National League Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Calvin Faucher Emerges, Robert Suarez or Mason Miller, and More

It's time for another fantasy baseball closer update in each league.

We'll look at closers from National League teams first today. Here's the last update we did on the NL.

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Phillies

Jhoan Duran is the team's new closer, but the team hasn't given him many chances over the past week. He's pitched just once, earning a save on Sunday.

The lack of saves is holding Duran back from being owned in all fantasy leagues. He's at 97% now, but will rise as soon as he starts getting a few saves. Add him before it's too late.

Mets

Edwin Diaz is the team's clear-cut closer, but he doesn't have a save over the past week. He too has pitched just once over the past week. 

Diaz is one of the top-end options in the game, and should remain that way the rest of the season. Keep rostering him and expecting big things.

Marlins

Calvin Faucher has been on the rise, but he recently also earned a hold, and Lake Bachar got a save. Faucher earned a save last Saturday and then got a hold on Wednesday, which is when Bachar got the save.

Just when you thought Faucher had a firm grasp on the closer role, the team went elsewhere for a save. That makes this a situation to still monitor daily, and maybe we'll get a clearer picture of things moving forward.

Faucher is at 41% rostered, but won't go much higher unless he's getting every save chance. Ronny Henriquez is at 45%, while Anthony Bender is at 14%. Bachar is barely owned in any leagues.

Braves

Raisel Iglesias is still the closer in Atlanta, and he picked up two saves over the past week. He worked three times in total.

Iglesias is up to 82% rostered now, but I'm not sure Atlanta will win enough down the stretch to warrant him being rostered in more leagues than he currently is.

Nationals

The Nats haven't had a save over the past several days, but it appears to be Jose A. Ferrer's job to lose. He earned a win on Wednesday, a game Washington won in walk-off fashion.

Ferrer is rostered in 8% of leagues. That will only rise if he starts picking up some saves. Washington likely won't win enough down the stretch to make Ferrer a big-time fantasy asset, but he's worth tracking at the very least.

Dodgers

With Tanner Scott and others on the injured list, there's no clear closer in Los Angeles for now.

Ben Casparius earned a save on Sunday, but he's just earned a hold since. Alex Vesia took a loss and blown save on Wednesday, but was working the eighth inning in that one.

There's no Dodger reliever I'd really want to roster for now. Scott is still the most owned at 79%, and he should move way up after he returns to the mound. Vesia is at 39% owned, while Casparius is at 12%.

LA has eight relievers owned in at least 4% of leagues. All those options, and no clear leader for saves right now… go figure.

Keep monitoring this situation daily, but only the return of Scott might give a clear answer about the situation.

Padres

Robert Suarez and Mason Miller have each earned a save since Saturday. 

Suarez got one on Sunday, and then he picked up a win on Tuesday. Miller blew a save on Tuesday and then claimed a save on Wednesday.

I think the job is Suarez's to lose, but Miller might earn enough saves and strike out enough batters down the stretch to remain relevant in fantasy leagues. Suarez is at 98% rostered, while Miller is at 95% - both are still good fantasy assets, so I wouldn't bail on either guy, unless you can swap them for an unquestioned closer on another good team.

Giants

Randy Rodriguez has the closer role now in San Fran. He took a loss and blown save on Monday, but bounced back by claiming a save on Wednesday.

He's rostered in 65% of leagues now and is still trending up. If San Fran catches fire down the stretch, Rodriguez could see that own mark rise to near 100%, so keep an eye on him and the team.

Diamondbacks

Arizona is a mess because of trades it made at the deadline and injuries to several high-profile relievers.

Kyle Backhus earned the team's only save this week, getting one on Monday. He followed that up by blowing a save and taking a loss on Wednesday.

Andrew Hoffmann also has a blown save this week. Kendall Graveman and Andrew Saalfrank are also closing options.

There's no Arizona reliever worth rostering right now. Keep tabs on this situation going forward, but things might remain chaotic the rest of the season.

Rockies

Seth Halvorsen hit the injured list, and nobody has earned a save since Saturday. 

Victor Vodnik and Juan Mejia are the only ones with holds. Vodnik would be my guess for who would earn a save chance, but Colorado simply doesn't win much.

Vodnik is only rostered in 1% of leagues. I'd avoid him and the other Rockies' relievers if I could.

Brewers

Trevor Megill picked up two more saves this week, earning them on Monday and Wednesday.

He's up to 95% rostered and has been an elite option for several weeks with all the winning the Brewers have done. It's a sell-high time with Megill, but you likely aren't going to get a big return, so you might as well enjoy his success.

Cubs

Daniel Palencia is the team's closer for now, but blew a save on Sunday. He worked on Wednesday as well, but it came in a non-save situation.

He's rostered in 75% of fantasy leagues right now. Palencia doesn't have much competition for the closer role, so I'm not worried about him right now.

Keep rostering Palencia and expect more saves and good results as the Cubs contend for the division title and a playoff spot down the stretch.

Reds

Emilio Pagan is the Cincinnati closer still. He only has worked once since Saturday, earning a save on Monday.

Pagan is sitting at 87% rostered, and it really probably should be higher. He's been great in the closer role since he got it, and Cincy is winning enough to make him a good fantasy asset.

Cardinals

JoJo Romero has two saves this week, but Riley O'Brien also earned one.

Romero got saves on Saturday and Monday, then picked up a win on Wednesday - it's been a good week for him. O'Brien blew a save but claimed a win on Monday, then earned a save on Wednesday.

Romero looks like the leader for saves, but he might not earn every save opportunity. He's rostered in 37% of leagues, and he'll need to get every save chance to ever get past 50% rostered. O'Brien is owned in just 3% of leagues right now. 

This situation is worth watching daily, and both guys might end up as solid deep-league assets if the Cardinals win enough down the stretch.

Pirates

Dennis Santana is the new Pittsburgh closer. He's pitched twice this week, most recently taking a blown save and loss.

He's trending down as a result, and is owned in 39% of leagues overall. Santana will only see that percentage rise if he's excelling in the closer role.

It's a situation to watch. I think Santana will remain the closer, but someone else could emerge in time if he continues to struggle.