I often get feedback from friends and those looking for bullpen advice. Most of the time, that feedback is, I do not know how you do it. It seems that finding relief pitchers to earn saves and protect ratios drives some people a little batty each week. Overall, I find it an intriguing task, and I hope to be able to help you find that elusive target in a morass of 30 bullpens, where some are messier than others.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the state of bullpens around Major League Baseball this week.
Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report
AL East
New York: Luke Weaver has been stout since replacing Devin Williams as the closer, earning three saves on the season. Williams has been used in a setup role with Fernando Cruz, and Williams has shaved two runs off his ERA in the last 10 days while earning a hold and a win this week. Weaver has a sparkling 0.53 ERA and a 25.4% K%. This is an interesting one to watch, but Williams should regain the role when manager Aaron Boone deems him ready.
Chad Green earned a save for Toronto on a day when Jeff Hoffman was unavailable. Hoffman has three wins and seven saves, but he had two poor outings this week, where he surrendered six runs in total on two massive home runs. That pushed his ERA to 4.00 on the season, but he rebounded with a scoreless outing and a save on Friday night, and has an outstanding 37.5% K%. Keep using Hoffman without worry.
AL Central
The Chicago White Sox will play their 40th game this weekend, and inexplicably, have one save. For anyone interested, this appears to be a three-person committee with Steven Wilson, Jordan Leasure, and Cam Booser. Wilson has four holds in nine appearances this season, sporting a 0.90 ERA in the process. Leasure has the best stuff, tallying five holds to go with his 30% K%. We will keep an eye on it to see if a viable candidate for saves emerges on the South Side. With Pope Leo XIV on their side, maybe the tides turn for the ChiSox? Unlikely as I am not sure even papal blessings could help this team win games.
Emmanuel Clase is good in Cleveland. He seems to be over whatever shoulder woes he had been having, earning another two saves this week. Clase has lowered his ERA from 7.85 to 5.51 over his last six outings, adding seven strikeouts in those six innings. Despite the high ERA and 1.71 WHIP, Clase has four wins and eight saves through the first week of May. Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith remain the top setup options.
Detroit: Based on usage patterns over the last week, I would say Will Vest has a leg up on Tommy Kahnle. For now. Like today. This situation is likely to change at a moment’s notice. Jason Foley has pitched well in Toledo after not making the team out of Spring Training. Welcome to the world of bullpens, my friends.
AL West
Despite the high velocity and big strikeout numbers, Mason Miller has been spotty. He pitched only once this week and did not have a save chance. The ERA has ballooned to 4.61, but he has 10 saves and a 47.3% K%. The only save this week was earned by setup man Tyler Ferguson. Miller is secure in the job, but this will be something to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.
Andres Munoz continues to be spotless in Seattle, pitching in 18 games and earning a whopping 13 saves in the process. He is also sporting a 36.8% K% with that 0.00 ERA, and welcomed back former top setup man Matt Brash to the mix this week. It looks like Brash will work his way back into a top setup role with lefty Gabe Speier as well.
Luke Jackson pitched once all week in Texas. Will he get the next save chance for the Rangers and manager Bruce Bochy? Hard to say.
NL East
Miami: I suppose we can still call this a committee between Calvin Faucher and Anthony Bender. Bender took a loss last Sunday, and Faucher blew a save chance on Wednesday. Faucher limits hard contact but does not have the big strikeout stuff so many managers want in closers. He also has a whopping 15.4% walk percentage. Bender keeps the ball down but has similar problems: no strikeout upside, and gives up more hard contact. I would avoid this situation unless desperate, but I would probably have a slight lean towards Faucher.
Edwin Diaz is quietly doing Edwin Diaz things in New York, with eight saves, a 3.86 ERA, and a 37.3% K%. Veterans Ryne Stanek and Reed Garrett are the top setup options; Garrett leads the team with 10 holds.
Things are relatively quiet and stable in Philadelphia. Lefty Jose Alvarado has six saves and three holds, although he took a loss earlier in the week. On Thursday, he got a win in a game where Matt Strahm got the save. In that game, Alvarado pitched the ninth in a tie game, and then the Phillies scored two in the top of the 10th inning, and Strahm came on to earn the save. Alvarado should earn the bulk of the chances here.
NL Central
The seat in Chicago is heating up. Veteran Ryan Pressly surrendered eight earned runs without getting an out against San Francisco. This outing pushed his ERA up to a bloated 7.07 with a paltry 9% K%. Many fans in Chicago are clamoring for Porter Hodge to get a shot at the job now, but it is unknown who will get the next save chance for the Cubs. Hodge limits hard contact, but also has a walk rate above 13%. The Cubs have a good team this season, but they need to figure out the closer role to stay in the NL Central race.
Cincinnati: One of the most interesting developments in any bullpen has been watching the story unfold in the Queen City. Emilio Pagan continues to get the job done for the Reds, earning nine saves while posting a 2.60 ERA and a 31.7% K%. He has been outstanding and has solidified the bullpen here. Tony Santillan and Graham Ashcraft continue to work as the top setup options, although Ashcraft blew a save and took a loss in two of his last three outings. One thing of concern is that Pagan does give up lots of loud, hard contact….how long can this go on? He is getting batters to chase, though in the 88th percentile, and continues to defy expectations while throwing a four-seamer 68% of the time.
Watching Milwaukee closely, where Trevor Megill holds the top job at this time. He has four saves. More interestingly, the top setup options are Abner Uribe and Nick Mears. Uribe would probably get first crack at the job should Megill struggle or be traded, but both he and Mears have intrigued bullpen writers for ages now. Earmark both for later; Uribe has nine holds and Mears five on the season.
Need holds? Check out St. Louis setup man Kyle Leahy, who has nine holds as he has moved into a higher-leverage role. Veteran Phil Maton has been excellent with eight holds and a 27.7% K%. Ryan Helsley closes and has six saves thus far in 2o25.
NL West
In Arizona, it has been well documented how the Diamondbacks lost both of their top closers in A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez. Emerging as closer candidates have been Shelby Miller, Ryan Thompson, and Kevin Ginkel. The lean right now is Miller, but Ginkel seemed to be moving in on the job. Ginkel got a save on Thursday, but then blew the save Friday night when he coughed up five runs in the ninth to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Miller pitched the eighth before Ginkel there and earned his sixth hold. Veteran lefty Jalen Beeks also earned a save this week and could get some chances here. A messy situation.
Zach Agnos looks to be the closer in Colorado for a moribund Rockies team. Seth Halvorsen looks more comfortable in a setup role after shaving his ERA back down to 3.45, and a rejuvenated and healthy Jake Bird is a top option as well.
Robert Suarez leads all of MLB with 15 saves. He has given up one run in 17 innings for the San Diego Padres.
Continuing to watch San Francisco. Ryan Walker appears to remain the top choice for saves even as veteran Camilo Doval lurks in a setup role. Doval earned two holds this week while Walker got and converted the only save chance for the Giants this week.
