Fantasy Baseball Closers: American League Saves Trends and Bullpen Notes

Let's wrap up our look at fantasy baseball saves and bullpens by checking out American League teams.

Here is the last AL update we did. Also be sure to check out the saves/bullpen article on National League teams. 

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Rays

Bryan Baker earned two saves across three appearances over the past six days. He's the top option for saves in Tampa Bay, a team that's excelling right now. That makes Baker a good fantasy asset.

Ian Seymour earned a save on Wednesday - Baker had worked three of the past four days, so he was unavailable for that one. Seymour and Kevin Kelly could be next in line for saves if Baker were ever to struggle or be unavailable.

Yankees

David Bednar continues to serve as the team's closer. He blew a save on Sunday, then bounced back and earned a save on Monday. Bednar hasn't worked since.

Bednar is a good fantasy asset for now, but keep tabs on him in case he continues to struggle a bit.

Camilo Doval earned a save on Tuesday after Bednar threw 59 pitches over the previous two days. Fernando Cruz, Tim Hill, Brent Headrick and Jake Bird also earned holds this week, so the team has other relievers to go to if Bednar is ever unavailable.

Guardians

Cade Smith had a stellar week on the bump, earning saves on Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday. He's one of the top fantasy closers so far, and his work this week added to his hot start.

Hunter Gaddis earned a save on Thursday after Smith had thrown the past two days. Erik Sabrowski is another late-inning option for Cleveland. The job belongs to Smith for now, and only an injury is likely to take that role from him.

Athletics

Hogan Harris earned a save on Wednesday for the Athletics. He also pitched on Tuesday, so it was Mark Leiter Jr. who got a save on Thursday.

Harris is the top option for saves for now, but he's not locked in as the go-to guy. Leiter, Jack Perkins and Joel Kuhnel are other relievers that the Athletics appear to trust.

It makes this bullpen one to watch. The Athletics are winning enough to support a fantasy closer in all leagues, but with no go-to guy, they are all better deep-league assets for now.

White Sox

Things could be changing in Chicago. Seranthony Dominguez has been the closer this season, but he blew a save on Sunday - that was his only appearance over the past six days.

Grant Taylor earned a save on Tuesday, and could steal the closer role from Dominguez, as Taylor has pitched much better in 2026.

Chicago is also winning enough to support a fantasy closer, but until one emerges as the No. 1 option, Dominguez and Taylor are better deep-league assets.

Rangers

Jacob Latz has been serving as the team's closer of late. He pitched once over the past six days, earning a win on Wednesday.

Jakob Junis, Tyler Alexander and Cole Winn are other active relievers with at least one save this year for Texas.

I like Latz the most right now, but it's a situation to keep monitoring for now. Texas needs to win more close games to make anyone more than a deep-league fantasy asset.

Mariners

Andres Munoz is the team's closer, but he didn't earn a save over the past six days. He didn't get a decision on Monday, then he blew a save on Tuesday.

The following day, it was Jose A. Ferrer who earned his third save of the season. Matt Brash got the win that day.

Munoz is still the closer, but more struggles could force a change. Ferrer might be next in line, but the team could also use Brash too.

Keep tabs on things until Munoz settles in a bit more, or another reliever emerges as the closer.

Twins

Minnesota earned three saves over the past six days, but the saves went to three different relievers.

Luis Garcia got a save on Sunday, then Taylor Rogers got one on Monday before Andrew Morris saved the game on Wednesday.

Having no locked-in closer means the Twins' relievers are better deep-league fantasy assets. It's a situation to watch, but Minnesota needs to keep winning, and someone needs to emerge as the go-to closer for anyone to become a standard league fantasy option.

Blue Jays

Toronto earned three saves over the past six days, and three different relievers earned the saves.

Louis Varland is the team's closer right now. He got a win on Saturday, no decision on Tuesday and then a save on Wednesday.

Jeff Hoffman got a save on Thursday, and Tyler Rogers picked up a save on Sunday. Those are the top options if Varland ever falters.

Varland has been stellar this season, and until further notice, he's the best option for saves in Toronto. With how he's pitched, he's a fantasy asset in all leagues.

Red Sox

Aroldis Chapman had a stellar week, which is probably the first time you could say that this season. He earned saves on Saturday, Monday and Wednesday.

He's an elite option, but the team hadn't won enough to support him. Chapman showed why he's an elite fantasy asset this week, and why he deserves to be rostered in all leagues. We'll see if Boston can keep winning to support his fantasy value.

Garrett Whitlock would likely be next in line for saves if Chapman were ever unavailable.

Orioles

No Baltimore reliever earned a save over the past six days. Ryan Helsley is still on the injured list, so that complicates matters.

Rico Garcia has been serving as the closer, and has pitched well enough this season to own in deeper leagues, even if he isn't earning saves.

Until Helsley is back, I don't like rostering any Orioles' relievers in standard leagues.

Royals

Carlos Estevez is still on the IL in Kansas City, so Lucas Erceg is still getting the save chances. Erceg pitched once over the past six days, earning a save on Sunday.

KC isn't winning enough to support Erceg in all fantasy leagues, but until Estevez is back, Erceg is the guy to own and utilize.

Astros

Josh Hader is still injured, but he's nearing a return, so keep tabs on that.

Bryan Abreu bounced back after a slow start to the season and earned saves on Saturday and Tuesday over the past six days. He's the guy to roster/utilize for now.

Bryan King and AJ Blubaugh are the setup men for now, with Enyel De Los Santos and Steven Okert also earning holds over the past weeks. Once Hader is back, he'll earn the saves, and then all those other relievers will help set him up.

Tigers

No Detroit reliever earned a save over the past week. Kenley Jansen has been the team's closer, but he worked just twice over the past six days.

Jansen got a hold after working the eighth inning of a game the Tigers were leading, so this is now a situation to watch.

Kyle Finnegan and Will Vest are the top setup men, but each blew a save this week. Tyler Holton took three losses, so it's been a bad week for the Detroit pen.

Angels

No LA reliever earned a save over the past week. The Angels aren't winning enough to support a fantasy reliever outside deeper leagues.

Sam Bachman, Ryan Zeferjahn and Kirby Yates are in a projected committee for saves. Bachman has pitched the best this season, but if the Angels aren't winning, nobody is earning saves.

Keep tabs on this situation, but don't expect a high-end fantasy closer to emerge ever.