National League Closer Update: New Closers Emerging for Cubs and Giants; Trouble for the Dodgers?

It's time for another fantasy baseball update on each team's closer situation.

We'll start with the National League teams this week - check back soon for the American League article. Here's the last NL closer update.

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Cubs

Daniel Palencia has emerged as the Cubs' closer over the past couple weeks. His four saves on the season have come in his past four appearances, and he's allowed just one hit and no walks or runs over four innings in those outings. Palencia has seven strikeouts over those games as well.

Palencia is up to 38% rostered now, and that's growing by the day. He's worth adding in deeper redraft leagues, and could work his way into standard leagues with another week or two of good fantasy showings.

Former closer Ryan Pressly is still owned in 45% of leagues. He's working high-leverage innings, but his fantasy value has dried up without the save chances. Drop him in standard redraft leagues for sure, and a decent amount of deeper redraft leagues too. 

Porter Hodge could eventually factor into the late-inning mix, but he's out with an injury for now. He's rostered in 13% of leagues.

Cardinals

Ryan Helsley has 12 of the team's 16 saves this season. He's the go-to guy in St. Louis and has a save or win in nine straight appearances. 

Helsley has 11 strikeouts and just two runs allowed in that timeframe. He's not as big a fantasy asset as he was in 2024, but Helsley is still a very good fantasy closer.

Brewers

Trevor Megill is the only Brewer with multiple saves - he has 10 on the season.

Megill is 0-2 with a 2.45 ERA over 18 1/3 innings. He's got 20 strikeouts to his name and has a save in six of his past eight appearances.

Reds

Emilio Pagan has 13 of the team's 15 saves this year. He's 0-2 with two blown saves and a hold over 25 innings.

Pagan has 29 strikeouts over his time on the mound as well. He's earned saves in four of his past five appearances, and has worked the ninth or 10th innings in every appearance he's made since April 23.

The Reds traded Alexis Diaz to the Dodgers this week, so Pagan's hold on the closer role appears pretty secure right now. 

Pagan could eventually be a trade candidate at the deadline if the Reds keep falling more and more out of the playoff picture, so Pagan could see his own percentage really grow then. He's at 72% now.

Pirates

David Bednar has six saves for Pittsburgh, while Dennis Santana has five.

Bednar has worked the ninth inning in four straight games, and he's picked up three saves over that span. He's the go-to closer in Pittsburgh again.

Santana doesn't have a save since May 21, but has three holds since. He'd likely only close games if Bednar was out, or struggled for an extended period again.

Dodgers

Tanner Scott has 10 of the team's 17 saves. Only Blake Treinen has more than one save outside Scott though, and he's out with an injury.

Scott has allowed seven runs over his past three appearances, and has two blown saves in that span. He hasn't earned a save since May 21, and he's only started the ninth inning in one of three appearances since.

Scott's own percentage is down to 91%, and it will continue to drop until he bounces back and eases fantasy owner's minds. Nobody else has emerged as a late-inning threat to Scott, so he's still the guy to own in the Dodgers' pen.

This is a situation to watch daily for now though. We'll cover Dodgers' fantasy relievers in waiver or drop stories if necessary to keep you updated in between the weekly closer updates.

Padres

Robert Suarez has 17 of the team's 19 saves. He's gotten back on track since allowing five runs on May 12. Suarez has just two saves in five appearances since though.

Suarez is still the go-to guy in San Diego, as he's pitching the ninth inning, or later.

Giants

Ryan Walker leads San Francisco with 10 saves, but Camilo Doval has taken over the closer role for now.

Walker is 1-2 with a 4.95 earned run average over 20 innings pitched. He's allowed 12 runs (11 earned) on 19 hits and seven walks, while striking out 19 batters. He's regressed big time from a stellar 2024 season.

Walker stole the closer role away from Doval last season, but Doval has been much better in 2025. Doval is 3-1 with a 1.16 ERA over 23 1/3 innings. He has a 3-1 record, five saves, two blown saves and seven holds. Doval has allowed six runs (three earned) on nine hits and eight walks, while striking out 20 batters.

Walker is still owned in 75% of leagues, but he's a drop candidate now in all standard redraft leagues and some deeper redraft leagues as well. Doval is up to 62% owned, and that will rise after he earns a couple saves.

This might be a situation we monitor all season if neither guy excels in the closer role. For now though, Doval is the guy you want.

Diamondbacks

Arizona hasn't gained much clarity for its closer role after the return of Justin Martinez from injury.

He's worked the eighth inning in his first two appearances off the IL. Martinez blew a save after allowing two runs in his first game back, then tossed a scoreless eighth in a 5-0 win in his most recent appearance.

A.J. Puk is still out with his injury, so he's not an option for the time being. Shelby Miller earned five saves between May 1-19, but has a blown save and loss in two appearances since.

I still like Martinez as the closer for the time being, but it might be a committee until a reliever emerges as a shutdown guy. This is another team situation to track daily.

Rockies

Not much has changed in Colorado. Nobody is a good fantasy asset there because the team doesn't win enough. 

Zach Agnos leads the team with three saves, and he's rostered in 4% of leagues. Seth Halvorsen has two saves and is owned in just 3% of leagues.

Avoid the Rockies' fantasy relievers outside the deepest of leagues.

Phillies

Jordan Romano has stepped into the closer role in Philly after the 80-game suspension for Jose Alvarado.

Romano has six saves and a hold over 7 2/3 innings pitched in his last eight appearances. He's allowed three runs (all in one outing) and has 15 punchouts over that span.

Romano is owned in 66% of leagues, and that should rise as he racks up more saves.

Mets

Edwin Diaz has 11 of the team's 16 saves and is the go-to guy in New York.

In 10 May games and 10 1/3 innings, Diaz hasn't allowed a run on three hits and four walks. He has 11 punchouts over that span.

Reed Garrett has saves in back-to-back appearances, but it's been in games Diaz hasn't appeared in, and was probably unavailable for.

Braves

Raisel Iglesias has eight of the 10 Atlanta saves so far.

He's allowed runs in back-to-back games, and has a 8.59 ERA in 7 1/3 innings over his past eight contests. Iglesias is 1-2 with two saves and a blown save in that stretch.

Iglesias is trending down as a fantasy reliever. He's rostered in 86% of leagues, and it probably should be much lower than that after looking at his recent and overall numbers this year. You can do much better in standard leagues than Iglesias.

Nationals

Kyle Finnegan has 15 of the team's 16 saves this season. He avoided a long-term injury after a recent shoulder ailment.

Jorge Lopez earned a save on May 24, but Finnegan is the fantasy reliever you want in Washington. In May, Finnegan has six saves, a blown save and just three runs (one earned) allowed over eight innings. He's struck out five batters and surrendered eight hits and one walk.

Marlins

Not much has changed in Miami, with no clear closer emerging.

Jesus Tinoco is no longer pitching high-leverage innings. Calvin Faucher earned a save in his last game, but blew a lead the game before that. Ronny Henriquez earned a save on May 25, then worked the seventh-eighth innings and blew the lead on May 28. 

Henriquez is the most-owned fantasy asset, and he's at just 7% owned. Faucher is at 5% and Tinoco is at 4%. Only roster these guys in the deepest of fantasy leagues.