Another week has passed, and the delicate saves ecosystem has become even more unsettled, as if anyone thought this was possible. Since my last post, four of baseball’s top closers have landed on the injured list:
Edwin Díaz (LAD)
Jhoan Duran (PHI)
Raisel Iglesias (ATL)
Daniel Palencia (CHC)
They accounted for a combined 111 saves last year. There are varying timetables for each reliever, but Díaz could miss two to three months after undergoing surgery. Each team has taken different approaches to replacing them:
Atlanta Braves: With Robert Suarez signed for three years, this was an easy pivot.
Chicago Cubs: Caleb Thielbar has recorded a win and two saves since Palencia’s placement on the injured list. However, Phil Maton may return soon, and Hunter Harvey has started his throwing regimen for a return. Once depth options arrive, a matchup-based approach will ensue.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Reverting to past practices, Dave Roberts would not name a closer in the interim, meaning the team will deploy relievers by lineup lanes based on preferential matchups. Tanner Scott and Alex Vesia should be viable options in deeper formats.
Philadelphia Phillies: Rob Thomson has used a “floating closer” concept in previous seasons, and it may return, though he hinted toward Brad Keller getting most of the save chances, unless he’s needed before the ninth inning.
Rob Thomson expects Brad Keller to receive a bunch of the save opportunities.
“But we may mix it up.”
Jhoan Duran was put on the 15-day IL with an oblique injury. pic.twitter.com/6ntueLdXGV
— PHLY Phillies (@PHLY_Phillies) April 18, 2026
This is fun, right? But wait, there is more. Jeff Hoffman may need work in lower-leveraged situations after being removed from a save chance against the Angels with the bases loaded and one out. Louis Varland receives a boost in fantasy value if he’s the preferred option for saves in a revamped Blue Jays bullpen. He recorded his first career save, needing only one pitch to bail out his teammate.
King Louis 👑
Varland’s FIRST @MLB save! pic.twitter.com/zweGQXzZrC
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 22, 2026
It feels like it’s midseason, but we are still a week away from May. At least there is Mason Miller. He has been a dominant force amid volatility in the closer landscape. He owns a 32.2 inning scoreless streak dating back to last year, and in 2026, he owns a negative SIERA (-0.15) while striking out 27 of 38 batters faced (71.1 strikeout percentage), and a minuscule 0.35 WHIP through his first 11.1 innings. Paying for saves never looked so appealing.
Stock reports and situations worth monitoring will be covered by their respective leagues below. I define the high-leverage pathways by assigning each team one of the following labels:
Mostly Linear: This is a more traditional approach, with a manager preferring one reliever in the seventh inning, another in the eighth, and a closer (when rested) in the ninth. There are shades of gray, but it usually follows a predictable pattern in high-leverage situations.
Primary save share: The team prefers one reliever as the primary option for saves. However, the player may also be used in matchup-based situations, whether dictated by batter-handedness or batting order, especially in the late innings, providing multiple relievers with save chances each series or week throughout the season.
Shared saves: Typically, two relievers share save opportunities, often based on handedness, rest or recent usage patterns that keep them fresh. While these situations typically involve a primary and ancillary option, others may be used. Some teams also prefer a matchup-based option, which creates fluid save opportunities.
Fluid: The manager has not named a closer, and usage patterns regarding the leverage roles remain unclear.
American League leverage pathways
Team
Leverage Pathway
Closer (Primary)
Stopper/HLR
Stealth/Ancillary Option
Mostly Linear
Ryan Helsley
Rico Garcia
Grant Wolfram
Mostly Linear
Aroldis Chapman
Garrett Whitlock
Greg Weissert
Primary Save Share
Seranthony Domínguez
Jordan Leasure
Jordan Hicks
Mostly Linear
Cade Smith
Hunter Gaddis
Erik Sabrowski
Primary Save Share
Kenley Jansen
Will Vest
Kyle Finnegan
Shared Saves
Enyel De Los Santos
Bryan King
Bryan Abreu
Primary Save Share
Lucas Erceg
Matt Strahm
Nick Mears
Primary Save Share
Jordan Romano
Drew Pomeranz
Chase Silseth
Fluid
Cole Sands
Justin Topa
Kody Funderburk
Mostly Linear
David Bednar
Camilo Doval
Fernando Cruz
Mostly Linear
Andrés Muñoz
Matt Brash
Gabe Speier
Fluid
Bryan Baker
Griffin Jax
Ian Seymour
Primary Save Share
Jakob Junis
Jacob Latz
Cole Winn
Fluid
Joel Kuhnel
Hogan Harris
Jack Perkins
Fluid
Louis Varland
Tyler Rogers
Jeff Hoffman
Stock up
Louis Varland (TOR): Not only did he secure his first career save, but he’s fourth in Win Probability Added among all qualified relievers. His 19 strikeouts against three walks (34.8 K-BB percentage) and 0.85 WHIP enhance his appeal. Even if he’s the team’s highest-leverage reliever, increased opportunities for saves cannot be ignored.
Jack Perkins (ATH): Despite only five appearances this year, he’s third in Win Probability Added, posting two wins and a save across 9.1 innings. His 12:3 K:BB (22 K-BB percentage) and 18.8% swinging-strike rate could result in more save chances and even a primary save share in a leverage ladder bereft of upside.
Enyel De Los Santos (HOU): He owns a 1.18 WHIP with eight strikeouts versus three walks (12.8 K-BB%) across 9.1 innings. However, his allure lies in recording three saves since April 14. Fantasy managers will take the risk and hope he’s closer to his 2.01 xERA and not his 4.02 SIERA. Keeping traffic off the bases is important for his continued success in save situations.
On the watch list
Jeff Hoffman (TOR): A repeat appearance on this list does not bode well for the closer. He’s an enigma. His 2.06 WHIP is accompanied by a 31.6 K-BB percentage, 60% contact rate allowed, and an impressive 21.2 swinging-strike percentage. But he leads the majors in blown saves, and his .609 BABIP will not continue. If he doesn’t right the ship in lower-leveraged outings, he may not reclaim the closer role. Monitor his upcoming results closely while having him benched in fantasy leagues.
Joel Kuhnel (ATH): Life comes at you fast in the world of high leverage. He was a stock-up reliever last week, but his 2.35 ERA will regress toward his 3.67 SIERA and 4.76 xERA. It’s tough being a preferred save share with an 84% contact rate allowed and a 9.2 swinging-strike percentage, with only three strikeouts through 7.2 innings.
Stash list
*For keeper-league players or those trying to mine saves later this month/season
Louis Varland (TOR)
Jack Perkins (ATH)
Kirby Yates (LAA)
Ben Joyce (LAA)
Yimi García (TOR)
Will Vest (DET)
Carlos Lagrange (NYY)
National League leverage pathways
TeamLeverage PathwayCloser (Primary)Stopper/HLRStealth/Ancillary Option
Mostly Linear
Paul Sewald
Juan Morillo
Jonathan Loáisiga
Mostly Linear
Robert Suarez
Tyler Kinley
Dylan Lee
Shared Saves
Caleb Thielbar
Ben Brown
Hoby Milner
Mostly Linear
Emilio Pagán
Tony Santillan
Graham Ashcraft
Primary Save Share
Victor Vodnik
Juan Mejia
Brennan Bernardino
Fluid
Tanner Scott
Alex Vesia
Blake Treinen
Primary Save Share
Pete Fairbanks
Anthony Bender
Calvin Faucher
Primary Save Share
Abner Uribe
Ángel Zerpa
Trevor Megill
Mostly Linear
Devin Williams
Luke Weaver
Brooks Raley
Primary Save Share
Brad Keller
José Alvarado
Orion Kerkering
Shared Saves
Dennis Santana
Gregory Soto
Isaac Mattson
Mostly Linear
Riley O’Brien
JoJo Romero
Ryne Stanek
Mostly Linear
Mason Miller
Jason Adam
Adrian Morejon
Shared Saves
Ryan Walker
Keaton Winn
Erik Miller
Shared Saves
Clayton Beeter
Gus Varland
PJ Poulin
Stock up
Ryan Walker (SF): After not converting a save since March 30 and logging appearances in the sixth and seventh innings, Walker has recorded saves in back-to-back games against the Dodgers. While his 2.47 xERA provides hope, his 82.2 contact-rate allowed and a 6.7 swinging-strike percentage will result in some traffic-infused outings, reflected by his 1.36 WHIP through 11 innings. Over the past statistical year, he’s had a 15.5 K-BB percentage with a 79% contact-rate allowed and a 9% swinging-strike rate. These results will keep him in the mix for saves, but if he’s getting chances, that’s half the battle this year.
Brad Keller (PHI): He will get the bulk of save chances with Duran sidelined, which makes him a worthy stream option, but it’s a limited window since his team’s closer has already begun throwing.
Tanner Scott and Alex Vesia (LAD): They may share save chances, but the window of opportunity is longer than Keller’s or Thielbar’s, given the timeline for Díaz’s return. Scott has a 23.5 K-BB percentage (9:1 K:BB) with a 0.62 WHIP across 9.2 innings. Vesia’s 0.58 WHIP is accompanied by a 22.6 K-BB percentage.
On the watch list
Devin Williams (NYM): Things were going well until an eight-day layoff, an implosion against the Dodgers, and his most recent outing, during which he faced five batters without recording an out. He received support from his manager, but his changeup has not been as effective this season, and he is working with a lower arm slot on release. Improvement may be a mechanical tweak away, but he cannot afford to work while behind in counts. Monitor him closely in his upcoming outings.
Stash list
*For keeper league players or those trying to mine saves later this month/season
A.J. Puk (ARI)
Tony Santillan (CIN)
Phil Maton (CHC)
Erik Miller; Keaton Winn; Caleb Kilian (SF)
Gus Varland (WSH)
LeaderboardsSaves leaders through April 22Holds leaders through April 22SOLDS leaders through April 22
Our rankings are a blend of in-season performance and rest-of-season expectations. If you feel strongly about a player, by all means, roster him.
Ratio relievers
*Multi-inning or bridge relievers who can vulture wins and help protect ratios.
Aaron Ashby (MIL)
Chase Dollander (COL)
Antonio Senzatela (COL)
Ben Brown (CHC)
Daniel Lynch IV (KC)
Statistical Credits: FanGraphs, Baseball-Reference.com, Baseball Savant, BrooksBaseball.net. Check out my work at Reliever Recon and Closer Monkey for daily updates.