National League Fantasy Baseball Closers on the Rise and Fall

After two weeks of MLB regular season play, let's take a look at how things are shaking out with National League closers.

We'll look at American League closers in another article, so check back for that.

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Padres

Robert Suarez is the clear closer for San Diego.

Suarez has six saves across his six appearances. He's not allowed a run or hit, while walking just two. He's struck out seven batters. 

Suarez has definitely gained fantasy value since the season opened up, and he's got a chance to finish as one of the best fantasy relievers by the time the season wraps up.

Giants

Ryan Walker and Camilo Doval have split five saves so far.

Walker has allowed a run on three hits and a walk, while striking out five and earning three saves. I feel he is the better fantasy asset for the long run, but if he keeps splitting saves, he's going to be a better deep-league option.

Doval has two saves and a 1-1 record. He's given up six runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks, while striking out just two. Doval has some fantasy value, but is a better deep-league option at this point.

Dodgers

Tanner Scott (3), Blake Treinen (2) and Alex Vesia (1) have the six saves for Los Angeles.

Scott has allowed three runs on six hits and no walks, while striking out six over seven frames. Treinen has a loss on his ledger, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks over six innings, while striking out seven. Vesia has surrendered two runs on five hits and four walks, but has 13 punchouts already.

Treinen earned the team's most recent save, but this looks like a committee to me. It's hard to say this given how many wins this team is going to rack up, but I honestly want no part of this bullpen in standard leagues. All can be decent assets in deeper leagues, but unless a clear No. 1 option appears, their fantasy ceilings are severely capped.

Diamondbacks

A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez have split four saves in the early going.

Puk has given up two runs on five hits and a walk over five innings, while striking out seven. Martinez has a win over his 4 2/3 innings - he's allowed three hits and no walks, while punching out seven.

Martinez got the team's last save, but I think this is another committee. Both have deep-league fantasy value, but are going to be held back in standard leagues if they keep splitting the save opportunities.

Rockies

Seth Halvorsen and Victor Vodnik are the two Colorado relievers with a save.

Both have struggled on the mound, with 5 or worse ERAs. Halvorsen has allowed six runs (three earned) on four hits and five walks, while striking out six over 5 1/3 innings. Vodnik has given up five runs (four earned) on seven hits and three walks, while striking out five over five frames.

I want no part of this bullpen in standard leagues, and the team probably won't be good enough to make even one closer that relevant in deeper leagues. Only in the deepest leagues would I roster/utilize either of these guys, but I think Halvorsen will eventually be the primary closer.

Cubs

Ryan Pressly has all three of the team's “normal” saves. Colin Rea earned a save after working three innings to end a game (which also earns you a save).

Pressly has allowed four runs (three earned) on 11 hits and six walks, while striking out just two. He shouldn't be rostered in all standard leagues given his overall struggles, but it's his job to lose, and is the Cub reliever you want right now.

Brewers

Trevor Megill and Joel Payamps have a save each for Milwaukee.

Payamps has been battered for 10 runs on 10 hits and three walks over 5 1/3 innings. He's struck out six and has a loss too.

Megill is the preferred closer, and hasn't allowed a run on two hits over 3 1/3 innings. He's got six punchouts and no walks. A lack of save opportunities early has Megill as a better deep-league option for fantasy.

Cardinals

Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton and Steven Matz have a save each for St. Louis.

Helsley is the team's closer, and has given up two runs on four hits and five walks over five innings. He's struck out nine batters. Helsley is the St. Louis reliever you want to own for now, but he's not exactly trending up.

Maton has not allowed a run on four hits over 6 1/3 innings - he's struck out nine and walked nobody. Maton is worth watching in case Helsley struggles, gets injured or gets moved.

Matz is a long reliever and got his save after working multiple innings.

Reds

Emilio Pagan (2) and Tony Santillan (1) have the Reds' saves early on. Alexis Diaz still has not been activated from the injured list, although he's nearing a return.

Until Diaz is back, I'd avoid the Cincy “closers” in standard leagues, and probably deeper setups too. Santillan has been the better fantasy performer between him and Pagan.

Pirates

Nobody has consistently stepped up since David Bednar was sent to the minor leagues. Thomas Harrington (who was also sent down) and Dennis Santana have the other two saves for Pittsburgh.

Santana is probably the best fantasy reliever for the Pirates right now, but he's only an option in deep leagues. I'd try to avoid this bullpen for now.

Mets

Edwin Diaz leads New York with two saves, while Huascar Brazoban and Ryne Stanek have a save each.

Diaz has allowed three runs on five hits and two walks, while punching out six. He's also got a win to his name. Diaz is the Met reliever you want to own in fantasy, but Stanek was the one who got the last save.

Brazoban has allowed a run on six hits and one walk over 9 1/3 innings already. He has eight punchouts as well, so he's got some deep-league fantasy value with those numbers.

Stanek has not allowed a run over 3 1/3 innings early on. He's given up one hit and two walks, while striking out four. Stanek would likely be next in line for saves if Diaz needs a day off, is struggling or gets hurt. He should be rostered in more leagues than Brazoban, but is still just a deep-league asset.

Phillies

Jose Alvarado has two saves and has emerged as the top closing option in Philadelphia. He's pitched much better than Jordan Romano, who has one save.

Alvarado has surrendered a run on six hits and two walks, while punching out 12 over 6 1/3 innings. He's also got two wins. Alvarado's fantasy numbers are inflated with the wins, but he's the Phillies' reliever you want in fantasy leagues now - he's a standard league option for those looking for closer help.

Romano has allowed seven runs on six hits and four walks over five frames. He's struck out six and somehow doesn't have a loss with his 12.60 ERA. Romano is a drop candidate, and probably should only be rostered in very deep leagues for now.

Marlins

Anthony Bender has the lone save for Miami.

He's also earned a win and has not allowed a run over 5 1/3 innings. Bender has allowed no hits and two walks, while striking out two. Bender is an option in deeper leagues, but being on a terrible team is going to hold him back from standard leagues, and makes him a pretty weak fantasy asset overall.

Nationals

Kyle Finnegan has all four of the Washington saves early on.

He's allowed a run on five hits and four walks, while also striking out five over 5 2/3 innings. Finnegan is the clear closer for the team, and is pretty overlooked in fantasy. He should be owned in all deeper leagues, and is a good standard league asset as well.

Braves

Atlanta only has three wins, so Raisel Iglesias' one save shouldn't come as a huge surprise.

He's allowed two runs on three hits and a walk, while punching out seven. Iglesias was in the upper echelon of fantasy closers to start the season, but the team's rough start has dropped him down a couple pegs. I'd hold on to him as long as I could in standard leagues, but he's already beginning to be dropped - I'd look to trade him before outright dropping him.