Saves are a headache. Honestly, they might be the single most annoying category in the history of fantasy baseball. You spend all this time scouting a guy who throws 101 mph, you draft him in the fourth round, and by May he’s either pitching in the sixth inning or he's on the operating table. It’s chaotic. But that chaos is exactly why having a reliable fantasy baseball closer chart is basically your survival kit for the 2026 season.
Most people look at a depth chart and see a list of names. They see Mason Miller at the top for San Diego or Edwin Diaz for the Dodgers and think the job is done. It isn’t. Bullpens are living organisms. They change because of a "tired arm," a blown lead on a Tuesday in Cincinnati, or a manager who suddenly decides he likes "matchups" more than tradition. If you want to actually win your league, you have to stop looking at closers as fixed assets and start looking at them as shares in a high-volatility stock market.
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The 2026 Bullpen Landscape: Chaos is the New Normal
We’ve moved past the era of the "fireman" and into the era of the "high-leverage committee." It’s frustrating for us, but it works for MLB managers. Take a look at the Tampa Bay Rays. They’ve basically turned the fantasy baseball closer chart into a game of three-card monte. You’ve got guys like Edwin Uceta and Griffin Jax (who the metrics absolutely love right now) floating around, but good luck guessing who gets the ball when the lead is one in the ninth.
Some situations are rock solid, though. You don't have to worry about the Yankees. David Bednar had a massive bounce-back in 2025 and he owns that mound in the Bronx. Same goes for Jhoan Duran in Philadelphia. The Phillies finally stopped messing around with matchups and just gave him the keys to the car. He’s arguably the most valuable asset at the position right now because you get the saves and the elite strikeouts without the "will he or won't he" drama.
But then you have the mess.
The Athletics moved to Sacramento, traded away Mason Miller last year, and now they're rolling out a committee that includes Hogan Harris and Michael Kelly.
It's gross.
Unless they sign a veteran late in the spring, that’s a "stay away" zone for most drafts unless you’re desperate.
Understanding the Tiers on Your Fantasy Baseball Closer Chart
When you’re looking at your rankings, don't just go by projected saves. That's a trap. You need to categorize them by job security. A guy like Carlos Estevez in Kansas City might not have the "stuff" of a young flamethrower—his strikeout rate is actually kind of mediocre—but the Royals trust him. He saved 42 games last year. In a 5x5 league, those 42 saves count the same as 42 from a guy with a 1.50 ERA.
The Elite "Set It and Forget It" Tier
These are the guys who have the role locked down and the talent to back it up.
Mason Miller is now the man in San Diego after Robert Suarez hit free agency.
Miller's K-rate is absurd—we're talking over 50%.
Then you have Edwin Diaz, who is closing for the World Series champion Dodgers now.
Yes, the Dodgers.
If he stays healthy, he’s a lock for 40 saves.
Andrés Muñoz in Seattle is another one; T-Mobile Park is a pitcher's paradise, and he’s the king of it.
The "High Talent, Shaky Ground" Tier
This is where the 2026 season gets interesting.
Look at Daniel Palencia with the Cubs.
He’s got the stuff to be a top-five closer, and he grabbed 22 saves late last year, but the Cubs have a deep pen with guys like Phil Maton lurking.
One bad week and he’s a setup man again.
The same goes for Jeff Hoffman in Toronto.
The Blue Jays front office hasn't exactly given him a vote of confidence, especially after they spent big on starting pitching this winter.
They might still add a veteran closer, which would tank Hoffman's value instantly.
Why Handcuffing Is Usually a Waste of Time
In football, you handcuff your star running back. In fantasy baseball, handcuffing your closer is often a recipe for a clogged roster. Unless you're in a very deep NL-only or AL-only league, holding onto a guy like Robert Suarez just because he's "next in line" for Mason Miller is a luxury you can't afford.
Why? Because when a closer loses his job, it’s rarely a clean hand-off. Usually, it turns into a committee for two weeks while the manager "figures things out." During those two weeks, your "handcuff" might get one save opportunity and blow it. Meanwhile, you’ve missed out on the next big waiver wire hitter because your bench was full of middle relievers.
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The exception is the "Vulture."
A vulture is a high-K setup man on a team with an aging or injury-prone closer.
Think about Trevor Megill in Milwaukee.
He’s been great, but Abner Uribe has "future superstar" written all over him.
If you’re drafting Megill, you almost have to keep an eye on Uribe.
But generally, I’d rather use that roster spot on a high-upside starting pitcher prospect.
Tracking the Volatility: The Red Flags to Watch
If you’re staring at a fantasy baseball closer chart and trying to decide who to trade for, look at the underlying metrics, not just the ERA.
ERA is a lie for relievers.
A guy gives up a three-run homer once and his ERA jumps to 4.50, but he might have 15 strikeouts in those same 10 innings.
You want to look at K-BB% (Strikeout minus Walk rate).
If that number is dropping, the cliff is coming.
Take Raisel Iglesias. He’s 36 now.
He finished 2025 strong with 29 saves, but the Braves declined options on other veteran arms in that pen.
They’re leaning on him, but his velocity has dipped slightly every year.
He’s the definition of a "sell high" candidate in dynasty leagues.
If he struggles in April, the Braves won't hesitate to move Robert Suarez or Dylan Lee into that role.
Wait, did I say Robert Suarez? Yeah, the Braves signed him.
That's the kind of move that changes the entire math of a bullpen overnight.
How to Use This Information in Your Draft
Strategy matters more than names. Some people love the "Anchor" strategy—take one elite guy early (Miller or Diaz) and then scrounge for the rest. Others prefer "Punting," where they ignore saves entirely in the draft and just spend their FAAB (Free Agent Acquisition Budget) on the inevitable churn of new closers in April.
- Don't reach for Tier 3 guys. If you miss out on the top 10-12 closers, don't panic and draft a mediocre guy in the 10th round. The difference between the 15th-best closer and a guy you find on waivers in May is usually zero.
- Watch the velocity in Spring Training. If a guy who usually throws 98 is sitting at 94 in March, he’s hurt or he’s declining. Get out early.
- Target the "Elite Middle" in Saves+Holds leagues. If your league counts holds, names like Hunter Gaddis or Griffin Jax are more valuable than many mediocre closers. They give you elite ratios and strikeouts without the stress of the ninth inning.
- Identify the contract years. Players often find an extra gear when they're pitching for their next $50 million. Pete Fairbanks in Miami is in a prime spot to put up massive numbers to prove he's still an elite stopper before he hits the open market.
The bottom line is that the fantasy baseball closer chart you look at today will be 50% different by the All-Star break. Stay flexible. Don't fall in love with a name. Most importantly, don't let a few blown saves in April ruin your season. Every year, a guy like Dennis Santana or Victor Vodnik comes out of nowhere to save 20 games. Your job is to be the one who clicks "claim" first.
To get ahead of the curve, your next move should be to cross-reference current bullpen depth charts with Statcast data from the final two months of last season. Specifically, look for relievers whose Whiff% increased significantly in September—those are the prime candidates to leapfrog incumbent closers during Spring Training battles. Focus on the Diamondbacks and Orioles, where the roles are currently the most fluid as we head into February.