National League Closer Update: Who are the Go-To Relievers for the Pirates, Diamondbacks and Giants?

It's time for a fantasy baseball update on closers!

We'll begin with the National League teams in this story - check back later today for the American League story. Here's the last NL closer update.

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Mets

Edwin Diaz leads the Mets with seven saves - nobody else has more than one. Diaz has a 1-0 record and 4.50 earned run average, so it hasn't all been positive with him. He has 20 punchouts over 12 innings to overcome some of the runs he's allowed.

Diaz owns the closer role, and only an injury or extended poor performances would take that away. He's been fantastic over his past six appearances, striking out 13 batters over 6 1/3 innings, while allowing just two runs.

Phillies

Jose Alvarado has five of the team's eight saves. Jordan Romano has two saves.

Alvarado also has three wins and a 1.84 ERA, so he's the clear top fantasy asset in Philly. He's struck out 21 batters over 14 2/3 innings.

Alvarado is going to get the save chances just about every opportunity, so he's the Phillies' reliever you want in fantasy. Him not getting every save chance holds him back from being owned in all standard fantasy leagues.

Braves

Raisel Iglesias has five of the six Atlanta saves. He's 1-2 with a 5.73 ERA over 11 innings though, and has just 10 strikeouts.

Atlanta hasn't been as good as we all expected in 2025, and that's hurt Iglesias' fantasy outlook. He hasn't pitched great either, and he's been dropped in some standard leagues because of it. Iglesias' own percentage will rise or fall depending on how he looks moving forward.

Nationals

Kyle Finnegan has all nine of the Washington saves. He's 0-1 with a 3.09 ERA over 11 2/3 innings, while striking out 13 batters.

He's still available in nearly 20% of fantasy leagues, which makes sense considering the Nationals aren't a top-end team. Finnegan is pitching well enough to roster in most standard leagues though, and I think he's a bit undervalued.

Marlins

Calvin Faucher and Jesus Tinoco have two saves each for Miami, and Anthony Bender has the other. 

Bender has the best ERA (2.25) of the trio, but also only has seven strikeouts over 12 innings. Faucher has a 3.48 ERA and 10 punchouts over 10 1/3 innings, while Tinoco has five strikeouts over 8 1/3 innings and sports a 5.40 ERA.

None of these relievers are owned in more than 7% of fantasy leagues, and none deserve to be. I'd avoid all these guys outside the deepest of fantasy leagues. Miami isn't good enough, and none of them have a clear hold on the closer role.

Cubs

Ryan Pressly has four of the team's seven saves, and is the only guy with more than one. He's 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA across 12 innings, but he's walked seven and struck out just five.

It's not often a closer on a team leading a division isn't owned in 100% of leagues, but that's the case with Pressly. Until he starts racking up more saves, or striking out more batters, he's only going to be owned in a few standard leagues, not close to all of them.

Reds

Emilio Pagan leads the Reds with eight saves. Nobody else has more than one.

Pagan is 0-1 with a 2.51 ERA over 14 1/3 innings. He's punched out 14 batters and has emerged as a surprising fantasy closer.

His main competition for saves was Alexis Diaz, who was optioned to the minor leagues on Thursday. Pagan has the closer role locked up, and is at least a deep-league option. I'm not sure the Reds will win enough to roster him in a lot of standard leagues, so keep tabs on him going forward and react accordingly.

Brewers

Trevor Megill has just three saves for the Brewers - nobody else has more than one, and Megill has a secure hold on the closer role.

He's 0-2 with a 4.32 ERA across 8 1/3 innings, so he's worth monitoring in case he keeps struggling and eventually loses the lead role. Megill does have 11 punchouts over his time on the mound to earn back some fantasy value.

In time, Megill should earn more saves - Milwaukee has just won comfortably a lot early in the season. He's probably just a deep-league option until he's delivering more consistent results.

Cardinals

Ryan Helsley has four of the team's six saves. Again, he's the only one with multiple saves.

Helsley is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA. He's struck out 10 batters over 10 innings and has a pretty secure hold on the job.

If he gets traded at the deadline, it looks like Phil Maton would be next in line for saves.

Pirates

Dennis Santana and David Bednar have three saves each for Pittsburgh, which has seven saves overall.

Bednar was recently called back up, and he's been pretty good in his appearances. He's collected two saves over his past three outings and has eight punchouts over six innings since returning to the big leagues.

Bednar is the Pittsburgh fantasy reliever to own, and he's slowly seeing his own percentage rise after his early demotion.

Dodgers

Tanner Scott has earned eight of the team's 12 saves. Blake Treinen has two saves, but the job belongs to Scott right now.

Scott has a 2.40 ERA and 14 punchouts over 15 innings, so he's providing plenty of fantasy value. With how much the Dodgers are going to win, he's a must-own fantasy closer in all setups.

Padres

Robert Suarez has 12 of the team's 13 saves so far. He's not earned another decision, and has allowed just one run over 14 innings. Suarez has 16 strikeouts along the way.

Several members of the Padres' bullpen are pitching well to start the season, but the closer role belongs to Suarez - no questions asked. He's the No. 2 fantasy reliever in points leagues and is set up for a monster season.

Giants

Camilo Doval and Ryan Walker have five saves each for the Giants.

Doval is 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA across 14 innings, while striking out 10 batters. Walker has 12 strikeouts over 10 2/3 innings, but also a 5.91 ERA.

Walker continues to pitch in the ninth innings of the games he appears in. Doval worked in the seventh inning in his last appearance.

Walker offers more fantasy upside, and he's still rostered in 87% of leagues synced through FantasySP, which is a bit surprising seeing his overall struggles. Doval is owned in 52% of leagues.

I still like Walker in the long run, but his leash is probably running out when it comes to the closer role for the Giants.

Diamondbacks

Arizona has nine saves on the season, but pitchers with seven of the saves are now on the injured list. A.J. Puk has four saves, and was just transferred to the 60-day IL. Justin Martinez has three saves and is now on the 15-day IL.

Kevin Ginkel just returned from the IL himself, and now could earn some saves until Martinez and Puk are back. Shelby Miller could be another closing option as he sits with a 2-0 record, allowing no earned runs and striking out 15 over 12 2/3 innings.

Arizona's closer role is one to keep close tabs on over the next few days and weeks. We'll see if anyone emerges as the No. 1 closer, or keep you posted on the returns of Puk and Martinez.

Rockies

Colorado still doesn't have a reliever with more than one save. Seth Halvorsen, Tyler Kinley, Victor Vodnik and Zach Agnos have one each so far.

The Rockies aren't a good enough team to even support a clear No. 1 closer. Halvorsen is the most-owned of the bunch, and he's at just 6%.

Outside of really deep leagues, you should try to avoid adding any Colorado relievers in fantasy.