American League Fantasy Baseball Closer Check-In: Updates on Luke Jackson, Aroldis Chapman and More

It's time for another check-in on fantasy baseball closers.

We'll begin with American League teams today. Here's the last AL update. Check back later for the National League writeup.

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Astros

Josh Hader has 18 of the team's 20 saves.

He took the loss on Thursday after allowing a walk-off homer, but those were just the sixth and seventh runs he's allowed this season. Hader has a 1.67 earned run average over 32 1/3 innings and 30 games. He's 4-1 with the 18 saves and no blown saves.

Hader is an elite fantasy reliever with his low ERA and big strikeout totals. He'll be the Astros' closer as long as he's healthy.

Mariners

Andres Munoz has all but one of the team's 19 saves.

He's cooled off after a hot start to the season, but that's mostly because he's not getting save chances. Munoz is 2-0 with 18 saves and four blown saves over 29 appearances and 28 2/3 innings. He has 38 strikeouts and a 1.26 ERA.

Munoz has just four appearances this month, so now might be a time to buy low(ish) on him.

Angels

Kenley Jansen has 15 of the team's 20 saves this year.

He's 1-2 with no blown saves. Jansen has a 4.56 ERA and 25 punchouts over 25 2/3 innings.

Jansen has allowed three runs this month, but that's over nine games and 8 1/3 innings. His increased workload has turned him into a better fantasy option, even if he has just four saves this month. Jansen is rostered in 64% of leagues.

Rangers

Luke Jackson and Robert Garcia lead Texas in saves.

Jackson is 1-4 with nine saves, two blown saves and two holds this season. He earned a save on June 15, and has allowed just one run over his past 11 games and 9 1/3 innings.

Garcia is 1-3 with five saves, three blown saves and 10 holds. He has allowed four runs this month across five outings, but three of those runs came in one game. 

Jackson has been pitching better of late and might be earning the closer role back from Garcia. This is a situation to monitor daily. 

Garcia is at 21% rostered, while Jackson is at 16%. Chris Martin is at 20%, but has just one save on the year. His 1.80 ERA and him not allowing a run since May 3 is what is appealing to fantasy owners for now.

Athletics

Mason Miller continues to serve as the Athletics' closer despite some struggles.

He's 1-2 with 14 saves and three blown saves over 27 appearances and 27 2/3 innings. Miller has a 5.20 ERA, but 46 strikeouts also appeal to fantasy owners.

He's allowed four runs over eight innings this month, so he's actually improved his ERA a bit. Miller is at 96% rostered, and he probably should be that high looking at his season-long numbers. You might be able to get a good return for him still, even if it feels like you're selling him low.

Yankees

Devin Williams is the New York leader in saves, just like we all expected before the season. He's struggled overall though.

He has nine saves on the year, even though he doesn't have one since June 12. Williams is 2-2 with a blown save and seven holds as well. Over 27 1/3 innings, Williams has a 5.27 ERA and 36 punchouts.

He has allowed just one run in June, so he's trending up, and may keep the closer role even after Luke Weaver returns from his injury. That will be something to monitor, but for now, Williams is a good fantasy asset again.

Rays

Pete Fairbanks continues to serve as the Tampa Bay closer.

He's 3-1 with 13 saves and two blown saves this season. Fairbanks has a 2.15 ERA and 26 punchouts over 29 1/3 innings.

Fairbanks is a bit underrated because of the team he's on, and a lower strikeout total. He's available in about 27% of leagues right now.

Blue Jays

Jeff Hoffman is the Toronto closer, even after some struggles of his own.

He has a 5.52 ERA over 31 innings. Tallying 43 strikeouts, 17 saves and six wins definitely gives him a fantasy boost though. He's blown three saves so far.

I don't think Hoffman's job is completely safe, so I wouldn't mind trading him. He's at 92% rostered right now, so he should have trade appeal in all league types.

Red Sox

Aroldis Chapman leads the Red Sox in saves, but Greg Weissert is starting to generate some buzz.

Chapman is 3-2 with 13 saves, a blown save and two holds this season. One of those holds came in his last appearance, and Weissert earned the save in that one. I discussed that game a bit more in the latest waiver wire pitching story. 

Anyways, with a 1.45 ERA and 43 strikeouts over 31 innings, Chapman is a good fantasy asset. His 86% own mark is likely to top out there if he isn't earning every save though.

Weissert is up to 11% rostered after earning three saves since June 10. He has 13 holds, a 2-1 record, the three saves and two blown saves over 36 appearances this season. Weissert has a 2.65 ERA and 32 punchouts over 34 innings overall, so you can see why he's on the rise.

He's worth adding in some deeper redraft leagues, especially if he keeps getting some save opportunities.

This is another situation to monitor.

Orioles

Felix Bautista is the go-to guy for Baltimore, and he's had a good month so far.

Five of his 15 saves have come in June, and he hasn't allowed a run over seven outings and innings. He's 0-1 with a 2.81 ERA over 25 2/3 innings overall this season, and he has 34 strikeouts along the way.

He's still underperforming on his preseason expectations, but Bautista is on the rise and worthy of a roster spot in most leagues. He's at 90% rostered, and he's slightly trending up.

Tigers

Will Vest and Tommy Kahnle are the closing options for the Tigers.

Vest is 5-1 with 12 saves, three blown saves and a hold over 33 appearances this season. He allowed three runs on June 15 and blew a save, so his lead role as the closer isn't as strong as it was a week ago.

Kahnle doesn't have a win or loss this season. He has eight saves, three blown saves and nine holds over 31 appearances and 32 innings. Kahnle has a 1.41 ERA and 29 punchouts as well.

I still like Vest for fantasy purposes, but this is still a situation to monitor for now. Vest is at 73% rostered, while Kahnle is at 44%.

Guardians

Emmanuel Clase is the lead guy in Cleveland, of course.

He blew a save on June 15, but has two saves in his two appearances since. Clase is 4-1 with 16 saves, three blown saves and a hold this year.

Clase is underperforming based on preseason projections, but he's at least a good fantasy asset again.

Twins

Jhoan Duran has slowed way down after a monster month of May. He has one save this month, along with a loss and blown save - he's allowed three runs over six appearances.

Duran is 4-2 with 10 saves, two blown saves and a hold on the season. His 1.64 ERA and 39 strikeouts are strong marks, but he's definitely trending down for now. Duran is at 94% owned.

Royals

Carlos Estevez has 21 of the team's 24 saves on the season.

He's 2-2 with three blown saves as well. Estevez has pitched 32 2/3 innings over 32 outings and sports a 1.93 ERA while striking out 28 batters.

Estevez pitches a ton and has been good all season, so he's a good fantasy asset as well. He's a bit undervalued still, and is rostered in 89% of leagues.

White Sox

Chicago still doesn't have a go-to closer, not that the team wins enough to support one anyways.

Grant Taylor is owned in the most leagues (3%), and that's because he's a prospect who just got called up. Avoid the White Sox' relievers in all formats for now.