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National League Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Who are the Relievers to Own from the Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Phillies?

Looking at closers from each National League team near the end of July.

Morgan Rode Jul 25th 12:21 PM EDT.

Jul 23, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA;  Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kirby Yates (38) pitches during the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Dodger Stadium. Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Jul 23, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kirby Yates (38) pitches during the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Dodger Stadium. Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

After checking out the closer situations in the American League, let's now go over the National League closer situations.

Also be sure to check out Friday's waiver wire story and drop candidate article.

Explore the best in-season tool to manage lineup/start decisions including waiver pickups, projections, trade suggestions, trade value charts, rest of season rankings, power rankings, and tons more with Fantasy Assistant.

Brewers

Trevor Megill is the team's go-to closer. He has five saves and a win over six July appearances.

He has a 2-2 record, 23 saves and three blown saves on the season. Over 35 2/3 innings, Megill has a 2.27 earned run average and 43 strikeouts.

Megill is up to 91% rostered after his recent run of success, and the Brewers' surge overall.

Cubs

Daniel Palencia continues to serve as the Cubs' closer. He has 13 saves, a blown save, an 0-2 record and six holds over his 35 appearances this season.

He has a 1.49 ERA and 40 strikeouts over 36 1/3 innings. Palencia is up to 70% rostered, and it'll only continue to grow if he holds the closer role and keeps earning saves.

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Reds

Emilio Pagan is the team's closer, and he's trending up as the Reds make a midseason push. He has 21 saves, three blown saves, two holds and a 2-2 record over 42 appearances.

Pagan has a 2.83 ERA and 51 punchouts over 41 1/3 innings. He's at 85% rostered and is slightly trending up of late.

Cardinals

Ryan Helsley is the team's closer, at least for now. He could be dealt to a contender before the trade deadline.

He has a 3.09 ERA and 39 strikeouts over 35 innings this season. Helsley is 3-1 with 20 saves and five blown saves. 

A move to a contender might actually hurt his fantasy value, especially if he moves into a setup role. It could be a time to sell high on Helsley, who is at 92% rostered for now.

Pirates

David Bednar, another trade target, is the Pirates' closer. He's 2-5 with 15 saves and three blown saves over 39 appearances.

Bednar has 48 strikeouts over 35 innings, along with a 2.31 ERA. He's trending up and is rostered in 70% of leagues for now. I'd look into at least stashing him in case he ends up as the closer for a better team after the deadline.

Dodgers

Tanner Scott is on the 15-day injured list with left elbow discomfort, so someone else is going to close games for LA for now.

Kirby Yates got a save on July 21, but he worked the eighth inning on July 23, when Alex Vesia eventually blew the save. 

Yates is the guy I like with Scott out - Yates is rostered in 42% of leagues, and that shouldn't go up until he gets more save chances. Vesia is at 36% rostered.

Neither guy is worthy of a standard league spot for now. This is a situation to monitor daily.

Padres

Robert Suarez is back in a groove for the Padres, earning a save in five straight outings. He hasn't allowed a run since July 2.

He is 2-4 with 29 saves and three blown saves this season. Suarez has a 3.46 ERA and 44 punchouts over 41 2/3 innings.

He's a top-end fantasy option and should be trusted down the stretch.

Giants

Camilo Doval is the team's closer, but he hasn't had a save since July 11. He's not allowed a run since July 6, so it's the Giants' shortcomings that are slowing Doval.

He is 4-2 with 15 saves, four blown saves and seven holds on the year. Doval has a 2.89 ERA and 42 strikeouts over 43 2/3 innings.

Doval is rostered in 68% of leagues, and that won't rise unless his save numbers go up.

Diamondbacks

With Shelby Miller, Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk out with injuries, it's Kevin Ginkel who is the closer for Arizona. Ginkel has just one save since he took over the lead role, and that was back on July 7. 

Arizona is struggling, and that doesn't help any fantasy reliever be a good option. He's at just 13% rostered, and he'll likely lose the closer role if any of the injured trio comes back this season.

Rockies

Seth Halvorsen is the team's closer. He is 1-2 with a 5.02 ERA over 37 2/3 innings this season. He has 35 strikeouts, nine saves, three blown saves and four holds as well.

Halvorsen is rostered in just 9% of leagues, and Colorado's overall struggles are probably going to keep Halvorsen's own percentage pretty low all season.

Mets

Edwin Diaz is the team's closer, but two saves of late has Ryne Stanek worth mentioning.

Diaz is 5-0 with 21 saves and two blown saves on the year. He has a 1.55 ERA and 61 strikeouts over 40 2/3 innings, making Diaz an elite fantasy closer.

Stanek has earned saves in each of his past two appearances, but he also allowed three baserunners in those outings. He's still barely owned in fantasy leagues, but he might have some deep-league appeal if the Mets get hot and are winning a ton.

Diaz is a top-end fantasy closer and should remain one for the rest of the season. You can trust him down the stretch.

Jul 21, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm (25) throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park. Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Jul 21, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm (25) throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park. Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Phillies

Philly is still searching for a closer after the 80-game suspension for Jose Alvarado. He can return on August 18, but he won't be eligible for the postseason, so I'm guessing the Phillies will be adding a closer at the trade deadline.

Nobody is earning saves for Philly of late. Matt Strahm has the last one, but that was on July 13. He had the one before that too, but that was back on June 29.

Strahm is the most-rostered Philly reliever at 26%. Orion Kerkering is at 23%, while Jordan Romano is at 20%. David Robertson, who was recently signed, is at 6%, and Alvarado is at 5%.

Whoever the team trades for, or who emerges as the closer, will see their own percentage skyrocket. That makes the Phillies' closer situation one to monitor daily. 

Marlins

Miami still doesn't have one go-to closer. Anthony Bender, Ronny Henriquez and Calvin Faucher have a save each since July 19.

Faucher allowed two runs over two outings before he got his save. He has a 3-2 record, nine saves and five blown saves and holds this season. Faucher has a 4.03 ERA and 37 strikeouts over 38 innings.

Henriquez has allowed three runs over his past two outings. He has a 6-1 record, six saves, three blown saves and 13 holds, while sporting a 3.00 ERA over 48 innings. He's struck out 66 batters.

Bender has been unscored upon since June 19. He is 2-5 with three saves and blown saves and 17 holds over 43 appearances. Bender has a 1.91 ERA and 33 punchouts over 42 1/3 innings.

Henriquez is the most rostered Miami reliever at 54%. Bender is trending up and sits at 18%, while Faucher is at 10%. Keep close tabs on the closer role, but this might be a committee for the rest of the season.

Braves

Raisel Iglesias is the team's closer, at least for now. He has 11 saves over 42 games. He's 4-6 with four blown saves and two holds as well.

Iglesias has a 4.99 ERA and 46 strikeouts over 39 2/3 innings. He's still at 78% rostered, which is way too high for my liking. Iglesias is a deep-league asset only in my eyes, so I'd either trade or drop him in standard leagues.

This situation could change at the deadline, so we'll assess things after the deadline passes.

Nationals

Kyle Finnegan continues to struggle, but is the team's go-to closer yet. He's allowed 10 runs over his past four outings, which ballooned his ERA from 2.36 to 4.62.

He has a 1-4 record, 19 saves and six blown saves on the season. He has 30 strikeouts over 37 innings and could be dealt at the deadline, although his recent results are killing his trade value.

Finnegan is at 69% and is trending down. We'll see if he can lock back in, or get moved to a more favorable spot.

#drops #injuries

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