Fantasy: 5 potential closers to target in your MLB draft

With Opening Day just around the corner, theScore's MLB editors - Jonah Birenbaum, Dan Toman, Greg Warren and Brandon Wile - break down everything you need to know to become a fantasy champion in 2015. Check out all of theScore's fantasy content for the upcoming season here.

Ken Giles, Philadelphia Phillies
2015 Steamer Projections: 65 IP, 6 SAVES, 2.81 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 85 K

Giles thrust himself into elite company last season when he became just the fourth rookie in history to make at least 40 appearances while managing a strikeout rate above 38 percent. Armed with a fastball that hovers around 98 mph and a nasty slider, Giles authored a 1.18 ERA with a 0.79 WHIP in 2014, yielding just one home run while crafting a 5.82 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 45 2/3 innings. Giles would be primed to open the season as Philadelphia's closer if not for one problem: Jonathan Papelbon. Before Giles can assume his rightful role in the bullpen, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has to find a way to get rid of Papelbon - a daunting task considering the veteran's contract and partial no-trade clause. Should Amaro manage to unload Papelbon, though, and continue his rebuilding efforts, Giles will start providing saves in addition to his crazy rate stats and massive strikeout totals.

Kyuji Fujikawa, Texas Rangers
2015 Steamer Projections: 30 IP, 0 SAVES, 3.99 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 26 K

After spending most of his first two stateside seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery, Fujikawa will look to re-establish himself with the Rangers in 2015. Despite managing an ugly 5.04 ERA (78 ERA+) since his 2013 debut, Fujikawa boasts a gaudy 27.2 percent strikeout rate throughout his career while demonstrating (albeit briefly) the same stuff that enabled him to average 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings over 12 seasons with the Hanshin Tigers. Fujikawa has plenty of experience closing, notching 220 saves throughout his tenure in Nippon Professional Baseball, and his peripheral statistics across a small sample of big-league games suggest he'll be successful if he can stay healthy. Neftali Feliz's claim to the ninth inning remains tenuous, meanwhile, after the oft-injured 26-year-old managed a career-worst 4.90 fielding independent pitching last season with a pedestrian 17.9 percent strikeout rate in 30 appearances.

Pat Neshek, Houston Astros
2015 Steamer Projections: 65 IP, 3 SAVES, 3.49 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 60 K

The Astros' bullpen is more crowded than a Scott Boras press conference following a spate of offseason additions, but the highly coveted closer's job is probably headed to either Neshek or fellow newcomer Luke Gregerson. Though Gregerson has a bit more experience in the ninth inning, Neshek is coming off the finest season of his career in 2014, wherein he managed a 1.87 ERA with a 7.56 strikeout-to-walk ratio that ranked fourth among qualified relievers. Known for his unorthodox delivery, Neshek rediscovered his ideal release point last season and induced popups more frequently than all but seven relievers while holding right-handed hitters to a paltry .176/.205/.236 line over 156 plate appearances. Gregerson was terrific last season, too, and both Chad Qualls and Josh Fields could also vie for saves, but Neshek's unparalleled success in 2014 could compel manager A.J. Hinch to give him the first shot at the ninth-inning job.

Adam Ottavino, Colorado Rockies
2015 Steamer Projections: 55 IP, 2 SAVES, 3.43 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 58 K

With all due respect to LaTroy Hawkins - who was drafted before the release of Nirvana's "Nevermind" - Ottavino is probably the reliever most deserving of the ninth-inning job after managing a 2.53 ERA while notching 24 strikeouts and allowing only one home run throughout the second half of last season. Since becoming a reliever in 2012, Ottavino has averaged more than a strikeout per inning while regained velocity helped him to a career-best 25.7 percent strikeout rate last season over 75 appearances. The 29-year-old has also done a fine job limiting the long ball over the last two years despite his unforgiving home ballpark. Though he struggles to neutralize left-handed hitters, Ottavino should be in line for save opportunities when age finally catches up with Hawkins.

Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays
2015 Steamer Projections: 150 IP, 1 SAVE, 4.60 ERA, 1.48 ERA, 125 K

Though Sanchez's future is in the rotation, the 22-year-old will reprise his relief role this season after thoroughly dominating across 24 appearances during his 2014 debut. Despite scuffling a bit prior to his promotion, Sanchez was sublime upon joining the Blue Jays in July, limiting opponents to a .128 batting average while allowing just two extra-base hits - including a home run to Chris Davis - in 121 plate appearances. Sanchez's knack for inducing lousy contact was immediately apparent, as his 65.9 ground-ball percentage fueled a 1.09 ERA and a remarkable 0.70 WHIP - the best mark among hurlers with at least 30 innings pitched. Sanchez even tallied three saves during the final weeks of the season, and the young right-hander will contend once again for save opportunities in 2015 (Brett Cecil is also an option to close) despite a resume featuring only 67 1/3 innings above Double-A.