I generally think of myself as an optimist in most things. A glass-half-full kind of guy. Someone who takes things in stride and can adapt to the situation in front of him, and still functions. Someone who figures it out and keeps on keeping on.
And it’s a good thing I have those traits, because I need them to write about bullpens for fantasy baseball followers. My word, what a season of ups and downs, and twists and turns, for all of us. Just when you think you have it figured out, someone named Zach Maxwell with a 10.13 ERA gets a save.
Ok, the rant is over. Let’s review the week that was and see if we can find you some saves.
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Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report
AL East
Ryan Helsley threw live batting practice on Monday and headed out on a rehab assignment on Thursday. Andrew Kittredge earned his first save of 2026 on Thursday. The best bet most nights should continue to be Rico Garcia until Helsley returns, which could happen in the next 7-10 days, depending on how much of a ramp-up he needs to be back.
Bryan Baker continues to pitch well for Tampa Bay with a 1.98 ERA, 18 saves, and a 27.5% K%. On nights where the matchup dictates it, or Baker needs a night off, lefty Garrett Cleavinger will get the chance, as he did on Wednesday.
AL Central
Kenley Jansen returned for the Detroit Tigers on Friday night. No one excelled in the role he left behind, so expect Jansen to resume closer duties immediately. He did not pitch on Friday night.
Alex Lange earned another save for Kansas City on Tuesday. He then blew one on Wednesday, as the world turns for the Royals this season. Lucas Erceg had converted a chance last Sunday, but seems out of the picture now.
Yoendrys Gomez appeared to be the closer du jour for the Minnesota Twins these days. And then Andrew Morris earned his second on Friday night. Gomez got one out in the eighth but also coughed up a run in that sequence. Gomez leads the team with five saves and would appear to be the best bet for the save chance most nights. But Anthony Banda and Taylor Rogers could also get opportunities based on the ninth-inning matchups.
AL West
Athletics: the clown car of bullpens, they keep putting out guys who can get saves. Elvis Alvarado is now part of the closer committee here. And then Hogan Harris got his sixth save on Friday night. Mason Barnett also got a save on Tuesday. The team traded Joel Kuhnel to Milwaukee. Who knows? Scott Barlow could get the next chance. Or Justin Sterner. Harris leads the team with his six saves. It just could be that no one emerges here as the closer.
Houston: Josh Hader is back and looks like he never left, with a win and two saves in his first five outings, as well as a 43.8% K% thus far—no doubt who the closer is here.
In Los Angeles, it seemed Kirby Yates was being given first crack at the job since being back from injury, but then on Friday night, Ryan Zeferjahn was called on and locked down his second save of 2026. Yates has struggled in his 13 games, with a 4.76 ERA despite a nice 30% K%. We can still list Yates as the closer, but we will need to change that if he does not get the next save opportunity.
NL East
Raisel Iglesias finally blew a save on Tuesday night, allowing Braden Montgomery of the Chicago White Sox to walk him off. I am not worried about him at all; he has 13 saves. a 1.21 ERA, and a 30.6% K%.
Pete Fairbanks seems to be on the comeback trail, earning a win and a save this week for the Marlins. Walks continue to be an issue for the veteran, but he has only had one in his last two outings. Miami needs him to be better.
Devin Williams has back-to-back saves this week for the Mets, and he is looking like himself again these days. He has struck out eight of the 17 hitters he has faced in June, and has a 2.08 ERA over that span.
Washington: Clayton Beeter remains the closer, but former closer Gus Varland got a save this week on Monday, the only one of the week for the Nationals.
NL Central
Will Daniel Palencia ever get another chance at earning saves in Chicago? Palencia took the loss on Wednesday night for the Cubs and remains stuck on three saves there.
Cincinnati: There have been many losses this week for the Reds, and the only earned save went to Zach Maxwell on Tuesday. It’s hard to know what to think here, even though my belief is that Terry Francona would like Tony Santillan to take the job. But his ERA is hovering near 6.00, and he blew the save on Wednesday night. Would-be closer Emilio Pagan is on the slow road back from his hamstring injury. This continues to be a nightmare.
The only save in Milwaukee this week was earned by middle reliever Chad Patrick. Both Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill have only pitched once all week.
NL West
In Arizona, A.J. Puk had his rehab assignments paused due to left shoulder discomfort. He is set to undergo an MRI. Here’s hoping it is nothing worrisome as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. Paul Sewald marches on, collecting his 16th save on Friday night.
Los Angeles: Isn’t this fascinating to watch? While it is easy to list Tanner Scott as the closer, the reality is that there is a bevy of options for the Dodgers as they navigate the beginning of summer. Will Klein and Alex Vesia are also in the mix, depending on the situation, and we know manager Dave Roberts will mix and match his way to a win most nights. Closer Edwin Diaz is engaged in a throwing progression, but is still weeks away from joining the team again.
San Francisco brought back erstwhile closer Ryan Walker from Triple-A before the weekend. I do not think he is going to close for them; that job, for now, appears to belong to Caleb Kilian. Given how bad the Giants have been, though, do not expect a ton of chances for this bullpen.
Good luck hunting down those saves this week. You can reach out to me anytime on Twitter/X @mdrc0508, and I can get back to you; my DMs are always open, and I try (around my work schedule) to get back to people as soon as I can.
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