I usually get a couple of emails, texts, or Twitter messages asking about saves and closer situations. Fantasy baseball players are looking for any edge they can get, and looking for the “next” pitcher to get an opportunity to close games and earn saves for their teams.
And here is the thing: given the usage patterns that major league managers use to get outs after their starters have departed, it can be a maddening exercise to predict who will get those saves on half of all MLB teams.
In some leagues, the best bet may be to stay the course with who you have. For example, I am in the Tout Wars mixed auction league, and my team’s 33 saves there at the halfway point are fourth in the league. You need fewer saves in most leagues to compete in the category. That being said, let’s take a look at the current situation.
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MLB Bullpen Report
AL East
Ryan Helsley is on the hot seat in Baltimore. The veteran has only pitched once this week, and the only save earned over the last week has been by Yennier Cano. Helsley has a bloated 4.73 ERA at this time and has struggled since his return. Best guess is that he retains the next save chance. And he did, on Friday night, earning his eighth of the season.
Trade rumors are starting to churn with teams falling out of contention, and with Boston’s struggles, closer Aroldis Chapman could be on the move. Another great season for him, with a 1.99 ERA, a 30.2% K%, and 15 saves. Should he be traded, it makes sense that Garrett Whitlock could be the next man up.
David Bednar is on solid ground in New York, earning two straight saves this week. Things look stable: a 3.27 ERA, 16 saves, and a sufficient 27.5% K%. Fernando Cruz continues to be the top setup option.
AL Central
The Chicago White Sox appear ready to use a committee approach, given the recent struggles of both Grant Taylor and Seranthony Dominguez. Manager Will Venable continues to be criticized locally for his bullpen usage; he relies on Taylor and Dominguez and lefties Bryan Hudson and Sean Newcomb, who have both been excellent. Venable likes to use Taylor in a variety of roles, as he is the best arm in the bullpen. Will he get save chances? Yes, but he may also pitch the sixth and the seventh innings. It is tough to project anyone as the clear-cut closer option here. Newcomb has the only save here this week.
Cade Smith appears to be a mortal after all. The Chicago White Sox got to him twice in three games this week, leading to a loss and a blown save. Smith continues to lead the world with 24 saves and posts a 36.9% K%. Continue to use with confidence.
I think it is still Alex Lange in Kansas City, if you care.
AL West
The Athletics continue to muddle their way through a bullpen by committee. Elvis Alvarado does not appear to be the answer right now, as he has blown his last two chances. Mason Barnett earned the save on Thursday night, and he could emerge as the closer du jour here; he’s got a 1.23 ERA and a 33.3% K% and now has two saves. Could be a helpful FAAB addition this weekend.
Houston: Josh Hader is excellent, and he is pitching on back-to-back days again. On Thursday, Enyel De Los Santos earned his fifth save on a night when Hader was off.
NL East
Pete Fairbanks has pitched four times over the last week, and he has notched three saves in the process. He still has a bloated 6.75 ERA, but he has 12 saves, two holds, and a 30.2% K%. Calvin Faucher and Anthony Bender are the top setup options at this time.
Jhoan Duran notched his 20th save of the season on Friday night and continues to be excellent in 2026: a win, 20 saves, a 1.63 ERA, a stellar 0.94 WHIP, and an absurd 41.5% K%.
Washington is playing .500 baseball, but if the bullpen were any good, it could be better. I guess the closer is Clayton Beeter; he had two saves earlier in the week and has blown his last two chances. Could Orlando Ribalto, Richard Lovelady, or Brad Lord emerge to get an opportunity? One-time closer Gus Varland was optioned to Triple-A on Thursday night.
NL Central
It’s a bit of a mystery to see how the Chicago Cubs will handle their next save situation. Looks like Jacob Webb should be the main guy, but Caleb Thielbar will get chances against lefty lineups in the ninth. In all this mess, Trent Thornton got the save Thursday night, while Webb got the win.
Cincinnati looks forward to getting Emilio Pagan back in the next week from his hamstring issue. He started a rehab assignment on Thursday. Try as they might, the Reds have had no answers since his exit, with Tony Santillan being the top option until Pagan returns.
Eyebrows raised some in Milwaukee when Joel Kuhnel earned two saves this week. Also, Chad Patrick and normal closer Trevor Megill each had one save over the last seven days. I would not worry much about it; Megill is the guy here, and these were situational saves for Kuhnel and Patrick.
NL West
I am not sure what to tell you about Colorado’s bullpen, other than to avoid it even if totally desperate. Victor Vodnik leads the team with four saves, but has not had a save chance since late April. Antonio Senzatela is the closer now, and he is stuck on three saves after blowing the opportunity on Friday night.
A name to watch in Los Angeles is Edgardo Henriquez. Tanner Scott is emerging as the top closer option without much variation. Still, manager Dave Roberts plays musical chairs with his setup guys, and Henriquez could soon find himself in that higher leverage position.
San Francisco: the bullpen here has fallen on hard times. I think Caleb Kilian is still the closer, having earned his fifth save this week while also blowing one spectacularly and taking a loss on Thursday. Ryan Walker is back, but seems to be best used in a setup role. This team does not really have any other internal options right now.
Hang in there in your fantasy leagues. I know many people start to turn their attention to football now, but we are only halfway through the baseball season. Stick with your teams and most importantly, remember to have fun.
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