Waiver Relief: 6/8/2025

This week in ninth-inning news we have one major injury, one hot seat overheating, and some recently-anointed closers who may be on thin ice. Allegorically, it seems odd that one can be both on the hot seat and thin ice, but thus is the plight of the relief pitcher.

Similar to last week, I’ll cover those situations in detail, and rank my best available closers. For the Holds section, something a little different this week: I’m going with only SP-eligible relievers, providing a few new pickups and my current top 10.

(stats updated through Saturday, 6/7)

 

Closer News (by team)

 

ATL

 

It seems the Braves have finally had enough of Raisel Iglesias, who had yet another atrocious week. So much so that Atlanta saw fit to call up Craig Kimbrel… who was promptly designated for assignment a day later.

In a 4-4 game on Friday, the Braves went Kimbrel – Dylan Lee – Pierce Johnson, with Johnson the tough-luck loser in extras. More notably, with Iglesias available, it was Johnson tasked with protecting a 2-1 lead in the ninth on Saturday. He became the not-so-tough-luck loser, allowing a two-run shot to Matt Chapman.

While Johnson had the inside track, he’s likely lost it with his poor performance of late. I’ll go ahead and give Lee the edge here, but the whole situation is a mess.

 

BAL

 

Nothing crazy here, as we all know Félix Bautista is the iron-clad closer when healthy. However, it’s worth noting the emergence of Bryan Baker, our top holds pickup a couple weeks ago, who notched two saves of his own in the past week. Baker continues to be Baltimore’s most reliable reliever and has seemingly become the Orioles’ top choice when Bautista is unavailable.

 

MIA

 

Calvin Faucher has functioned most like a traditional closer for the Marlins recently, and his path to saves cleared a bit as Jesús Tinoco hit the IL on Friday. I’m not interested in a Miami closer if it’s not Ronny Henriquez, but Faucher regains some deep roto league intrigue.

 

NYY

 

This one you probably already know: Luke Weaver was placed on the IL at the start of the week, and should be out for a month or so. This puts Devin Williams back in the closer role in the Bronx.

Don’t let Yankees Twitter fool you – Williams has been phenomenal for a month running, and ought to hang on to the closer role for the rest of the season, even when Weaver returns.

 

PHI

 

Jordan Romano has returned to form the bad way, looking like the Romano of early ’25 rather than seasons past. He’s allowed six earned runs in his last six appearances, surrendering ten hits and five walks in that stretch.

I imagine there’s a decent leash here, but after sneaking Orion Kerkering onto my watchlist last week, I’m now putting both him and Matt Strahm on high-alert status. Unfortunately, if Romano indeed falls off, we’re probably looking at a committee approach here for some time.

 

TEX

 

Robert Garcia finally took on closing duties in Texas last week. Naturally, he rewarded patient fantasy managers with a three-run mega dud on Thursday, because of course he did. Garcia suddenly seems shaky after a terrific start to the season; like Romano, he’s given up six runs across his last six outings, albeit not quite as disastrously.

I’ll be alone in this one, but I’m calling Shawn Armstrong next in line over Chris Martin. Something about their usage suggests to me that Martin is sticking to his fireman/eighth-inning role, and Armstrong picked up a couple of saves recently when both Martin and Luke Jackson were unavailable. This is just speculation for the moment, though, and it’ll take another stumble or two from Garcia to reshuffle the Rangers’ late-inning deck.

 

Saves (rankings <60%-rostered Yahoo)

 

1. Camilo Doval – SF (60%)
2. Justin Martinez – ARI (54%)
3. Daniel Palencia – CHC (47%)
4. Will Vest – DET (58%)
5. David Bednar – PIT (47%)
6. Robert Garcia – TEX (19%)
7. Tommy Kahnle – DET (36%)
8. Dennis Santana – PIT (18%)
9. Calvin Faucher – MIA (8%)
10. Zach Agnos – COL (3%)

 

The Watchlist:  Dylan Lee (ATL), Pierce Johnson (ATL), Shawn Armstrong (TEX), Chris Martin (TEX), Orion Kerkering (PHI), Matt Strahm (PHI), Shelby Miller (ARI), Ronny Henriquez (MIA)

 

Holds (SPRPs)

 

Reid Detmers (LAA) (2%)

 

Solidifying himself in a high-leverage role for Los Angeles, Reid Detmers is scorching hot. His last two weeks have been good for four holds and a save, with a 0.00 ERA and 12 strikeouts across seven innings. The Angels’ bullpen is wide open, and Detmers is quickly becoming its best bet.

 

Shawn Armstrong (TEX) (1%)

 

This guy again! Besides the aforementioned path to closing duties, Armstrong’s on a run of seven scoreless appearances, picking up a couple of holds in the last week. He’s making a case as the Rangers’ second-most reliable bullpen arm past Chris Martin.

 

Taylor Clarke (KC) (<1%)

 

This one’s iffy, but I did need my sub-1%er. Taylor Clarke fits the bill, and he’s done just fine for the Royals since being called up from Triple-A a month ago. His 14 innings have made for one win, hold, and save each, with a 1.29 ERA and 0.43 WHIP. Note that I haven’t mentioned anything regarding stuff or strikeouts, as there ain’t much of either to go around. The ERA should rise closer to his FIP in the mid-3s. Clarke is a very deep-league option for those of you really digging to fill an SP slot with some RP production.

 

Honorable Mention: Brad Lord (WSH), Braxton Ashcraft (PIT), Tristan Beck (SF)

 

SPRP Top 10

 

1. Louis Varland – MIN (7%)
2. Fernando Cruz – NYY (16%) (Yahoo only)
3. Ben Casparius – LAD (15%)
4. Reid Detmers – LAA (2%)
5. Yariel Rodríguez – TOR (5%)
6. Garrett Whitlock – BOS (3%)
7. Graham Ashcraft – CIN (3%)
8. Shawn Armstrong – TEX (1%)
9. Jack Dreyer – LAD (3%)
10. Tyler Holton – DET (12%)

 

Honorable Mention: Jared Koenig (MIL), Beau Brieske (DET), Erik Miller (SF), Cole Henry (WSH), Steven Matz (STL)