Fantasy baseball managers were treated to another fairly quiet week with regard to fantasy baseball closer-related news. There is significant news involving two of the best fantasy baseball closers of all time. One is due back soon, and the other may be out of action for a while. Several other late-inning, high-leverage relievers are worth discussing this week, including a few who have improved and could rise in the MLB closers rankings because they have a clear path to becoming their team’s future closer. If playing MLB DFS or placing a few bets is in your future, start here, and you’ll find the best fantasy baseball picks, projections, and predictions that will help you increase your bankroll!

Saves Leaders Over The Past Week

Guardians closer Cade Smith, Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald, and Phillies closer Jhoan Duran led MLB with three saves over the past week.

Smith leads all late-inning, high-leverage pitchers with 19 saves this season and is once again an elite closer who has found his way close to the top of the MLB closers rankings. He has three more than Padres closer Mason Miller. Sewald has 14 saves this season. He’s tied for having the third most in baseball with Rays closer Bryan Baker.  

Pirates 2026 closer Gregory Soto, Blue Jays 2026 closer Louis Varland, and Bryan King, who is temporarily part of the Astros’ committee of fantasy baseball closers, each saved two games last week. 

 

 

 

Holds Leaders Over The Past Week

Brad Keller and Orion Kerkering, a pair of Phillies late-inning high-leverage relievers, led MLB with three holds last week. 

Sixteen other relievers recorded two holds each, including Diamondbacks reliever Kevin Ginkel. He has 16 career saves and, with a 1.74 ERA and 11:3 K:BB ratio over his last 12 appearances, he has climbed up the Diamondbacks’ bullpen depth chart and is likely now Sewald’s setup man. Brandyn Garcia is another Diamondback to keep an eye on. He has been pitching in the seventh and eighth innings of games lately and has a 1.00 ERA, 0.778 WHIP, this season. He has seven career minor league saves, and with two holds last week, he now has four on the season. 

Twins late-inning high-leverage reliever Yoendrys Gomez continues to impress. We featured him in last week’s column, and he recorded another two holds and a save over the past week. He now has four holds, two saves, and a 13:3 K:BB ratio over his last 12 appearances to go along with a 0.77 ERA. The Twins' 2026 closer hierarchy is in flux, but Gomez is a late-inning high-leverage sleeper who could eventually find himself included in the MLB closers rankings and should be on your watch list.

Relievers on the Rise

Adding a top long relief pitcher to your fantasy baseball roster instead of a struggling starting pitcher can oftentimes be a smart strategy. Brewers middle reliever Shane Drohan is often used in long relief and should be on your watch list. Nine of Drohan’s relief appearances have been multi-inning efforts. He appeared in three games last week and pitched 6.1 innings. Drohan also pitched to a 2.84 ERA, struck out eight batters, and walked two during that time span. Drohan has 28 strikeouts in 27.1 IP and a 2.63 ERA and 1.098 WHIP on the season. If you play in a deep league and are having trouble finding a fantasy viable starting pitcher on your league’s waiver wire, Drohan could be a good option.

Another potential long reliever to keep on your radar is Carmen Mlodzinski. He was recently replaced in the Pirates’ starting rotation by Jared Jones. For his career, Mlodzinski has been much more effective working out of the bullpen compared to when he’s been used as a starter. Mlodzinski has a career 2.63 ERA and 1.169 WHIP as a reliever and a 4.40 ERA and 1.485 WHIP as a starting pitcher.

 

 

 

Bullpens To Take Note Of

Detroit Tigers

Kenley Jansen was placed on the 15-day IL on Thursday due to pelvic inflammation. The injury is related to a groin/abdominal issue that Jansen had been dealing with in late April and early May. Kyle Finnegan will likely get the first crack at filling in for Jansen as the Tigers’ 2026 closer, but Will Vest and Tyler Holton may also be in the mix for save opportunities. Finnegan has 113 career saves and a 1.75 ERA this season, but his 6.7 BB/9 and 4.38 xERA are concerning. Vest’s 7.88 ERA is a bit deceiving. He had 23 saves for the Tigers last season and has a x3.73 ERA this season. Holton has nine career saves, and left-handed batters have a career .174 BAA against him. Finnegan is worth a speculative add off your league’s waiver wire, but Vest and Holton probably should not be rostered. Keep an eye on Drew Sommers, whom the Tigers recently promoted from their farm system. He has 15 career minor league saves.

Los Angeles Angels

The Angels' bullpen has the second-highest ERA (5.14) and fewest saves (6) this season. Jordan Romano started the season as their closer, but struggled and was released. Unfortunately, we fantasy baseball managers are still trying to identify the Angels’ 2026 fantasy baseball closer. Sam Bachman (9 holds, 2.33 ERA) and Chase Silseth (5 holds, 1.96 ERA) have pitched well. Kirby Yates, who was recently removed from the IL, has been working the ninth inning recently, but no Angels reliever has taken the lead as the team’s closer thus far. Drew Pomeranz was reinstated from the IL on Thursday and promptly worked the sixth inning of the Angels’ win against the Tigers. Pomeranz, who has 10 career saves, enjoyed a huge comeback season in 2025 with a 2.17 ERA and 14 holds. He has as good a chance as any Angels reliever to take the lead in what has been a turbulent bullpen thus far.

Houston Astros

Josh Hader, who is making his way back from left bicep tendinitis, is close to completing his rehab assignment and reclaiming his role as the Astros’ closer. He’s had mixed results in his nine rehab appearances, having yielded three home runs, and he has pitched to a 6.23 ERA. On a positive note, Hader has exhibited good control as shown by his 11:3 K:BB ratio and has pitched in back-to-back games. Barring any setbacks, he’s probably days away from rejoining the Astros and potentially back among the top tier of the MLB closers rankings