There’s still time to gain those couple of points in saves or holds that might make the difference between a fantasy baseball championship and another year of thinking about what could have been. Use our MLB Bullpen Report to help make that one last push.
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MLB Bullpen Report
AL East
Still watching the committee unfold in Baltimore. I keep thinking it is between Yennier Cano and Andrew Kittredge, and then rookie Cam Sanders gets a one-pitch save on Friday night. Before that, Kittredge had the last save, and he now has six saves to Cano’s two saves. Sanders picked up another save Saturday night in an extra-inning game, where Kittredge blew the save in the ninth. We will keep watching this one.
Boston lost relief ace Garrett Whitlock this week, which could allow lefty Erik Miller and Tyron Guerrero into the setup mix. Aroldis Chapman will continue to hold down the closer job, with 27 saves, a 2.04 ERA, and a 29.8% K%. I lean Miller to pair with Justin Slaten in the setup role at this time.
Louis Varland has four saves this week, giving him 28 on the year for Toronto. What a season for Varland. Acquired at the 2025 trade deadline from Minnesota as bullpen depth, Varland captured the closer job this year and never looked back, garnering a 1.28 ERA and 30.9% K%. A great story and an even better season.
AL Central
Chicago: as a fantasy player, this bullpen is infuriating to watch and predict who will get the saves. Grant Taylor is the best arm in this bullpen. But this continues to be a committee with Taylor, Sean Newcomb, and Bryan Hudson. Taylor leads the team with six saves, Hudson has five saves (earned one on Saturday), and Newcomb has three saves. The team is getting good work from Jordan Hicks and acquired Huascar Brazoban at the trade deadline, but is not using those guys in advanced roles. Lefty Hagen Smith was recalled from Triple-A to help in the bullpen, and Trevor Richards has also been good. This is a first-place team without an assured closer. You wonder if they would be even better if they simply allowed Taylor to close, who has a 2.14 ERA and a 31.7% K%.
Kenley Jansen, as he usually does, has found his way in Detroit. He has 15 saves now and has lowered his ERA to a tolerable 3.86. Jansen is throwing his cutter an unbelievable 85% of the time these days, 87% against right-handed hitters. Right now, the top setup guy is lefty Tyler Holton, who has two holds and a save this week.
It looks like a co-closer situation in Kansas City. You probably do not want to touch this unless desperate, as it is a duel between Steven Cruz and Nate Pearson at this writing. Cruz did lock down his fourth save on Friday night, set up by Pearson, who earned his first hold. Cruz may have the slight edge.
Yoendrys Gomez hangs on to the job in Minnesota. I will admit I thought Minnesota might turn to recently acquired Jeff Hoffman as their new closer, but they have stuck with Gomez. Gomez has 17 saves, a 3.38 ERA, and a slightly below average 21.6% K%.
AL West
Watching the happenings in Los Angeles, where Ben Joyce and Samy Natera Jr. are piquing my interest. Both earned a save this week, with both pitching well. Joyce has one save and Natera has three, with Natera sporting an absurd 40.4% K% as the top lefty in the bullpen. Look for them to continue to split the chances, although the Angels seem to want to push Joyce into the closer role. Joyce pitched a clean ninth on Saturday night to earn his second save this week.
Andres Munoz has looked more like himself the last few weeks, even though he blew a save on Friday night. He still sports a 4.47 ERA but has 21 saves and an excellent 37.2% K%. There hasn’t been any talk of a change in the role in Seattle; Jose A. Ferrer does have closing experience and does have three saves this season.
NL East
I am not sure how you feel about it, but I am excited to see Kodai Senga close games for the New York Mets. Moved to the bullpen as a consequence of being ineffective, Senga earned two saves this week and looked good in the process. How long he holds the role depends on the return to health of Devin Williams, but maybe the Mets have found a way to make Senga useful to them? Stay tuned.
Jhoan Duran had no save chances this week despite pitching two times. He remains stuck on 25 saves with a tidy 1.75 ERA and a robust 35.4% K%.
NL Central
It could get interesting in Chicago, where would-be closer Daniel Palencia appears to be near a return. But current closer Jacob Webb has been outstanding, saving nine games with a 27.4% K%. Could Palencia return to a high-leverage role and not close games? I think it is a definite possibility.
How will the loss of top setup man Abner Uribe impact the Milwaukee Brewers? If any team is equipped to handle it, it is the Brew Crew. Closer Trevor Megill remains terrific, with 22 saves, a 2.44 ERA, and a 29% K%. They did acquire Antonio Senzatela, and he could help in a setup role with Aaron Ashby. Maybe Chad Patrick? Ashby locked down the save Saturday night; he also has 13 wins this year.
Lefty Mason Montgomery got the last save in Pittsburgh, yet this appears to be a committee situation shared with Gregory Soto and Luke Weaver. These are three high-profile weapons for the Pirates, with all laying a claim to the job. It will be interesting to watch the next couple of weeks. There have not been many save chances here recently.
Shoutout to Riley O’Brien in St. Louis, who notched his 30th save this week. He has a 3.14 ERA and 23.9% K% but is continually getting the job done.
NL West
What will the return of Justin Martinez do for the Arizona bullpen? It appears that he will return this week. Brandyn Garcia has been fine closing; could Martinez get into that mix as well when he is ready?
A resurgent Jordan Romano is closing games in Denver. I bet you did not have that on your 2026 bingo card. Two more saves this week, and he has 12 on the season now.
Edwin Diaz is sitting on a hot seat right now and might be in a timeshare with lefty Tanner Scott, who held the job as Diaz recovered from elbow surgery. Diaz did rebound on Friday night to get his seventh save, but his 10.66 ERA and 14.1% BB% leave much to be desired for a closer.
Mason Miller continues his ridiculousness in San Diego. He has 30 saves with a 0.88 ERA and an unbelievable 47.4% K%. The best closer in the game.
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