Fantasy Baseball Closer Depth Charts - MLB Bullpens and Saves

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), JB Branson (@RowdyRotoJB) and the team, looking at the most recent closers and bullpen news from around MLB.

Closer News and Bullpen Updates

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.

11/20/24: Charts have been updated for the offseason going into the 2025 season!

Stay tuned as we track how these bullpens shape up going into the season. There are several key arms available via free agency, many of whom should land closer jobs wherever they sign.

Some of these names are Carlos Estevez, Kenley Jansen, David Robertson, Craig Kimbrel, Kirby Yates, Kyle Finnegan, Joe Kelly, and Jalen Beeks.

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

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.