American League Closer/Bullpen Report After a Week: Jeff Hoffman, Luke Jackson, Andres Munoz and Josh Hader All Tied at Three Saves
Looking at the top relievers from each American League team after a week of play.
After a week of MLB regular season action, it's time to look at each team's relievers, most importantly closers.
We'll look at American League teams first - check back soon for the National League recap.
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Blue Jays
Jeff Hoffman leads Toronto with three saves. Yimi Garcia has the team's only other save.
Garcia hasn't allowed a run and has five strikeouts across four innings so far. Hoffman has allowed a run and also has five punchouts over four frames. Expect Hoffman to get almost all the save opportunities.
Brendon Little has appeared in four games, striking out five over four frames. Chad Green has allowed two runs and struck out four over three games in four appearances. Nick Sandlin has four punchouts over 3 1/3 scoreless innings.
Yankees
Devin Williams and Luke Weaver have a save each for New York.
Williams has allowed a run in his only inning, while Weaver has three punchouts over 2 1/3 innings in two games. Williams was on the paternity list for a bit, and will get almost every save chance in 2025.
Mark Leiter Jr. is the only New York reliever to appear in four games. He has allowed three runs and struck out seven over 3 1/3 innings. Fernando Cruz has five strikeouts over three innings in two games pitched.
Rays
Pete Fairbanks has the lone Tampa Bay save so far. He has four strikeouts over two scoreless innings. Fairbanks should get most of the save opportunities in 2025.
Mason Englert has four strikeouts over three innings - he's allowed one run, while Mason Montgomery has four strikeouts over two scoreless frames.
Orioles
No Orioles have a save in the early going. Preferred closer Felix Bautista has allowed two runs and struck out three over two innings so far.
Bryan Baker and Keegan Akin have pitched in four games each. Baker has seven punchouts over 4 2/3 innings, while Akin is at three strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings. Gregory Soto has seven punchouts in just 2 1/3 innings.
Red Sox
Aroldis Chapman and Justin Slaten have a save each for Boston - Liam Hendriks is on the injured list. Chapman has allowed no runs and struck out two over two innings, while Slaten has given up four runs and struck out two over three frames.
Garrett Whitlock has six strikeouts over six innings in three relief appearances. He's allowed a run.
The closer role looks to be a committee so far, and might be further complicated when Hendriks is back. We'll keep monitoring the situation.
White Sox
No Chicago reliever has a save and nobody has pitched in more than three games.
Cam Booser has six strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings, but has also allowed two runs.
The undetermined Chicago closer role hasn't gained any clarity in the first week of the season. I'd try to avoid this team outside the deepest of leagues right now.
Guardians
Paul Sewald has the lone Cleveland save. He has three strikeouts, a loss and two runs allowed in 2 1/3 innings pitched.
Closer Emmanuel Clase has a win, but no saves in three innings - he's allowed a run and struck out two. Hunter Gaddis has three strikeouts over 2 1/3 scoreless innings so far.
Tigers
Brant Hurter and Tommy Kahnle each have a save for the Tigers. Jason Foley didn't end up making the team out of spring training.
Hurter has allowed three runs and has three strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings. Kahnle has two punchouts over two scoreless innings.
Brenan Hanifee has four strikeouts over three innings, but has also allowed two runs.
Detroit could be another team rolling with a committee for saves in 2025. We'll see if anyone steps up ever.
Royals
Closer Carlos Estevez has the lone KC save. He's struck out three batters and allowed an unearned run in three innings.
John Schreiber has four punchouts over 3 1/3 innings - he's allowed two runs. Hunter Harvey has four Ks over three scoreless frames. Lucas Erceg, who might earn saves throughout the season, has a strikeout over 2 1/3 innings in three appearances.
Twins
No Minnesota reliever has a save in the early going.
Preferred closer Jhoan Duran has two punchouts over 1 1/3 innings, while allowing a run. Setup man Griffin Jax has three strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings, but also has surrendered a run already.
Louis Varland has six punchouts over four innings, but two runs allowed. Darren McCaughan has six strikeouts over 4 2/3 scoreless innings in two appearances. Jorge Alcala has four strikeouts in two innings, but also three runs allowed.
Rangers
Luke Jackson leads Texas with three saves. Chris Martin has earned one save.
Jackson has a loss and three runs allowed as well, but also has three strikeouts in his 3 1/3 innings and looks like the preferred closer early on. Martin has seven punchouts over 4 1/3 scoreless innings in his four appearances.
Robert Garcia has four strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings, but has allowed a run. Gerson Garabito has five strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings, but also eight runs (four earned) allowed. Shawn Armstrong has four punchouts over 2 2/3 innings, but two runs (one earned) allowed.
Angels
Kenley Jansen leads LA with two saves, but Ryan Johnson and Ryan Zeferjahn have one each.
Jansen is the preferred closer and has three punchouts over three scoreless innings so far. Zeferjahn has two Ks in 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Johnson has two strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings along with a win, but also has allowed seven runs (five earned).
Reid Detmers has four punchouts over two scoreless innings so far.
Astros
Josh Hader has all three of the Houston saves. He has allowed a run, but struck out three over three innings so far.
Luis Contreras has six punchouts over three innings, but also two runs allowed. Ryan Gusto has five strikeouts over four innings, along with a run allowed.
Bryan King has five strikeouts over 3 1/3 scoreless innings. Bryan Abreu has five strikeouts in three scoreless frames. Steven Okert has four Ks in 2 2/3 scoreless innings so far.
Mariners
Andres Munoz has locked down all three of the Mariners' saves. He has five strikeouts over three scoreless innings so far. Munoz is the preferred closer, and is looking great to start 2025.
Gabe Speier has four strikeouts over 2 2/3 scoreless innings out of the Seattle pen so far.
Athletics
Mason Miller has the lone save for the Athletics. He has five punchouts in his two scoreless innings so far. Miller will get almost every save chance for the Athletics in 2025.
Tyler Ferguson and T.J. McFarland have each appeared in four games. Ferguson has four punchouts over 4 1/3 innings, while allowing one run, which was unearned. McFarland has one strikeout in 2 1/3 innings, and has also allowed two runs.
Mitch Spence has six punchouts over 4 2/3 innings, but also has allowed seven runs (five earned). Justin Sterner has four strikeouts over 3 1/3 scoreless innings so far.
