Welcome to another edition of the Fantasy Alarm 2026 Bullpen Report. It was an eerily quiet week when it came to the fantasy baseball closer position, but we still have plenty of late-inning high-leverage relievers to talk about, including a few who have upped their game and have a direct path to a role as their team’s future closer. If you’re into sports betting, there aren’t many analysts who are better at predicting the future than Fantasy Alarm’s own Mark Lammey (@mlammey08). Check out his best bets here and start growing your bankroll!

Saves Leaders Over The Past Week

Since our last column, Guardians closer Cade Smith has saved three games over the past week, and he has also recently recorded saves on consecutive days on two separate occasions. As of Friday, he is tied with Padres closer Mason Miller and Cardinals Closer Riley O’Brien for the MLB lead in saves with 13. Smith got off to a bumpy start to the season but has given up just one run in his last 14 appearances, spanning 14.2 IP. He has a 21:1 K:BB ratio during that time span.

Rays closer Bryan Baker has the second-most saves in baseball with 11. Seranthony Dominguez, Lucas Erceg, and David Bednar each have 10 saves on the season.

Eleven other late-inning high-leverage relievers converted two saves over the past week, including Braves closer Raisel Iglesias. He hasn’t given up a run since August 24, 2025. That’s a span of 12.2 IP in 2025 and another 12.2 IP this season. Those are impressive stats for a reliever who was pitching so poorly early last season that he was temporarily removed as the Braves’ closer.

Nationals left-handed late-inning high-leverage reliever PJ Poulin also recorded two saves last week. Clayton Beeter started the season as the Nationals’ closer but was placed on the IL on April 26th due to a forearm injury. Gus Varland took over as the team’s closer and has had modest success, converting two saves and a hold in 5.2 IP. He has a 5:2 K:BB ratio during that time frame to go along with a bloated 6.35 ERA. 

As the next man up behind Varland, Poulin’s most recent save came in an extra-inning game. Before that, he saved a game in which Varland was unavailable because he had pitched the day before. Beeter is reportedly ready to start a rehab assignment, and it will be interesting to note how save opportunities will be distributed among himself, Varland, and Poulin when he returns.

 

 

 

Holds Leaders Over The Past Week

Cardinals reliever Ryne Stanek recorded three holds last week, and 13 other late-inning high-leverage relievers were credited with two holds during the same time period, including Diamondback reliever Taylor Clarke.

Clarke was crushed by the Dodgers in his first appearance of the season, giving up four earned runs in just 0.1 IP. He’s given up just one run in the 19 innings he’s pitched since then, for an ERA of 0.47. Clarke doesn’t strike out many batters (9:2 K:BB ratio during that time span), but he has eight holds on the season. He also has 12 saves between his major and minor league career and could be in the mix for save opportunities should current Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald be unavailable.

Guardians reliever Erik Sabrowski continues to lead MLB relievers with 16 holds, and Cardinals set-up man JoJo Romero is close behind with 14. As the next man up behind Cade Smith in the Guardians’ bullpen, Sabrowski has been a very good resource for strikeouts with 35 in 19.1 IP. He also has an overall 1.86 ERA and 0.879 WHIP.

Relievers on the Rise

The Brewers’ bullpen hierarchy seems to have stabilized with Abner Uribe in the driver’s seat as the team’s closer. Former closer Trevor Megill’s fortunes continue to fall. He’s given up a run in two of his last three appearances and carries a 6.00 ERA into Friday’s action. Aaron Ashby’s 2026 season is moving in the opposite direction. He’s settled in as Uribe’s setup man and has six holds on the season. He has a 0.60 ERA, four wins, and a hold in his last 15 IP.

Luke Weaver struggled early on this season, but is still the next man up in the Mets’ bullpen behind Devin Williams. He’s turned his season around of late and hasn’t given up a run in his last 5.1 IP. He’s also converted two holds and has a 9:3 K:B ratio during that time span. Williams is also pitching well of late after a rough start to the 2026 season. He hasn’t given up a run in his last seven appearances and has a 9:1 K:B ratio as well as three saves in his last 6.2 IP.

 

 

 

Bullpens in Flux

Cincinnati Reds

We are starting to see signs of life from Graham Ashcraft and Pierce Johnson, but with Tony Santillan’s recent struggles, he should no longer be considered a late-inning high-leverage option. Santillan has given up eight earned runs in his last 3.1 IP, including five home runs.  Ashcraft has had modest success of late, striking out five batters while walking one in his last three innings pitched. Johnson has a save and has pitched to a 2.25 ERA in his last 4 IP. Emilio Pagan, the Reds’ closer to start the season, remains on the IL and isn’t expected to return from his hamstring injury until June. This is still a bullpen that should be avoided for fantasy purposes.

San Francisco Giants

The Giants took a step forward in attempting to add some stability to their late-inning reliever hierarchy by sending former closer Ryan Walker down to Triple-A. Caleb Killian, who has a 1.40 ERA and has picked up the Giants’ last two saves, is the favorite to continue to close out games for the short term. His 12 walks in 19.1 IP this season are concerning, and with Erik Miller expected to come off the IL this weekend, Killian may have a hard time holding on to the Giants’ closer’s role. 

Athletics

Jack Perkins was a hot waiver wire add a couple of weeks ago when it appeared that he had taken over as the A’s closer, but with a 12.27 ERA in his last four appearances, his hold on that role appears to be in jeopardy. The A’s have a deep bullpen, and with Hogan Harris and Joel Kuhnel both pitching well of late and also having some closer experience, the A’s may opt to use them to periodically close out games. Mark Leiter has three saves for the A’s this season, but he has been inconsistent lately. Scott Barlow is an A’s reliever to keep on your watch list. He has 59 career saves and has pitched well (3.10 ERA, 0.885 WHIP, and 8 holds) this season.