The panic comes in waves. Not all at once. It seems like a closer is injured daily, or that someone is ineffective in their job, leading to consternation for baseball fans and fantasy players alike.
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Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report
If you care about my opinion, do not overreact right now. Many fantasy players are scrambling and spending oodles of FAAB money to grab Jacob Junis types. I feel this is a mistake and will throw that opinion out here. Things will come back to the center. You will likely need fewer saves this year than ever based on this war of attrition. Stick to the process you honed over the winter, and beware of harsh decisions made under duress when your top closer blows a save.
So hold on to Devin Williams. Do not jettison Andres Munoz. Stay patient. Things will come back around your way. Let’s dig into this week in bullpens while also looking at some speculative closers coming down the road.
AL East
Ryan Helsley hit the bereavement list this week, leaving a save chance for Anthony Nunez, who converted. The job belongs to Helsley when he returns. Helsley has six saves and a tidy 2.79 ERA with a 34.9% K%. That will play.
Toronto manager John Schneider announced that he would be using a committee approach there due to the persistent struggles of would-be closer Jeff Hoffman. Hoffman could get some chances still, but Louis Varland and perhaps Braydon Fisher should be part of this new mix. If and when Yimi Garcia is activated from the IL, the veteran could also be in this. The idea seems to be to give Hoffman some lower-leverage work in the short term to work through his various issues. I would lean Varland here for FAAB purposes.
AL Central
Seranthony Dominguez is solidifying the role in Chicago after a tough start to the season. He has six saves, three this week, and has lowered his ERA to 4.50. He is supported by the dynamic Grant Taylor, who has done some opening this year as well as having multiple inning stints in his repertoire.
Does anyone want the job in Kansas City? While waiting for the return of Carlos Estevez, Lucas Erceg has really struggled of late. So has Matt Strahm. When Estevez is ready to return, and if his velocity comes with him, he should be back in the top job. Erceg did earn a save on Friday night.
Minnesota is too tough to call right now between Cole Sands, Taylor Rogers, and Justin Topa. Nobody has more than one save here. The slight lean would be Sands, but that could change today. Avoid.
AL West
Every bullpen in this division has some turmoil right now. Let’s take a look at it.
Athletics: I prefer Jack Perkins and Justin Sterner here, but my vote does not count. Instead, unheralded journeyman Joel Kuhnel and his career 5.60 ERA are sharing chances with lefty Hogan Harris. Hard to say how this sorts out, but both Perkins and Sterner should get chances to be in the leverage conversation very soon.
Houston: Enyel De Los Santos is the guy to roster here and now. Bryan Abreu has not pitched in a week, and Josh Hader is just starting to throw. Pass.
Los Angeles: Jordan Romano has not exactly taken the job by storm with a 6.14 ERA and 14% BB%. Kirby Yates is on a rehab assignment now, and when he returns, he could be thrust into the closer mix here. Yates could return this week. Chase Silseth and Sam Bachman could also work their way into saves here if the team pivots from Romano.
Seattle: Andres Munoz looks to be rounding into shape this week with a win and two saves, lowering his ERA to a ghastly 7.20. Matt Brash and Eduard Bazardo continue to be the top setup options.
Texas: I made a small FAAB bid on Cole Winn a couple of weeks back and am hoping for a lottery ticket. I just refuse to accept that Texas is going to use Jacob Junis as their closer all year. Junis limits hard contact but has a 12.5% K%. Watching this one closely.
NL East
Robert Suarez has taken over for the injured Raisel Iglesias, and the Atlanta Braves have not missed a beat. The rumors yesterday were that Iglesias expects a minimum IL stay, which would end May 5. Would he ascend back to the top job? Suarez has two saves this week in his absence.
Devin Williams is struggling in the Big Apple, standing on shaky ground. The veteran had a blown save, a loss, and a win this week while he stayed stuck on two saves with a bloated 10.80 ERA. Luke Weaver has not been much better. Putting that 12-game losing streak behind them, look for a rebound here.
Washington: Who cares? Clayton Beeter and his 17.4% BB%? Sure.
NL Central
With Daniel Palencia injured in Chicago, there is palace intrigue over who will get the save chances at Wrigley Field. Caleb Thielbar earned two saves this week, but then injured his hamstring and hit the IL on Friday. Is it finally Ben Brown season? I have been wishing this into the universe for two years now. Perhaps Riley Martin could factor here too… Corbin Martin got the save on Friday. This is certainly not how the Cubs and manager Craig Counsell had drawn things up for their bullpen this year. Brown is my bet here.
Pittsburgh: co-closers Dennis Santana and Gregory Soto combined for as many save chances as I had this week: zero.
Riley O’Brien looks the part in St. Louis. It is good to admit when we are wrong, and I was wrong on O’Brien, who has seven saves and a spotless ERA in 2026 thus far.
NL West
Los Angeles: With the loss of closer Edwin Diaz for an estimated two to three months, it looks like manager Dave Roberts will go to a committee approach here. Tanner Scott got and converted the first save chance on Thursday, but took a loss Friday, where veteran Blake Treinen blew the save ahead of the loss. Alex Vesia should be in this mix as well. The Dodgers are not going to worry too much about it; they will stick to their plan of just trying to make sure they have enough healthy pitchers for a long October run. They have more than enough talent to get by as Diaz recovers from his elbow injury. Lean Scott here, but know that Vesia and Treinen will also get chances.
There are not enough superlatives to discuss Mason Miller. He has recorded 37 outs this season, 27 of them by strikeout, earning nine saves along the way. The guy is just unhittable right now and is in the argument for the best pitcher in all of baseball.
San Francisco: Is Ryan Walker back in the captain’s chair? He earned two solid saves this week, and it looks like he will be supported in the short term by Keaton Winn and Caleb Kilian. Walker sometimes seems like he is better suited for a multiple-inning role, but he is the closer for now. It could get interesting here if he falters at all.
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