NL Closer Watch: Fantasy Baseball Saves & Bullpen Updates

We just went over the closer situations for all American League teams, and now are going to do the same in the National League.

Here is the last NL closer update we did.

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Braves

The Braves continue to win, and that is big for closer Raisel Iglesias. He earned saves on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

Iglesias is the clear closer, although Robert Suarez is a more-than-capable closer too if Iglesias is ever struggling. Suarez filled in when Iglesias was on the injured list earlier this season.

Cubs

Daniel Palencia earned the team's only save over the past six days. He got it on Thursday, and didn't get a decision in his only other appearance over the past six days.

He's the clear closer in Chicago. Only an injury could slow his roll, which happened earlier this season.

Dodgers

The only save that a Los Angeles reliever got over the past six days came on Thursday. Tanner Scott got the save, and he also pitched Wednesday, not earning a decision in that one.

Scott is the closer for now, with Edwin Diaz still out for several more weeks. Alex Vesia is another option, but clearly a step or two behind Scott right now.

Brewers

Abner Uribe has been serving as the team's closer. He had an up-and-down week, earning a win on Sunday and a save on Tuesday, but then blew a save on Wednesday.

Trevor Megill was the closer earlier in the season, and could get his role back if Uribe isn't more consistent. Aaron Ashby is another option, although the Brewers seem to like him in the setup role for now.

It's a situation to monitor, as things could change over the next several days.

Cardinals

Riley O'Brien bounced back from a blown save on Sunday by claiming saves on Tuesday and Thursday this week. He's been the closer since early in the season.

JoJo Romero is the top setup man, and George Soriano would be another option if O'Brien ever struggles or gets injured.

Padres

There's no denying who the closer is in San Diego. Mason Miller has been stellar all season, and earned saves on Saturday and Wednesday over the past six days.

Miller is not only the top fantasy reliever, but he's a high-end fantasy player with a low earned run average, a ton of saves and a boatload of strikeouts.

Jason Adam and Adrian Morejon are the top setup men, and would help fill in if Miller ever needs a day off, or gets injured.

Pirates

Gregory Soto earned the only save for Pittsburgh over the past week. He pitched twice, not earning a decision in his other appearance.

Dennis Santana, the team's other closer option, didn't get a decision over two appearances this week.

Soto is the guy I like for now, but things aren't set in stone, so be watching things closely in Pittsburgh. Both are better deep-league fantasy assets with no closer being the go-to option.

Reds

Emilio Pagan is on the 15-day injured list, and will be out for a while. The team earned just one save over the past six days, and it went to Pierce Johnson.

Graham Ashcraft and Tony Santillan are some other relievers who could earn save chances for Cincy while Pagan is out. I don't see anyone being more than a deep-league fantasy asset in that span though.

It's a situation to watch closely, but Cincy just isn't winning enough to support any of these fill-in closer options right now.

Nationals

Washington earned one save over the past week. It went to PJ Poulin on Wednesday.

Gus Varland, who is viewed as the closer, got the win that day. Varland took a loss back on Sunday.

Things are unsettled for Washington, so be watching things closely for the time being. I don't think the Nationals will win enough to support a closer, even a full-time option.

Phillies

Jhoan Duran is the top guy in Philadelphia. He pitched three times over the past six days, earning saves on Tuesday and Thursday.

Philly is winning more of late, and that's a fantasy boost for Duran. He's regaining value after a slow start for the team, and an IL trip earlier.

Brad Keller was the fill-in closer when Duran was injured, and would get the first chance at any saves Duran cannot go for.

Diamondbacks

Paul Sewald is the team's closer, but is trending down after blowing a save and taking a loss on Wednesday. He had been trending up after getting saves on Saturday and Monday.

Sewald was a good fantasy asset early in the season, but Arizona isn't winning enough close games, and Sewald isn't pitching well enough, to justify rostering/utilizing Sewald in as many leagues now.

I still like Sewald a bunch in deeper leagues, but he's one to be watching closely. He needs to pitch well, and enough, to be worth fantasy usage.

Marlins

Pete Fairbanks is back from a stint on the injured list, but he hasn't got an appearance since being activated on Wednesday. He is a good fantasy asset, even if he's not on a very good team.

Fairbanks is a better deep-league fantasy asset for the time being. Keep tabs on him in case he improves his ERA and gets enough save/win chances.

No single reliever emerged as the closer while Fairbanks was out, so there's really no clear guy to target if Fairbanks starts to struggle, or hits the injured list again.

Mets

After a stellar week, Devin Williams hasn't earned a save since last Saturday. He only has pitched once since, not earning a decision on Wednesday.

The Mets need to be better to support Williams as a fantasy asset. I still like rostering him in most leagues, but he's not a must-own guy in all leagues.

Even though he was just signed this offseason, I wonder if Williams could be a trade candidate this year. The Mets are looking like sellers right now.

Giants

Caleb Kilian earned the team's lone save over the past six days. He got it on Tuesday, and also pitched on Sunday, getting no decision that day.

Kilian is the guy to own for now, but until we know for sure that he's the No. 1 option for saves, he's only worth rostering in really deep leagues. San Fran likely isn't going to win enough to make him more than a deep-league asset, if he sticks as the closer.

Ryan Walker was the closer early on, but has been sent down to the minor leagues now. Keep tabs on this situation, as it's not set in stone.

Rockies

No Colorado reliever earned a save over the past six days. Victor Vodnik is the projected closer, but didn't earn decisions in either of his appearances.

Antonio Senzatela earned a win in his lone appearance. Juan Mejia only pitched once as well, so those two look like the next in line after Vodnik for saves.

The Rockies likely aren't ever going to win enough to even support a clear go-to closer outside deeper leagues.