National League Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Jordan Romano and Shelby Miller Emerging as Options

It's time for another fantasy baseball closer update!

We'll take a look at the National League in this article, then look at the American League later. Here's the last NL closer update.

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Mets

Edwin Diaz has nine of the Mets' 12 saves on the season. He's been unscored upon over his past six appearances and innings.

Diaz has a 1-0 record and 3.18 earned run average on the season. His job is safe, and he's one of the better fantasy closers in the game.

Phillies

Jose Alvarado has six saves for Philadelphia. Jordan Romano has four saves, while Matt Strahm has two saves.

Alvarado has worked the eighth innings in back-to-back appearances, getting holds both times. Romano has two saves over his last two outings, and has racked up five strikeouts over his two scoreless innings. Strahm has allowed a run in three straight games, and took the loss in his last outing.

Romano looks to be the preferred closer for the Phils right now, but I think Alvarado is going to get more opportunities too this season. Right now, neither guy is worth a roster spot in standard leagues, but both are good deep-league options.

Braves

Raisel Iglesias has seven of the team's nine saves on the season. He bounced back from a rough three-game stretch by tossing a scoreless frame and getting a save in his last appearance.

He's 3-3 with three blown saves and a 5.71 ERA on the season. For now, the closer role is still his, but continued struggles might eventually lead to Iglesias losing the role.

Nationals

Kyle Finnegan has all 13 of the Washington saves this season. He has a save in four straight outings.

He's 0-1 with a 2.87 ERA over 16 appearances. Finnegan has two blown saves. The job is his, and he won't lose it unless he's injured probably.

Marlins

Jesus Tinoco has four of the team's six saves this season. Calvin Faucher has two saves.

Tinoco has two saves and a win over his last four appearances, but also blew a save in that span - he worked the ninth inning or later in each outing.

Faucher has worked between the 5th-7th innings over his last four outings, so the closer role belongs to Tinoco whenever the Marlins are actually leading a game late.

Cubs

Ryan Pressly still leads the Cubs with four saves. Porter Hodge has two, while four others, including Drew Pomeranz, have one each.

Pressly looks to have lost the closer role - he has worked in the 6th-7th innings of his past two appearances. Hodge has worked in the 8th-9th innings in his last two outings - he allowed three runs in one of those contests. Pomeranz earned a save on May 12, but then worked the seventh inning in his next appearance. 

I have no clue who the team's closer is at this point, and that means none of those three are standard league options. We'll keep tabs on this valuable fantasy closer role moving forward and see if anyone ever emerges.

Cardinals

Ryan Helsley leads St. Louis with eight saves - the team has 11 overall. He's converted his last four chances.

Helsley is 1-0 with two blown saves and a 3.00 ERA over 15 appearances this season. The closer role is still his, and he's trending up in fantasy value as the Cardinals are hot and affording him save chances.

Brewers

Trevor Megill has five of the seven Milwaukee saves. He hasn't allowed a run in his past six appearances.

Megill is 0-2 with a blown save and a 2.92 ERA on the season. The closer role is his to lose, but the Brewers simply need to win more to make Megill a better fantasy asset - he's a better deep-league asset right now.

Reds

Emilio Pagan is up to nine saves for Cincinnati. The Reds have 11 saves on the season.

Pagan took the loss in his last appearance after allowing four runs (three earned) over 1 2/3 innings. He's allowed a run in three of his past four outings, so he's another deep-league option right now.

Pirates

Dennis Santana still leads the Pirates with four saves, while David Bednar has three.

Santana has worked in the ninth inning in four straight appearances. He has a win and save over that span, and has been unscored upon in three straight games.

Bednar has only worked the ninth inning once over his past five appearances, and he took the loss after allowing a run in that outing. 

Santana seems to be the team's preferred closer right now, but the Pirates aren't good enough to support a closer, especially not a lockdown one. Both are deep-league assets only, and Santana seems to be a touch more valuable for the time being.

Dodgers

Tanner Scott has nine of the Dodgers' 16 saves so far. Blake Treinen has two saves, while five other pitchers have one each.

Scott earned a save on May 9, but then worked the eighth inning on May 11. Treinen hasn't pitched since April 13.

Kirby Yates earned a save on May 5, but has worked in the eighth innings in two straight appearances. Matt Sauer earned a save after pitching four innings on May 7. Evan Phillips got a save on May 2, then worked the seventh inning in his next appearance. 

Scott still looks like the preferred closer in LA, but this is not a clear cut situation. On a loaded team, you'd expect the closer to be a top-end fantasy talent, but with LA giving several others chances to close games, Scott's fantasy ceiling is capped a little bit.

You'll want to keep tabs on Scott and the Dodgers' closer situation to see if we get any clarification on anything here soon.

Padres

Robert Suarez has 15 of the team's 16 saves on the season. He finally allowed some runs on May 12, but was tagged for five runs, a blown save and a loss.

He tossed a scoreless frame against the Angels two days later to get back on track. Suarez is 0-1 with that one blown save across 20 appearances - he has a 2.84 ERA.

Suarez still has a firm grasp on the closer role. He's still one of the game's better fantasy closers too.

Giants

Ryan Walker paces the Giants with seven saves, while Camilo Doval has the team's other five saves.

Walker has allowed runs in two of his past four appearances, but continues to work the ninth inning or later. He's 1-2 with two blown saves and a hold this season, while sporting an ugly 6.00 ERA.

Doval doesn't have a save since April 24. He's worked between the 6th-8th innings this month.

The closer role belongs to Walker still, but I wonder how many more runs he's going to have to allow before the team replaces him in that role. He's a better deep-league option with his high ERA for now.

Diamondbacks

A.J. Puk leads Arizona with four saves, but he's also on the 60-day injured list. Justin Martinez has three saves and is on the 15-day IL still, but nearing a return.

Shelby Miller also has three saves, while five other pitchers have one save.

Miller has saves in two straight games, so he's the preferred closer until Martinez returns. Miller did allow a run in his last game, and all three earned runs he's allowed this season have come since May 4.

Miller can be utilized in deeper leagues until Martinez is back, then Martinez can be unveiled in most fantasy leagues as long as he's the only one getting saves.

Rockies

Zach Agnos has two of the team's five saves. Nothing much has changed from the last NL closer update.

Agnos has worked the eighth inning in two straight appearances, and has allowed runs in three straight outings. Seth Halvorsen worked the ninth inning during the team's 9-3 win on May 11, but was working the 7th-8th innings before that.

The Rockies aren't good enough to support a closer, and with no preferred choice, none are very good fantasy assets. Agnos is the most-owned Colorado reliever, but he's at just 5%, and it shouldn't ever get much higher than that.