I think we probably say this every other year, but the 2026 MLB season seems to be extra messy on the closer front. Bullpens are in chaos all around baseball, many top closers are injured, and there don’t seem to be a lot of reliable arms ready to step up.
As fantasy baseball managers, though, we still have to take what we get and turn it into a winning season. That’s why this article exists. Let’s break down the latest MLB bullpen news and try to make some fantasy baseball lemonade out of this swill.
More great Fantasy Baseball Analysis: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire | Weekly SP Rankings | Pitching Streamers | Two-Start Pitchers | Lineup Analysis | MLB Injury Report | Rookie Report | Advanced Stats | Under the Radar | Overvalued & Undervalued | Bullpen Report
Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report
AL East
Ryan Helsley was back for Baltimore after being on bereavement leave last weekend, but he hit the IL with elbow discomfort. He’s looked good thus far with none of the concerns we had last season. This could be a committee with Andrew Kittredge, Rico Garcia, and Anthony Nunez all vying for chances. Kittredge has the most experience with 21 career saves. It could be interesting to watch in Baltimore.
Tampa Bay: Bryan Baker has taken the job and run with it. Four more saves this week to give him seven this season, with a tidy 3.18 ERA and 28.3% K%. Ian Seymour has five holds here to lead the team.
Louis Varland has assumed the mantle in Toronto, notching three saves this week. It feels safe to drop Jeff Hoffman in all but the deepest leagues, but I don’t think we have seen or heard the last of him in the closer role.
AL Central
Seranthony Dominguez has reasserted himself in the closer role, nabbing two saves and a win this week in Chicago. The veteran has seven saves and has lowered his ERA to a still high but more manageable 4.15 on the season.
Eric Sabrowski has run his season total to 12 holds in 16 appearances this year, leading the major leagues. Oh, and Cade Smith is ok too; seven saves with a 27.9% K% despite a high 3.86 ERA.
Kenley Jansen is struggling in Detroit. Who would be next in line there if they give Jansen a break? Kyle Finnegan (a 0.61 ERA, four holds) has been far more effective this year than Will Vest (6.17 ERA, four holds). At this time, assume Jansen keeps the job despite his tough week. Finnegan earned his first save of the year on Thursday; it seems like Jansen was available as well. Let’s watch this weekend and see what happens.
Minnesota: NO. Not even if desperate. I have no idea who will get the next save opportunity here.
AL West
Just when you think the closer is Jack Perkins, Mark Leiter Jr. gets a save on Wednesday. And then Perkins gets another on Thursday. I will be watching this one closely, but Perkins seems the best bet moving forward. Perkins had pitched in two of three days, so the night Leiter Jr. got the save, we suspect Perkins was off. Perkins now has three saves and a 30.9% K%. I have invested and think he is the guy.
Los Angeles: The team cut ties with Jordan Romano last week, leaving the closer job wide open. The team does not have one save on its roster right now. Kirby Yates is on his rehab assignment, but he has been largely ineffective in that span. This looks like a committee at this moment with Sam Bachman, Chase Silseth, and maybe Ryan Zeferjahn. Egads. Pass the Tums.
In Seattle, Andres Munoz chips away at his ERA and is earning saves, three over the last week, and now has six saves to go with his 38.5% K%. Top setup guy Matt Brash hit the IL this week with right lat inflammation, meaning Jose A. Ferrer and Eduard Bazardo are the top setup options, with Gabe Speier a great choice for holds.
Texas: Does Jacob Latz have the job now? After people spent triple digits on Jacob Junis to close? Latz has the last three saves, including one on Friday night. I had rostered Latz as a reserve in my Tout Wars mixed auction draft, and am hoping I hit paydirt here. While unsure of his role in March, I liked what I had seen and the Statcast profile. Hoping to be right sometimes…
NL East
The Atlanta Braves are planning to reinstate Raisel Iglesias when he is first eligible next Tuesday. What does this mean for Robert Suarez? My belief is that Iglesias gets his job back. They have a stronger bullpen with Suarez in a setup role.
Pete Fairbanks hit the IL this week in Miami. In his absence, Tyler Phillips and Calvin Faucher have each earned a save. Slight edge to Phillips; Faucher may have gotten a save due to it being a night off for Phillips. This could be a committee situation until Fairbanks returns from his bout with Reynaud’s Syndrome.
Philadelphia expects closer Jhoan Duran back soon, but Brad Keller got the job done on Friday night and earned his first save of the year.
Gus Varland looks like he is the guy right now in Washington with both Clayton Beeter and Cole Henry out with injuries. Varland has been a journeyman reliever but has been effective this year for the Nats.
NL Central
Chicago: Daniel Palencia is on the way back, but can we trust him with two fairly significant injuries in his last two months of play? He concerns me, not because he isn’t great, but because of the checkered injury history. I continue to patiently wait for Ben Brown’s season as closer. Jacob Webb earned his first save on Friday night, and Hoby Milner earned one on Wednesday. Just how they drew it up.
In Milwaukee, there is a question as to whether Abner Uribe or Trevor Megill is the closer. Right now, it appears to be Uribe. Megill is working his way back to being a prime high-leverage guy again; he is unscored upon in his last six outings. Best guess: Megill is either traded at some point, leaving the job to Uribe. Or, they flip spots and Uribe goes back to being their top stopper and/or fireman. The bullpen is better overall with Megill closing if he can get the job done.
NL West
No save chances in Arizona this week. But Paul Sewald is still their closer at this time. Despite a 4.09 ERA, the veteran has seven saves and a 31% K%. Rock on, dude. Rumors abound that A.J. Puk could be back later in the summer, but until we see evidence, it is Sewald.
The Los Angeles Dodgers look like they will do some mixing and matching at the back end of their bullpen with Edwin Diaz out with an elbow injury. Tanner Scott should get the most chances, but look for Alex Vesia and Blake Treinen also to be part of the plan. Good luck here.
Best of luck this week, sorting through the bullpen messes in the major leagues. Most of all, remember to have fun with it. Baseball and fantasy baseball are meant to be fun. Enjoy your weekend and make the most of it.
Fantrax is one of the fastest-growing fantasy sites in the fantasy sports industry, and we’re not stopping anytime soon. We are the most customizable, easy-to-use, and feature-rich platform in the industry, offering the greatest fantasy experience for your dynasty, keeper, redraft, and best ball leagues. Fantasy sports doesn’t sleep, and neither does Fantrax, with seasons running 365 days a year. Take your fantasy leagues to the next level now at Fantrax.com!
