No long intro here. Same as my last issue, I’ll recap the week in closer news (we had plenty), rank the best available guys, and follow up with a few new pickups for holds leagues.
One quick note: next week’s column is up in the air, as I’m heading out of town this Thursday, but I’ll see if I can make a call to the bullpen of my own.
(stats updated through Saturday, 6/14)
Closer News (by team)
ARI
Sigh.
After returning from the IL a week prior, closer Justin Martinez went down for the count with a UCL sprain on Monday, and is headed for Tommy John. Fellow closer A.J. Puk–on the IL since mid-April–may be next in line at the surgeon’s office, as his throwing program was paused on Friday.
This clears the way (again) for Shelby Miller in Arizona. I ought to temper expectations on Miller somewhat; while the 1.57 ERA certainly sparkles, beneath it lies a 3.66 xERA that better fits his profile. An elite wOBA of .238 vs. an xWOBA of .312 further indicates some regression ahead.
Anyway – shut up, nerd! Miller is nonetheless one of the highest-priority pickup for saves this week, even if what comes with is more “good” than “great.”
ATL
The fog is clearing in the wake of Raisel Iglesias’s removal from closing duties in Atlanta. While Iglesias remains the only Seussian “Brave with a Save” in the last month, Dylan Lee seemed to have taken over this week.
In a 7-4 game against the Rockies on Friday, Iglesias pitched the eighth inning. Lee was warming for a save chance in the bottom half, but the Braves tacked on an insurance run (or five) to spoil it. In a 4-0 game the following day, Lee again took the ninth, surrendering just an unearned run while striking out two.
Lee’s been my top choice for speculation here for some time now, and surges up my closer rankings this week.
CHC
Not this again.
After I backpedaled from my Ryan Pressly recommendation last week, Pressly picked up his first save in two months on Thursday in a 3-2 win over the Pirates. Newly-anointed closer Daniel Palencia took the eighth, sending fantasy managers into a tailspin.
Palencia is still the guy here, and his usage on Thursday was only so that he could face the “heart” (heavy air quotes there) of the Pirates’ order. In a 2-1 Cubs win on Saturday, Pressly pitched a typically mediocre seventh inning, and Palencia nabbed a save in the ninth, appearing for a third straight day.
Hopefully we don’t see too much flexibility from manager Craig Counsell; Pressly’s reemergence shouldn’t add more than a bit of inconsistency for Cubs saves going forward.
LAD
Alex Vesia notched another save on Wednesday, and is tied with Tanner Scott at two apiece over the past couple of weeks. It’s worth noting that following a rough stretch from Scott, manager Dave Roberts commented in early June that the Dodgers had “no dedicated closer,” a quote I’d somehow missed until recently.
Since that statement, Scott has rattled off a few strong appearances, including that pair of saves. He’s still far and away the top choice here, and teams are stubborn when it comes to their big offseason acquisitions (a la Pressly). Still, Vesia is climbing the rankings, and has become a viable candidate for saves in deeper roto leagues.
MIA
As indicated here last week, Calvin Faucher has fully taken over as closer in Miami. If you stopped reading that sentence at the word “closer,” you’re probably pretty fired up right now. Faucher may not be much to get excited about, but he’s the least-rostered ninth-inning regular in fantasy baseball. His three saves led the league this week.
PHI
Matt Strahm had the Phillies’ only save this week. Strahm pitched the ninth in a 3-2 win over Toronto on Saturday, though he was warming with the game knotted at two in the eighth.
I put both Strahm and Orion Kerkering on “high-alert status” last week, given Jordan Romano’s recent struggles. The “committee approach” sirens are indeed blaring, and while Romano still has the lead, the pecking order for saves in Philadelphia has become muddled.
Saves (rankings <60%-rostered Yahoo)
- David Bednar – PIT (56%)
- Daniel Palencia – CHC (43%)
- Robert Garcia – TEX (19%)
- Shelby Miller – ARI (34%)
- Calvin Faucher – MIA (10%)
- Jordan Romano – PHI (58%)
- Dylan Lee – ATL (6%)
- Alex Vesia – LAD (17%)
- Tommy Kahnle – DET (37%)
- Matt Strahm – PHI (14%)
The Watchlist: Orion Kerkering (PHI), Dennis Santana (PIT), Ryan Pressly (CHC), Jake Bird (COL), Grant Taylor (CHW)
Holds
Brock Stewart (MIN) (1%)
I’m not sure why–maybe I’m too deep in this relief pitching stuff–but I was surprised to see Brock Stewart at just 1%-rostered. Stewart feels like a big name to me, though he only has one good season (2023) under his belt. His 2024 season was shortened by injury, and he opened this year on the IL.
Nonetheless, Stewart has been phenomenal in 2025, and the numbers so far are a dead ringer to that 2023 season. As his usage rate rises, I can see Stewart being as high as a top-25 pitcher in holds leagues the rest of the way.
Keegan Akin (BAL) (2%)
Keegan Akin is another guy with some profile, entering this year high enough on plenty of reliever rankings following a fantastic 2024. The reason I’m including him now is that he recently gained SP eligibility universally, due to some appearances as an opener this season.
While we’re not big on openers here, Akin’s usage tends to be of the more typical high-leverage variety; he’s got four holds and two wins since May 25th. He hasn’t matched his performance from last season, but he’s been a solid option in the inconsistent Baltimore bullpen. Had I ranked him among SPRPs last week, he may have even cracked the top five.
Jalen Beeks (ARI) (1%)
Something like a rising tide lifting all boats, but the opposite; Jalen Beeks appears here for the same reason as Shelby Miller. With the injury to Justin Martinez and bad news regarding A.J. Puk, Beeks is solidified as the Diamondbacks’ top setup man. In fact, among those with that distinction on winning teams, he’s easily the least rostered in all of fantasy baseball. It doesn’t take more than that to make Beeks an easy pickup in holds leagues this week.
Honorable Mention: Andrew Kittredge (BAL), Bennett Sousa (HOU), Brad Lord (WSH), Ryan Thompson (ARI), Brad Keller (CHC)
