Latest fantasy baseball reliever updates
Bryan Baker has emerged as the head of the Tampa Bay Rays' closer committee. Kevin Kelly is in the mix while Griffin Jax continues to work in a lower leverage capacity. (April 12)
Ryan Walker remains the San Francisco Giants' primary closer, but he has been piggybacking Robbie Ray, and manager Tony Vitello likes the contrast in styles the pair gives opposing batters. (April 12)
Four different Minnesota Twins (Cody Laweryson, Justin Topa, Kody Funderburk, Eric Orze) saved the team's four-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers from April 6-9, as clear a signal as any of the team's closer-by-committee approach. Topa and Cole Sands seem the most likely to get the ball in the ninth inning most nights, but matchups should primarily decide the frame. (April 10)
Through 12 games, the Texas Rangers have gotten saves from three different relievers (Tyler Alexander, Jakob Junis, Cole Winn), none of which were the two pitchers considered most likely to serve as their 2026 closer (Robert Garcia, Chris Martin). This appears to be a true closer-by-committee. (April 9)
The Kansas City Royals placed Carlos Estevez (foot) on the 15-day IL on April 1, and Lucas Erceg notched his second save of the season that night. Erceg appears the favorite to close in Estevez's absence, though Matt Strahm and John Schreiber are also candidates for the ninth inning. (April 2)
Team-by-team fantasy baseball bullpens
Each pitcher's roster percentages in ESPN leagues is listed in parentheses. Those who have been "heavily worked" over recent days have their names bolded and italicized. Pitchers who are thus labeled as "tired" are less likely to pitch in today's games and, therefore, less likely than normal to earn wins, holds or saves today. Our formula for deeming a reliever to be tired generally requires that he meets at least two of the following criteria: At least 25 pitches thrown the previous day; at least 35 pitches thrown over the last three days; appearances in both of the prior two days.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Closer: Paul Sewald (200.0%)
Primary setup: Juan Morillo (0.0%)
Secondary setup: Ryan Thompson (0.0%)
Injured list: A.J. Puk
THE ATHLETICS
Closer-by-committee: Joel Kuhnel (100.0%)
Closer-by-committee: Mark Leiter Jr. (100.0%)
Closer-by-committee: Scott Barlow (0.0%)
Sleeper: Justin Sterner (100.0%)
ATLANTA BRAVES
Closer: Raisel Iglesias (100.0%)
Primary setup: Robert Suarez (0.0%)
Secondary setup: Tyler Kinley (0.0%)
Middle relief: Dylan Lee (0.0%)
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Closer: Ryan Helsley (200.0%)
Primary setup: Rico Garcia (0.0%)
Secondary setup: Tyler Wells (0.0%)
Middle relief: Anthony Nunez (0.0%)
BOSTON RED SOX
Closer: Aroldis Chapman (0.0%)
Primary setup: Garrett Whitlock (0.0%)
Secondary setup: Greg Weissert (0.0%)
Middle relief: Danny Coulombe (0.0%)
CHICAGO CUBS
Closer: Daniel Palencia (0.0%)
Primary setup: Jacob Webb (0.0%)
Secondary setup: Caleb Thielbar (0.0%)
Sleeper: Ben Brown (0.0%)
CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Closer: Seranthony Dominguez (200.0%)
Primary setup: Jordan Leasure (0.0%)
Secondary setup: Jordan Hicks (0.0%)
Sleeper: Grant Taylor (0.0%)
CINCINNATI REDS
Closer: Emilio Pagan (200.0%)
Primary setup: Tony Santillan (0.0%)
Secondary setup: Graham Ashcraft (0.0%)
Middle relief: Brock Burke (0.0%)
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS
Closer: Cade Smith (200.0%)
Primary setup: Hunter Gaddis (0.0%)
Secondary setup: Erik Sabrowski (0.0%)
Middle relief: Shawn Armstrong (0.0%)
COLORADO ROCKIES
Closer: Victor Vodnik (100.0%)
Primary setup: Jimmy Herget (0.0%)
Secondary setup: Jaden Hill (0.0%)
Middle relief: Antonio Senzatela (0.0%)
DETROIT TIGERS
Closer: Kenley Jansen (200.0%)
Primary setup: Kyle Finnegan (0.0%)
Secondary setup: Will Vest (0.0%)
Middle relief: Tyler Holton (0.0%)
HOUSTON ASTROS
Closer-by-committee: Enyel De Los Santos (200.0%)
Closer-by-committee: Bryan Abreu (0.0%)
Closer-by-committee: Bryan King (0.0%)
Injured list: Josh Hader
KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Closer: Lucas Erceg (200.0%)
Primary setup: Matt Strahm (0.0%)
Secondary setup: John Schreiber (0.0%)
Injured list: Carlos Estevez
LOS ANGELES ANGELS
Closer: Jordan Romano (200.0%)
Primary setup: Drew Pomeranz (0.0%)
Sleeper: Chase Silseth (0.0%)
Injured list: Kirby Yates
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Closer: Edwin Diaz (0.0%)
Primary setup: Tanner Scott (0.0%)
Secondary setup: Alex Vesia (200.0%)
Middle relief: Blake Treinen (0.0%)
MIAMI MARLINS
Closer: Pete Fairbanks (0.0%)
Primary setup: Anthony Bender (0.0%)
Secondary setup: Calvin Faucher (0.0%)
Middle relief: Tyler Phillips (0.0%)
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Co-closer: Trevor Megill (100.0%)
Co-closer: Abner Uribe (100.0%)
Primary setup: Angel Zerpa (100.0%)
Secondary setup: Aaron Ashby (0.0%)
MINNESOTA TWINS
Closer-by-committee: Cole Sands (0.0%)
Closer-by-committee: Justin Topa (0.0%)
Closer-by-committee: Kody Funderburk (0.0%)
Closer-by-committee: Taylor Rogers (0.0%)
NEW YORK METS
Closer: Devin Williams (0.0%)
Primary setup: Luke Weaver (0.0%)
Secondary setup: Brooks Raley (0.0%)
Middle relief: Huascar Brazoban (0.0%)
NEW YORK YANKEES
Closer: David Bednar (100.0%)
Primary setup: Camilo Doval (0.0%)
Secondary setup: Fernando Cruz (0.0%)
Middle relief: Tim Hill (0.0%)
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Closer: Jhoan Duran (100.0%)
Primary setup: Brad Keller (0.0%)
Secondary setup: Jose Alvarado (0.0%)
Middle relief: Orion Kerkering (0.0%)
PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Closer: Dennis Santana (200.0%)
Primary setup: Gregory Soto (0.0%)
Secondary setup: Isaac Mattson (0.0%)
Middle relief: Justin Lawrence (0.0%)
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Closer: Riley O'Brien (100.0%)
Primary setup: JoJo Romero (0.0%)
Secondary setup: Ryne Stanek (0.0%)
Middle relief: Matt Svanson (0.0%)
SAN DIEGO PADRES
Closer: Mason Miller (0.0%)
Primary setup: Jason Adam (100.0%)
Secondary setup: Adrian Morejon (0.0%)
Sleeper: Bradgley Rodriguez (0.0%)
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Closer: Ryan Walker (0.0%)
Primary setup: Erik Miller (0.0%)
Secondary setup: Keaton Winn (0.0%)
Middle relief: Caleb Kilian (0.0%)
SEATTLE MARINERS
Closer: Andres Munoz (0.0%)
Primary setup: Matt Brash (0.0%)
Secondary setup: Eduard Bazardo (0.0%)
Middle relief: Jose Ferrer (100.0%)
TAMPA BAY RAYS
Closer: Bryan Baker (200.0%)
Primary setup: Griffin Jax (0.0%)
Secondary setup: Hunter Bigge (0.0%)
: Edwin Uceta
TEXAS RANGERS
Closer-by-committee: Jakob Junis (0.0%)
Closer-by-committee: Jacob Latz (0.0%)
Closer-by-committee: Cole Winn (0.0%)
Closer-by-committee: Tyler Alexander (0.0%)
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Closer: Jeff Hoffman (100.0%)
Primary setup: Tyler Rogers (0.0%)
Secondary setup: Louis Varland (0.0%)
Middle relief: Braydon Fisher (0.0%)
WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Co-closer: Clayton Beeter (100.0%)
Co-closer: Gus Varland (200.0%)
Primary setup: Cionel Perez (0.0%)
Secondary setup: P.J. Poulin (0.0%)
KEY: "Closer" is either that team's officially designated closer, or the pitcher most likely to get the team's next save chance. Teams can be listed with "Co-closers" or "Closer-by-committee." "Primary setup" is the pitcher next-most likely to take over if something happens to the closer, the top holds-getter and the one who might get any save chances on the closer's nights off. "Secondary setup" is the pitcher third-in-line to close and a good candidate for holds. "Middle relief" covers any other pertinent relievers from that team's bullpen. "Sleeper" is another reliever who could provide a decent number of holds or eventually graduate into the closer role.