AL Closer Breakdown: Who’s Locked In and Who’s Not?

After checking in on National League closers and bullpens, let's do the same for the American League.

Here is the last AL closer update we did.

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Yankees

David Bednar is the clear closer for New York. He earned a save on Tuesday across two appearances over the past six days.

Fernando Cruz and Tim Hill have been the primary setup men, and would step in if Bednar were ever injured or unavailable. The job is locked in for Bednar right now though.

Rays

Bryan Baker has been serving as the team's closer for a little while now. He earned a save on Friday and Monday across four appearances over the past six days.

Cole Sulser earned a save on Tuesday, and Ian Seymour got a save on Wednesday. Baker didn't pitch on Tuesday, but did on Wednesday, earning a hold.

The situation in Tampa Bay is one to watch as a result of several guys getting saves over the past week. I still like Baker the most of the bunch, but if he's not getting every save chance, he's only worth rostering in deeper fantasy leagues.

Guardians

Cade Smith is the team's closer, and earned saves on Friday and Wednesday over the past six days. He has the closer role locked up for the time being.

Erik Sabrowski and Matt Festa are among the setup men for Smith. Those two, and Hunter Gaddis could split the closer role if Smith is ever out with an injury or unavailable.

Athletics

No Athletics' reliever earned a save over the past six days. Jack Perkins, who has been getting the save opportunities of late, blew a save and took a loss on Wednesday.

So this remains a situation to watch closely. Hogan Harris and Joel Kuhnel are other closer options for the Athletics.

Mariners

Andres Munoz is the team's closer, but he had an up-and-down week on the bump. On Saturday, he blew a save. He bounced back by earning a save on Monday, then took a loss on Tuesday.

Jose A. Ferrer picked up a save on Wednesday, when Munoz was likely unavailable to pitch. He'd be the guy the Mariners would turn to if Munoz was ever injured or unavailable.

I'm not too worried about Munoz right now, but he's worth tracking in case his struggles continue.

Tigers

Kenley Jansen is the team's closer. He appeared once over the past six days, leaving without a decision on Monday.

The closer role should be Jansen's as long as he's healthy, but it's something to track, especially with Detroit not winning a ton of close games of late.

Kyle Finnegan is among the options who could take over for Jansen if ever needed.

Rangers

Jacob Latz picked up the only save for Texas over the past six days. He got it last Friday, and has pitched once since, not earning a decision in that one.

Jakob Junis and Cole Winn are other closer options in Texas right now. Robert Garcia and Chris Martin were options earlier in the season, but are on the injured list now. Tyler Alexander is another reliever to keep in mind.

The closer situation in Texas is one to monitor still. I like Latz for now, but he's not locked in as the closer.

Orioles

With Ryan Helsley on the injured list, it's Rico Garcia who is serving as the fill-in closer in Baltimore. Garcia has a win and save over three appearances in the past six days.

Garcia is a player I discussed in Thursday's waiver wire story, so you can read more of my thoughts on him in that article. Garcia is the guy to utilize in fantasy leagues while Helsley is out, though the role should be given back to Helsley when he's activated.

Royals

Carlos Estevez is close to returning, but Lucas Erceg is still holding down the closer role in KC. He's hot right now, with saves on Friday, Saturday and Tuesday over the past six days.

It remains to be seen who the Royals give saves to when Estevez is activated, so this is a situation to keep tabs on. For now, utilize Erceg, but know that his time as the closer could be coming to an end shortly.

White Sox

Seranthony Dominguez is the Chicago closer. He pitched once over the past six days, but earned a save, and needed just six pitches to get the job done.

The White Sox aren't likely to win enough over the course of the season to support Dominguez, but he's at least a solid deep-league fantasy asset. Keep tabs on him and the White Sox.

Blue Jays

Louis Varland is the new Toronto closer after Jeff Hoffman struggled earlier this season. Varland pitched Tuesday and Wednesday, but didn't earn a decision in either game.

Tyler Rogers blew a save and took a loss on Tuesday, taking away a save chance for Varland.

I still like Varland, but Toronto simply hasn't won enough close games to provide him with save chances over the past six days. Keep tabs on him, but Varland looks like a better deep-league fantasy asset for now.

Red Sox

Aroldis Chapman is the unquestioned closer in Boston. He pitched three times over the past six days, earning saves on Friday and Monday.

Chapman can be a high-end fantasy asset if Boston wins enough. They haven't most of the season, so Chapman has been droppable in standard leagues.

Keep tabs on him, but there might be better options on the waiver wire available to you.

Twins

Justin Topa earned the only Minnesota save over the past six days. He got it on Sunday, a day after he earned a hold.

Eric Orze and Taylor Rogers are other closer options for Minnesota. With no locked-in closer, this is a situation to keep close tabs on. 

I like Topa the best for now, but he's just a deep-league asset, especially with Minnesota not winning consistently enough.

Angels

Ryan Zeferjahn picked up the only save for Los Angeles over the past six days. He earned a win in his other appearance over the past six days.

Sam Bachman is another option for saves in LA right now. I feel most comfortable with Zeferjahn for now, but it's a situation to track, as things could change in a hurry.

Astros

With Josh Hader still out a couple more weeks, things are still up in the air in Houston. Bryan King has been good over the past six days, earning two saves over three appearances.

King now appears to be the leading candidate for saves in Houston, so look into adding him in some deeper leagues for the time being. When Hader returns, he should immediately regain the closer role.

Bryan Abreu and Enyel De Los Santos are some other late-inning relievers who could get saves between now and when Hader is officially back.