Latest fantasy baseball reliever updates
Cade Smith saved back-to-back games for the Guardians on April 21-22, after which manager Stephen Vogt said usual closer Emmanuel Clase needed extra rest following a 30-pitch outing April 20. (April 23)
Aroldis Chapman and Justin Slaten have been splitting the Red Sox's closer duties as matchups dictate, with Liam Hendriks and Garrett Whitlock working behind them in clear setup roles. (April 22)
The Tigers have taken a matchups-oriented approach with their 2025 bullpen thus far, with Tommy Kahnle and Will Vest primarily sharing the ninth and Tyler Holton setting them up. (April 22)
A.J. Puk is on the 15-day IL with left elbow inflammation, leaving Justin Martinez as the Diamondback's primary closer. Jalen Beeks takes a more prominent role in the last innings. (April 20)
Upon his return to the majors, David Bednar pitched the ninth inning with the club down 3-0. Dennis Santana remains the Pirates' closer, though Bednar could recapture the role if he 's effective. (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: Justin Martinez (66.5%)
Primary setup: Shelby Miller (0.8%)
Secondary setup: Jalen Beeks (0.6%)
Injured: A.J. Puk (26.9%)
THE ATHLETICS
Closer: Mason Miller (97.0%)
Primary setup: Tyler Ferguson (0.2%)
Secondary setup: Jose Leclerc (0.3%)
Sleeper: Justin Sterner (0.3%)
ATLANTA BRAVES
Closer: Raisel Iglesias (82.5%)
Primary setup: Pierce Johnson (0.3%)
Secondary setup: Dylan Lee (0.4%)
Middle relief: Daysbel Hernandez (0.1%)
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Closer: Felix Bautista (75.5%)
Primary setup: Seranthony Dominguez (1.1%)
Secondary setup: Keegan Akin (0.4%)
Middle relief: Yennier Cano (6.1%)
BOSTON RED SOX
Co-closer: Aroldis Chapman (46.1%)
Co-closer: Justin Slaten (2.4%)
Secondary setup: Liam Hendriks (4.8%)
Sleeper: Garrett Whitlock (1.8%)
CHICAGO CUBS
Closer: Ryan Pressly (61.2%)
Primary setup: Porter Hodge (7.5%)
Secondary setup: Julian Merryweather (0.3%)
Middle relief: Ethan Roberts (0.0%)
CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Closer-by-committee: Jordan Leasure (0.1%)
Closer-by-committee: Cam Booser (0.1%)
Closer-by-committee: Bryse Wilson (0.2%)
Primary setup: Tyler Gilbert (0.0%)
CINCINNATI REDS
Closer: Emilio Pagan (8.3%)
Primary setup: Tony Santillan (3.3%)
Secondary setup: Taylor Rogers (0.5%)
Sleeper: Graham Ashcraft (1.1%)
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS
Closer: Emmanuel Clase (99.0%)
Primary setup: Cade Smith (22.4%)
Secondary setup: Hunter Gaddis (8.6%)
Sleeper: Paul Sewald (0.5%)
COLORADO ROCKIES
Co-closer: Seth Halvorsen (1.2%)
Co-closer: Tyler Kinley (0.4%)
Primary setup: Jake Bird (0.1%)
Injured: Victor Vodnik (0.1%)
DETROIT TIGERS
Co-closer: Tommy Kahnle (8.5%)
Co-closer: Will Vest (1.0%)
Primary setup: Tyler Holton (4.8%)
Secondary setup: Brenan Hanifee (0.0%)
HOUSTON ASTROS
Closer: Josh Hader (98.0%)
Primary setup: Bryan Abreu (17.7%)
Secondary setup: Bryan King (0.8%)
Middle relief: Tayler Scott (0.1%)
KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Closer: Carlos Estevez (28.0%)
Primary setup: Lucas Erceg (34.8%)
Secondary setup: John Schreiber (0.2%)
Sleeper: Daniel Lynch IV (0.4%)
LOS ANGELES ANGELS
Closer: Kenley Jansen (34.8%)
Primary setup: Ryan Zeferjahn (0.1%)
Secondary setup: Brock Burke (0.0%)
Middle relief: Ryan Johnson (0.1%)
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Closer: Tanner Scott (86.9%)
Primary setup: Kirby Yates (23.6%)
Sleeper: Evan Phillips (1.5%)
Injured: Blake Treinen (10.5%)
MIAMI MARLINS
Closer-by-committee: Calvin Faucher (1.2%)
Closer-by-committee: Anthony Bender (0.7%)
Closer-by-committee: Jesus Tinoco (0.4%)
Primary setup: Ronny Henriquez (0.1%)
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Closer: Trevor Megill (41.4%)
Primary setup: Jared Koenig (0.8%)
Secondary setup: Abner Uribe (2.8%)
Sleeper: Craig Yoho (1.1%)
MINNESOTA TWINS
Closer: Jhoan Duran (72.9%)
Primary setup: Louis Varland (0.5%)
Secondary setup: Griffin Jax (12.5%)
Middle relief: Cole Sands (0.5%)
NEW YORK METS
Closer: Edwin Diaz (93.8%)
Primary setup: Ryne Stanek (0.4%)
Secondary setup: A.J. Minter (1.7%)
Sleeper: Reed Garrett (2.3%)
NEW YORK YANKEES
Closer: Devin Williams (86.4%)
Primary setup: Luke Weaver (40.3%)
Secondary setup: Fernando Cruz (4.2%)
Sleeper: Mark Leiter Jr. (1.7%)
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Closer: Jose Alvarado (42.5%)
Primary setup: Matt Strahm (5.1%)
Secondary setup: Jordan Romano (6.2%)
Sleeper: Orion Kerkering (4.4%)
PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Closer: Dennis Santana (3.3%)
Primary setup: Justin Lawrence (0.2%)
Secondary setup: Caleb Ferguson (0.2%)
Sleeper: David Bednar (27.5%)
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Closer: Ryan Helsley (89.3%)
Primary setup: Phil Maton (2.3%)
Secondary setup: JoJo Romero (0.6%)
Middle relief: Kyle Leahy (0.2%)
SAN DIEGO PADRES
Closer: Robert Suarez (93.4%)
Primary setup: Jason Adam (48.1%)
Secondary setup: Jeremiah Estrada (7.8%)
Sleeper: Yuki Matsui (0.6%)
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Closer: Ryan Walker (85.2%)
Primary setup: Camilo Doval (5.3%)
Secondary setup: Tyler Rogers (6.8%)
Sleeper: Lou Trivino (0.0%)
SEATTLE MARINERS
Closer: Andres Munoz (91.5%)
Primary setup: Trent Thornton (0.2%)
Secondary setup: Gabe Speier (0.4%)
Middle relief: Collin Snider (0.1%)
TAMPA BAY RAYS
Closer: Pete Fairbanks (34.1%)
Primary setup: Edwin Uceta (0.7%)
Secondary setup: Manuel Rodriguez (0.1%)
Sleeper: Mason Montgomery (0.6%)
TEXAS RANGERS
Closer: Luke Jackson (23.2%)
Primary setup: Chris Martin (12.6%)
Secondary setup: Robert Garcia (3.0%)
Middle relief: Hoby Milner (0.2%)
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Closer: Jeff Hoffman (86.5%)
Primary setup: Yimi Garcia (3.5%)
Secondary setup: Chad Green (2.4%)
Middle relief: Brendon Little (1.7%)
WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Closer: Kyle Finnegan (46.7%)
Primary setup: Jose Ferrer (0.2%)
Secondary setup: Jorge Lopez (0.2%)
Middle relief: Eduardo Salazar (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.