American League Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Will Mason Miller and Devin Williams Get Rolling?

It's time for our weekly check-in on fantasy baseball closers around the league.

We'll look at American League closers first today, then check in on National League closers in another article. Here's the last AL closer update we did.

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Astros

Josh Hader has 16 of the team's 17 saves on the season.

He's 1-0 with a 1.38 earned run average over 26 innings. Hader has allowed four runs on 13 hits and six walks, while striking out 39 batters.

Hader has yet to blow a save or take a loss. He's an elite fantasy reliever with his low ERA and big strikeout totals. Hader is the top fantasy reliever here at FantasySP.

Mariners

The No. 2 closer on our trade chart is Andres Munoz from the Mariners. He has 17 of his team's 18 saves.

He's finally allowed some earned runs, giving up four over his past two appearances. Munoz had allowed just two unearned runs over his first 23 2/3 innings.

Munoz is 2-0 with a 1.30 ERA this season, but he has four blown saves now, including one each in two straight games. I'm not super worried about Munoz, but his value is definitely trending down now, so the time to sell high on him has past.

Rangers

Luke Jackson still leads Texas with eight saves, but he doesn't have one since April 25.

Robert Garcia has three saves, with his last one coming on May 27. He blew a save on Thursday, allowing three runs in 2/3 of an inning.

The closer situation in Texas is one to watch on a daily basis. Nobody has a firm grasp of the closer role right now, but maybe one will emerge in time.

Angels

Kenley Jansen has 12 of the team's 15 saves on the season.

He has a 1-2 record and no blown saves this season. Jansen has a 4.66 ERA over 19 1/3 innings though, and has 18 strikeouts as well.

He's the go-to guy in LA, but the team isn't good enough to support a fantasy closer in standard leagues. Jansen is rostered in about 63% of leagues, and should only be rostered in standard setups when the Angels are hot and winning often.

Athletics

Mason Miller has 12 of the team's 14 saves so far.

He's 0-2 with two blown saves and a 5.23 ERA over 20 2/3 innings this season. Miller has 37 strikeouts to offset some of his struggles with run prevention.

Miller has three scoreless outings in a row, but just one save over that span, and it was on May 25. The Athletics aren't a good team and aren't winning much, so Miller's fantasy value has dried up.

Miller is still rostered in most fantasy leagues, but his value is dropping by the day, and because he hasn't been elite when on the mound. I'd seriously consider trading Miller, because I don't know how many saves he'll get this season, and he still has enough value to net you a good return in a trade.

Tigers

Will Vest and Tommy Kahnle continue to be the team's top closing options, but neither is the clear closer.

Kahnle has eight saves, three blown saves and eight holds over 26 games and 27 2/3 innings this season. He's struck out 23 batters and has a 1.30 ERA.

Vest is 5-0 with nine saves, two blown saves and a hold over 27 appearances. He has 32 strikeouts and a 1.80 ERA over 30 innings.

Vest is the better fantasy asset in my eyes, and he's been the better fantasy producer so far. He's owned in 64% of leagues, while Kahnle is at 45%.

Until one emerges as the No. 1 closer each time a save situation presents itself, both relievers are just deep-league options. I agree that Vest should be rostered in more leagues right now though.

Twins

Jhoan Duran has nine of the team's 13 saves on the season. He doesn't have a save since May 27 though.

Duran is 4-1 with a blown save and hold this season. He has a 0.95 ERA over 28 1/3 innings, while striking out 34 batters.

He's the clear go-to closer in Minnesota and he's a top-end fantasy reliever with his numbers so far this season. Duran could remain a top-10 option all season, but if you don't believe in him, now could be a time to sell high on him.

Guardians

Emmanuel Clase is the clear No. 1 closer in Cleveland.

He's got 13 of the team's 18 saves on the season. Clase is also 4-0 with two blown saves and a hold across 27 games and 26 innings. He has a 3.81 ERA and 29 strikeouts as well.

Clase has allowed just three runs (one earned) over 12 2/3 innings, which dates back to the start of May. He has eight saves in that span, along with no blown saves.

He's back to being one of the top fantasy closers in the game again.

Royals

Carlos Estevez has 18 of the 21 Royals' saves on the year.

Across 27 appearances, Estevez is 2-1 with three blown saves and a 1.95 ERA over 27 2/3 innings. He's struck out 26 batters along the way.

He's still available to a few of you reading this, and he's pitched well enough this season to be rostered in every fantasy league. It'd be nice if the Royals started winning some more, but he's already logged three appearances this month, so he's still working enough to warrant more fantasy ownership.

White Sox

There's still not a single White Sox with over one save this season.

I honestly have no clue who would get a save chance if the White Sox got one today. There's no Chicago reliever worth owning in fantasy leagues, even the deepest ones out there.

Yankees

The Yankees are back to being a mess in the late innings after losing Luke Weaver to an injury. He led the team with eight saves, but is now out for several weeks.

Devin Williams is the closer again as a result. He earned a save on June 3, but allowed a run in that appearance. His last two saves haven't been scoreless outings.

Williams is 2-2 with six saves, a blown save and seven holds over 26 appearances this season. Those numbers don't look terrible, but his 6.35 ERA over 22 2/3 innings tells a different story. Williams has 29 strikeouts over his time on the mound to earn back some fantasy value.

Williams should be the go-to closer with Weaver out, but the return of Fernando Cruz from the injured list gives the Yankees another option if Williams continues to struggle.

Rays

Pete Fairbanks continues to serve as the Tampa Bay closer.

He has 11 of the team's 15 saves. Fairbanks is 3-1 with a blown save and 1.88 ERA over 24 innings this season. He has 22 strikeouts to his name.

Fairbanks is having a good season, but the Rays' struggles overall have his fantasy lower than it should be. He's rostered in 73% of leagues, and would only become a big-time standard league asset with a string of saves, or more strikeouts during his time on the bump.

Blue Jays

Jeff Hoffman continues to lead Toronto in saves. 

He has 13 of the team's 18 saves. Hoffman is 5-2 with three blown saves and a 5.74 ERA over 26 2/3 innings. He's got 38 strikeouts this season.

Hoffman had a rocky month of May, but doesn't seem to be in any danger of losing the closer rose right now. This closer situation is something to monitor at least.

Red Sox

Aroldis Chapman has nine of the 13 Boston saves this season.

He's 3-2 with a 1.80 ERA over 25 innings this season. Chapman has a blown save and hold, along with 33 strikeouts.

Chapman would be a huge fantasy asset if the Red Sox were doing more winning. He's still close to 80% rostered despite the team's overall struggles, mostly because he strikes out so many batters.

Orioles

Felix Bautista has 11 of the 14 Baltimore saves this season. 

He's 0-1 with a blown save and 3.48 ERA over 20 2/3 innings. Bautista has 25 strikeouts this season.

He's the go-to guy in Baltimore, but the team needs to win more to up his fantasy value. Bautista is at 85% rostered today.

Bryan Baker has two saves, with each coming since June started, although he's gotten them because Bautista has been unavailable after working the previous two days.