National League Closer Update: Robert Suarez Still Leads the Way

Let's take a look at closers in the National League! We already went over the American League closers in another article.

Here's the last NL closer update.

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Dodgers

This once looked like a committee that I wanted no part of, but Tanner Scott has emerged as the No. 1 closer for sure now. He's the one you want in fantasy leagues.

Scott has a 2.25 ERA and eight saves across 12 appearances. He's struck out 10 over 12 innings.

Blake Treinen has two saves, while Alex Vesia has one. Scott will probably not grab every save the rest of the way, but he's the go-to guy and the best fantasy asset because of that.

Padres

Robert Suarez has been the best closer in baseball so far. The numbers line up, as he's the top fantasy reliever early on too.

Suarez has nine saves across 10 appearances, with 12 strikeouts over his 10 innings pitched. He's going to give up runs eventually, but it would take several weeks of struggles for him to ever lose the closer role.

Adrian Morejon has the team's other save on the season. Jason Adam would likely be next in line for saves if Suarez is ever down or out, and Jeremiah Estrada is another great bullpen arm the Padres could turn to.

Giants

Ryan Walker has five of the seven San Francisco saves so far. Walker is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA, while striking out seven over 8 1/3 innings.

Four of his runs allowed came in his last outing, but he's been pretty stellar otherwise. It'd take extended struggles for him to lose his closer role I think.

Camilo Doval has the other two saves, and got one in his last appearance. He worked the seventh inning in his two outings before that though, so him getting the save was more a product of Walker not being available.

Diamondbacks

A.J. Puk has four of the team's seven saves, but he's now on the injured list. Puk has a 3.38 ERA and has punched out 12 over eight innings.

While he's out, Justin Martinez is the likely recipient of the saves. He's got two saves and a 1-0 record over seven scoreless innings. Martinez has 10 strikeouts, and could stake his claim for the No. 1 closer role with a good showing in Puk's absence.

Drey Jameson has the other save for Arizona. That save came in extra innings.

Martinez is the guy to own for now, but when Puk is back, he's probably going to get a majority of the saves - at least that's how things have looked so far. This closer report is worth monitoring for a while yet.

Rockies

Tyler Kinley, Victor Vodnik and Seth Halvorsen have a save each for the four-win Rockies. All have ERAs over 3.70.

Kinley got a save in his last appearance, and has worked in the ninth inning in back-to-back outings. Vodnik had been working in the eighth or ninth innings until he worked the fifth and sixth frames in his last appearance. Halvorsen has been working in the eighth inning or later.

I still think Halvorsen is the preferred closer in Colorado, but with the team's struggles, he's really not that good of a fantasy asset. All these relievers are better deep-league options at this point.

Mets

Edwin Diaz has five of the seven New York saves. He's 1-0 with a 5.19 ERA. Diaz has 13 punchouts over 8 2/3 innings.

He's the team's preferred closer, and gave up all five of his runs over two outings. Diaz has been good of late, with six Ks and just two baserunners allowed over his past three appearances.

Huascar Brazoban and Ryne Stanek have a save each, and sub-1.40 ERAs. A.J. Minter is likely the next in line for saves seeing he's worked the eighth inning in five straight outings.

Phillies

Jose Alvarado has emerged as the preferred closer in Philly. He's 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA and five saves over 11 appearances so far. Alvarado has 15 punchouts over 10 2/3 innings.

Alvarado is the guy to own right now, but he'll need to keep pitching well to retain the closer role. 

Matt Strahm and Jordan Romano have a save each, and could be next in line if Alvarado is down or out. 

Marlins

Anthony Bender, Calvin Faucher and Jesus Tinoco have saves for Miami. Bender is the only one with a sub-3.85 ERA, and it's at just 2.00 so far.

Bender has been working eighth innings of late though. Faucher has appeared in the ninth frame in three straight games. Tinoco has a save in back-to-back games, but one of those was an extra-inning contest.

I really don't know what to make of the Marlins' closer role. Tinoco seems to have the edge looking at recent games, but I think all three guys could continue splitting saves.

That makes them all better deep-league options, and guys to avoid in standard leagues.

Braves

Raisel Iglesias has all four of the team's saves. He's 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA across eight innings, while also recording eight punchouts.

Iglesias is the preferred closer for Atlanta, and with the team heating up, so is Iglesias' fantasy value. 

Nationals

Kyle Finnegan is the closer for Washington. He's got all eight of the team's saves. Finnegan has a 1.86 ERA and 12 punchouts over 9 2/3 innings.

Finnegan is still undervalued in fantasy baseball leagues, and needs to be rostered in more leagues. Washington is not great, but Finnegan is still posting good fantasy totals, and should really be rostered in all leagues.

Cubs

Ryan Pressly has four of the six Chicago saves early on. Pressly is 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA, along with five strikeouts over 11 innings.

Pressly is pitching enough, but the low number of strikeouts and saves is holding him back as a fantasy asset. He's the clear No. 1 option for the team though and could get hot at any point.

Caleb Thielbar and Colin Rea have the other saves for the Cubs. Porter Hodge is likely next in line for saves if Pressly is ever unavailable or out with an injury.

Brewers

The 12-win Brewers only have four saves on the season, and preferred closer Trevor Megill only has two. He's 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA, with eight punchouts over 6 1/3 innings.

Megill will get the save chances more often than not this season, and like Pressly, could get hot with saves at any point.

Joel Payamps and Tyler Alexander have a save each for Milwaukee. There's no guessing who could earn saves if Megill is ever unavailable again, but Abner Uribe and Craig Yoho are two solid choices.

Reds

The Reds finally have Alexis Diaz back, but he doesn't have any of the team's six saves. 

Emilio Pagan leads the team with four saves, and has an 0-1 record, a 2.89 ERA and nine strikeouts over 9 1/3 innings. He had control of the closer role, but blew a save on April 17, then pitched with the team trailing in his next appearance.

Tony Santillan and Randy Wynne have a save each for Cincy. In time, I think Diaz earns back the lead closer role, but we'll keep monitoring things.

Cardinals

Ryan Helsley has three of the five St. Louis saves. He's got a 2.57 ERA and nine punchouts over seven innings. He's the preferred closer, and has only allowed runs in one outing.

Phil Maton and Steven Matz have a save each for the Cards. Maton is likely at the top of the line for saves that Helsley is unavailable for.

Pirates

Dennis Santana leads Pittsburgh with two saves. Thomas Harrington and David Bednar have one each.

Bednar just returned from the minor leagues and immediately worked a ninth inning in a 3-0 loss. He could get some more save chances moving forward.

Santana has been working late in games of late. He most recently took a loss after pitching in the 10th frame. 

With no real clarity on who is the preferred closer, I'd try to avoid all these guys outside of deeper leagues. Pittsburgh might not be good enough anyways to support a go-to closer.