A preseason of uncertainty in the closer ecosystem has devolved into bedlam almost nightly. Since my last post, Jakob Junis has emerged as the preferred option for saves for Texas. Riley O\u2019Brien is not only the Cardinals\u2019 closer; only one reliever has recorded more saves through April 15.<\/p>\n
Situations of unrest reside with the Dodgers, Brewers, Reds and Astros. Edwin D\u00edaz had a rough outing last Friday, then was unavailable on Saturday and wasn\u2019t used on Sunday. The Dodgers could have used him in the ninth inning on Wednesday, but they didn\u2019t need him. He\u2019s been working through a minor knee issue and reduced velocity with his four-seam fastball, putting him in the crosshairs of the fantasy community.<\/p>\n
Trevor Megill has lacked command in his previous two appearances. It\u2019s not always about throwing strikes; his knuckle-curve has not been effective, leaving him with his four-seam fastball in predictable counts, which has resulted in seven earned runs on five hits and a walk through his last 11 batters faced. Pat Murphy said the team will evaluate the ninth inning, and Abner Uribe secured his first save in the next game. Role changes are afoot in this leverage ladder.<\/p>\n
Emilio Pag\u00e1n notched his fifth save, but had an issue with his hamstring on the final pitch of the game on Tuesday. He believes he can avoid a stint on the injured list, but it\u2019s something fantasy managers must monitor. Injuries can affect performance and other areas in the kinetic chain if mechanics are altered. Those with Pag\u00e1n rostered may benefit from stashing Tony Santillan, just in case.<\/p>\n
Houston\u2019s bullpen struggled during a nine-game losing streak, but has recovered with the Rockies visiting early this week. Enyel De Los Santos has matched his career-best save total in this series, closing out saves in consecutive contests. Bryan King will also be in the mix while Bryan Abreu tries to get back on track, working in lower-leverage situations or as a setup reliever, not as the interim closer. Help could be on the way, though. Josh Hader just started facing live hitters and could be back by mid-May.<\/p>\n
Some fantasy managers will need patience, as four teams have only two saves: the Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays. Daniel Palencia will start accruing them soon. However, who gets the next save chance for the Giants remains open for debate and may not be settled anytime soon.<\/p>\n
Last, but not least, an appreciation for the dominant start to the season by Mason Miller. He has converted all five save opportunities and owns a 29.2 inning scoreless streak, dating back to August 6, 2025. This year, he has recorded a strikeout against 20 of 27 batters faced for a robust 74.1 strikeout percentage, which, in this environment, feels unworldly.<\/p>\n
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:<\/p>\n
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.
\nPrimary 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.
\nShared 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.
\nFluid: The manager has not named a closer, and usage patterns regarding the leverage roles remain unclear.
\nAmerican League leverage pathways
\n TeamLeverage PathwayCloser (Primary)Stopper\/HLRStealth\/Ancillary Option<\/p>\n
Mostly Linear<\/p>\n
Ryan Helsley<\/p>\n
Rico Garcia<\/p>\n
Grant Wolfram<\/p>\n
Mostly Linear<\/p>\n
Aroldis Chapman<\/p>\n
Garrett Whitlock<\/p>\n
Justin Slaten<\/p>\n
Primary Save Share<\/p>\n
Seranthony Dom\u00ednguez<\/p>\n
Jordan Leasure<\/p>\n
Jordan Hicks<\/p>\n
Mostly Linear<\/p>\n
Cade Smith<\/p>\n
Shawn Armstrong<\/p>\n
Erik Sabrowski<\/p>\n
Primary Save Share<\/p>\n
Kenley Jansen<\/p>\n
Will Vest<\/p>\n
Kyle Finnegan<\/p>\n
Shared Saves<\/p>\n
Enyel De Los Santos<\/p>\n
Bryan King<\/p>\n
Bryan Abreu<\/p>\n
Primary Save Share<\/p>\n
Lucas Erceg<\/p>\n
Matt Strahm<\/p>\n
Nick Mears<\/p>\n
Primary Save Share<\/p>\n
Jordan Romano<\/p>\n
Drew Pomeranz<\/p>\n
Chase Silseth<\/p>\n
Fluid<\/p>\n
Cole Sands<\/p>\n
Justin Topa<\/p>\n
Kody Funderburk<\/p>\n
Mostly Linear<\/p>\n
David Bednar<\/p>\n
Camilo Doval<\/p>\n
Fernando Cruz<\/p>\n
Mostly Linear<\/p>\n
Andr\u00e9s Mu\u00f1oz<\/p>\n
Matt Brash<\/p>\n
Gabe Speier<\/p>\n
Fluid<\/p>\n
Bryan Baker<\/p>\n
Griffin Jax<\/p>\n
Ian Seymour<\/p>\n
Primary Save Share<\/p>\n
Jakob Junis<\/p>\n
Cole Winn<\/p>\n
Jacob Latz<\/p>\n
Fluid<\/p>\n
Joel Kuhnel<\/p>\n
Hogan Harris<\/p>\n
Mark Leiter Jr.<\/p>\n
Primary Save Share<\/p>\n
Jeff Hoffman<\/p>\n
Tyler Rogers<\/p>\n
Louis Varland<\/p>\n
Stock up<\/p>\n
Jakob Junis (TEX): He has posted a 0.50 WHIP with a 17.9 K-BB percentage. There will be some regression, especially in his BABIP, but if he\u2019s racking up saves, fantasy teams will take that chance.<\/p>\n
Joel Kuhnel (ATH): Viability may be fleeting, but he has secured three saves in a leverage ladder rife with opportunities.<\/p>\n
Louis Varland (TOR): Through 10.1 innings this season, he owns a 31.6 K-BB percentage (15:3 K:BB) with a 1.63 SIERA, 1.66 xERA and 0.97 WHIP.<\/p>\n
Watch list<\/p>\n
Jordan Romano (LAA): Things were progressing well until the closer arrived in the Bronx. He\u2019s suffered consecutive blown saves, allowing five hits, five earned runs and three walks without recording a strikeout. His WHIP has spiked to 1.89, and he\u2019s produced seven strikeouts against five walks (7.7 K-BB%) through 5.1 innings. Given his 3.76 xERA and 4.88 SIERA, these appearances have opened the door for role changes during save situations when Kirby Yates and Ben Joyce return.<\/p>\n
Jeff Hoffman (TOR): Hoffman has recorded 18 strikeouts against five walks (31.7 K-BB percentage); however, his 1.80 WHIP and 4.32 ERA are accompanied by a 1.96 SIERA and a 1.78 xERA. Of his 18 batted-ball events, he has only allowed one barrel and six hard-hits (33.3%). Can he turn his season around? One more blown save before the end of the month may necessitate a role change.<\/p>\n
Stash list<\/p>\n
*For keeper-league players or those trying to mine saves later this month\/season.<\/p>\n
Louis Varland (TOR)
\nKirby Yates (LAA)
\nElvis Alvarado (ATH)
\nJack Perkins (ATH)
\nCarlos Lagrange (NYY)
\nJacob Latz (TEX)
\nNational League leverage pathways
\n TeamLeverage PathwayCloser (Primary)Stopper\/HLRStealth\/Ancillary Option<\/p>\n
Mostly Linear<\/p>\n
Paul Sewald<\/p>\n
Juan Morillo<\/p>\n
Jonathan Lo\u00e1isiga<\/p>\n
Mostly Linear<\/p>\n
Raisel Iglesias<\/p>\n
Robert Suarez<\/p>\n
Dylan Lee<\/p>\n
Mostly Linear<\/p>\n
Daniel Palencia<\/p>\n
Ben Brown<\/p>\n
Caleb Thielbar<\/p>\n
Mostly Linear<\/p>\n
Emilio Pag\u00e1n<\/p>\n
Tony Santillan<\/p>\n
Graham Ashcraft<\/p>\n
Primary Save Share<\/p>\n
Victor Vodnik<\/p>\n
Juan Mejia<\/p>\n
Brennan Bernardino<\/p>\n
Mostly Linear<\/p>\n
Edwin D\u00edaz<\/p>\n
Tanner Scott<\/p>\n
Alex Vesia<\/p>\n
Primary Save Share<\/p>\n
Pete Fairbanks<\/p>\n
Calvin Faucher<\/p>\n
Andrew Nardi<\/p>\n
Fluid<\/p>\n
Abner Uribe<\/p>\n
\u00c1ngel Zerpa<\/p>\n
Trevor Megill<\/p>\n
Mostly Linear<\/p>\n
Devin Williams<\/p>\n
Luke Weaver<\/p>\n
Brooks Raley<\/p>\n
Mostly Linear<\/p>\n
Jhoan Duran<\/p>\n
Brad Keller<\/p>\n
Jos\u00e9 Alvarado<\/p>\n
Shared Saves<\/p>\n
Dennis Santana<\/p>\n
Gregory Soto<\/p>\n
Isaac Mattson<\/p>\n
Mostly Linear<\/p>\n
Riley O’Brien<\/p>\n
JoJo Romero<\/p>\n
Ryne Stanek<\/p>\n
Mostly Linear<\/p>\n
Mason Miller<\/p>\n
Jason Adam<\/p>\n
Adrian Morejon<\/p>\n
Fluid<\/p>\n
Ryan Walker<\/p>\n
Keaton Winn<\/p>\n
Caleb Kilian<\/p>\n
Shared Saves<\/p>\n
Clayton Beeter<\/p>\n
Gus Varland<\/p>\n
PJ Poulin<\/p>\n
Stock up<\/p>\n
Riley O\u2019Brien (STL): Again? Yes, through 10 appearances, he\u2019s posted a minuscule 0.39 WHIP with 11 strikeouts and no walks (31.4 K-BB%) across 10.1 innings, allowing one unearned run.<\/p>\n
Paul Sewald (ARI): Anyone who had him leading all MLB relievers in saves through April 15 should cash in. He\u2019s been a steady presence, and his 0.55 WHIP with 10 strikeouts versus zero walks (38.5 K-BB percentage) keep him atop his team\u2019s hierarchy.<\/p>\n
Gus Varland (WSH): He\u2019s not a closer, but if he keeps securing ancillary saves for a gritty Nationals team, there\u2019s value in deeper formats. There will be volatility, illustrated by his 1.50 WHIP and 14.8 K-BB percentage, but saves are saves, right?<\/p>\n
Abner Uribe (MIL): He was a popular target this preseason based on his strong finish last year and in the postseason. Megill\u2019s slow start opens the door for \u201cEl Pistolero,\u201d one of the coolest nicknames in baseball. Focus on his 22.6 K-BB percentage, not the inflated BABIP early on this season.<\/p>\n
Watch list<\/p>\n
Trevor Megill (MIL): He has allowed seven earned runs over his past two games and eight in his past five, spiking his WHIP to 2.40 with five strikeouts against four walks. Through 19 batted-ball events, he has a 10.5 barrel percentage and a troubling 52.6% hard-hit rate, fueling his rise in ratio statistics.<\/p>\n
Clayton Beeter (WSH): It\u2019s not that he\u2019s pitching poorly; it\u2019s the usage patterns. He was used in the eighth inning against an opponent\u2019s toughest hitters, paving the way for Varland\u2019s save in the same contest. Beeter has recorded two saves, but has only finished three of his eight appearances this season. There are some command issues, and his 5.14 xERA and 5.34 SIERA hint at migration toward the mean soon.<\/p>\n
Stash list<\/p>\n
*For keeper-league players or those trying to mine saves later this month\/season.<\/p>\n
A.J. Puk (ARI)
\nTony Santillan (CIN)
\nKeaton Winn; Caleb Kilian (SF)
\nGus Varland (WSH)
\nLeaderboardsSaves leaders through April 15SOLDS leaders through April 15<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Ratio relievers<\/p>\n
*Multi-inning or bridge relievers who can vulture wins and help protect ratios.<\/p>\n
Aaron Ashby (MIL)
\nCarmen Mlodzinski (PIT)
\nAntonio Senzatela (COL)
\nYohan Ram\u00edrez (PIT)
\nChase Dollander (COL)<\/p>\n
Statistical Credits: FanGraphs, Baseball-Reference.com, Baseball Savant, BrooksBaseball.net. Check out my work at\u00a0Reliever Recon<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Closer Monkey<\/a>\u00a0for daily updates.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A preseason of uncertainty in the closer ecosystem has devolved into bedlam almost nightly. Since my last post,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":608444,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[435],"tags":[49,48,11142,462,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-608443","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mlb","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-fantasy-baseball","11":"tag-mlb","12":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/608443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=608443"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/608443\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/608444"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=608443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=608443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=608443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}