As the fantasy baseball season winds down, the late-inning high-leverage landscape and our MLB closer rankings remain fluid. At this time of year, it seems that you never know who will be in line to collect a save. 

Miami Marlins closer Pete Fairbanks was placed on the IL this week due to nerve irritation. It was the third time this season that he’s been forced to the IL due to a nerve issue, and his 2026 season is over. Marlins manager Clayton McCullough has said that he would be using a committee approach to closing out games moving forward. With Anthony Bender, who has been on the IL since June 30th with a right shin stress reaction, opting to undergo surgery, which will officially end his season, Calvin Faucher, Michael Petersen, and Tyler Zuber will likely be part of the committee that will be called upon to close out games for the Marlins. However, with the Marlins’ bullpen having pitched eight innings on Tuesday, their ace, Sandy Alcantara, pitched the ninth on Wednesday and recorded his first career save. Knowing that the Marlins’ bullpen was depleted, Alcantara volunteered to close out the game despite having thrown 101 pitches in a start just two days earlier. 

We’re not including Alcantara in our revised fantasy baseball closer grid yet, but the grid is just one of Fantasy Alarm’s great resources that can help you finish strong and win your fantasy baseball league. Check out James Grande’s weekly Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire column with new articles dropping every Sunday. For the latest in all of our video content, which is also updated daily, visit the Fantasy Alarm YouTube Channel.

In the meantime, we still have lots of closer and late inning high leverage reliever related news to cover in this week’s bullpen report, so please enjoy!

Saves Leaders Over The Past Week

Padres closer Mason Miller, who has been near the top of the MLB closers rankings all season, led all closers with three saves last week. He has a 1.12 ERA and 0.855 WHIP in his  61 appearances and a 119:23 K:BB ratio over 64.1 IP. 

Nine other relievers converted two saves last week, including Nationals reliever Erik Tolman, who has grabbed at least a partial hold on the team’s closer role. Tolman, who made his big league debut on August 22nd, has dealt with several injuries and two Tommy John surgeries throughout his professional career, and his injuries have been so severe that he was in danger of having part of his arm amputated. The fact that he’s even pitching in the big leagues is a true feel-good story. Tolman has appeared in 10 games and has three saves, an overall 2.38 ERA and a 1.147 WHIP. 

Rays closer Bryan Baker remains at the top of MLB closers rankings and leads all relievers with 40 saves this season. Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien (who has been struggling lately), Guardians closer Cade Smith and the previously mentioned Miller each have 37 saves.  Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman, Yankees closer David Bednar and Blue Jays closer Louis Varland each have the third most saves in baseball with 34.

 

 

 

Holds Leaders Over The Past Week

Twins setup man Jeff Hoffman, Pirates setup man Luke Weaver, Padres setup man Adrian Morejon and Yankees setup man Brent Headrick each had three holds last week. 

Sixteen other relievers recorded two holds last week, including Rangers setup man Robert Garcia. He spent over four months on the IL due to shoulder inflammation and finally returned to action on September 8th. He hasn’t given up a run in five appearances since coming off the IL and has a path to potential save opportunities should Jacob Latz be unavailable.

Ryan Watson also had two holds last week. The Angels’ setup man has been hot of late, recording five holds and a save in his last eight appearances spanning seven scoreless innings pitched. Watson has an 8:1 K:BB ratio during that time span. With Ben Joyce blowing two of his last three save opportunities and pitching to a 9.45 ERA over his last seven appearances, we could see Watson move up the MLB closer rankings if he’s given an opportunity to close out games for the Angels.

Overall, Blue Jays setup man Tyler Rogers leads all relievers with 32 holds. Rays reliever Kevin Kelly is right behind him with 31, and Braves setup man Dylan Lee has 30 holds. 

Relievers And Bullpens To Take Note Of

With no definitive timeline on whether Ryan Helsley or Felix Bautista (who are both on rehab assignments) will return to game action this season, Rico Garcia seems to have taken the lead in a fluid Orioles bullpen. Over his last 17 appearances spanning 14.2 IP, Garcia has a 0.61 ERA, 4 saves, 4 holds, 13 Ks, and has allowed five walks. Andrew Kittredge is still in the mix for save opportunities as well. He picked up a save in an extra-inning effort on Tuesday but has struggled of late. He’s given up at least one run in three of his last four relief appearances and recorded a 10.80 ERA during that time frame.  

Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien has also been tumbling down the MLB closers rankings. In his last 11 appearances spanning 10 IP, O’Brien has a 10.80 ERA and 3 blown saves. He’s also walked seven batters and given up three home runs during that time span. George Soriano has picked up some of the slack while O’Brien has been slumping, but he’s also had an uneven season in which he’s blown eight save opportunities. The Cardinals have also used Ryne Stanek in late inning high leverage situations. He’s pitched well of late. In his last 11 appearances spanning 10 IP, Stanek has a 1.80 ERA and has struck out 12 batters while walking three. He’s also picked up a save and two holds during that time span. Gordon Graceffo is another Cardinals reliever who has been used late in games. He has been on a roll lately and hasn’t given up a run in his last 10 appearances spanning 16.2 IP. Graceffo has also recorded three holds, a win, and has struck out 22 batters while walking just five during that time frame.

Aroldis Chapman is dealing with a lat injury and hasn’t pitched since picking up a save on Sunday. With the Red Sox planning for the postseason, they are using what is being termed a “conservative” approach to Chapman’s availability for the short-term. Garrett Whitlock picked up the team’s most recent save. 

Kodai Senga has done well since taking over as the Mets’ closer, having converted seven of his eight save opportunities since August 10th, but Devin Williams could be taken off the IL as soon as this weekend. The Mets will likely ease Williams back into action and avoid having him pitch in back-to-back games. Whether or not Senga remains the Mets’ closer when Williams is activated is yet to be determined.