Latest fantasy baseball reliever updates
The Braves placed Raisel Iglesias on the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation after he slept on his arm wrong. Robert Suarez, the 2025 National League top save-getter, is expected to close in Iglesias' absence. (April 21)
Joel Kuhnel has three of the Athletics' past four and four of their past six saves, signaling his emerging as the team's primary closer. (April 21)
Daniel Palencia (oblique, 15-day IL) joined Phil Maton, Porter Hodge and Hunter Harvey on the Cubs' injured list, leaving their bullpen precariously thin in the late innings. Caleb Thielbar, Ben Brown and Jacob Webb could handle closing opportunities on a matchups basis in the interim. (April 20)
Edwin Diaz (elbow, 15-day IL) is expected to be sidelined until after the All-Star break, leaving the Dodgers' closer to role to Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, Blake Treinen or a combination of the three in the interim. (April 20)
The Brewers have been using Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe and Angel Zerpa in the ninth inning recently, signaling a shift to a closer-by-committee. (April 20)
The Phillies placed Jhoan Duran (oblique) on the 15-day IL on Saturday, leaving their closer role to a prospective combination of Brad Keller and/or Jose Alvarado. (April 20)
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 (48.1%)
Primary setup: Juan Morillo (4.0%)
Secondary setup: Ryan Thompson (0.6%)
Middle relief: Jonathan Loaisiga (0.4%)
THE ATHLETICS
Closer: Joel Kuhnel (6.3%)
Primary setup: Mark Leiter Jr. (0.3%)
Secondary setup: Scott Barlow (0.1%)
Sleeper: Justin Sterner (1.0%)
ATLANTA BRAVES
Closer: Robert Suarez (43.9%)
Primary setup: Dylan Lee (1.3%)
Secondary setup: Tyler Kinley (0.3%)
Injured list: Raisel Iglesias (86.7%)
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Closer: Ryan Helsley (73.7%)
Primary setup: Rico Garcia (11.9%)
Secondary setup: Tyler Wells (0.7%)
Middle relief: Anthony Nunez (0.6%)
BOSTON RED SOX
Closer: Aroldis Chapman (91.9%)
Primary setup: Garrett Whitlock (15.7%)
Secondary setup: Greg Weissert (0.2%)
Middle relief: Danny Coulombe (0.1%)
CHICAGO CUBS
Closer-by-committee: Caleb Thielbar (3.3%)
Closer-by-committee: Ben Brown (1.7%)
Closer-by-committee: Jacob Webb (0.1%)
Injured list: Daniel Palencia (48.8%)
CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Closer: Seranthony Dominguez (10.7%)
Primary setup: Jordan Leasure (0.6%)
Secondary setup: Jordan Hicks (0.2%)
Sleeper: Grant Taylor (4.4%)
CINCINNATI REDS
Closer: Emilio Pagan (78.4%)
Primary setup: Tony Santillan (18.9%)
Secondary setup: Graham Ashcraft (5.7%)
Middle relief: Brock Burke (0.4%)
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS
Closer: Cade Smith (94.9%)
Primary setup: Hunter Gaddis (4.3%)
Secondary setup: Erik Sabrowski (17.0%)
Middle relief: Shawn Armstrong (1.2%)
COLORADO ROCKIES
Closer: Victor Vodnik (2.0%)
Primary setup: Jimmy Herget (0.2%)
Secondary setup: Jaden Hill (0.0%)
Middle relief: Antonio Senzatela (2.7%)
DETROIT TIGERS
Closer: Kenley Jansen (61.4%)
Primary setup: Kyle Finnegan (2.8%)
Secondary setup: Will Vest (7.6%)
Middle relief: Tyler Holton (1.2%)
HOUSTON ASTROS
Closer-by-committee: Enyel De Los Santos (3.1%)
Closer-by-committee: Bryan King (3.7%)
Closer-by-committee: Bryan Abreu (44.5%)
Injured list: Josh Hader (74.4%)
KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Closer: Lucas Erceg (22.8%)
Primary setup: Matt Strahm (4.7%)
Secondary setup: Daniel Lynch IV (0.1%)
Injured list: Carlos Estevez (33.8%)
LOS ANGELES ANGELS
Closer: Jordan Romano (21.3%)
Primary setup: Drew Pomeranz (0.4%)
Sleeper: Chase Silseth (0.3%)
Injured list: Kirby Yates (2.1%)
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Co-closer: Tanner Scott (14.8%)
Co-closer: Alex Vesia (21.2%)
Primary setup: Blake Treinen (1.1%)
Injured list: Edwin Diaz (88.8%)
MIAMI MARLINS
Closer: Pete Fairbanks (54.2%)
Primary setup: Calvin Faucher (0.3%)
Secondary setup: Anthony Bender (0.3%)
Middle relief: Andrew Nardi (0.1%)
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Co-closer: Trevor Megill (47.9%)
Co-closer: Abner Uribe (55.2%)
Primary setup: Angel Zerpa (0.3%)
Secondary setup: Aaron Ashby (10.1%)
MINNESOTA TWINS
Closer-by-committee: Cole Sands (1.3%)
Closer-by-committee: Justin Topa (0.2%)
Closer-by-committee: Kody Funderburk (0.1%)
Closer-by-committee: Taylor Rogers (0.8%)
NEW YORK METS
Closer: Devin Williams (83.5%)
Primary setup: Luke Weaver (4.6%)
Secondary setup: Brooks Raley (0.7%)
Middle relief: Huascar Brazoban (0.3%)
NEW YORK YANKEES
Closer: David Bednar (89.0%)
Primary setup: Camilo Doval (4.7%)
Secondary setup: Fernando Cruz (2.9%)
Middle relief: Tim Hill (1.5%)
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Co-closer: Brad Keller (6.9%)
Co-closer: Jose Alvarado (1.1%)
Primary setup: Orion Kerkering (0.7%)
Injured list: Jhoan Duran (94.2%)
PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Closer: Dennis Santana (25.7%)
Primary setup: Gregory Soto (18.5%)
Secondary setup: Isaac Mattson (0.6%)
Middle relief: Justin Lawrence (0.1%)
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Closer: Riley O'Brien (74.9%)
Primary setup: JoJo Romero (12.1%)
Secondary setup: Ryne Stanek (0.8%)
Middle relief: Matt Svanson (0.4%)
SAN DIEGO PADRES
Closer: Mason Miller (99.4%)
Primary setup: Jason Adam (14.1%)
Secondary setup: Adrian Morejon (7.6%)
Sleeper: Bradgley Rodriguez (0.4%)
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Closer: Ryan Walker (21.1%)
Primary setup: Erik Miller (0.3%)
Secondary setup: Keaton Winn (0.3%)
Middle relief: Caleb Kilian (0.5%)
SEATTLE MARINERS
Closer: Andres Munoz (88.9%)
Primary setup: Matt Brash (4.5%)
Secondary setup: Jose Ferrer (0.9%)
Middle relief: Eduard Bazardo (0.5%)
TAMPA BAY RAYS
Closer: Bryan Baker (9.2%)
Primary setup: Griffin Jax (35.8%)
Secondary setup: Hunter Bigge (0.1%)
: Edwin Uceta (6.0%)
TEXAS RANGERS
Closer-by-committee: Jakob Junis (15.8%)
Closer-by-committee: Jacob Latz (1.2%)
Closer-by-committee: Cole Winn (1.3%)
Closer-by-committee: Tyler Alexander (4.7%)
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Closer: Jeff Hoffman (64.2%)
Primary setup: Tyler Rogers (14.3%)
Secondary setup: Braydon Fisher (0.9%)
Sleeper: Louis Varland (8.0%)
WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Co-closer: Clayton Beeter (3.5%)
Co-closer: Gus Varland (0.5%)
Primary setup: Cionel Perez (0.1%)
Secondary setup: P.J. Poulin (0.1%)
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.