National League Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Jhoan Duran and Ryan Helsley Headed in Opposite Directions
Looking at closers from each National League team after the MLB trade deadline.
After taking a look at the closer situations in the American League, let's now go over the National League teams.
There's been a ton of changes since the last NL closer update.
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Brewers
Trevor Megill is the clear closer in Milwaukee. Despite the team continuing its winning ways of late, he has just one save this week, and it came on Monday.
He's still trending up because of how he's pitching, and how the Brewers keep winning. Megill is at 95% rostered.
Cubs
The Cubs added some relief help at the deadline, while also designating Ryan Pressly for assignment, but it's still Daniel Palencia who serves as the team's closer.
He has a save this week, with it coming on Friday. Palencia has been a good fantasy asset since he took over as the closer, and he should remain a good fantasy closer for as long as he holds that job. Palencia is up to 75% rostered.
Reds
Emilio Pagan is still the team's closer, despite losing a save to Tony Santillan and taking two losses this week.
Pagan bounced back from the two losses with a save on Friday, showing he's still the clear No. 1 closer. He's rostered in 87% of leagues.
Cardinals
Ryan Helsley is gone, so the closer role is up for grabs in St. Louis.
JoJo Romero was tabbed by many as the one who would take over, and he indeed got the first save after the trade deadline. He got his save on Saturday and is up to 28% rostered now.
I don't know if St. Louis will win enough down the stretch to make Romero a standard league fantasy asset, but he's at least worth adding in some deeper leagues.
Pirates
David Bednar is no longer in Pittsburgh, so it looks like Dennis Santana will take over as the closer.
Santana earned a save on Tuesday, but took a loss on Friday. He's at 43% owned after a massive increase since the deadline. Santana could work into standard leagues if he pitches well and earns a save or two a week, but I'm sure there's better options out there in most standard leagues.
Dodgers
With Tanner Scott out, the closer role is not held by one pitcher in LA.
Jack Dreyer earned a save on Monday before Alex Vesia got one Tuesday. Justin Wrobleski also earned a save on Saturday, but that was a multi-inning effort.
Vesia is my guess for who will earn saves until Scott is back. Vesia is at 40% rostered, while Kirby Yates is at 32%. Blake Treinen is at 20% and Alexis Diaz is at 15%.
Padres
Mason Miller was added at the trade deadline, but it was Robert Suarez who got a save on Friday, with Miller setting him up.
I thought Miller would be the team's closer, but it appears as though Suarez will keep the job for now. Miller could earn some saves if Suarez needs a day off, and Miller's strikeout work will keep him rostered in most fantasy setups.
The Padres have a great bullpen now, and should do plenty of winning, so Suarez and Miller should have good fantasy value. Miller might drop a bit if he's not earning any saves, but both are still good fantasy assets.
Giants
Camilo Doval was sent to the Yankees, so Randy Rodriguez looks like the new closer for San Fran. Ryan Walker is also an option, but has struggled for most of the season.
Rodriguez earned a save on Friday, with Walker earning a win. It's a situation to watch, but I think the job belongs to Rodriguez for now.
Rodriguez is way up to 61% rostered now, and could be used enough down the stretch to be rostered in most leagues. Don't wait too long if you are interested in adding him.
Walker is at 58%, and probably should see that drop if he isn't earning saves, or doesn't improve on his season-long numbers.
Diamondbacks
The closer role likely belongs to Kevin Ginkel, but it's hard to tell with nobody earning a save over the past week. He doesn't have to worry about Shelby Miller anymore, as the injured reliever was sent to Milwaukee at the deadline.
A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez are out with injuries, so Ginkel is set up to close the rest of the way most likely. Arizona doesn't win much, so that hurts whoever the main closer actually is.
Ginkel is at 12% rostered right now. That will only rise if he starts picking up some saves here soon.
Rockies
Seth Halvorsen is the team's closer, but the Rockies don't win enough to make him a very good option. He last earned a save on Monday, and has thrown just five pitches since.
Halvorsen is owned in 13% of leagues and that should drop after he got injured on Saturday. He has an elbow injury and it could be serious.
Victor Vodnik or Jimmy Herget could be next in line for saves, but again, Colorado isn't good enough to support a closer, so I'd try to avoid all their relievers.
Mets
New York added to its bullpen at the deadline, but Edwin Diaz is still the likely closer the rest of the way.
Diaz took a loss on Friday, and hasn't earned a save since the start of the week. Ryan Helsley has pitched once, working before Diaz on Friday.
Diaz is owned in all leagues, and that should remain the case for the rest of the season. Helsley is down to 88%, and that mark will keep going down as he doesn't earn saves.
Tyler Rogers was another deadline acquisition and is at 30%. He's a decent deep-league option with how he's been pitching this season.
Phillies
Jhoan Duran is the team's new closer. He earned a save on Friday, with Orion Kerkering earning a win in relief.
The closer role is Duran's to lose, and his own percentage is up to 96% after the deadline deal. He'll be a top-end closer with how much winning Philly should do down the stretch.
Guys like Kerkering, Matt Strahm and Jordan Romano will see their own percentages dip now. Jose Alvarado won't regain his closer role when he returns from his suspension either, so add Duran in all leagues.
Marlins
Calvin Faucher is the team's closer it appears. He earned saves on Wednesday and Saturday so far this week.
Faucher is up to 16% rostered, and is an underrated option with how much winning Miami has done of late.
Ronny Henriquez is rostered in 46% of leagues and is still valuable with how he's been pitching, but Faucher could pass him in time. Anthony Bender is at 17% owned, but will also be passed by Faucher if he keeps earning the saves.
Braves
Raisel Iglesias is still the team's closer after the deadline. He earned a save on Monday and Thursday.
He's at 81% rostered after improving from a rough first few months of the season. I'm not sure Atlanta will win enough to keep Iglesias on the rise with his own percentage.
If he struggles at any point down the stretch, Pierce Johnson or Tyler Kinley could get an opportunity to close.
Nationals
With Kyle Finnegan out of town, Washington needs a new closer. Nobody has a save this week, so it's tough to say who might get saves.
Most are expecting Jose A. Ferrer to get the closing opportunities, as he's jumped up to 9% rostered. I don't think the Nats will win enough to support his fantasy cause though.
Keep an eye on Ferrer, but he'll only become a deep-league asset if he's the actual closer and gets regular work and saves.