIP	IP	W	L	SV	K/9	BB/9	HR/9
Since 2017Home	2.57	1.26	73.2	4	2	15	9.3	2.1	0.4
Since 2017Away	5.03	1.61	62.2	3	6	11	7.5	3.0	0.9
2019Home	3.00	1.36	36.0	3	0	8	10.0	2.3	0.5
2019Away	4.31	1.28	31.1	2	2	4	8.0	2.6	0.6
2018Home	2.11	1.36	21.1	1	2	3	7.6	2.1	0.0
2018Away	4.58	1.87	17.2	0	2	0	6.6	4.6	1.0
2017Home	2.20	0.92	16.1	0	0	4	9.9	1.7	0.6
2017Away	7.24	2.05	13.2	1	2	7	7.2	2.0	1.3
More Splits→	View More Split Stats

Stat Review

How does Mark Melancon compare to other relievers?

This section compares his stats with all relief pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 30 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.

* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 30 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.

K/BB

3.78

K/9

9.1

BB/9

2.4

HR/9

0.5

Fastball

92.2 mph

ERA

3.61

WHIP

1.32

BABIP

.355

GB/FB

4.17

Left On Base

73.1%

Exit Velocity

88.6 mph

Barrels/BBE

2.0%

Spin Rate

2409 rpm

Balls Hit 95+ MPH

35.2%

Swinging Strike

10.3%

Advanced Pitching Stats

Loading Advanced Pitching Stats...

Defensive Stats

Loading MLB Defensive Stats...

Stats Vs Today's Lineup

Want more matchup stats?

View Mark Melancon vs. Batter Stats

Loading Matchup Stats...

Braves Depth Chart

Our full team depth charts are reserved for RotoWire subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Mark Melancon

Postseason Cheatsheet

50 days ago

Jeff Erickson's quick postseason ranks.

NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week

75 days ago

Brandon Nimmo is back and Jan Levine feels he's worth a significant investment based on the early returns.

The Z Files: Second-Half Bullpen and Basepath Observations

84 days ago

Todd Zola digs into recent stolen base and bullpen numbers looking for an edge and notes that Trea Turner isn't the only National who's been tearing up the basepaths lately.

NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week

96 days ago

Jan Levine continues to guide us along the latest path of free-agent possibilities, including some up-and-coming pitchers and a couple serviceable infielders.

Oak's Corner: Looking Ahead to 2020; Focusing on 2019

98 days ago

With just six weeks left in the season, Scott Jenstad offers his best guess as to what the 2020 first round ADP will look like, with the third spot going to the Brewers’ Christian Yelich.

Past Fantasy Outlooks

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

Heading into the 2017 season, hopes were high that Melancon's reliable arm could cure San Francisco's bullpen woes. Unfortunately, a series of injuries shortened Melancon's season. Multiple trips to the disabled list with a recurring forearm and elbow injury limited Melancon to just 30 innings over 32 games, a significant decline after four straight seasons with at least 72 appearances. Ultimately, Melancon had season-ending pronator surgery in September to fix his elbow. When healthy, he wasn't as effective as he'd been previously as he picked up just 11 saves while blowing five opportunities and ended the season with a 4.50 ERA and 1.43 WHIP, his highest marks since 2012. However, bad luck could have played a role, as opponents posted a .374 BABIP with Melancon on the mound. Despite his down year, Melancon will serve as San Francisco's closer next season and should be fully healthy when spring training arrives, making him a prime candidate for a bounce-back season.

Melancon was once again dominant in 2016, and while his strikeout rate is no longer above 9.0 per nine innings, his elite cutter produces as much weak contact and as many easy outs as any pitch in the majors. He hasn't allowed a BABIP above .275 in three seasons, and a HR/9 rate above 0.47 in four. The 32-year-old right-hander didn't miss a beat after being dealt to the Nationals at the deadline, and his 98 saves over the last two seasons lead the majors. The Giants signed him to a four-year contract in the offseason, and while his lack of an overpowering fastball does cause him to get overlooked when the league's best closers get named, Melancon's track record of success is a match for anyone's. Expect him to continue his exceptional run in San Francisco.

Melancon led the majors with 51 saves in 2015, recovering from a shaky April when his fastball didn’t touch 90 mph. The 31-year-old set a club record with 35 straight saves — he blew only two save opportunities all season — courtesy of a devastating cutter. His finished with a 7.28 K/9 rate, his lowest in seven years, but the results were never better. Neither Melancon nor the team ever stated what led to his diminished velocity, but he regained speed as the season went along. So long as the reliever demonstrates impeccable command — he boasts a 203:33 K:BB ratio in three years with Pittsburgh — there’s reason to believe he’ll remain one of the top closers in the majors.

Melancon finally took over for an ineffective Jason Grilli as Pittsburgh's closer in early May and never looked back. Armed with a cutter learned from former teammate, Mariano Rivera, the 28-year-old right-hander converted 33 of 37 save opportunities and added 14 holds. The Pirates seem to like Melancon more as a setup man but really have no one better to close out games. He allowed 51 hits in 71 innings and fashioned an impressive 71:11 K:BB ratio, compiling a 1.90 ERA and career-low 0.87 WHIP. He remains ahead of lefty Tony Watson in the bullpen pecking order and the team is still finding out how to use newcomer John Holdzkom, making it likely Melancon closes again for Pittsburgh in 2015.

Melancon is expected to serve as Pittsburgh's primary setup man for closer Jason Grilli again in 2014. He collected 26 holds during the first four months before a Grilli injury gave him a chance to close, where the cut-fastball extraordinaire saved 16 games. Melancon's numbers -- 1.39 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 70:8 K:BB ratio -- show his dominance. Right-handed batters seemed to figure him out late in the year, taking his pitches opposite field to the tune of a .286 OBA. Lefties hit just .148/.168/.189 against the right-hander. Fantasy owners wonder whether Melancon's 4.22 ERA and 1.59 WHIP in September was a blip on the radar or a sign of future performance in 2014.

Melancon flamed out spectacularly in April last season and was sent to Triple-A Pawtucket before the month was over. He pitched better in his stay with the PawSox, and was eventually recalled to Boston in June. He had a sneaky good September, while closer Andrew Bailey finished poorly. Making things more interesting, Melancon was sent to Pittsburgh in December as part of the Joel Hanrahan deal. It's expected that Melancon will be the next in line for saves if Jason Grilli is unable to handle the ninth-inning role for the Bucs.

An injury to Brandon Lyon opened the door for Melancon to take over the closing duties for the Astros last season. He doesn't have overpowering stuff, but Melancon responded to the opportunity with a strong 2.78 ERA and 1.224 WHIP, while racking up eight wins and 20 saves. Melancon is an extreme groundball pitcher, posting the fourth highest groundball rate for a reliever pitching at least 70 innings in the National League last year. It's no wonder he's able to keep the ball in the park. The Astros traded Melancon to the Red Sox in December, where he'll set up for Andrew Bailey.

Melancon came over to the Astros in the deal that sent Lance Berkman to the Bronx. He has a live arm and a good mentality for the bullpen. Control has often been a problem, but continued success at making batters miss mitigates the impact. With Matt Lindstrom traded to Colorado, Melancon is one step closer to getting save chances should anything happen to Brandon Lyon this season.

Melancon carried over his 2008 success into 2009, posting a 2.89 ERA and 54:11 K:BB ratio in 32 Triple-A relief appearances. He was adequate in 16.1 innings with the Yankees, and the team still views him as a potential closer down the road because of his temperament and pitching arsenal, highlighted by a sinking fastball that can touch 95 mph and a power curve. He’ll compete for a bullpen spot with the Yankees this season.

Returning from a missed season in 2007 due to Tommy John surgery, Melancon actually came back very strong last season while starting the year at High-A Tampa and eventually finishing at Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre. Melancon racked up 96 innings of relief over three levels and managed to improve his strikeout rate at each stop. In his arsenal, Melancon has a low-90s fastball that can still touch 95 mph along with a power curveball and a tough changeup. A set-up role at some point in 2009 isn't out of the question and he could win an Opening Day spot in the bullpen. Long term, Melancon profiles as a potential successor to Mariano Rivera as the team's closer.

More Fantasy News

Records 12th save

PAtlanta Braves

September 19, 2019

Melancon didn't allow a baserunner and struck out two in the ninth inning to record the save Thursday against Philadelphia.