Fantasy Baseball Closer Check-In: American League Bullpen Notes

It's time for our weekly check-in on fantasy baseball closers. We will start with American League teams here.

Here's the last AL closer update we did. Check back for the National League breakdown in a bit.

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Rays

Bryan Baker is still the team's closer, and he earned saves in his two appearances this week. He's a very good fantasy asset, as Tampa Bay is winning plenty to support his fantasy cause.

Garrett Cleavinger earned a save on Wednesday, which is the day after Baker earned his second save in as many days. Kevin Kelly is another setup man for the Rays, but the closer role looks pretty firmly in Baker's grasp for now.

Yankees

David Bednar is the team's closer, but he didn't earn a save over two appearances this week. He didn't earn a decision on Sunday, then got a win on Monday.

Fernando Cruz got a save on Tuesday, when Bednar was likely unavailable after pitching two straight days.

Bednar is the go-to guy for New York, and he's a good fantasy asset with how much winning the team has done this season.

White Sox

Grant Taylor and Bryan Hudson earned a save each for Chicago this week. Taylor got his on Saturday, then picked up a win on Tuesday. Hudson didn't get a decision on Sunday, then got his save on Wednesday.

Seranthony Dominguez and Sean Newcomb are a couple other late-inning relievers the White Sox trust right now. There's no clear No. 1 option for saves, which is a bummer, as Chicago is finally winning enough to support one. Keep tabs on the situation, but everyone is just a deep-league fantasy option if they are splitting the closer role.

Guardians

No Cleveland reliever earned a save over the past week. Cade Smith is the closer, but took a no decision in his lone appearance on Monday.

Hunter Gaddis and Shawn Armstrong are some notable setup men for now, but the closer role is clearly in Smith's grasp. We'll see if the Guardians can start winning a bit more to support Smith's fantasy value.

Mariners

Andres Munoz continues to serve as the team's closer, but he had more mixed results this week. He took a loss and blew a save on Sunday, but bounced back with a save on Monday.

With Munoz down on Tuesday, Jose A. Ferrer blew a save, but got the win. Nick Davila ended up getting the save.

Munoz appears to still be the closer for now, but more struggles could lead to the team making a switch. Be watching this situation closely, and don't be afraid to move off Munoz if he keeps struggling.

Rangers

Jacob Latz is the team's closer, and he continues to shine in his late-inning role. He picked up a save on Wednesday, then got the win on Thursday.

Latz is a rising fantasy asset, and one to keep rostering/utilizing as long as he's closing games and pitching well.

Jakob Junis and Cole Winn are some other late-inning relievers the team could turn to if Latz is ever unavailable or injured moving forward.

Athletics

There's no clear closer for the Athletics right now. Mason Barnett got a save on Tuesday, then Elvis Alvarado got a save on Wednesday.

Hogan Harris and Mark Leiter Jr. are some other late-inning relievers the team could turn to. It's a messy committee right now, which stinks, because the Athletics are winning enough.

Keep tabs on things, but everyone is a better deep-league fantasy asset until a clear go-to closer emerges.

Blue Jays

Louis Varland continues to dominate, and he's in no danger of losing his closer role. He earned saves on Saturday and Sunday, then got a win on Tuesday. Varland needs to be rostered in all leagues at this point.

Tyler Rogers and Jeff Hoffman are there if Varland ever regresses, but for now, Varland has a grasp on things. If Toronto can keep winning, Varland could remain a high-end fantasy reliever this season.

Orioles

Ryan Helsley is getting close to returning, but he's still on the injured list, so Rico Garcia and Andrew Kittredge are helping close games.

Garcia took a loss on Tuesday, then got a hold on Thursday across three appearances over the past six days. Kittredge got the save on Thursday, and didn't get a decision in his other appearance this week.

Keep tabs on things in Baltimore, but expect Helsley to get the closer role back when he's activated.

Twins

Yoendrys Gomez got the team's lone save over the past six days. He earned it on Wednesday. Gomez also pitched on Saturday, not earning a decision that day.

Things are still not settled in Minnesota, but Gomez looks like the guy for now. Utilize him in deeper leagues, and keep tabs on him in case he solidifies himself as the go-to guy. Minnesota might not ever win enough to get a go-to guy into all leagues though.

Astros

Josh Hader is back finally, and he's the clear closer in Houston. He got a win across two appearances this week. Hader should be owned in most leagues, but Houston needs to win more to get him to 100% rostered.

Bryan King, Enyel De Los Santos and Bryan Abreu are late-inning relief options, but just deep-league fantasy assets now that Hader is back.

Tigers

No Detroit reliever got a save over the past six days. Kenley Jansen was the closer early this season, but is still on the 15-day IL.

Will Vest and Kyle Finnegan are the best options for saves right now, but the Tigers just aren't winning enough close games to make either more than a deep-league asset. That won't change when Jansen returns either.

Red Sox

No Boston reliever got a save over the past six days. Closer Aroldis Chapman didn't even pitch in that stretch.

Chapman is an elite fantasy reliever, but with Boston barely winning close games, he's losing fantasy value. It could go back up if he's traded, so Chapman's fantasy owners are hoping he gets dealt eventually.

Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten would be next in line for saves if Chapman is traded away ever.

Royals

Carlos Estevez is nearing a return for KC. Lucas Erceg had been closing games, but Alex Lange is now holding that honor for the Royals.

Lange earned saves on Saturday and Tuesday, then was tagged with a loss on Wednesday. Erceg got a save on Sunday and hold on Wednesday across three total appearances.

Estevez might get his closer role back when he's activated, as Erceg and Lange haven't been super consistent in the closer role in his absence. KC isn't winning enough to support anyone outside deeper fantasy leagues for now.

Angels

No LA reliever earned a save over the past six days.

Kirby Yates is the closer, but he blew a save on Monday before taking no decision on Tuesday. He appears to be the best option for saves, but poor results and the team's lack of winning holds him back.

Sam Bachman is another late-inning option, so keep an eye on him. Chase Silseth blew a save on Wednesday, and he's another late-inning option.

Again, I don't see Los Angeles winning enough to support even a go-to closer in more than deep fantasy leagues.