Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Breakdown: Saves and Rising Relievers

Let's take a look at fantasy baseball closers and bullpens, as we do at the end of every work week.

We'll look at National League teams first - here's the last update we did. Check back in a bit for the American League breakdown.

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Braves

Raisel Iglesias is the team's closer, and had a good week. He picked up saves on Saturday and Tuesday over the past six days.

Robert Suarez is the top setup man for Iglesias, and had holds on the days that Iglesias got saves. Suarez is the top option for saves if Iglesias is ever out, but the job is pretty locked up right now.

Dodgers

The only LA reliever with a save over the past six days was Tanner Scott. He got the save on Tuesday.

His other two outings over the past six days didn't go as well. Scott took a loss and blown save on Saturday, then was tagged with a loss on Thursday.

Will Klein and Alex Vesia are other late-inning relievers that the Dodgers could deploy, especially if Scott is struggling. It's likely to be a situation to watch until Edwin Diaz is back in the mix.

Brewers

Trevor Megill is officially back as the Brewers' closer. He had a save on Sunday across two appearances over the past six days. Add him back in a good amount of leagues, as Milwaukee is winning enough to support him as a fantasy closer.

Abner Uribe is trending down after losing the closer role. He earned a couple holds this week, but is clearly behind Megill now. Aaron Ashby is another high-leverage reliever for Milwaukee, and he's a pretty good fantasy asset with nine wins to his name.

Pirates

Gregory Soto is the top option for saves in Pittsburgh right now. He earned saves on Saturday and Tuesday, but blew a save and took a loss on Wednesday. 

Carmen Mlodzinski then earned a save on Thursday, but that was a multi-inning effort. Mason Montgomery or Dennis Santana would be next in line for saves if Soto were ever unavailable, or struggling.

Soto is the guy to own for now. Just keep tabs on him and be ready to pivot if he struggles.

Cardinals

Riley O'Brien is the team's closer still. He took a loss on Tuesday, then got a save on Wednesday. 

This situation is still one to watch, even though O'Brien keeps getting all the save chances.

George Soriano and JoJo Romero are the top setup men, so they could be next in line for saves if O'Brien keeps struggling, or is ever injured. Ryne Stanek is another option.

Diamondbacks

Paul Sewald is the team's closer, and he had another good stretch of fantasy production over the past six days. He got a save on Monday, then picked up a win on Thursday.

Sewald is the go-to guy right now, and he should be owned in most fantasy leagues. Arizona is winning enough close games to support his fantasy cause.

Kevin Ginkel and Juan Morillo are a couple late-inning relievers that could get save chances if Sewald is ever unavailable or injured. A.J. Puk is working his way back, and could fill a late-inning role when he's activated.

Phillies

Jhoan Duran enjoyed a monster six-game stretch on the bump. He picked up saves on Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Duran is a top-end fantasy closer, and when the Phillies are winning, he shows why. Philly might not get him three saves every six days, but this stretch shows why he should be owned in most leagues all year long.

Brad Keller is the top setup man, and Jose Alvarado and Orion Kerkering are two other late-inning relievers the Phillies trust. The closer role is Duran's unless he's injured or unavailable though.

Padres

Mason Miller is the closer for the Padres. He's one of the top fantasy relievers (and pitchers) overall, but he hasn't pitched at all over the past six days.

San Diego needs to win more to support his fantasy cause. Miller could be worth selling high if you don't trust the Padres going forward, but you better make sure you get a haul, because Miller is a fantasy stud.

Jason Adam, Adrian Morejon and Jeremiah Estrada are three good late-inning relievers the Padres have. Adam and Estrada were straddled with losses this week, further showing why Miller is the closer.

Cubs

No Chicago reliever earned a save over the past week. Closer Daniel Palencia pitched three times, but didn't earn a decision in any of those appearances.

Jacob Webb and Caleb Thielbar are some setup men the Cubs have used of late. Palencia is the go-to closer though, the team just needs to win more to support his fantasy cause.

Reds

Emilio Pagan is still out for the Reds, and Sam Moll was the only reliever to pick up a save over the past six days. 

Tony Santillan and Brock Burke are some other late-inning relievers the Reds could use to close out tight wins. With no clear closer, this is a situation to watch closely. Things might not clear up until Pagan is back though.

Nationals

Clayton Beeter was trending up at the start of the week after saves on Saturday and Sunday, but he was tagged with the loss on Wednesday. Washington isn't likely to win enough to support him outside of deeper fantasy leagues.

Brad Lord and Orlando Ribalta have been used in setup roles of late, so they'd maybe be next in line for saves after Beeter.

Marlins

Pete Fairbanks is the team's go-to closer. He pitched twice over the past six days, earning one save on Wednesday.

Fairbanks is a decent fantasy asset, but Miami needs to win more close games to make him more than a deep-league fantasy asset.

Anthony Bender, Calvin Faucher and Michael Petersen are there to get any saves Fairbanks doesn't, but the job seems pretty firmly in Fairbanks' grasp right now.

Mets

Devin Williams is the team's closer, but he didn't pick up a save over the past six days. He pitched twice, and didn't earn a decision in either game.

The Mets need to win more to make Williams a fantasy asset in all leagues. Most fantasy owners still like him enough to utilize him in standard leagues, but he might be a better deep-league asset with the Mets' struggles as a team.

Luke Weaver and Brooks Raley are the top setup men. The closer role is safely in Williams' hands though.

Giants

Caleb Kilian earned a save on Thursday, and Keaton Winn got one on Thursday, so there might be a co-closer deal going on in San Fran.

Winn has pitched better this season, but Kilian has more strikeout upside. It's a situation to watch, but San Fran needs to win more to support even a go-to closer outside of deeper leagues.

Rockies

Victor Vodnik had been the team's closer earlier this season, but he's on the injured list now. No Colorado reliever earned a save over the past week.

Antonio Senzatela blew a save on Monday, but ended up getting the win. He's the best bet to earn saves right now, but isn't locked into the closer role. Colorado isn't likely to win enough anyways to support even a go-to closer.

Keep tabs on things in Colorado, but don't expect anything too good in 2026.