Fantasy baseball managers were treated to a fairly uneventful week when it comes to fantasy baseball closers. As has been the case all season, there are elite late-inning high-leverage relievers who are at the top of the MLB closers rankings, and there are countless other relievers who have a path to save opportunities. Just last week, 40 different relief pitchers recorded at least one save. 

While this week was relatively quiet with regard to fantasy baseball closers, we’ve still made several adjustments to the content in our fantasy baseball closer grid. We update it as news happens, so make sure to refer to it on a regular basis.

The grid is just one of the great resources that can help you win your fantasy baseball leagues. Check out Howard Bender’s Fantasy Baseball Stock Watch for his insights on breaking news about trending fantasy baseball players. For the latest in our video content, which is also updated daily, visit the Fantasy Alarm YouTube channel.    

In the meantime, we still have lots of closer-related news to cover in this week’s bullpen report. Please enjoy!

Saves Leaders Over The Past Week

Marlins closer Pete Fairbanks, Mariners closer Andres Munoz, and Rangers closer Jacob Latz each had three saves last week. 

Fairbanks has moved up and down the MLB closers rankings based on his inconsistent season. He spent close to three weeks on the IL and has 12 overall saves, but he also has a bloated 6.75 ERA and 1.333 WHIP. It appears that he has a long leash and will remain the Marlins’ closer, for now.

Munoz has also had his ups and downs in 2026 after a breakout 2025 season. He has been dealing with periodic lower-back tightness, which may be contributing to his uncharacteristically high overall 5.08 ERA and 1.376 WHIP. He’s pitched better of late,  picking up a save in each of his last four scoreless outings. Per Statcast, Munoz’s Whiff % and Chase % are in the 100th and 98th percentile, respectively.

Despite giving up two earned runs, including a home run, in his last outing, Latz has been one of MLB’s best closers for the Rangers this season.  He has a 1.89 ERA and a 40:8 strikeout to walk ratio in 38 IP.

Guardians closer Cade Smith continues to lead MLB closers with 24 saves this season. He has struggled in his last two outings, taking a loss and blowing a save while giving up two home runs and four earned runs in 2.1 IP during that stretch, but is still at the top of the MLB closers rankings.

Padres closer Mason Miller is next up with 21 saves this season, and Rays closer Bryan Baker has the third most saves with 20.

 

 

 

Holds Leaders Over The Past Week

Rangers reliever Jakob Junis and Mariners reliever Eduard Bazardo both had three holds last week. 

Junis, who is Latz’s setup man, has 10 holds and five saves this season to go along with a sparkling 2.14 ERA and 0.921 WHIP. 

Bazardo also has a potential path to save opportunities and could move up the MLB closers rankings should Munoz’s recurring back issues turn into something more serious. He has 16 holds and a 1.98 ERA on the season.

Among the 23 other late-inning high-leverage relievers who had two holds over the past week, Steven Okert stands out. The Astros reliever hasn’t given up a run in his last 14 appearances, spanning 17 IP. He has five holds during that time frame and has a 17:4 K:BB ratio.

For the season, Cardinals reliever JoJo Romero continues to lead MLB late-inning high-leverage relievers with 19 holds. Guardians reliever Erik Sabrowski, who is back from the IL, has 18 holds, followed by Blue Jays reliever Tyler Rogers, who has 17.

Relievers on the Rise

Rays reliever Cole Sulser’s overall stats are ugly (5.40 ERA, 1.547 WHIP), but in his last four appearances spanning 5.1 IP, he hasn’t given up a run, and he has struck out eight batters while walking none. He has one hold during that time span and has five on the season. If he continues to pitch well, he could become a solid resource for holds moving forward. 

Reds closer Emilio Pagan (hamstring) is on a rehab assignment and could possibly be taken off the IL as soon as next week. With the Reds placing temporary closer Tony Santillan on the IL on Friday due to an oblique strain, Pagan’s return can’t come soon enough. Look for a combination of Tejay Antone, Brock Burke, Pierce Johnson, and Caleb Ferguson to be in the mix for save opportunities until Pagan is back in action. For now, the Reds' bullpen is one to avoid for fantasy purposes.

Rockies pitchers are often ignored in fantasy baseball, and for the most part, they should be. However, since being converted from a starting pitcher to a relief pitcher this season, Antonio Senzatela should be on your radar. As a former starter, he often works more than one inning in relief, and as a groundball pitcher, he’s been avoiding the pitfalls of working in a very hitter-friendly Coors Field environment. His eight wins tie him for the third most in baseball, and his 2.13 ERA and 1.016 WHIP are elite.