Arizona Diamondbacks
A.J. Puk has recorded both of Arizona’s saves and appears to be the 1A in a committee with Justin Martinez. Puk posted a 1.72 ERA with a 0.75 WHIP and a 30.0 K-BB% as a reliever last season, so he’s capable of running away with the job. However, the lefty has been less effective against righties (3.80 FIP) than LHB (2.73) throughout his career, and Martinez has a 45.0 K-BB% and a -0.92 FIP over three appearances to open the season. Martinez has some of the best stuff in baseball, so expect the two to split saves moving forward.
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Atlanta Braves
The Braves entered as the team most due for positive regression this season, yet they are on pace to go 0-162. Rasiel Iglesias could be a buy-low candidate in your league.
Chicago Cubs
Ryan Pressley has recorded two of Chicago’s three saves, but his 2.25 ERA comes with a 7.14 SIERA. He owns a 1:4 K:BB ratio over four innings while flashing the lowest velocity (93.6 mph) of his career. Pressley remains the favorite to close for the Cubs, but Porter Hodge looms. Hodge is available in more than 80% of Yahoo leagues.
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Cincinnati Reds
Emilio Pagán has emerged as Cincinnati’s preferred ninth-inning option. He lost 30 pounds over the offseason, but projection systems are bearish moving forward. Alexis Díaz is coming off a down season and has his own concerns, but he’ll regain the closer’s role once he’s off the IL. Manager Terry Francona has historically used a full-time closer, so Díaz (73% rostered) is well worth stashing in fantasy leagues.
Colorado Rockies
Seth Halvorsen has recorded the Rockies’ lone save to open the season. Victor Vodnik is still in the mix, and Coors Field remains a hurdle, but Halvorsen (23% rostered) is the preferred fantasy option in Colorado’s bullpen.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Tanner Scott won’t be used as a traditional closer, but he’s recorded two of the Dodgers’ four saves and is the favorite to work the ninth inning. Control is usually Scott’s biggest concern, but he’s yet to walk a batter this season over five innings. However, his K% (21.1) is also way down, and his average fastball velocity (95.9 mph) is a career low.
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It’s a tiny sample but worth monitoring given the Dodgers’ alternatives; Kirby Yates owns a 64.3 K-BB% and a -1.67 FIP over his first four appearances. Yates’ 50.0% CSW ranks first among 205 qualified relievers. The Dodgers are going to provide a ton of save opportunities to go around in Los Angeles.
Miami Marlins
Anthony Bender has recorded Miami’s lone save this season, and he’s also likely the team’s best reliever. Calvin Faucher entered the season as the slight favorite to close for the Marlins, but he’s posted an ugly -7.1 K-BB% over his first three appearances. Bender posted the fourth-best CSW (35.2%) among 144 qualified relievers when he was a rookie in 2021, and he recorded a 3.21 SIERA last season, so he can pitch when healthy. Bender is available in a whopping 97% of Yahoo leagues. Go add him.
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Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers are one of just three teams (Twins and Orioles the others) yet to produce a save opportunity this season. Trevor Megill entered the year as the favorite to close in Milwaukee, and he’s been dominant over three appearances. Megill struggled in the second half of last year (10.0 K-BB%, 4.51 FIP), but he sports a 5:0 K:BB ratio with a 43.8% CSW over 2.1 innings. Megill pitched the ninth inning of Wednesday’s tied game, suggesting he’s the preferred option to close (Milwaukee could no longer have a save opportunity as the home team in the game).
Philadelphia Phillies
José Alvarado somehow recorded Philadelphia’s first save of the season Thursday despite the Phillies leading the N.L. East. It was a shaky outing, as Alvarado allowed four baserunners and a run, but he was throwing 101 mph and struck out three, including the final two batters with the bases loaded. Jordan Romano was the Phillies’ presumptive closer after signing in Philadelphia during the offseason, but he’s pitched in a setup role in the eighth inning during two of his three appearances. However, Romano warmed up to close Monday night (with Alvarado pitching the eighth), but the Phillies extended their lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, losing the opportunity.
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Manager Rob Thomson almost appears to prefer using a committee, so expect a co-closer situation moving forward. It will be frustrating for fantasy managers, but the Phillies will provide ample opportunities. Alvarado will likely be unavailable Friday after throwing 35 pitches during Thursday’s save, but he should be added in fantasy leagues (20% rostered). Alvarado struck out 20 batters over nine scoreless innings during spring, and the Phillies have another strong lefty alternative (Matt Strahm) to use earlier in games.
Pittsburgh Pirates
David Bednar suffered some bad luck (.600 BABIP, numerous poor defensive plays) to open the season, but the results (27.00 ERA) ultimately led to an early trip to the minors for the Pirates’ presumptive closer. Dennis Santana recorded Pittsburgh’s first save after Bednar’s demotion, and he’s available in 85% of Yahoo leagues. However, Santana owns shaky peripherals and a career 4.73 ERA. Colin Holderman is another option, as the Pirates have a thin depth chart in the bullpen. Bednar is one season removed from posting a 2.00 ERA, so he ultimately remains the favorite to lead the team in saves. He’s available in around 50% of Yahoo leagues, thanks to being demoted.
San Diego Padres
Robert Suárez had a 4.28 ERA with sinking peripherals in the second half of last season, and he also struggled during spring (15.43 ERA). But he’s yet to allow a run while recording three saves to open 2025. Suárez has earned some room for error after recording 36 saves last season and looking strong early on. The Padres will provide plenty of save opportunities, so Suárez is looking like a big win for those who drafted him at a discounted ADP.
San Francisco Giants
Camilo Doval has recorded two of the Giants’ four saves to start the season, but Ryan Walker remains the team’s closer. Walker was unavailable for a few days with a sore back, and he missed another save chance thanks to having pitched on back-to-back days after returning. Doval looks poised to bounce back in 2025 after a down year last season, and he’s the clear alternative in San Francisco (and worth stashing as insurance in deeper fantasy leagues). But Walker has become one of baseball’s elite relievers and is the favorite for saves moving forward.
Washington Nationals
Kyle Finnegan has recorded the Nationals’ lone save to start the season. Finnegan isn’t a dominant reliever, but he finished with the third-most saves in MLB last season and faces little competition in Washington.
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