Here are some news and notes for you as we head down to the last two weeks of the season.
- Fifteen of the 30 MLB teams have a different closer in the top chair right now than they did at the beginning of the season.
- We have two closers with 44 saves (Emmanuel Clase and Ryan Helsley).
- We have six closers with at least 30 saves (the two above, plus Kyle Finnegan, Robert Suarez, Raisel Iglesias, Josh Hader and Kirby Yates).
- We have 11 closers with at least 25 saves.
- We have 20 closers with at least 20 saves.
- We have 33 pitchers with at least 10 saves.
- We have 47 pitchers with at least five saves.
- We have 106 pitchers with at least one save.
Having fun yet? The reason for this weekly piece is to keep you updated with the goings-on in bullpens, especially for those of you in leagues where one or two saves down the stretch can make a huge difference in the standings.
Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Updates
AL East
New York: Luke Weaver has been the most reliable reliever for the Yankees. Clay Holmes won on Thursday night, and I still feel that manager Aaron Boone feels most comfortable with Holmes pitching the ninth. Look for the Yankees to give him some runway to work out his issues, but with Weaver getting most of the chances the rest of the way. Holmes is getting a bit of a bad rap here he’s been unlucky much of the season. Weaver earned his second save on Friday night.
Veteran Richard Lovelady got his second save of the season Thursday night for the Tampa Bay Rays. Edwin Uceta was suspended for two games this week. We know manager Kevin Cash is comfortable using any pitcher at any time, and look for this to continue to be a timeshare between Uceta and Manuel Rodriguez. Uceta earned hos third save on Friday night after coming back from suspension; Rodriguez had pitched in three of the last four games.
AL Central
Emmanuel Clase continues to be dominant, up to 44 saves on the season with sparkling peripherals. The Guardians released veteran Scott Barlow this week, leaving the primary setup duties to Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith.
Things are interesting in Detroit, where it looks like a full-blown timeshare between Jason Foley and Tyler Holton. Both have had save chances and converted them this week; Foley also took a loss on Thursday night. Holton was a sneaky add a few weeks ago and those who have him are reaping some dividends right now.
AL West
The Ben Joyce injury paves the way for Jose Quijada and Brock Burke, maybe Hunter Strickland? This will be a bullpen that looks like it has more questions than answers going into 2025, unless they target free agents. The only save here this week came from lefty Jose Suarez, who earned one with a 49-pitch long relief outing earlier in the week after coming up from Triple-A.
Mason Miller hit the 25-save plateau for Oakland this week with saves on Wednesday and Friday. That continues a spectacular year for the rookie who has a 41.5%K%. The question for next year will be: what is his role? Dominant reliever, or do they move him back to the rotation? Too soon to day.
Andres Munoz has been on the hot seat in Seattle as they fight for a playoff berth, but converted his last two chances for the Mariners this week, running his total for the season to 21. With Matt Brash out for the season, the Mariners do not have a viable and ready option, so look for Munoz to retain the job despite his struggles.
Who saw Kirby Yates getting 30 saves this season? He has been a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season for the defending champion Texas Rangers.
NL East
Miami Marlins update: those desperate for saves have been watching this one closely, and Jesus Tinoco got the opportunity on Thursday night and closed the door on the Washington Nationals for his first save of the year. In that game Anthony Bender got the win. John McMillon is part of this committee as well, but has not had an opportunity yet. Go with Tinoco for now.
Philadelphia: Carlos Estevez blew a save earlier this week before posting a save on Wednesday. Jeff Hoffman has only pitched once this calendar week. I love watching this bullpen, but it appears that Estevez is and will be the main guy getting saves here the rest of the way. The Phillies have three guys (Estevez, Hoffman and Jose Alvarado) with more than 10 saves.
NL Central
Porter Hodge is the closer in Chicago, but the hierarchy getting to him has changed: Tyson Miller and Nate Pearson are the top setup guys earning holds at this time.
Devin Williams is quickly up to 11 saves this season after missing three months with an injury. With Milwaukee in the thick of a playoff race, Williams is their definitive closer, and one of the five best in the game. He has saves in three of the last four games.
Pittsburgh: it looks like Aroldis Chapman will hold on to the job for the rest of the season. He had two more saves this week; Jalen Beeks also got one on a day after Chapman has pitched in three of four games. Dennis Santana and Colin Holderman are the top choices for holds.
NL West
Arizona: no save chances this week, but the choice here still appears to be Justin Martinez. A.J. Puk and Ryan Thompson earn most of the holds here now. Should Martinez falter, Puk would likely be the first man up to get saves.
Colorado got Victor Vodnik back from injury and immediately reinserted him into an eighth inning role behind current closer Tyler Kinley, who nabbed two saves this week.
Los Angeles: they have three pitchers with at least ten saves on the season, with Evan Phillips, Michael Kopech, and Daniel Hudson. Kopech earned the only save this week, but Phillips had an opportunity and blew it, taking the loss on Tuesday. Kopech should retain the job with success moving forward, and Hudson and Phillips should be the primary setup men.
Ryan Walker has been a revelation for San Francisco, rating as one of the top relief pitchers in the game this season. He has seven saves and 21 holds with a 33.3%K%, relegating the struggling Camilo Doval to a middle relief role. Doval has a hold this week, but also took a loss on Thursday night. Early guess here: Walker finishes the year as their closer, but Doval gets every opportunity to win his old job back in Spring Training.