As we head into the last few weeks of the fantasy baseball season, Mason Montgomery has cemented his spot as the Pirates’ closer, and he has been moving up the MLB closers rankings. He’s been one of MLB’s best closers of late and hasn’t given up a run in his last 16 appearances spanning 15.1 IP. With six saves and two wins over the past month, Montgomery proves that even this late in the fantasy baseball season, new resources for relievers who can make meaningful contributions in saves-plus-holds league formats continue to make their presence known. Rostering relievers who have a potential path to save and hold opportunities is a strategy that can help you win your fantasy baseball league’s championship.  

We’ve revised our fantasy baseball closer grid with updates based on recent late-inning, high-leverage reliever developments and will continue to tweak MLB closer rankings, but keep in mind that the grid is just one of Fantasy Alarm’s great resources that can help you 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 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

Josh Hader, an elite closer who has been steadily rising up the MLB closers rankings since coming off the IL in June, recorded three saves for the Astros last week. Reds closer Emilio Pagan also recorded three saves last week and has been one of MLB’s best closers since July 1st. He is showing no lingering effects from having missed nearly two months of the season due to a hamstring strain.

Hader, who was named the AL reliever of the month for August 2026, has a sparkling 0.72 ERA, 0.670 WHIP, and has converted all 22 of his save opportunities this season. His 0.2 HR/9 is the best of his career, and for a second straight season, Hader has allowed 2.7 BB/9, which is below his 3.4 rate. 

Pagan has been one of the few bright spots for the Reds of late. Since being reinstated from the IL, he’s pitched to a 2.53 ERA and has converted 14 saves. Pagan also has a 25:3 K:BB ratio in his last 21.1 IP.

Six late-inning, high-leverage relievers recorded two saves last week, including Orioles’ reliever Andrew Kittredge.  He’s part of a committee that includes Yennier Cano and Rico Garcia, but the Orioles bullpen could be getting a boost with Felix Bautista, who has been on a rehab assignment and is potentially reinstated from the IL later this month. Ryan Helsley, who started the season as the Orioles’ closer and is currently on the IL for a second time due to elbow inflammation, is hoping to return to action before the end of the season, but no target date has been announced.

The White Sox’s bullpen remains somewhat fluid, but Bryan Hudson also recorded two saves last week. Grant Taylor and Sean Newcomb also appear to be sharing closer duties with Hudson.

For the season, Rays reliever Bryan Baker continues to be one of MLB’s best closers and leads the major leagues with 39 saves. Guardians closer Cade Smith and Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien each have 35 saves. Blue Jays closer Louis Varland and Padres closer Mason Miller have the third most saves in baseball with 32. 

 

 

 

Holds Leaders Over The Past Week

Four relievers recorded three holds last week, including Astros setup man Steven Okert, Pirates setup man Luke Weaver, Orioles reliever Rico Garcia and Yankees setup man Brent Headrick. A whopping 23 other relievers recorded two holds last week.

Braves setup man Dylan Lee shares the MLB lead in holds this season with Blue Jays setup man Tyler Rogers. Both have recorded 30 holds. Guardians setup man Hunter Gaddis and  Rays reliever Kevin Kelly have the second most holds this season with 28. Mariners setup man Eduard Bazardo has the third most holds in baseball with 26. 

Relievers And Bullpens To Take Note Of

Cubs closer Jacob Webb took a 102.5 mph line drive comebacker to his right arm on Wednesday, but it looks like he might be able to avoid a trip to the IL. With former closer Daniel Palencia struggling since being reinstated from the IL (18.90 ERA, 2 HRs allowed in his last 3.1 IP) and the playoffs right around the corner, the Cubs are in desperate need of reliable late-inning, high-leverage relievers. Cubs relievers have a 4.27 ERA and have blown five saves since August 1st. Ryan Rolison picked up the Cubs’ most recent save on Thursday, his second of the season, but with the current fluid nature of the team’s bullpen and the uncertainty surrounding Webb’s status for the short term, Cubs relievers should probably be avoided in fantasy baseball for now.

Diamondbacks high leverage late inning reliever Juan Morillo seems to be the favorite for save opportunities, at least for the short term. He hasn’t given up a run in his last 17 appearances (17 IP) and has converted two saves and seven holds during that time frame. The Diamondbacks’ bullpen remains in flux, but with Morillo securing the team’s last two saves, he could see himself moving up the MLB closers rankings in the last month of the season.

If you’re looking for a pitcher to fill a spot on your fantasy baseball roster who can log quality IP and help you in the strikeouts category, Athletics reliever Scott Blewett could fit the bill. Blewett has made 13 multi-inning relief appearances this season and has recorded 12 strikeouts and just three walks in seven IP over the past week. In addition to his ability to induce swings and misses, he hasn’t given up a home run this season due in large part to his above-average 54.1% ground ball rate. He has a 2.70 ERA in 15 appearances for the A’s and a 1.69 ERA in their hitter-friendly home park.

Like Blewett, Cardinals reliever Gordon Graceffo is frequently used in multi-inning relief efforts. Since August 27th Graceffo has pitched eight scoreless innings across three appearances and has struck out 13 batters while walking just one. Graceffo has a 2.78 ERA and 1.065 WHIP this season, along with seven wins and six holds.