Beyond Saves: Relievers Helping Fantasy Baseball Managers Win in 2026
Saves aren't everything. These setup men and multi-inning relievers are helping fantasy managers with ratios, strikeouts, holds and wins.
It's been a few weeks since we discussed fantasy baseball non-closer relievers, so let's discuss them again here.
We have several relievers to go over, so let's dive right in.
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Louis Varland - Toronto Blue Jays
Varland has the best earned run average of any qualified reliever in the MLB so far.
He has a 2-1 record with eight saves and five holds over 28 appearances. Varland has a 0.29 ERA over 31 innings pitched - he's allowed six runs (just one earned) on 23 hits and nine walks, while striking out 42 batters.
Varland is earning some saves, but he's not the full-time closer for Toronto, so he qualifies for this article. He's rostered in 87% of leagues, and that's without him earning every save chance.
Varland is worth owning in all deeper leagues, and that should remain the case even if he's not earning any save chances later in the season. He's dominating on the mound, and that's why he is worth rostering and utilizing in so many fantasy leagues now.
Robert Suarez - Atlanta Braves
Suarez has a 0.71 ERA over 25 appearances and 25 1/3 innings.
He's 4-0 with four saves and eight holds this season. Suarez has blown one save. He has allowed two runs on 16 hits and five walks, while striking out 22 batters along the way.
Suarez served as a fill-in closer for Atlanta earlier this season, but is now just a setup man for Raisel Iglesias. Suarez is rostered in 78% of leagues now, showing fantasy owners like him in all league types, even if he's not earning any save chances right now.
Keep rostering Suarez all year, and be ready to add him in all leagues if Iglesias is ever hurt again.
Rico Garcia - Baltimore Orioles
Garcia has a 0.71 ERA this season as well. He has three saves, eight holds and a blown save.
He is 3-0 over his 27 appearances and 25 1/3 innings. Garcia has allowed two runs on seven hits and nine walks, while striking out 28 batters.
Garcia has been an option for saves while Ryan Helsley is out injured. Helsley is expected back soon, but Garcia is still worth owning in a ton of leagues because of how well he's pitching.
Consider adding and utilizing Garcia in all deeper leagues, even after Helsley is activated again.
Jason Adam - San Diego Padres
Adam has a 0.90 ERA over his 22 appearances and 20 innings pitched this season.
He is 2-0 with one save, 12 holds and no blown saves. Adam has allowed two runs on 15 hits and five walks, while striking out 11 batters.
His strikeout numbers aren't super high, but you cannot ignore that ERA, or the overall production he's had this season. Even if he's not earning any saves, Adam is worth rostering in a lot of fantasy leagues.
Adam is sitting at 36% rostered right now. He's gone up a couple percent over the past few days, and is definitely worth looking into in some deeper leagues.
Aaron Ashby - Milwaukee Brewers
Ashby has a league-high nine wins, and that's including starting pitchers too.
He has pitched in 25 games overall, and he's yet to take a loss. Ashby has one hold and one blown save, plus a stellar 1.60 ERA. He has allowed eight runs (six earned) on 25 hits and 18 walks, while striking out 47 batters.
The wins just keep coming for Ashby, so he's a rising fantasy asset. He's at 49% rostered right now, and he's rising of late.
Ashby is worth deep-league ownership, and he's a decent standard league option as well, especially if he keeps earning wins. Give Ashby some consideration, because he's a better fantasy asset than a lot of fantasy closers in the league.
Erik Sabrowski - Cleveland Guardians
Sabrowski leads the MLB with 17 holds.
He has a 2-1 record and 1.71 ERA over 25 appearances and 21 innings pitched. Sabrowski has allowed four runs over seven hits and 13 walks, while striking out 39 batters.
Sabrowski isn't likely to get many save chances with Cade Smith around in Cleveland. Even as a setup man, Sabrowski has some fantasy value to take advantage of.
Sabrowski is sitting near 38% owned right now. That's down from 52% on May 25, but is still a good mark for a non-closer. Utilize Sabrowski in some deeper leagues, and keep tabs on him in case he ever gets the chance to close games.
JoJo Romero - St. Louis Cardinals
Romero has 16 holds to his name this season.
He is 0-1, but with a 2.70 ERA. Romero has blown two saves, allowing eight runs on 21 hits and 10 walks, while striking out 25 batters.
Romero might be next in line for saves if Riley O'Brien ever loses the closer role. Romero is still a good fantasy asset even if he's not getting save chances.
Romero is rostered in 34% of fantasy leagues right now. He's rising of late, and is worth utilizing in deeper leagues.
Antonio Senzatela - Colorado Rockies
Senzatela is 4-0 with a 1.36 ERA over 16 appearances this season.
He has three saves and two holds, while not blowing any saves so far. Senzatela has allowed six runs (five earned) on 19 hits and nine walks, while striking out 26 batters.
Senzatela is an option to earn saves in Colorado while Victor Vodnik is out injured. Senzatela has pitched well enough this season to utilize in deeper fantasy leagues, and especially now with upside of saves.
He's at 26% rostered right now, which is up from 16% on May 16. Senzatela is worth adding in more deeper leagues, and could be worth holding in those leagues for the remainder of the season.
