Fantasy Baseball Saves Report: American League Closer Trends

Let's take a look at fantasy baseball closers a day early this week. We will go over American League options and bullpens first.

Here's the last AL closer/bullpen update we did. Check back later for the National League breakdown.

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Yankees

The Yankees have two saves over the past week, and they both went to No. 1 option David Bednar. He got the saves on Tuesday and Wednesday, after last pitching on Friday before that (not getting a decision).

Bednar is the go-to guy for the Yankees, and the team is winning enough to make him a pretty good fantasy asset.

Fernando Cruz and Brent Headrick have been a couple setup men of late, and Camilo Doval is another who earned a hold over the past six days.

Rays

Bryan Baker earned two saves over the past six days. He got a save on Friday and Wednesday, but picked up a hold on Sunday.

Kevin Kelly got the save on Sunday, while Garrett Cleavinger got the win. Kelly and Cleavinger have been the top setup men, and Baker has earned most of the save chances.

This is something to keep an eye on, but I still like Baker the most. If he's not earning every save chance though, he could top out as a better deep-league fantasy asset. Tampa Bay wins enough to consider him in standard leagues.

White Sox

The only save for Chicago over the past week went to Sean Newcomb in a 45-pitch effort. He's a long-relief option.

Seranthony Dominguez is the usual closer for the White Sox, but he blew saves on Sunday and Monday across three appearances over the past six days.

Grant Taylor is next in line for saves, but also blew a save on Monday. He took a loss on Wednesday and had a hold back on Sunday.

Bryan Hudson is another option for saves. He earned a hold on Sunday, then didn't get a decision on Monday.

Things are a mess with the White Sox, so even though the team is winning more this year, there's still no clear closer, and it makes all the relievers I mentioned deep-league fantasy options only.

Guardians

No Cleveland reliever got a save over the past six days. Closer Cade Smith had a tough week, taking a loss on Monday, then blowing a save on Wednesday. He's still the clear top option for saves, but he lost some fantasy/trade value this week.

Hunter Gaddis, Shawn Armstrong, Erik Sabrowski, Colin Holderman and Tim Herrin are all decent deep-league fantasy options, despite not getting save chances often. That's because they all have low earned run averages.

Mariners

Andres Munoz had another good run over the past six days. He earned saves on Sunday and Tuesday in his two appearances. Munoz is settled back in after some shaky results earlier this season.

Jose A. Ferrer and Eduard Bazardo are some top setup men for now, and Gabe Speier also earned a hold this week. Matt Brash will be another late-inning option when he returns from the injured list.

Blue Jays

Louis Varland kept pitching well over the past six days. He got saves on Saturday and Monday. Varland is the clear closer for Toronto, and should be rostered in most fantasy leagues.

Tyler Rogers and Jeff Hoffman are the top setup men, but struggled a bit this week. Hoffman and Braydon Fisher took a loss each this week, while Rogers blew a lead and was tagged with a blown save.

Astros

Josh Hader earned saves on Sunday and Wednesday across three appearances this week. He's the clear No. 1 option in Houston, but the team needs to win more to support Hader's fantasy outlook.

Bryan King and Steven Okert were the best non-closing relievers in Houston this week. Enyel De Los Santos struggled this week, and Bryan Abreu pitched just once and is now on the restricted list.

Athletics

Elvis Alvarado emerged as the Athletics' closer of late, but he might have already lost that role. He got a win on Friday, then took a loss on Sunday before blowing a save and taking another loss on Wednesday.

Hogan Harris is another closer option, and he blew a save across two appearances. Justin Sterner and Mason Barnett are a couple other relievers who have saves this season. Luis Medina and Matt Krook earned holds this week.

This is a situation to monitor closely, although the Athletics need to win more to make even a go-to closer more than a deep-league fantasy asset.

Rangers

Jacob Latz continued to roll over the past six days. He pitched three times, earning saves on Friday and Monday. Latz deserves fantasy ownership/utilization in most fantasy leagues.

Jakob Junis earned a save on Sunday, after Latz had pitched the previous couple days. He and Peyton Gray were the top setup men this week, with Robby Ahlstrom and Cole Winn also getting positive decisions out of the pen.

Things belong to Latz for now though.

Orioles

Ryan Helsley has returned from the injured list, but still doesn't have a save since coming back. He took a loss and blew a save on Friday, then didn't earn a decision on Wednesday.

Yennier Cano had a good week, earning two holds and a save (on Saturday). He's one to keep tabs on in case Helsley keeps struggling.

Rico Garcia, Andrew Kittredge, Tyler Wells and Grant Wolfram also earned holds this week. Garcia is another option for saves, and was earlier this season. 

Keep tabs on things until someone settles in as the No. 1 closer.

Twins

The only Minnesota save this week went to Anthony Banda. He pitched three times in total.

Yoendrys Gomez had been the go-to guy of late, but he earned a hold on Sunday, and had no decisions on Saturday and Wednesday.

Andrew Morris is another late-inning reliever Minnesota has been using of late. With no clear closer, it's another situation to be watching closely for now.

Tigers

Kenley Jansen earned saves on Friday and Saturday, but hasn't pitched since. He's the clear closer when he's healthy.

Will Vest got the save on Monday, after getting a win on Sunday and hold on Friday. Kyle Finnegan, Tyler Holton and Drew Sommers are other relievers to keep tabs on after what they've done of late.

Royals

Alex Lange had a good week as the team's closer. He earned saves on Friday and Monday. Lange is the closer for now in KC, but be watching things closely in case Carlos Estevez comes back, or Lange starts to struggle.

Lucas Erceg pitched twice, but didn't earn any decisions. He was the closer after Estevez got hurt, but struggled and is now back in a setup role. Daniel Lynch IV is another setup man with some deep-league fantasy value.

Angels

Sam Bachman earned a save on Sunday for LA. He blew a save on Friday, and then didn't earn decisions on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Ryan Zeferjahn and Chase Silseth are the top setup men right now. LA isn't winning enough to support a go-to closer.

This is a situation to watch, as I don't think Bachman is locked into the closer role right now.

Red Sox

Boston didn't do much winning over the past six days, and no reliever earned a save this week. Closer Aroldis Chapman had a rare blown save and loss on Monday. He's still the go-to guy, Boston just needs to win more to support his fantasy cause.

Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten are the top setup men for Chapman. Again, those are guys to keep tabs on in case Chapman is ever traded away.