Fantasy Baseball Closer Depth Charts - MLB Bullpens and Saves

Fantasy baseball closers depth charts for MLB bullpens, saves, holds are updated daily. Our 2025 fantasy baseball closer rankings for all AL and NL bullpens.

Saves are an important component for many fantasy baseball leagues. Closers are one of the most volatile positions in fantasy baseball, and one of the highest turnover positions in MLB. Each year, closers drop like flies and many MLB teams make in-season changes due to injuries or poor performance.

Relief pitchers are becoming increasingly important for fantasy baseball pitching staffs even beyond closers and saves. Bullpen arms with elite ratios will be relied upon heavily, especially for those in Holds (HLD) leagues or Saves+Holds leagues (SV+HLD) formats. But not to worry, the RotoBaller team is here every day to help you stay on top of all closer depth charts for the AL and NL, and dominate in saves, holds and bullpen arms this year.

We will be updating the MLB Closers & Saves Depth Charts all season and all off-season long. Be sure to also check out these running quick-hit updates from Nick Mariano (@NMariano53), looking at the most recent closers and bullpen news from around MLB.

Closer News and Bullpen Updates

4/6: Jordan Romano acknowledged he has to get right, reclaim lost velocity, and review his mechanics after another sloppy outing on Sunday. He was tasked with guarding a 6-4 lead in the seventh inning against the 9-1-2 group of the Dodgers' order. He gave up two hits and a walk before getting the hook, but Orion Kerkering couldn't end the inning before all of them came around to score.

Kerkering should be the right-handed leverage arm alongside Jose Alvarado for saves. The southpaw got Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Tommy Edman out in order for his second save to remain a high-priority add.

4/6: Minnesota went to Jhoan Duran in the eighth against Houston's 8-9-1 bats, which left some scratching their heads. Naturally, Griffin Jax promptly gave up a game-tying homer to Yordan Alvarez in the ninth as the Astros would win in the 10th. Jax has allowed multiple hitters to reach base in all three of his appearances thus far and needs to be monitored. Josh Hader threw a pair of clean innings for the win.

4/6: Pittsburgh leaned on Dennis Santana for the eighth inning with NYY's 1-2-3 bats, which includes Aaron Judge, due up. Santana retired them in order and is the best PIT RP right now, though they aren't pigeonholing him.

Ryan Borucki was then given a chance at the save with some lefties coming up but he looked lost against righty bats and blew the save. Caleb Ferguson tossed a scoreless 10th and should be the key left-handed RP for them. Joey Wentz struck out two in a perfect 11th to secure the win.

4/6: Ryan Helsley couldn't find his control on a rainy Boston day, giving up two runs on a hit and four walks for his first blown save. He only threw 16 strikes on 37 pitches but we're not going to worry unless this becomes a pattern. Phil Maton preceded him in the eighth.

4/6: The Cubs bullpen melted down again, with both Porter Hodge and Ryan Pressly yielding runs in the late frames thanks to leadoff walks. At least Pressly's run was unearned due to a Justin Turner error, but Hodge remains the long-term bet here. It may take a bit so be patient.

4/6: The White Sox were the White Sox on Sunday, eventually blowing a 3-1 lead to Detroit in the ninth. Presumed closer Mike Clevinger was brought out in the seventh and walked a pair while recording just one out, leading to his being removed so Cam Booser could face LHB Riley Greene.

Penn Murfee, Fraser Ellard, and Jordan Leasure all had poor command of the strike zone and gave up multiple baserunners in abbreviated work. Leasure and Booser may sneak into some opportunities but the fact remains that this is a bullpen to avoid. Detroit had Tommy Kahnle and John Brebbia toss perfect eighth and ninth innings, respectively.

4/6: Lucas Erceg struck out two in a 1-2-3 eighth before Carlos Estevez punched out one in a perfect frame of his own for save No. 2 on the year. Business as usual here.

Read even more closer updates.

AL EAST: 2025 Fantasy Baseball Closers & Saves

AL CENTRAL: 2025 Fantasy Baseball Closers & Saves

AL WEST: 2025 Fantasy Baseball Closers & Saves

NL EAST: 2025 Fantasy Baseball Closers & Saves

NL CENTRAL: 2025 Fantasy Baseball Closers & Saves

NL WEST: 2025 Fantasy Baseball Closers & Saves

Previous Closers and Saves News Updates

2025 Season

• • 4/5: Jordan Romano earned his first save but gave up two runs on a Tommy Edman home run that followed a leadoff walk to Mookie Betts. He’d walk Will Smith later but J.T. Realmuto saved Romano by throwing out pinch-runner Chris Taylor at second to end things. Romano has already allowed four runs with a 6:3 K:BB over four frames and truly should be lower on the leverage ladder at this time. Orion Kerkering is a better right-handed complement to Jose Alvarado in the ninth, but Philly may keep Kerkering as a fireman with Matt Strahm. Alvarado is the strongest buy of the bunch.
  • 4/5: Those thinking Arizona had totally shifted to A.J. Puk for saves got a reminder of the timeshare on Friday. Puk entered for the eighth with CJ Abrams and James Wood due up before Justin Martinez notched his first save with a scoreless ninth. Roster both with confidence.
  • 4/5: Luke Jackson struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth for his fourth save of the young season. You don’t have to trust him but it is clear that Bruce Bochy does.
  • 4/5: Trevor Megill’s first save of the year was nearly a blown save when Matt McLain hit a 399-foot fly out on a high fastball that wasn’t high enough. At the end of the day, Megill carries a sweet 0.00 ERA/0.60 WHIP with six strikeouts and zero walks over 3 ⅓ IP. Pretty good!
  • 4/5: Emmanuel Clase entered a dreaded non-save situation up 8-4 and promptly gave up a solo homer to Logan O’Hoppe. A two-out single and Jo Adell double made it 8-6 before Clase ended things. It’s early but his value is built on elite, league-leading ratios rather than strikeouts. He only has a pair of punchouts across four frames to go with this 6.75 ERA/1.75 WHIP. 
  • 4/5: The Red Sox carried a 13-6 lead into the ninth inning but Cooper Criswell couldn’t shut things down, which led to Aroldis Chapman getting the final two outs once the game created a save situation. It’s his second save of the year and while he only has two strikeouts over 2 ⅔ IP, it’s only a matter of time before the whiffs come rolling in.
  • 4/5: The Cubbies followed Shota Imanaga’s strong 7 ⅓ IP with Porter Hodge in the eighth and Ryan Pressly in the ninth. It’s Hodge’s fourth hold and Pressly’s third save, so it looks like this is the cemented order despite their results. Hodge is a better pitcher (0 ER, 1.29 WHIP, 6 Ks in 4 ⅔ IP) than Pressly (3 ER, 2.60 WHIP, 2 Ks in 5 IP) so don’t give up hope yet.
  • 4/5: Mason Miller’s second save of the year came in the Denver tundra in a snowy game, which may explain why only 5-of-12 pitches were thrown for strikes. The heater still maxed out at 101. 2 mph in the 11th inning after the Athletics finally snagged a 6-3 lead. Miller remains one of the best options.
  • 4/4: Milwaukee had Joel Payamps nail down his first save of the year on Thursday with Trevor Megill unavailable. The regular stopper had pitched on back-to-back days and three of the last four, as had Jared Koenig. Abner Uribe had also pitched on Tuesday and Wednesday and was presumably iced. This is what happens when you grind out three straight 1-0 wins! Those looking for intel on the next man up behind Megill should consider Payamps with Uribe, with Koenig the high-leverage lefty. Bryan Hudson had a perfect inning after walking two in each of his first two appearances.
  • 4/4: Checking in on the Astros, we see business as usual with perfect innings from Bryan King, Bryan Abreu, and Josh Hader (save No. 3) to follow Hunter Brown’s quality start. It’ll be interesting to see if others step up enough for Houston to follow through with the plan to ease back on using Abreu and Hader as much as the past couple of seasons.
  • 4/4: The Phillies sent out Orion Kerkering for the seventh before using Jordan Romano in the eighth, which provided Jose Alvarado with his first save of the season. It came with a run allowed on three hits, though he did log another three strikeouts. The southpaw now has 10 Ks in just 4 IP after an electrifying spring. Mix the whiffs with a share of the ninth and we’ve got a premium RP.
  • 4/4: The Yanks held a 9-3 lead by the sixth inning and hoped the low-leverage arms could get them through, but Ryan Yarbrough yielded a grand slam to Geraldo Perdomo to make it a two-run game. With Devin Williams still on the paternity list, Mark Leiter Jr. and Luke Weaver were left to secure the final seven outs. They obliged and Williams should be back soon, but Weaver remains a solid play no matter which inning(s) he takes.
  • 4/3: Dennis Santana did indeed receive Wednesday’s save chance and worked around a walk to record the save. Further solidifying his bid to secure the closer’s role is Colin Holderman once again gave up a run. That makes three scored-upon appearances for the 29-year-old in four games, so get those Santana adds in.
  • 4/3: Milwaukee used Trevor Megill in the ninth of a 1-1 tie and he responded with three strikeouts in a zesty frame. There were some spring concerns but he looks sharp thus far. On the other side, Kansas City saw Carlos Estevez absorb the extra-inning blown save but only the unearned “Manfred” runner scored. Two walks look bad but they were both intentional to load the bases before the stopper notched three straight outs.
  • 4/3: Aroldis Chapman logged his first save of the season with one strikeout and one walk, needing just 18 pitches to get the job done. Just a reminder that Chapman, Justin Slaten, and even Garrett Whitlock could see saves for Boston.
  • 4/3: Arizona wanted Ryan Thompson to finish out a 4-0 game but two singles to open the ninth required a move. It was once again A.J. Puk on for the save, though he gave up a Yankee Stadium right field cheapie to Anthony Volpe (who wasn’t sure the ball got out for a while). The southpaw handled business beyond that, but the back-to-back saves coming with back-to-back HRs surrendered at NYY don’t feel great. Both Puk and Justin Martinez remain healthy plays.
  • 4/3: Anthony Bender backers can rejoice in his main competition struggling (again) on Wednesday night. Bender didn’t pitch in the 6-5 loss to the Mets but Calvin Faucher gave up three runs in the eighth. The early 9.00 ERA/2.00 WHIP in three innings makes Bender look like the clear favorite for saves.
  • 4/2: Detroit closed out Tuesday’s 3-1 victory over Seattle with a combination of Beau Brieske, Will Vest, and Tommy Kahnle. Brieske would allow a leadoff walk to score on an eventual sac fly thanks to a wild pitch but otherwise held it together. Vest and Kahnle pitched perfect frames and have looked great thus far. Kahnle got the ninth so he and that power changeup have our heightened attention.
  • 4/2: Another DBacks data point had them use Justin Martinez in the eighth inning with a 7-4 lead to face the Yankees’ right-hitting heart of the order. He struck out Aaron Judge, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Anthony Volpe in a row. A.J. Puk then entered to face three straight LHBs, though he did yield a Ben Rice solo home run before icing the save. Both deserve spots in fantasy lineups.
  • 4/2: Anthony Bender retired the final two batters of Miami’s win on Tuesday for save No. 1 on the year. He’s made three scoreless appearances and only allowed one runner to reach base, which looks better than Calvin Faucher’s 2:3 K:BB in two innings of work. It shouldn’t suddenly become a lopsided committee but Bender’s form is more trustworthy and appealing to fantasy managers with WHIPs to protect.
  • 4/1: The Pirates optioned David Bednar to Triple-A after a horrid opening series against Miami. He needs time in low-leverage spots to regain his command before taking MLB innings again. For fantasy purposes, the next man up could be one of Colin Holderman, Dennis Santana, and Caleb Ferguson. Ferguson is a southpaw and may get a couple of saves if the opposing lineup splits allow. Holderman would've been the preseason answer, but he's blown two saves already and has allowed either a run or multiple baserunners in each of his first three games. Santana, who has a 3:2 K:BB in 1 1/3 IP, owns the slight lean for now.
  • 4/1: Devin Williams was placed on the paternity list today so we’d expect Luke Weaver to pick up saves in the meantime. The Yanks just had Monday off so everyone should be available.
  • 4/1: Ryan Walker’s back looks fine after striking out two Astros in a scoreless ninth, though he was robbed of a save opportunity by the offense scoring two in the top of the inning. It’s valuable knowing that Camilo Doval, who pitched a perfect seventh, looks in form, but it’s Walker’s bullpen.
  • 4/1: Felix Bautista was readying to enter the ninth with a one-run lead but Baltimore put up four runs that would come in handy. Now in a non-save opportunity, Bautista only threw 12-of-26 pitches for strikes with two runs allowed on two hits and a pair of walks. We must be gracious as he finds his footing in the early season (his sinker maxed out at 98.2 mph). Yennier Cano took the eighth inning, Keegan Akin struck out two in the seventh and Seranthony Dominguez enjoyed the win for a clean sixth. *Those four ninth-inning BAL runs came at the expense of Justin Slaten, who gave up a trio of singles on middling contact with a walk before getting yanked. He’ll be fine. Garrett Whitlock tossed scoreless fifth and sixth innings and may be the steadiest arm available, but being able to go multiple innings usually gets him active earlier than the ninth.
  • 4/1: Tanner Scott came in for the eighth inning up 6-0 with lefty bats like Michael Harris II and Matt Olson due up. Unfortunately, he threw a mistake fastball down the pipe which Harris tagged for a solo HR. Otherwise, he struck out two and still looks solid even if the command isn’t sharpened yet.
  • 3/30: David Bednar is in trouble. Pittsburgh's closer entered a 2-2 tie in the ninth and gave up an infield single after falling behind Miami's Derek Hill. The speedy Hill then stole second and took third thanks to a throwing error from Endy Rodriguez. Bednar then uncorked a wild pitch in the dirt and that's all she wrote. While the run was unearned, this makes three consecutive poor appearances from Bednar to open the year. Colin Holderman gave up a run in the seventh while Caleb Ferguson worked around two baserunners to pitch a scoreless eighth. At this point, Ferguson may have the best form, but Holderman may still be the pivot. Justin Lawrence has closing experience from Colorado but should still be behind those two and even Dennis Santana should a change be made. (It should be.)
  • 3/29: Seth Halvorsen got the final four outs with a strikeout and zero baserunners to seal the win. We doubt they suddenly cement him in the ninth, but it is a notable performance given that both Tyler Kinley and Victor Vodnik had failed to keep the scoresheet clean the day before. Any Rockies reliever is still a suboptimal play, but some of us have to get dirty for saves!
  • 3/30: San Francisco used Camilo Doval to record Sunday's save because Ryan Walker is dealing with back tightness. He's day-to-day for now and has been dealing with it for a couple of days now, with the team expecting Walker to be available Monday. But Doval did strike out one over a perfect inning, throwing 8-of-11 pitches for strikes. Seeing him with good command is great in case something sidelines Walker for an extended period of time.
  • 3/29: Cincinnati sent Emilio Pagan out for a perfect ninth after Tony Santillan and Graham Ashcraft worked the seventh and eighth, respectively. It's tough to chase one day with such a wide pool of arms but Pagan now has two clean frames to his name and is a viable pickup.
  • 3/29: Kansas City gained a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning and then had Lucas Erceg take the eighth before Carlos Estevez closed it out. Erceg faced the 9-1-2 batters while Estevez got the middle so one can’t lean on “Erceg simply faces the better hitters” here. This is likely the runout more often than not.
  • 3/29: After Luke Jackson worked back-to-back games to open the season, Texas turned to Chris Martin for Saturday’s save. He struck out two in a perfect frame, throwing 9-of-13 pitches for strikes. He’s likely the better pitcher compared to Jackson, but he’s also 38 with some durability concerns so perhaps his workload and B2B appearances will be limited. Both must be rostered.
  • 3/29: San Diego had Adrian Morejon work the ninth for his first save of the season, but it’s difficult to read much into it. All three of Robert Suarez, Jason Adam, and Jeremiah Estrada had pitched in their first two games. It’s great to know that Morejon has that trust still but he’s still the RP3/4 on the team, though being a lefty could snag a couple of extra opportunities if Suarez is off.
  • 3/28: Edwin Diaz locked down his first save of the season on 15 pitches, snagging two whiffs on nine swings with an overall 33 percent CSW rate. He touched 98 mph with the four-seamer and looked comfortable throwing his slider. Ryne Stanek had the eighth, A.J. Minter worked the seventh, and Reed Garrett held the sixth. None of the four relievers surrendered a hit in an impressive effort.
  • 3/28: Despite giving up three runs in Thursday’s opener, Luke Jackson was tabbed for Friday’s save opp and rewarded Bruce Bochy with a 1-2-3 ninth. Neither Chris Martin nor Robert Garcia appeared, with Jacob Webb tossing a perfect eighth. It may be a volatile ride but Jackson needs to be rostered in most leagues.
  • 3/28: David Bednar’s struggles continue as he gave up a leadoff walk that scored on an Otto Lopez home run. Luckily, he was working with a three-run lead and the bottom of Miami’s order was vulnerable. This came one day after he allowed three to reach base (two hits, one intentional walk) without recording an out in the season-opening loss. Dennis Santana and Colin Holderman are good stashes.
  • 3/28: Tampa Bay knotted the game at two in the seventh after a scoreless Hunter Bigge frame and sent Mason Montgomery out with his triple-digit heat for a clean eighth. Pete Fairbanks then got the ninth and worked around two walks to keep things tied for a walk-off homer from Kameron Misner off of Victor Vodnik. Colorado saw both Vodnik and Tyler Kinley give up runs but Vodnik should still be the 1A. Ideally, you can avoid that entire scene.
  • 3/27: Cincinnati held a 3-2 lead going into the late innings and had Scott Barlow, Emilio Pagan, and Tony Santillan handle the sixth, seventh, and eighth, respectively. Instead of going between presumed candidates Taylor Rogers and Graham Ashcraft for the ninth, they used Ian Gibaut, who served up four runs on three hits and a walk. A surprising gameplan, but getting punished may take it off the menu. Stay tuned!
  • 3/27: With a 2-2 lead in the eighth inning, Boston indeed turned to Aroldis Chapman to face Corey Seager and the heart of the order. The Red Sox then took the lead in the top of the ninth and Justin Slaten slammed the door with a perfect frame. Garrett Whitlock also tossed two scoreless innings before Chapman. With Liam Hendriks (elbow) on IL, each of those three RPs is worth rostering in most formats.
  • 3/27: The Phillies took a 3-1 advantage into the eighth and turned to Jordan Romano with the 8-9-1 section of Washington’s lineup due up (with two righties). But he walked Dylan Crews and hit Jacob Young, who then pulled off a double steal. Both would score. Jose Alvarado struck out two in a perfect ninth. The L/R split of who is due up will be decisive early but Alvarado, who lost weight and picked up velocity, looks like a solid play.
  • 3/27: Following a tumultuous postseason and iffy spring, Emmanuel Clase blew his first save opportunity via three hits allowed. He did hit 100.1 mph and regularly sat at 99, with two of the hits against logging .230 and .040 xBA marks. It’s not encouraging but it may not be as bad as you think. Paul Sewald scooped the 10th-inning save with Cade Smith, Tim Herrin, and Hunter Gaddis working scoreless innings ahead of Clase.
  • 3/27: With Opening Day hours away, Boston announced Liam Hendriks was being placed on the 15-day IL due to right elbow inflammation. It's brutal news about what was meant to be a feel-good comeback effort, but that will be on hold for now. Aroldis Chapman had already won the closing role, so the fallout is that Justin Slaten becomes the clear right-handed complement to Chapman. We'll also track how they utilize Garrett Whitlock in the early going.
  • 3/26: Tony Santillan was described as the "easy choice" for closing in Cincinnati by Terry Francona, but also added that "he might be too valuable getting to the ninth." The 27-year-old posted an incredible 46:9 K:BB in 30 IP last year but lesser velocity and whiffs this spring have tempered excitement. Perhaps it is calculated and part of the ramp-up period. For now, we'll consider Santillan and Graham Ashcraft the more exciting options available to CIN.
  • 3/26: The Tigers optioned Jason Foley to Triple-A, which opens the door for several Detroit relievers to vie for saves. Beau Brieske is the most intriguing, but Tyler Holton (a lefty), Tommy Kahnle, Will Vest, and even Kenta Maeda could see opportunities. Speculation starts with Brieske, though one should not expect set roles from A.J. Hinch's bullpen. Stay tuned!
  • 3/25: Ian Browne, the Red Sox beat for MLB.com, posted that while Aroldis Chapman enters the year as Boston's closer, matchups may dictate his entering in the eighth for a key lefty. That would leave Liam Hendriks or Justin Slaten for the ninth, so don't draft thinking this is a cut-and-dry leverage ladder!
  • 3/24: Luke Jackson is officially on the radar for saves in Texas. He took the ninth for Monday's spring game after Robert Garcia pitched the seventh and Chris Martin had the eighth. Bruce Bochy said this was "pretty close" to how he envisions the final frames but the roles aren't solidified. Jackson had an ugly 5.09 ERA and 1.47 WHIP last season, but the 3.73 SIERA was far more palatable and he'd been dynamite in his previous two seasons. He's earned trust with six shutout innings of two-hit ball this spring, though both Garcia and Martin have each only allowed one run.
  • 3/23: Alexis Diaz will open the season on the injured list with hamstring inflammation. He was already fading as a target due to poor performance but the lack of a clear next man up muddied the waters. Graham Ashcraft has mentioned an appetite for the role, with Scott Barlow, Taylor Rogers, and Emilio Pagan bringing past experience to the table. No one has stood out this spring but we don't know exactly what they've been tasked with working on either, so one can only make so many assumptions from the stats. Rogers is the initial lean, Barlow's 7:0 K:BB is the prettiest on paper, and Ashcraft converting to the 'pen is intriguing. Stay tuned for more.
  • 3/21: Boston's closer battle between Liam Hendriks and Aroldis Chapman looks to have gone the southpaw's way after Hendriks himself endorsed Chapman. Chapman has allowed two runs with a 14:5 K:BB in 7 1/3 IP while Hendriks has allowed seven runs on 14 hits with a 4:0 K:BB in 6 1/3 IP.It's worth noting that Garrett Whitlock has only surrendered an unearned run over four innings, striking out seven with zero walks. Those targeting FrankenAce builds should not overlook his potential out of the 'pen!
  • 3/20: Per O's skipper Brandon Hyde, Felix Bautista's Opening Day status remains in the air. March 20 saw him throwing on the backfields with Hyde saying, "We haven't solidified anything there yet," regarding Bautista's status. With Andrew Kittredge (knee) out, early save opportunities could go to Yennier Cano or Keegan Akin (a lefty). Seranthony Dominguez has allowed 12 runs in 4 2/3 IP this spring so he'd likely be behind the others right now.
  • 3/19: Torey Lovullo said that Arizona will not have a named closer to start the season, per SI's Jack Sommers. It will be a matchup-based approach in the late frames, presumably with the same trio of Justin Martinez, A.J. Puk, and Kevin Ginkel in the mix. All are worth rostering this early in the year, as all should provide over a strikeout per inning with an avenue to high-leverage saves, holds, and wins across tight games.
  • 3/17: Alexis Diaz allowed multiple baserunners in his first two spring outings but kept things scoreless, only to allow five runs on three hits and three walks in his latest appearance on March 15. Five total runs on five hits and five walks to one strikeout has Terry Francona looking to "sync up his delivery a little more," by sending him to a minor-league game. The Cincinnati Enquirer's Gordon Wittenmyer also reminded us that Diaz was shopped over the winter. He goes on to say that in terms of trust for the ninth, Emilio Pagan and Tony Santillan are "near the top of that list," with Scott Barlow and Taylor Rogers. Monitor this closely. We will cram them into the Direct Backup slot for now.
  • 3/16: Pirates' skipper Derek Shelton was non-committal about who would be their closer to open the season, saying he doesn't "think right now we have that." David Bednar entered the spring as likely to regain the ninth but has allowed nine runs (eight earned) on 10 hits and three walks over five innings. Dennis Santana has only allowed one run, one hit, and one walk with two strikeouts over 5 2/3 IP thus far while Colin Holderman has a pristine 7:0 K:BB over six innings of one-run ball. Kyle Nicolas and Tanner Rainey have also pitched well. This is a volatile situation right now, with Santana and Holderman on watch lists.
  • 3/16: Miami's presumed closer battle was between Calvin Faucher and Jesus Tinoco, but neither has impressed throughout spring training. Tinoco has five earned runs and walks through 7 1/3 IP. Faucher has been better with three earned and a 5:2 K:BB over six frames. Anthony Bender also has three earned over six but owns a 7:0 K:BB instead, so don't overlook his entering the fray.
  • 3/16: Tyler Kinley has been outstanding through six scoreless innings of one-hit spring action (9:2 K:BB). Seth Halvorsen has let up six runs with a 5:4 K:BB in 5 2/3 IP and Victor Vodnik (6 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 7:1 K:BB) hasn't dazzled. Kinley appears to have the best form to target at this time.
  • 3/16: Boston's late frames remain unclear. Liam Hendriks has allowed six runs on 12 hits over five innings but he's missed so much time and has zero walks so perhaps he's just testing command in the zone. Aroldis Chapman has his usual high-strikeout, high-walk approach with a 10:4 K:BB in 5 1/3 IP (two ER). Justin Slaten had looked strong but then caught ill and is building back up. Garrett Whitlock may have the most talent but it's unclear if they'd utilize him there rather than being a multi-inning/swingman type.
  • 3/3: Alexis Diaz is dealing with a hamstring tweak but no one seems worried. He slipped during pitchers' fielding practice (PFP) last week and is easing back into action. Beats quoted Diaz as saying he feels "great" and the expectation is he'll begin game action this weekend on March 8 or 9.
  • 2/28: Carlos Estevez was scheduled to pitch on February 26 but was scratched due to left lower back tightness. He did throw a side session and no one seems concerned at this time. There is still time to get him sufficient game action before Opening Day. If it lingers then Lucas Erceg has a chance at early momentum here.
  • 2/27: The Phillies may again "mix and match" the late innings to begin 2025 according to NBC's Corey Seidman. Matt Strahm gave up a home run but struck out two and looked sharp overall. Jordan Romano pumped up to 96-98 mph while Jose Alvarado broke triple digits following offseason weight loss. Orion Kerkering worked last out of their fearsome foursome and tossed a scoreless frame. Romano's experience edge may play with a good spring, but April could bring a wide array of results.
  • 2/26: Liam Hendriks touched 96 mph with the heat, showing the most life we've seen on the pitch since his injuries started piling up. He averaged around 96-97 mph between 2019-22, so having that fire this early in spring training bodes well.
  • 2/25: Kyle Finnegan and the Nationals have reportedly reunited (on a one-year, $6 million deal) as previously speculated. This pushes Jorge Lopez and Jose A. Ferrer off of the draft board. Finnegan had a great first half en route to All-Star game honors after many had written him off for an eventual Hunter Harvey takeover, but a 6.43 ERA and poor 16:10 K:BB in his final 21 innings of the year stung. He's worth a late flier for early saves but it'll be another year of wondering if he's dealt at the deadline (and if his form has recovered).
  • 2/20: Nationals skipper Davey Martinez spoke of a matchups-based approach to the late innings in D.C. between Jorge Lopez and Jose A. Ferrer. Martinez said "If Lopez is available, he can do it," but that "Ferrer will get an opportunity to close as well." Lopez has closing experience and is right-handed, while Ferrer is a southpaw who posted a 4.7 percent walk rate and 0.28 HR/9 in 32 IP last year, holding left-swinging bats to a .167/.196/.214 slash line. Lucas Sims was also recently signed to a one-year deal but is unlikely to step into the ninth. And keep in mind that a reunion with Kyle Finnegan could happen. For now, Lopez looks like the 1A with Ferrer as the complement.
  • 2/11: Kenley Jansen and the Angels agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract that will see the 37-year-old anchor the Halo bullpen for the 2025 season. This knocks the flamethrowing Ben Joyce down a peg and off most draft boards where holds aren't valued. Jansen's age and history of back issues will mean Joyce should stay close, but Jansen rebounded after a down '23 with a 3.29 ERA (3.00 FIP) and 1.06 WHIP alongside 27 saves across 54 2/3 innings last year.
  • 2/9: Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts told reporters that Tanner Scott will get the "brunt of the saves to start the season," per Jim Bowden. We won't overreact to early-February words from Roberts but it's logical following the contract Scott was given. But we also play an entire year, not just the start of the season, and the Dodger super-bullpen is capable of many paths to victory.
  • 1/29: Kansas City made a late-January splash by signing Carlos Estevez to a two-year deal at $22 million with a $13-million club option for a third year. That kind of money, mixed with Estevez's success last season (26 saves, 2.45 ERA), smells like a closer to us. Lucas Erceg is familiar with the high-leverage fireman role from his time in Oakland and likely slides back into that for the Royals. We'll await word from the club before speaking in definitive terms, though drafters can expect Estevez to surge up draft boards anyway.
  • 1/26: Ryan Pressly has reportedly waived his no-trade clause and will be moved from Houston to the Cubs for the 2025 season. Bob Nightengale wrote that part of Pressly's motivation for going along with the deal was a chance to be the full-time closer. Pressly's move follows a slide behind Josh Hader in Houston after being their closer between 2020-23. We saw fewer whiffs and a gaudy 1.34 WHIP out of Pressly last year, but the .333 BABIP was the outlier compared to three straight years below .300 prior to '24. Porter Hodge should be a constant threat to step in should Pressly go through any sustained slump.1/22: Cleveland signed Paul Sewald to a one-year deal, which takes a potential, albeit unlikely, closer off of the free-agent board. Following an early oblique injury, Sewald fell apart after a hot start last year in Arizona but is now perhaps fourth on the CLE leverage ladder. If he looks sharp then the Guardians could flex him into the closer role if Emmanuel Clase got hurt rather than shift Cade Smith or Hunter Gaddis.
  • 1/21: The rich are allegedly getting richer as the Dodgers are in serious talks with Kirby Yates. This news appeared in tandem with a report from Bob Nightengale that Michael Kopech could miss the first month of the season as he deals with forearm inflammation. Currently, there are no structural concerns, but they will take it easy on the flamethrower. Let's see if they seal the deal with Yates and create another tier of "Superpen." This would once again rob a team like the Cubs of a top free-agent closer signing. Other clubs need to get on their horse and make these deals happen already, lest the Dodgers start trading for extra 40-man roster spots to carry even more stars. (It's a joke, we think.)
  • 1/20: The Dodgers made yet another offseason splash by signing Tanner Scott, the top left-handed reliever on the free-agent market, to a four-year, $72 million deal. The money screams "automatic closer" but the Dodgers can simply make the best plays with their superpen. Scott handles right-handed bats well but is still best suited for lefties, so we still assume Michael Kopech and Blake Treinen will work into the ninth. The southpaw has also appeared in the third-most games by a reliever over the last three years while conquering the walk-rate demons that torpedoed his ratios in 2022. The Dodgers were surely motivated by snagging Scott after he performed so well against Shohei Ohtani. The Cubs reportedly came close but did not want to jump to a fourth year. Let's see if they make a play for a top remaining FA RP in Carlos Estevez, Kirby Yates, or perhaps Kenley Jansen. Early Porter Hodge drafters should take notice.

2024 Season

• • 9/23: The Tigers continue their astounding push for the postseason with top prospect Jackson Jobe joining the bullpen. Shelby Miller was designated for assignment amidst the surprising move. Jason Foley and Tyler Holton remain the favorites for saves but perhaps Jobe picks up a three-inning save this week?
  • 9/23: Kenley Jansen is done for the season as Boston turns to Chris Martin and Justin Slaten for the late innings in the final week. We side with Martin for his plus ratios and stellar track record.
  • 9/10: Ben Joyce was placed on the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation, which kicks the Halo bullpen into a messy committee setting. We could see saves go to Hunter Strickland, Roansy Contreras, or Jose Quijada, with Brock Burke and Ryan Miller also on the periphery.
  • 9/7: Kenley Jansen is dealing with a lat issue that has been affecting him since Toronto and he was unavailable on Friday night. Early Saturday reports have him feeling better today and he’ll play catch before the game to determine his status. Chris Martin is the usual pivot here but he has been shaky/unlucky since returning from the IL in early August, allowing 15 hits in 11 innings (.412 BABIP) with a 1.82 FIP behind the 4.09 ERA. He’s allowed seven runs in his last three games, though three were unearned. Expect the Red Sox to see through the noise and remain faithful to the 14:0 K:BB in those 11 IP. Slaten has made four appearances since his late-August IL activation, allowing one solo homer with two strikeouts and zero walks in 3 ⅔ IP.
  • 9/7: Luke Weaver picked up the first save following Aaron Boone’s shift to a committee. Weaver reportedly blacked out from adrenaline up there but he channeled it well, converting the chance for early momentum. Jake Cousins and Tommy Kahnle could also weave into the mix, with Clay Holmes still present.
    
  • 9/7: Miami has placed Calvin Faucher on the IL and reactivated Anthony Bender, who joins John McMillon and Jesus Tinoco as likely closing options in the final three weeks. McMillon’s 30% strikeout rate comes with a 1.69 ERA/0.84 WHIP and we saw a similar glimpse in 2023 for the Royals, where he struck out eight over four relief frames, with the only baserunner being a solo homer. But Bender has the experience edge and this could be a muddy spot on a bad team.
    
  • 9/4: Clay Holmes had little command on Tuesday night, absorbing his MLB-worst 11th blown save on a walk-off grand slam by Wyatt Langford. Two walks helped load the bases, as he threw just 12-of-25 pitches for strikes. He already deals with lots of balls in play so bad luck can get amplified if the command isn’t there. Aaron Boone says that they’ll “get creative” with the closer role, per The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner. This sounds like a messy committee involving Luke Weaver, Jake Cousins, or Tommy Kahnle, with the potential for Luis Gil down the line.
  • 9/4: MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer reported that Andres Munoz is dealing with elbow soreness and was only going to enter with a lead for the first two games of the Oakland series. While Munoz added that he should be fine, this has set off alarm bells. Keep Collin Snider close.
  • 9/4: Jorge Lopez has been placed on the 15-day IL with a right groin strain, which further cements Porter Hodge’s grasp of the closer role in Chicago.
  • 9/4: Chad Green has blown the save in his last two games, but this is his first true turbulence as the closer. He should be okay for now but he’s up to 46 ⅓ IP after throwing 12 in ‘23 and 15 in ‘22. Let’s see if he can hold out down the stretch.
  • 8/30: Pittsburgh has removed David Bednar from the closer's role "for the short term," per Alex Stumpf. It will be a closer committee for now, with Aroldis Chapman bringing the most fantasy upside and a "proven closer" tag. But perhaps Kyle Nicolas and Dennis Santana see a few opportunities as well.
  • 8/29: David Bednar and crew had another horrible day as Pittsburgh blew a seven-run lead over the last three innings. Kyle Nicolas gave up two runs and Aroldis Chapman surrendered three before Dennis Santana stopped the bleeding with a 10-8 lead going into the ninth. But in the words of manager Derek Shelton, Bednar couldn’t command his secondaries and was left supplying fastballs to get smoked. Jalen Beeks let all inherited runners score as well, with five runs and the loss going on Bednar’s score sheet. Shelton did not comment on Bednar’s place in the bullpen following the game. Chapman had a bad game but remains the pivot.
  • 8/29: Edwin Diaz had gone since May 18 without giving up a home run but has now surrendered one in back-to-back games. It’s a poor time to lose form but he noted a mechanical issue has led to his slider catching more of the strike zone. Let’s hope he can right the ship quickly and have a clean September for us.
  • 8/29: Tampa Bay had Edwin Uceta notch Tuesday’s win before a Manuel Rodriguez 13-pitch save. Rodriguez had secured the win on August 24, which was followed by a Garrett Cleavinger save. The southpaw is orbiting Uceta and Rodriguez as a late-leverage option for the Rays. Uceta faced the top of Seattle’s order on Tuesday while Rodriguez has taken the ninth in each of his last four appearances, which makes him the 1A target despite Uceta’s form being superior.
  • 8/29: Jhoan Duran allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits while recording only one out on August 27. He’s taken the loss in three of his last four appearances, with runs allowed in four of his last seven and six since the All-Star break. While there is some bad batted-ball luck at work, results matter and Griffin Jax hasn’t allowed a run in 14 games or issued a walk in his last 18. The scales could tip.
  • 8/29: The Giants may have recalled Camilo Doval but he’s still struggling to pound the strike zone and Ryan Walker has proven effective, so the ninth should remain with Walker. Doval did get the win on August 27 but had to dance around a hit and two walks to keep the inning clean.
  • 8/29: The White Sox DFA’d John Brebbia as the worst bullpen in baseball continues to slide. Justin Anderson, Chad Kuhl, and Gus Varland are all candidates to pick up saves down the stretch, with Varland’s 1.38 ERA standing out from the crowd. Kuhl and Anderson both have ERA’s above 4.35 in 2024, and none of them have a K/9 mark above 9.0 for fantasy buzz. The most exciting fantasy option is Prelander Berroa, who the White Sox recalled on Tuesday. Berroa had 101 strikeouts in 65 ⅓ IP as a starter for Seattle’s Double-A affiliate in 2023 but has faltered in Chicago’s system. His 2024 Triple-A campaign has yielded a 6.41 ERA (5.71 FIP) with a 1.83 WHIP and only 49 Ks in 46 ⅓ IP. But if he recaptures the ‘23 form at any time then you’ll see the fantasy ceiling peek out. Desperate teams only!
  • 8/29: Detroit has used Jason Foley for three saves in their last six games, with Tyler Holton recording a save amidst Foley’s week. It’s still a volatile place but Foley has earned the top billing again after midsummer struggles had set him back.
  • 8/21: Victor Vodnik has been placed on the injured list due to shoulder soreness experienced while warming up on Tuesday. Tyler Kinley notched his 17th hold while setting up Angel Chivilli for his first save. Kinley has the strikeout edge but we'll see where this goes between the two of them. Only desperate fantasy teams should speculate at Coors.
  • 8/20: Porter Hodge struck out two and worked around a walk to snag his second save of the season, his first following Hector Neris being DFA’d. We’ll see if the Cubs commit to him over Jorge Lopez but the odds remain good that it’ll be a committee between the two.
  • 8/20: Edwin Uceta nailed down the final four outs of Tuesday’s win over the A’s in perfect fashion after Shane Baz held Oakland scoreless over 7 ⅔ IP. While Tampa Bay can’t yet be relied upon to roll out a consistent reliever in the closer’s role sans Pete Fairbanks, Uceta has the inside track and his strikeout/ratio upside is worth rostering on its own.
  • 8/20: Hector Neris was DFA'd by the Cubs and has already cleared waivers, per MLB's Jesse Rogers. It seems we jinxed him by saying CHC seemed loyal to him. Since Jorge Lopez got the last save for them (on Saturday) we'll slide him into the presumed closer role for now. Perhaps Porter Hodge also makes a few appearances in the ninth.
  • 8/19: With Ryan Walker having thrown 35 pitches on Sunday in a win, San Francisco turned to Jordan Hicks for a save opportunity on Monday. He gave up two hits to the ChiSox before icing the game but it's nice to see him get the opportunity with Tyler Rogers sticking to the setup role.
  • 8/18: Pete Fairbanks left with a trainer after grabbing at his shoulder on Sunday. As a double whammy for his fantasy teams, Fairbanks served up a game-tying three-run homer to Adrian Del Castillo and showed reduced velocity before leaving. The closer had blown Friday’s save to Arizona as well. Update: Fairbanks is headed to the IL with a lat strain. For now, we’d expect a committee with Manuel Rodriguez, Edwin Uceta, and Garrett Cleavinger. Kevin Kelly and Colin Poche have plenty of high-leverage work between them as well, though they aren’t as sharp right now. A fun X-factor could be Drew Rasmussen sliding into the role down the stretch before re-entering the rotation next season.
  • 8/18: Michael Kopech has leaped atop the Dodger bullpen ladder with a nearly immaculate form since being acquired, allowing one hit and one walk across 30 batters faced. He’s racking up strikeouts (13) and inducing grounders at a nearly 60% clip. He had four holds and a win before his first LAD save on Friday, which he just followed up with his second save on Sunday. What a trade. Kudos to those of you who held on! Update: While Kopech is physically fine, they're going to back off of him for a few days. Evan Phillips got Monday's save.