I have many friends in fantasy baseball who will reach out and ask me questions about bullpen situations. I enjoy the banter that comes with those conversations. Frequently, people will say things like, “I don’t know how you do it” or, “You are doing the Lord’s work” because of the tumult in major league bullpens.
While I sincerely appreciate those kind words, I will tell you, it is a labor of love. And I find the workings of bullpens to be fascinating. Here’s my example: Two years ago, guys like Luke Weaver and Shelby Miller were fighting to stay in the game due to injuries and ineffectiveness. Now, in 2025, they are closing for two very good baseball teams. Those stories really intrigue me, and I love it when such things happen.
Ok, enough of my prattling. Let’s dive into bullpens on this fine day in May here in Chicago.
Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report
AL East
Luke Weaver continues to get the save chances in New York. He earned two more saves this week. Devin Williams is being used in a setup role but seems to be working through some of his issues. Also of note: veteran reliever Jonathan Loaisiga came off the IL this week and was inserted into a middle relief role.
Jeff Hoffman has struggled in Toronto. Could he be at risk of losing his job? Even though he had two saves earlier in the week, he blew one spectacularly on Tuesday night, coughing up five runs. Egads! The team used veteran Yimi Garcia to close out the win on Wednesday. Hoffman has seen his ERA balloon to 6.05 after entering May two short weeks ago with an ERA of 1.00. Yet he still has nine saves and a whopping 38.1% K%. This will be interesting to watch this coming week. Hoffman will have a long leash, methinks, but Garcia is a viable alternative if needed for a time.
AL Central
Chicago has two saves this week after having only one all season. This week, Cam Booser and Mike Vasil both have saves. Booser is a bit of a journeyman lefty, and Vasil is a Rule 5 pick who is a heavy sinker and groundball specialist. The team everyone loves to dunk on is playing an improved brand of baseball, winning four of their last six games. This means that a team that could win some games might get some save chances, even if it is a committee in the short term, to see who is most worthy. Steven Wilson is also in this mix. Will be watching to see what happens if the Sox can continue to be more competitive. I still think Jordan Leasure has the best pure stuff to close, but we know that is not how these things always work out. The White Sox also added veteran righty Miguel Castro to the mix this week.
Detroit got Beau Brieske back from the IL last weekend, and he earned a win and their only save of the week as well. He’s immediately back on the committee with veterans Will Vest and Tommy Kahnle.
Jhoan Duran looks like he is fine in Minnesota. He is up to eight saves now and looks as nasty as ever. Cole Sands is the top setup option and also has two saves, and Griffin Jax has worked through his early-season struggles to be in that role as well. Look at Duran’s Statcast page below. Blood red is what you want, and there is plenty of it here.
AL West
Texas: Jacob Webb and Shawn Armstrong have earned the saves this week. Luke Jackson has a swollen hand, and Chris Martin has a sore elbow right now. Armstrong pitched twice in save situations this week, converted one, and then blew one on Friday night and took a loss. This could be an interesting situation because we know that teams with multiple closers often have no closer…we will be watching what happens deep in the heart of Texas. My best guess is that Martin could get some opportunities once he is healthy again.
NL East
Is Raisel Iglesias on the hot seat in Atlanta? He blew save chances on Sunday and Monday, but then converted on Thursday and Friday. Pierce Johnson earned a save on Wednesday. Do you trust that the 35-year-old veteran will right the ship and figure it out? He has eight saves and an untidy 5.89 ERA, but his strikeout rate is still a healthy 25%. I would continue to roll with him.
Jesus Tinoco is the official closer in Miami. Plan accordingly…
Jordan Romano appears healthy and may be part of a committee now with Jose Alvarado. Romano earned two saves this week, and Alvarado got one on Friday night. Looks like this is a two-headed monster developing in Philadelphia. Romano has shaved more than four runs off his ERA in the first two weeks of May. He’s a guy you might want to add if impatient players have dropped him. Alvarado has seven saves, and Romano now has four.
NL Central
It looks like a co-closer situation in Chicago between Ryan Pressly and Porter Hodge. However, the only earned save this week came from lefty Drew Pomeranz, recently added off waivers. Neither Pressly nor Hodge has done anything to separate from the other guy; Pressly has a ghastly 6.46 ERA after a nine-run shellacking last week, and a paltry 11.1% K%. Hodge is only slightly better with a 5.40 ERA on the season. Could Daniel Plasencia earn a shot? He has a 1.29 ERA and four holds in 12 appearances.
Emilio Pagan holds the top job in Cincinnati, supported by Graham Ashcraft and Tony Santillan.
It looks like a kind of committee in Pittsburgh between Dennis Santana and David Bednar. It’s hard to say who is the top dog right now because the team hasn’t been able to earn a save this week, although Bednar did take a loss on Monday.
NL West
The situation in Arizona is interesting, with no A.J. Puk or Justin Martinez involved at this time. Last week, we called this a committee, but the current lean seems to be Shelby Miller. Veteran righty Kevin Ginkel is in the mix as well, but he has struggled since his return to action. Miller has a 27.6% K% and a tidy 1.45 ERA to go with his three saves and six holds. I am not sure if it is a committee any longer when one guy is far outpitching the other. Of note here as well: Kendall Graveman has returned to a middle relief role in Arizona, and he also has closing experience on his resume. Ryan Thompson and Jalen Beeks could also get looks in certain situations.
