With this being the last weekend of the 2025 baseball season, we have a few updates regarding fantasy baseball closers, their availability through the end of the season, and into baseball’s postseason.

However, before we do that, let’s take a look back at the 2025 fantasy baseball season and the closers and late-inning high-leverage relievers who made our lives interesting this season. 

There’s a new crop of fantasy baseball closers who will be highly sought after in preseason 2026 fantasy baseball drafts. 

All stats quoted in this article are as of Thursday morning, September 26th.

MLB Closer Rankings 2025: Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report

We’ve covered Cade Smith and the great job he’s has done since taking over the Cleveland Guardians closer’s role after Emmanuel Clase was suspended because of suspicion of being involved with sports betting. In 28 games since July 30th, Smith has a 5-1 record, he’s saved 13 games, and he’s struck out 38 batters while walking just two. If it’s proven that Clase was involved in betting on baseball, Smith will almost certainly open the 2026 season as the Guardians’ closer.

Dennis Santana has settled in as the Pittsburgh Pirates’ closer. In his last 19 games dating back to August 8th, Santana has saved nine games and pitched to a 1.40 ERA. Recording nine saves for a bad team like the Pirates is no easy feat.

David Bednar, Santana’s predecessor as the Pirates’ closer, has breathed new life into his career as the Yankees’ closer. With an almost zero chance that free agent Devin Williams signs with the Yankees, Bednar will likely open the season as the Bronx Bombers’ closer. As a Yankees fan who has gotten a chance to watch him pitch regularly, Bednar seems to have the right temperament to make it in New York. He doesn’t get frazzled easily.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, A’s, Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers, and Baltimore Orioles will likely be among the teams in the market for a closer for the 2026 season. Free agents Emilio Pagan, Kenley Jansen, and Raisel Iglesias are all at least 34 years old and have had good 2025 seasons. Tampa Bay Rays closer Pete Fairbanks avoided the IL this season and has recorded 27 saves. He’ll be a free agent at the end of this season as well, but the Rays have a $7 million team option to re-sign him. Ryan Helsley, former St. Louis Cardinals closer and current struggling New York Mets set-up man, will be a free agent at the end of the season. Helsley has made it known that he’d be open to re-signing with the Cards. 

If you check out our closer grid, there’s been a handful of truly elite fantasy baseball closers this season. Andres Munoz has been a big part of why the Seattle Mariners are sitting in first place this season. Carlos Estevez has been a dominant closer now that he doesn’t have to pitch his home games at Coors Field. As this article is being written, he leads all MLB closers with 41 saves. Robert Suarez, Aroldis Chapman (who has found the fountain of youth), and Edwin Diaz round out the top five. Suarez has hung on to his closer’s role even after the San Diego Padres traded for former A’s closer Mason Miller. Some think that Miller could be a future starting pitcher for the Padres. 

Getting back to the last few days of the 2025 season, the following are some bullpen updates that you should be aware of. 

 

 

 

Milwaukee Brewers

Trevor Megill, who saved 30 games for the Brewers this season, and has been on the IL since August 27 due to a right flexor strain, looks like he’ll be available to rejoin the team in time for the playoffs. Megill felt no discomfort following a Tuesday bullpen session and is expected to pitch a live bullpen before being possibly reinstated from the IL on Sunday, the last day of the regular season. If you play in a fantasy baseball league that includes playoff action and you roster Megill, you could be in luck. 

Chicago Cubs

In our last column, we suggested that Cubs closer Daniel Palencia, who was placed on the IL on Monday, September 8th, due to a shoulder strain, would be reinstated before the end of the season. The good news is that Palencia was reinstated on Wednesday. Unfortunately, manager Craig Counsell said that he might not use Palencia in high-leverage situations right away. In fact, in Palencia’s first game back, he pitched just 2/3 of the sixth inning of a game that the Cubs eventually won 10-3. Aaron Civale pitched the last three innings of the game and picked up a save. It sounds like Counsell just wants Palencia to get his “reps in”. With the way Andrew Kittredge and Brad Keller pitched while Palencia was on the IL, and with the fact that the Cubs have already secured a Wild Card berth, there’s no need to rush Palencia back into high-leverage situations. It will certainly be a different story once the playoffs start.

 

 

 

Detroit Tigers

Kyle Finnegan, who was originally placed on the IL on September 1st due to a right adductor strain, is back, but he’s showing a little rust. Frankly, so are the Tigers. As this article was being written, the Tigers were in the middle of an eight-game losing streak, but thankfully, they pulled out a victory against the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday night. Finnegan hasn’t had a save opportunity since being reinstated from the IL last Friday and has given up an earned run in each of his first two appearances. He did pick up a hold on Thursday, pitching 2/3 of the eighth inning for the Tigers. Heading into Thursday’s action, Will Vest had given up five earned runs in his last three appearances, but he pitched a scoreless ninth inning, struck out all three batters he faced, and picked up his 22nd save. Rafael Montero (no runs in his last 5 IP) and Tommy Kahnle (1.08 ERA in his last 8.1 IP) have been the Tigers’ most reliable late-inning high-leverage relievers of late.

Houston Astros

As this article is being written, the Astros find themselves in the unusual position of not having yet clinched a playoff berth. They also continue to find themselves without the services of Josh Hader, their closer. He’s been on the IL since August due to a left shoulder capsule strain. As of Thursday, it seems like Hader has made some progress in his recovery, but he hasn’t started a rehab program. Bryan Abreu has six saves, a blown save, and a loss since Hader has been sidelined, and he has a 5.02 ERA during that time span.