AL Closer Report: Breaking Down Every Bullpen After Week 1

A week of the MLB regular season is in the books, and as promised, I'm now here to discuss the closer situations for every team.

Here, we'll go over American League teams, going in order of record. Check back in a bit for the National League writeup.

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Yankees

David Bednar already has three saves for the Yankees, and he clearly is the go-to closer.

He's owned in all fantasy leagues, and that should stick all season if he stays healthy. Bednar could be a top-end fantasy closer in 2026.

Astros

With Josh Hader on the injured list, three Astros have saves already.

Bryan Abreu was the presumed closer, and he has one of the saves, but he has a 19.29 earned run average over 2 1/3 innings.

Bryan King and Cody Bolton also have a save each for Houston. Until Hader is back, it might be a split role for saves in Houston. Keep tabs on things and roster the guys getting the most saves, as the Astros are winning lots early on.

Blue Jays

Jeff Hoffman has the only save for Toronto so far. He's got a win as well, and has pitched four innings, so he's racking up fantasy points despite not earning too many saves.

The Blue Jays should be good all season, which in turn should help Hoffman have a nice fantasy season. He'll be rostered in all leagues when the saves start racking up - he's at about 95% today.

Rangers

In a surprise, it's Tyler Alexander who has both of the Rangers' saves so far. Robert Garcia and Chris Martin were expected to save games this season.

Alexander is rising as a fantasy asset, while Garcia and Martin are trending down. Keep close tabs on this situation, as I think it will change throughout the season.

Guardians

Cade Smith and Connor Brogdon have a save each for Cleveland. Smith is the go-to closer, with Brogdon's save coming in extra innings.

Smith was a high-end fantasy reliever picked this season, so he'll need to pitch super well to live up to the hype. 

Orioles

Ryan Helsley has two of the team's three saves, and is the go-to closer. Albert Suarez has a save, but that came in a three-inning relief effort.

Helsley is at 94% rostered right now, and I think he'll get and stick at 100% here soon. Baltimore should be good enough to support him as a fantasy closer.

Royals

Things are weird in Kansas City after Carlos Estevez was tagged for six runs in his first appearance of the season. He was injured in that contest, and got placed on the 15-day injured list.

Lucas Erceg has two saves and looks like the favorite to earn saves until Estevez is back. John Schreiber is also a closing option, and has one save on the year.

For now, I like Erceg, and he's owned in 55% of leagues after a big surge up after the Estevez blowup outing and injury. Keep tabs on this situation, as it could shift again when Estevez is back.

Angels

Jordan Romano appears to be the closer in Los Angeles. He has both of the team's saves so far.

He's looked good over three outings as well, so he's on the rise as a fantasy asset. Romano is up to 51% owned, and should remain a good deep-league option, even if the Angels aren't the best. If LA surprises, then Romano could be a standard league asset.

Mariners

Cooper Criswell has the lone Seattle save in 2026. He earned that after a three-inning outing.

Andres Munoz should get the save chances, but he's started the year slow. It's early, so I wouldn't worry too much. Seattle should win enough to help Munoz to another big fantasy season.

Rays

Kevin Kelly has the only Rays' save in 2026. I'm not sure he's the go-to option, or if Tampa Bay even has one.

Griffin Jax is the most-owned fantasy reliever in Tampa Bay, at 55%. Edwin Uceta (who is on the IL) and Garrett Cleavinger are at 24% each and Ian Seymour sits at 19%.

Keep tabs on this situation to see who emerges as the go-to closer. Tampa Bay might not win enough to support a fantasy closer though.

Tigers

Kenley Jansen has the lone Detroit save in 2026.

He should be the go-to guy there, but Kyle Finnegan or Will Vest are there if Jansen struggles. At 87% rostered right now, I think Jansen is a bit overrated as a fantasy asset.

We'll see if he can lock in and be worth rostering in all standard leagues eventually. Detroit needs to first win more games to give him the chance at more saves.

Twins

Cole Sands has the only Minnesota save in the early going. I'm not sure he's the go-to closer though.

Taylor Rogers and Justin Topa are other options for saves, so this is another situation to keep your eyes on. 

Sands is the most rostered of the trio, but sits at just 21%.

Athletics

Mark Leiter Jr. has the only save for the Athletics. Like in a couple other places, the guy with the save might not be the go-to option though.

Without Mason Miller now, the Athletics are expected to split the closer role. Hogan Harris and Scott Barlow are options alongside Leiter.

So this is yet another situation to keep tabs on. Harris and Justin Sterner are the most-owned Athletics' fantasy relievers, but sitting at just 5%.

Red Sox

Aroldis Chapman has the lone Boston save, but he's the go-to guy without a doubt.

Boston just needs to win more to support Chapman. He's coming off a stellar season, so keep rostering him, as better fantasy days are ahead.

White Sox

Jordan Hicks has the only Chicago save early on. Seranthony Dominguez was the expected closer coming into the year, and the White Sox might not win enough to support anyone anyways.

Dominguez is at 43% owned, but that will drop if he doesn't start earning saves soon. Grant Taylor is at 16%, while Hicks is only at 1%.

Keep tabs on this situation, but even a go-to closer is probably just a deep-league asset all year.