Fantasy Baseball NL Bullpen Report: Sorting Out Saves and Closers

It's now time to discuss fantasy baseball closers and team bullpen work.

We'll begin with National League teams this week - here is the last NL update we did. Check back later for the American League writeup.

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Braves

No Atlanta reliever got a save over the past week. Raisel Iglesias is the team's closer, and only got one appearance over the past six days.

Atlanta has been winning plenty, and Iglesias will have better fantasy showings in the days/weeks/months to come. Robert Suarez is there if Iglesias is ever unavailable or injured.

Dodgers

The only save over the past week for the Dodgers went to Will Klein. That was a game in which the Dodgers scored once in the top of the ninth inning to take the lead, and Tanner Scott had already gotten the four outs before that.

Scott is the top option for saves right now in LA, but he's not getting every save chance either, so his fantasy outlook is a bit lower. Alex Vesia, Kyle Hurt, Blake Treinen and Klein are some other high-leverage relievers that the Dodgers trust.

I like them all more in deeper leagues if no one pitcher is getting all the save chances. Keep tabs on things, but until Edwin Diaz is back from his injury, LA might mix and match to close out games.

Brewers

Milwaukee earned two saves over the past six days, although one came from Chad Patrick in a four-inning outing. Abner Uribe got the other save, and it was his only appearance of the week.

Uribe looks to still be the leader for saves in Milwaukee, but Trevor Megill is an option again now after pitching better of late. I like Uribe the most, but only in deeper leagues for the time being.

Keep tabs on things and be ready to add Uribe or Megill if they start racking up saves consistently.

Padres

Mason Miller is the team's go-to closer, but he is coming off a loss in his last appearance. He earned a save the day before he took the loss though, and is in no danger of losing his closer role.

Jeremiah Estrada earned a save back on Saturday, but also blew a save on Tuesday. Estrada, Adrian Morejon and Jason Adam are late-inning relievers who could get saves any time that Miller is unavailable or battling an injury.

Cubs

It's been a rough week-plus for the Cubs, and no reliever earned a save over the past six days.

Daniel Palencia is the team's closer, and didn't earn a decision across two appearances this week. He's a good fantasy asset still, and the Cubs should win enough going forward to support him as a fantasy asset.

Cardinals

Riley O'Brien is the team's closer, but blew a save in his lone appearance over the past week. He still should be locked into the closer role in St. Louis though.

George Soriano earned a save on Saturday, so he could be next in line for saves if O'Brien ever is unavailable, is hurt or is struggling. JoJo Romero is another high-leverage reliever for the Cardinals.

I like O'Brien for now, but I'd keep closer tabs on him in case he struggles going forward, or the Cardinals start falling off a bit.

Diamondbacks

Paul Sewald is the team's closer and he had a great week. He earned saves on Sunday and Wednesday, then claimed a win on Thursday.

He is trending back up as a fantasy asset, after falling off a bit of late. Keep rolling with Sewald for now, as Arizona is winning enough to support his fantasy case.

Jonathan Loaisiga and Taylor Clarke are the top setup men ahead of Sewald, and could be next in line for saves if needed.

Pirates

No Pittsburgh reliever earned a save over the past week. Gregory Soto and Dennis Santana are the co-closers for the time being.

Soto pitched once over the past six days, not earning a decision in that outing. Santana pitched twice, and didn't earn decisions either.

It's a situation to keep monitoring to see if either reliever emerges as the go-to closer in time. For now, I like them better in deeper leagues, although low ERAs and high strikeouts totals could still get both into standard leagues.

Reds

With Emilio Pagan still on the injured list, Tony Santillan picked up the team's lone save over the past six days. He only pitched once in that span, so he looks like the top guy for saves for now.

Graham Ashcraft, Pierce Johnson, Brock Burke, Connor Phillips and Sam Moll also earned holds over the past six days, so it's a fluid situation in the Reds' pen.

I like Santillan as a deep-league asset for now, but Ashcraft and Johnson are some deep-league options as well, and could gain value if they earn saves in time.

Phillies

Jhoan Duran is the team's closer, but only worked once over the past six days. He earned a save on Monday.

Brad Keller is the top setup man. He blew a save on the same day Duran got the save, and could earn save chances for any games Duran isn't available.

Nationals

The Nationals earned two saves over the past week. Richard Lovelady got one on Tuesday, and Andrew Alvarez got one the following day in a multi-inning effort.

Gus Varland and Clayton Beeter are among other relief options who could get save chances for Washington. Nothing is set in stone, and the team will need to keep winning to support even one go-to option.

Mets

Devin Williams had a big fantasy week for the Mets. He earned saves on Saturday and Thursday, and also picked up a win on Sunday.

He's been a pretty good fantasy asset of late, so he's worth adding and utilizing in more leagues. The Mets need to keep winning to help Williams stick as a good fantasy asset.

Luke Weaver and Brooks Raley are the top setup men, and would probably be next in line for saves if Williams is ever unavailable.

Marlins

No Miami reliever earned a save over the past six days. Pete Fairbanks is the usual closer, but he didn't earn a decision on Thursday after blowing a save but earning a win on Saturday.

Fairbanks' job seems pretty secure for now, but it's a situation to keep tabs on in case he falters more going forward. Anthony Bender or Calvin Faucher are the top setup men for now, and could be next in line for saves.

Giants

The lone save for the Giants in the past six days went to Matt Gage. He got the save on Saturday, then blew a save while throwing just two pitches on Tuesday.

Caleb Kilian is the guy most expect to get the save chances for now. Keaton Winn and Erik Miller are other options for a floundering Giants' team.

Nobody is a standard league fantasy asset from that bullpen, and it's a situation to monitor for now.

Rockies

It was a wild week for the Rockies' bullpen. It got more complicated when Victor Vodnik hit the injured list.

Juan Mejia earned a hold on Saturday, a win on Monday, but then blew a save on Wednesday and took a loss on Wednesday. He might be the leader for saves for the time being.

Antonio Senzatela is another option. He earned a save on Saturday, then got a hold on Wednesday.

Jaden Hill and Brennan Bernardino earned holds this week and could be other options if nobody emerges in Vodnik's absence. Keep tabs on this situation, but nobody will be more than a deep-league asset if Colorado doesn't win more.