Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Brewers turn to Abner Uribe, Kenley Jansen moves to third in all-time saves
In this week’s Closer Report, the Brewers are transferring off of Trevor Megill in the ninth inning and giving Abner Uribe an opportunity to shut out video games. Meanwhile, different closers could possibly be on the new seat as many struggled on the mound, together with Jeff Hoffman, who blew his third save in 5 probabilities. Let’s dive in as we cowl the final week in saves round baseball with an up to date nearer rankings.
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2026 Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings
Tier 1
Mason Miller – San Diego Padres
Jhoan Duran – Philadelphia Phillies
Andrés Muñoz – Seattle Mariners
Edwin Díaz – Los Angeles Dodgers
Ryan Helsley – Baltimore Orioles
Miller struck out the aspect on back-to-back days towards the Rockies final week, choosing up a win on Friday. He then tossed a scoreless inning with one strikeout on Tuesday for his fifth save of the season. It was the primary outing in which he didn’t report a number of strikeouts. Must have been an off evening. The 27-year-old right-hander has retired 20 of the 27 batters he has confronted for a 74.1% strikeout charge. For reference, Devin Williams holds the best strikeout charge in a single season at 53% p.c through the abbreviated 2020 season.
Duran has been lights out and the simple quantity two nearer via three weeks. He struck out one batter in a clear inning towards the Diamondbacks on Saturday for his fifth save. Duran has but to stroll a batter this season whereas producing an 18.8% swinging-strike charge and a 62.5% floor ball charge. Duran and Miller most likely deserve to be in a tier of their very own, as they’ve been the true dominant prime closers to this point, however we’ve got to preserve in thoughts we’re nonetheless solely three weeks into the season. There’s a good distance to go.
After not strolling any batters throughout his first 4 outings, Muñoz labored round a pair of walks in his first two appearances this week, choosing up his first save earlier than falling in line for a win towards the Astros. But Wednesday evening was one to overlook. Muñoz got here in with a four-run lead in the ninth, a non-save scenario, and gave up three runs on 4 hits and a stroll earlier than he was relieved with two outs. The two runners he left on would come in to rating, leaving Muñoz with the loss. The 27-year-old right-hander will possible put this one behind him, and there are nonetheless only a few closers I’d really feel higher about, however the 5 earned runs in a non-save outing are robust.
It was a bizarre week for Díaz because the Dodgers despatched combined indicators round his standing following his three-run blown save on Friday towards the Rangers. There was concern relating to his lowered velocity in the early going, averaging 95.5 mph on the fastball. Díaz said he felt superb and has usually been a gradual starter. Through the primary month of 2025, he averaged 96.3 mph. By May, he was throwing 97, and solely elevated because the season progressed. The group needed to see Díaz throw a bullpen session earlier than Tuesday’s recreation towards the Mets, making him unavailable for the save likelihood. It was Alex Vesia closing it out by hanging out the aspect to finish the sport. After, supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned Díaz checked out superb after the bullpen and must be good to go. Díaz was in truth warming up for the ninth on Wednesday earlier than the Dodgers prolonged their lead to seven runs in the eighth.
The bounce-back season for Helsley seems to be in impact, as he has been excellent in the early going. He made three scoreless appearances this week, choosing up his fifth save towards the Diamondbacks on Monday. He’s allowed two runs with an 11/4 Okay/BB ratio throughout 7 1/3 innings.
Tier 2
Cade Smith – Cleveland Guardians
Devin Williams – New York Mets
Daniel Palencia – Chicago Cubs
Raisel Iglesias – Atlanta Braves
David Bednar – New York Yankees
Aroldis Chapman – Boston Red Sox
It hasn’t been the smoothest begin for Smith. After a scoreless look on Monday, he gave up one unearned run and was charged with a blown save towards the Cardinals. He holds a 5.00 ERA whereas going 3-for-5 in save probabilities, however an 11/3 Okay/BB ratio and strong underlying abilities counsel he’ll settle in. Still, his lack of observe report in the ninth inning, mixed along with his gradual begin, doesn’t make fantasy managers comfy early on after taking him as a top-five nearer, typically as excessive as top-three.
Williams hadn’t made an look in per week earlier than taking the mound down by two runs in the eighth inning towards the Dodgers on Wednesday. These non-save conditions after a protracted layoff may have a tendency to finish poorly, because it did for Williams. He gave up 4 runs on a grand slam and solely recorded one out. All you are able to do is maintain regular and follow endurance. The identical may be mentioned for Palencia, who nonetheless has just one save on the yr throughout 5 scoreless innings. He did choose up a win towards the Pirates on Sunday.
Iglesias has silenced any preseason skeptics to this point, tossing 6 2/3 scoreless innings with a 7/0 Okay/BB ratio, producing a formidable 17.2% swinging-strike charge. He struck out two in a scoreless inning towards the Marlins on Tuesday for his third save of the season.
Bednar’s velocity is one other one to watch. He’s made only one clear look whereas giving up one run in 4 of his seven outings. Bednar was charged with a blown save and a loss on Saturday towards the Rays. He’s averaged 95.8 mph on the fastball to this point, down from 97.1 mph. Unlike Díaz, Bednar’s velocity was flat throughout your entire 2025 season, beginning and ending at 97 mph.
Chapman’s velocity was additionally down a tick early on. He had simply three strikeouts over his first 5 innings of labor. That was till Tuesday, when he sat 98.9 mph and struck out the aspect in a scoreless inning towards the Twins.
Tier 3
Riley O’Brien – St. Louis Cardinals
Jeff Hoffman – Toronto Blue Jays
Kenley Jansen – Detroit Tigers
Paul Sewald – Arizona Diamondbacks
Emilio Pagán – Cincinnati Reds
Abner Uribe – Milwaukee Brewers
Seranthony Domínguez – Chicago White Sox
Pete Fairbanks – Miami Marlins
O’Brien continued his sturdy begin to the season, choosing up two saves and a win. The 31-year-old right-hander has emerged as a dependable save supply, tossing 10 1/3 scoreless innings with an 11/0 Okay/BB ratio with 5 saves. He’s generated an unbelievable 73.9% floor ball charge to go together with the zero walks. That’ll work. I’m shopping for into this begin for O’Brien.
This is the place issues get robust. Hoffman hasn’t had the perfect outcomes, however the strikeout abilities have been excellent. He’s accrued 18 strikeouts on a 23.1% swinging-strike charge. The downside has been the next stroll charge and an extremely unfortunate .529 BABIP. It’s led to three blown saves in 5 probabilities. Hoffman ought to get the chance to see his fortunes turn in the ninth inning, but when the group needed to give him a break from closing, Louis Varland could be subsequent in line. He hasn’t allowed an earned run over 10 1/3 innings whereas hanging out 15 batters to simply three walks.
Jansen labored 4 scoreless appearances this week, choosing up three saves to give him 480 for his profession, transferring him forward of Lee Smith for third all-time. He’s off to a superb begin with the Tigers, hanging out seven with one run allowed over 4 2/3 innings. Jansen was positive to get each save likelihood till he moved forward in the historical past books. It appears supervisor A.J. Hinch shall be content material holding Jansen in the ninth, the place he’s comfy, even after surpassing Lee.
Sewald had an enormous week on the mound, locking down three saves for the Diamondbacks. The 35-year-old right-hander is up to six saves with a 2.45 ERA, 0.55 WHIP, and a ten/0 Okay/BB ratio throughout 7 1/3 innings. He’s doing it with out typical nearer stuff, with a 91.7 mph fastball. It’s a profile that sometimes comes with volatility, although wonderful management does assist. You have to love the worth and proceed taking his manufacturing so long as he’s efficient.
Pagán labored two scoreless outings, making that six scoreless since his four-run look on April 1. Yet, he nonetheless carries a 4.82 ERA. He locked down his fifth save with a clear inning towards the Giants on Tuesday. Pagán appeared to hobble off the mound following his last pitch in that recreation. He reportedly felt his hamstring tighten up, however performed catch with no points on Wednesday, including that he “dodged a bullet”. Still, it could possibly be one thing to monitor over his subsequent few outings. If Pagán have been to reaggravate the hamstring problem, Tony Santillan would stand to see some save probabilities.
Trevor Megill surrendered 4 runs and failed to report an out towards the Nationals on Friday. He then obtained a save likelihood towards the Blue Jays on Tuesday and gave up three extra runs. With that, supervisor Pat Murphy said the group will want to transfer from Megill in the ninth in the interim. The group noticed one other save likelihood on Wednesday, and it was Uribe who obtained the nod. He struck out one in a clear inning to come away along with his first save. Uribe hasn’t been off to the perfect begin himself, however has probably the most upside after posting a 1.67 ERA and 90 strikeouts over 75 1/3 innings final season, ending the yr with seven saves, filling in for an injured Megill. If Uribe is on the market, he must be a precedence add for any groups in search of saves.
Domínguez labored two save probabilities this week, changing each whereas hanging out two batters every trip. He’s but to work a clear outing, giving up two runs and 4 hits with a 7/4 Okay/BB ratio throughout 5 2/3 innings. That’ll be the Domíguez expertise all season as he usually runs excessive stroll charges. But he has an honest leash on the nearer position so long as he’s getting the job accomplished.
Fairbanks made his first look since taking a number of days off on the paternity checklist. He had given up three runs because the opener the final trip, then gave up one other three runs in the eighth inning towards the Braves on Tuesday to get charged with a blown save and a loss.
Tier 4
Lucas Erceg – Kansas City Royals
Bryan Baker – Tampa Bay Rays
Jakob Junis – Texas Rangers
Jordan Romano – Los Angeles Angels
Ryan Walker/Keaton Winn – San Francisco Giants
Dennis Santana/Gregory Soto – Pittsburgh Pirates
Bryan King/Bryan Abreu/Enyel De Los Santos – Houston Astros
Erceg labored two clear innings this week to convert a pair of saves. He’s up to 5 since stepping in for Carlos Estévez. It’s include only a 4/2 Okay/BB ratio throughout 6 2/3 innings and a 4.1% swinging-strike charge. That’s not precisely shutdown stuff.
Baker labored round two hits to convert a save towards the Yankees on Friday, then surrendered the lead in the eighth with two runs allowed on Saturday. He then stepped in for the ultimate out towards the White Sox on Tuesday for his third save. Baker continues to be the popular possibility in the ninth for the Rays, however Edwin Uceta may issue into the combo as soon as he’s activated from the injured checklist.
Junis emerged from the Rangers’ scenario final week with a pair of saves, then transformed his third towards the Dodgers on Sunday. He’s one other one which I don’t actually belief to maintain the job all yr along with his present skillset, however he’s the present go-to possibility for supervisor Skip Schumaker.
Any one in all these relievers may have per week like Romano simply had, which brings their position into query. Romano blew two save probabilities towards the Yankees during the last three days, giving up 5 complete runs. He’s nonetheless possible to see the following save likelihood, however you’ve to marvel if Kirby Yates shall be given a shot to declare the job as soon as he’s prepared to be activated.
The Giants have nonetheless solely had one conventional save likelihood on the season, transformed by Walker on March 30. Since then, he’s made his final 4 appearances earlier than the ninth inning with combined outcomes. Meanwhile, Winn has impressed with a 32% strikeout charge behind an 18.2% swinging-strike charge. The subsequent ninth-inning save likelihood must be telling.
Santana picked up two saves this week. He’s but to permit a run over 9 innings, nevertheless it’s include an uninspiring 6/4 Okay/BB ratio. Soto, in the meantime, has collected 15 strikeouts over 9 2/3 innings of labor and may stay in the combo for matchup-based save probabilities towards a lefty-heavy lineup.
As Bryan Abreu works some center reduction as he figures issues out, King obtained the prospect to shut out the sport towards the Rockies on Tuesday. Though he was requested to report 5 outs when he entered the sport with two runners on and one out in the eighth. He obtained out of the jam and returned for the ninth earlier than letting two runners on with two outs. De Los Santos then recorded the ultimate out for the save. After a taxing day for King, De Los Santos obtained the ninth inning once more on Wednesday and transformed his second save, with Abreu recording 4 outs because the setup man in what was his greatest outing of the season. It appears this shall be a committee till both Abreu returns to type or Josh Hader returns from the injured checklist, set for someday in May.
Tier 5
Cole Sands/Taylor Rogers/Justin Topa – Minnesota Twins
Victor Vodnik – Colorado Rockies
Clayton Beeter/Gus Varland – Washington Nationals
Hogan Harris/Mark Leiter Jr./Joel Kuhnel – Athletics
