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\u2019s top closers have landed on the injured list:<\/p>\n
Edwin D\u00edaz (LAD)
\nJhoan Duran (PHI)
\nRaisel Iglesias (ATL)
\nDaniel Palencia (CHC)<\/p>\n
They accounted for a combined 111 saves last year. There are varying timetables for each reliever, but D\u00edaz could miss two to three months after undergoing surgery<\/a>. Each team has taken different approaches to replacing them:<\/p>\n Atlanta Braves: With Robert Suarez signed for three years, this was an easy pivot. Rob Thomson expects Brad Keller to receive a bunch of the save opportunities.<\/p>\n \u201cBut we may mix it up.\u201d<\/p>\n Jhoan Duran was put on the 15-day IL with an oblique injury. pic.twitter.com\/6ntueLdXGV<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 PHLY Phillies (@PHLY_Phillies) April 18, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n King Louis \ud83d\udc51<\/p>\n Varland\u2019s FIRST @MLB<\/a> save! pic.twitter.com\/zweGQXzZrC<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n It feels like it\u2019s 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.<\/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. Team<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Leverage Pathway<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Closer (Primary)<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Stopper\/HLR<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Stealth\/Ancillary Option<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0<\/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 Greg Weissert<\/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 Hunter Gaddis<\/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 Jacob Latz<\/p>\n Cole Winn<\/p>\n Fluid<\/p>\n Joel Kuhnel<\/p>\n Hogan Harris<\/p>\n Jack Perkins<\/p>\n Fluid<\/p>\n Louis Varland<\/p>\n Tyler Rogers<\/p>\n Jeff Hoffman<\/p>\n Stock up<\/p>\n Louis Varland (TOR): Not only did he secure his first career save, but he\u2019s 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\u2019s the team\u2019s highest-leverage reliever, increased opportunities for saves cannot be ignored.<\/p>\n Jack Perkins (ATH): Despite only five appearances this year, he\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n On the watch list<\/p>\n Jeff Hoffman (TOR): A repeat appearance on this list does not bode well for the closer. He\u2019s 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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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.<\/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) Mostly Linear<\/p>\n Paul Sewald<\/p>\n Juan Morillo<\/p>\n Jonathan Lo\u00e1isiga<\/p>\n Mostly Linear<\/p>\n Robert Suarez<\/p>\n Tyler Kinley<\/p>\n Dylan Lee<\/p>\n Shared Saves<\/p>\n Caleb Thielbar<\/p>\n Ben Brown<\/p>\n Hoby Milner<\/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 Fluid<\/p>\n Tanner Scott<\/p>\n Alex Vesia<\/p>\n Blake Treinen<\/p>\n Primary Save Share<\/p>\n Pete Fairbanks<\/p>\n Anthony Bender<\/p>\n Calvin Faucher<\/p>\n Primary Save Share<\/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 Primary Save Share<\/p>\n Brad Keller<\/p>\n Jos\u00e9 Alvarado<\/p>\n Orion Kerkering<\/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 Shared Saves<\/p>\n Ryan Walker<\/p>\n Keaton Winn<\/p>\n Erik Miller<\/p>\n Shared Saves<\/p>\n Clayton Beeter<\/p>\n Gus Varland<\/p>\n PJ Poulin<\/p>\n Stock up<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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\u2019s getting chances, that\u2019s half the battle this year.<\/p>\n Brad Keller (PHI): He will get the bulk of save chances with Duran sidelined, which makes him a worthy stream option, but it\u2019s a limited window since his team\u2019s closer has already begun throwing.<\/p>\n Tanner Scott and Alex Vesia (LAD): They may share save chances, but the window of opportunity is longer than Keller\u2019s or Thielbar\u2019s, given the timeline for D\u00edaz\u2019s return. Scott has a 23.5 K-BB percentage (9:1 K:BB) with a 0.62 WHIP across 9.2 innings. Vesia\u2019s 0.58 WHIP is accompanied by a 22.6 K-BB percentage.<\/p>\n On the watch list<\/p>\n 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.<\/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) 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) 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
\nChicago Cubs: Caleb Thielbar has recorded a win and two saves since Palencia\u2019s 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.
\nLos 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.
\nPhiladelphia Phillies: Rob Thomson has used a \u201cfloating closer\u201d concept in previous seasons, and it may return, though he hinted toward Brad Keller getting most of the save chances, unless he\u2019s needed before the ninth inning.<\/p>\n
\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<\/p>\n
\nJack Perkins (ATH)
\nKirby Yates (LAA)
\nBen Joyce (LAA)
\nYimi Garc\u00eda (TOR)
\nWill Vest (DET)
\nCarlos Lagrange (NYY)
\nNational League leverage pathways
\n TeamLeverage PathwayCloser (Primary)Stopper\/HLRStealth\/Ancillary Option<\/p>\n
\nTony Santillan (CIN)
\nPhil Maton (CHC)
\nErik Miller; Keaton Winn; Caleb Kilian (SF)
\nGus Varland (WSH)
\nLeaderboardsSaves leaders through April 22Holds leaders through April 22SOLDS leaders through April 22<\/p>\n
\nChase Dollander (COL)
\nAntonio Senzatela (COL)
\nBen Brown (CHC)
\nDaniel Lynch IV (KC)<\/p>\n