It has been a nightmarish week for major league bullpens…and fantasy managers. There has been wreckage and carnage all over both leagues.
But please take heart; it should not be this way all season. And remember to trust your preparation and your process. In one of my leagues, top closers are available due to a lack of patience with this always volatile position. Don’t cut your nose off to spite your face. Stick with your plan where you can.
We must not lose hope. The adage “it’s still early” applies here; we are basically 12% into the season. Take hope and gather up your courage. We are diving in.
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Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report
AL East
Ryan Helsley has six saves on the season with a 32.4% K%. Carry on. The Orioles have four relievers in their bullpen with strikeout rates over 30% in Rico Garcia, Anthony Nunez, Yennier Cano, and Grant Wolfram.
New York: Has David Bednar righted the ship? He knocked down a win and a save this week for the Yankees. He has six saves on the season.
Tampa Bay: It is Bryan Baker‘s time, and we are here for it. He earned two more saves this week to run his season total to four. Edwin Uceta had a shoulder setback, and Griffin Jax is working on getting himself re-centered, allowing Baker to land the job. For now. Baker blew the save on Saturday night, leaving Yoendrys Gomez the chance, which he converted.
Jeff Hoffman struggles in Toronto, but do they have any other options? They are paying him millions to do the job. He royally blew another save Saturday night. Louis Varland could be thrust into the role, but Hoffman also has a 43.9% K%. Walks are hurting him. Once his left on base percentage normalizes (if?), improves, Hoffman will be fine. Maybe.
AL Central
Things might get interesting in Chicago, where closer Seranthony Dominguez is struggling with a 7.50 ERA and a 16.1% BB%. Not good. The Sox have Jordan Leasure and Grant Taylor serving interesting roles in the bullpen. No change is imminent, but it is always good to know who the players could be.
Cade Smith blew a save on Tuesday, but earned saves in two consecutive outings on Thursday and Saturday. He has not been outstanding with a 4.09 ERA, but he has converted five saves now.
Kenley Jansen earned saves in back-to-back chances Tuesday and Wednesday this week, and capped a good week off with another on Saturday. Kyle Finnegan has been great in a setup role, and Will Vest is struggling with a 5.63 ERA thus far.
In Kansas City, there is trouble. There were three blown saves this week, two by veteran Nick Mears and one by erstwhile closer Lucas Erceg. The struggle is real in Kansas City, where the Royals are 7-14 as of this writing. The trick here will be seeing what Carlos Estevez‘s velocity is when he returns.
AL West
Athletics: Joel Kuhnel? OK. Two saves this week, but it is still a committee with Hogan Harris and Mark Leiter Jr. I would bet that none of them end the season with the job.
Houston: Bryan Abreu continues to struggle and actually earned a hold this week in a game saved by Enyel Do Lose Santos, who notched two saves this week. Josh Hader moved to the 60-day IL this week. Hard times in Houston.
Jordan Romano sits on a hot seat in Los Angeles. Kirby Yates could be back this week, and my expectation is that he will ascend to the closer role before long. At least my Tout Wars team hopes that is the case. Romano blew two saves and took losses this week, and despite a 33.3% K%, he has a 7.11 ERA. Do not thank heaven for 7-11.
In Seattle, Andres Munoz looks pedestrian, with only two saves and a bloated 9.00 ERA. A 14.7% BB% is not helping his cause. He should be fine.
Texas: Jacob Junis was the closer…last week. Who is the closer this week? The job looks wide open right now, with Cole Winn being in the mix with Jacob Latz. Good luck sorting this one.
NL East
Raisel Iglesias notched two saves this week to run his total to four on the 2026 season. He has looked great, but was unavailable Saturday due to shoulder discomfort. Robert Suarez notched his first save in Iglesias’s absence. Something to watch, but Iglesias is considered day-to-day at this point.
New York: Devin Williams is the closer in name, but there has not been much relief here for the Mets. Luke Weaver is also on the struggle bus, as is this whole team.
Jhoan Duran hit the IL on Saturday with a mild oblique strain. It is expected that Brad Keller will get the bulk of the chances while Duran is out, especially with Jose Alvarado‘s struggles to begin the season. Duran is not expected to be out long… so they say.
Cole Henry hit the IL with a shoulder injury, but he played catch on Saturday. Clayton Beeter and Gus Varland appear to be co-closers now. My lean right now is Varland, given Beeter’s spotty command; he has a 19% BB%. Egads!
NL Central
Ben Brown could be the new closer in Chicago with the oblique injury to Daniel Palencia. Not so fast, said Caleb Thielbar on Saturday night, locking down his first save of 2026. I would look for this to be a mix-and-match committee at this time, even while I love Brown’s upside in the role.
Milwaukee: chaos reigns supreme between Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill. Both had saves this week, with Uribe getting two to Megill’s one. Neither guy has been particularly sharp to begin the 2026 season. Looks like a committee for now as Megill works to right himself. Another guy to add here could be Aaron Ashby, who has five vulture wins already with an absurd 37.3% K%. Better than a lousy sixth starter for many fantasy teams.
Pittsburgh seems to be in a committee situation between Dennis Santana and Gregory Soto. Both have pitched fairly well, even as Soto’s stuff is better. One to watch.
Riley O’Brien has a hold on the top job in St.Louis with five saves. JoJo Romero and George Soriano are the top setup options for now.
NL West
Arizona: Raise your hand if you had Paul Sewald earning saves in April. Sewald has seven saves thus far. Juan Morillo earned a save and a hold this week, grabbing a save on a night that Sewald had off.
Is Mason Miller not only the best closer in baseball but the best pitcher? An argument can be made. Three more saves this week (he now has seven total) with a 71.4% K%. He is truly unbelievable. Jason Adam returned to his regular setup role this week and knocked down three holds.
If you can figure out who the closer is in San Francisco, I will buy you a cookie. It’s seemingly a committee between Ryan Walker, Erik Miller, Caleb Kilian, and Keaton Winn. Miller earned the only save this week, but I am not touching this situation until I am desperate for saves.
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