The battle for saves never ends. Unfortunately for fantasy baseball managers, the chaos in MLB bullpens also never ends. This week bring more bullpen churn, with several situations that look suspiciously like committees. Join us today as the Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report breaks down the latest situations and how we can take advantage of them and nail down a league championship or three.
Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report
AL East
Seranthony Dominguez has been a mixed bag for the Baltimore Orioles in the closer role since taking over for Craig Kimbrel. He has two saves this week, but also two losses. On Friday night, Kimbrel got the win and Dominguez the save. We will be keeping a close eye on this one, but Dominguez is the closer at this moment.
Pete Fairbanks looks to be out for the season in Tampa with a lat strain. Looks like this could be a committee between Edwin Uceta and Manuel Rodriguez, who both earned saves this week. Uceta also earned a win. It’s interesting to watch this one; Friday night, Uceta came on in the sixth inning of a tie game, and Rodriguez got the ninth, the game was still tied, and gave up two and lost the game. Uceta features the higher voltage stuff, but we know that doesn’t always matter in these situations. This should be a committee for the time being.
Can we talk about Chad Green for a moment? An afterthought at the beginning of the season, he is now the closer in Toronto with 13 saves and seven holds to go with a tidy 1.73 ERA and 0.89 WHIP. A tremendous comeback story this season.
AL Central
Chicago White Sox: look away.
Detroit: Jason Foley is holding on to the job and earned a four-pitch save Friday, pushing his season total to 17. Don’t be surprised if veterans Will Vest and Shelby Miller are also in the mix, along with lefty Tyler Holton.
Lucas Erceg is running away with the job in Kansas City, with two more saves this week, running his total to seven saves on the season. John Schreiber and James McArthur have notched the top two setup spots as Kansas City fights for a playoff spot. Schreiber got a save earlier in the week as well, but that was a night after Erceg had thrown 28 pitches. This is Erceg’s job at this time.
AL West
I guess Ben Joyce is the closer in Los Angeles? He has only pitched twice this week and earned a hold Friday night, pitching the eighth unscathed while protecting a one-run lead. Roansy Contreras blew the lead and took the loss in the ninth inning. What’s interesting to note here is that while Contreras has been around for some time, he too is only 24 years old. Maybe manager Ron Washington will give different looks as the season soldiers on? Hard to day.
Mason Miller is fine in Oakland, earning his 20th save this week to go along with his freakish strikeout rate of 44.5%. Will Miller be one of the top five closers off the board in the spring of 2025? We will see what happens, but there is a chance.
Kirby Yates has quietly had a great season for a disappointing Texas Rangers squad. The veteran has five wins, 23 saves, a 1.30 ERA, and a 0.87 WHIP on the season. Impressive work for a guy who has battled injuries and not worked fully in the closer role since 2019.
NL East
Raisel Iglesias continues to put together another fine season, with 28 saves, a 1.39 ERA, and a 0.62 WHIP. He earned three saves and a win this week of heavy usage for the veteran righty.
Edwin Diaz is quietly putting together a nice season. He won two games this week and now has five wins, 14 saves, a 3.41 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP, and a 36.1%K%. He likely won’t push that saves total too high this year, but that could mean a value for you in the spring.
NL Central
The Chicago Cubs designated Hecor Neris for assignment. If you’re anything like me, you might be wondering what took them so long. Porter Hodge got the first save opportunity; he’s been on our radar for several weeks as someone we recommended you keep on your radar. But this looks to be a co-closer situation, with veteran Jorge Lopez earning the save Friday night in a game in which Hodge got the victory. Hodge has the better stuff, while Lopez has the guile and experience. The Cubs linger in the playoff race but don’t appear to be serious contenders for a long playoff run; look for Hodge to have a slight edge the rest of the way.
Devin Williams blew his first save for Milwaukee this week but had five successful saves prior to that. There is no reason for concern here; he’s still dominant and has a 42.1%K% in his nine appearances on the season, making him one of the most attractive closing options out there. Trevor Megill returned this week to the top setup role in the bullpen. Come playoff time, this bullpen could give hitters fits. It is deep and nasty when healthy, with at least five options that average 95 MPH.
David Bednar holds the job in Pittsburgh by a thread; he did lose a game this week and then returned to earn a save on Friday night. Despite the 23 saves he has, it’s been an ugly season of injury and ineffectiveness for Bednar, with a bloated 5.68 ERA and 1.35 WHIP.
Ryan Helsley earned a save and a win this week for St. Louis, pushing his saves season total to 39.
NL West
Arizona: continuing to watch this one closely, with youngster Justin Martinez sitting atop the bullpen right now. Martinez took a loss earlier in the week before rebounding with two saves midweek. The stuff is ridiculous and he now has five saves on the season. But keep in mind this is a bullpen with six guys who have saves this year, and with the team fighting to stay in the playoff race, manager Torey Lovullo could use anyone on any given night. Paul Sewald started the year as the closer and has 16 saves, but pitched only once this week. A.J. Puk, Keven Ginkel, and Ryan Thompson are other options. It is Martinez’s job at this point.
Victor Vodnik hit the IL this week with right biceps tendinitis, and Colorado now turns to Tyler Kinley, I guess…
The Los Angeles Dodgers committee is interesting if you aren’t trying to figure out who is going to get the opportunity every night. Three different guys have saves this week for the Dodgers; Michael Kopech on Sunday, Evan Phillips on Monday, and Daniel Hudson on Tuesday. Kopech earned the win on Friday night. Kopech is another great example of the failed White Sox rebuild in Chicago; free of his bondage, Kopech has two wins and two saves since moving to Los Angeles, and he appears to be the closer at this time.