Fantasy Baseball Closer Chart 7/1/22 update: Multiple arms are on the IL this week (Dodgers, Royals, Cardinals). The Royals and Marlins have their committee tags removed. The Braves are now a committee with Kenley Jansen out.
Be sure to check out all the new info below and adjust your lineups/rosters accordingly!
As witnessed year-in and year-out, Relief Pitcher exemplifies the term "volatility" more than any other position in baseball. Injuries, repeated blown saves/ineffective outings, and deadline trades are just a few reasons for player movement at the position.
The Closer role is an even more-fluid position due to the influx of "Closer Committees" present throughout the league. Numerous MLB teams have adopted this philosophy, allowing for more flexibility in deploying their best pitchers during the later innings.
Last season we altered the Job Security Legend in an effort to stay true to our site's namesake. This year, we are keeping a similar format, but we have updated the BAC Levels slightly. Here is the breakdown of updated levels of confidence from high to low:
- Sober: Who got the keys to the Jeep? This guy does, and he is the clear Designated Driver of his team's ninth-inning duties.
- Buzzed: This player has a clear case of the hiccups, but he's still the best choice for late-night excitement.
- Hammered: Sloppy and stumbling are continually used to describe this player's performance. His seat at the center field bar is ripe for the taking.
- Drunk Tank: Our new Closer Committee classification (noted with an *) for teams with two-plus relievers trying to seal the deal.
Pick-up a Sixer, and come drink-in all the frothy goodness of our 2020 Closer Chart. Stay tuned weekly for any, and all, relief pitching changes throughout the fantasy season.
Be sure to check out the rest of our Fantasy Baseball content for the latest news and notes to help you win your league. Stay frosty!
Fantasy Baseball Closer Chart
TEAMS | BAC LEVEL | LEAD CLOSER | SETUP MAN | NEXT MAN UP | IL/COVID LIST | TEAM NEWS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AL EAST | ||||||
BAL | Buzzed | Jorge Lopez | Dillion Tate | Felix Bautista | Bautista has been on a roll lately, recording two holds and a win in his last five games. Tate's strikeout numbers keep him ahead of Bautista, but Tate's seat is warming up. | |
BOS* | Drunk Tank | Tanner Houck | Matt Strahm | Hansel Robles | Houck recorded his 4th save o f the season and appears to be the committee leader for Boston. | |
NYY | Sober | Clay Holmes | Michael King | Miguel Castro | Aroldis Chapman Jonathan Loaisiga | Chapman is close to returning, but it's sounding like Chapman will not get his spot as the main closer from Holmes. |
TB* | Drunk Tank | Colin Poche | Brooks Raley | Jason Adam | Andrew Kittredge J.P. Feyereisen | Andrew Kittredge is back on the IL, and will most likely to be out for a while. |
TOR* | Sober | Jordan Romano | Adam Cimber | Yimi Garcia | May was a good month for Romano racking up 6 saves. That production should continue for him in June. | |
AL CENTRAL | ||||||
CHW | Sober | Kendall Graveman | Aaron Bummer | Jose Ruiz | Liam Hendriks | Hendriks is on the IL with a foreman strain. Graveman will close until Hendriks retruns. |
CLE | Sober | Emmanuel Clase | Trevor Stephan | Anthony Gose | James Karnichak | Clase picked up his 8th save of the season after not having one in his last six games. The Guardians have been winning quite a few games recently, maybe that streak will continue so Clase can jump up to double-digit saves. |
DET* | Drunk Tank | Gregory Soto | Michael Fulmer | Andrew Chafin | Andrew Chafin, you and your glorious mustache are now on the chart. Chafin has been a solid setup man for the Tigers, recording his first save and 6th hold in his last five appearances. | |
KC | Sober | Scott Barlow | Dylan Coleman | Taylor Clarke | Amir Garrett Josh Staumont | Josh Staumont is on the IL with a neck strain. Barlow will be the main guy until Staumont returns. |
MIN* | Drunk Tank | Jhoan Duran | Emilio Pagan | Tyler Duffey | Jorge Alcala | Pagan was placed on the restricted list, so Duran will man the closing duties until Pagan returns. Even then Pagan might not get his spot back as committee lead. |
AL WEST | ||||||
HOU | Sober | Ryan Pressly | Rafael Montero | Ryne Stanek | Montero on had rough night against the Royals on 6/4. A few more outing like that and he will lose his setup job to Stanek, who hasn't allowed a run since April 29. | |
LAA | Sober | Raisel Iglesias | Ryan Tepera | Aaron Loup | Fantasy mangers might want to pick up Aaron Loup since Iglesias and Tepera will be suspended a few games. | |
OAK* | Drunk Tank | A.J. Puk | Lou Trivino | Zach Jackson | Dany Jimenez | Lou Trivino is back on the chart after picking up two saves, but Puk is still the As' arm you want. |
SEA* | Drunk Tank | Paul Sewald | Diego Castillo | Andres Munoz | I think I'm starting to get a handle on how Seattle is using the bullpen, and Sewald is their lead dog in the committee, recording his 3rd save on 6/3. | |
TEX | Sober | Joe Barlow | Dennis Santana | Brett Martin | Matt Bush | Matt Bush is on the IL which means 8th inning duties will go to Santana. |
NL EAST | ||||||
ATL* | Drunk Tank | A.J. Minter | Will Smith | Collin McHugh | Tyler Matzek Kenley Jansen | Both Minter and Smith have gotten a save in Jansen's absence, so they are getting the committee tag. |
MIA | Sober | Tanner Scott | Anthony Bass | Cole Sulser | Anthony Bender | Tanner Scott has taken the closer job, so the committee tag has been removed from the Marlins. |
NYM | Sober | Edwin Diaz | Seth Lugo | Drew Smith | Drew Smith is considered day-to-day with a dislocated pinky. Lugo will be the setup man for Diaz until Smith is fully healed. | |
PHL* | Drunk Tank | Seranthony Dominguez | Brad Hand | Jose Alvarado | Dominguez has been the "goto" guy after racking up two saves, but Rob Thompson will not yet declare him the closer, so the committee tag stays. | |
WAS | Buzzed | Tanner Rainey | Kyle Finnegan | Carl Edwards Jr. | Welcome to the closer chart Carl Edwards Jr. He has been fantastic as the Nationals' 7th inning man, recording 12 strikeouts, and only allowed 2 hits in his last 12 outings. Plus, he hasn't allowed a single run during that time. | |
NL CENTRAL | ||||||
CHC | Buzzed | David Robertson | Rowan Wick | Mychal Givens | Robertson has been hit-or-miss since returning from injury. He has two blown saves and two saves. David Ross has shown any indications of moving away from Robertson, but you should keep an eye on it If the struggles continue. Plus, it also helps Robertson that both Wick and Givens aren't pitching well either , so no real trouble of them taking his job. | |
CIN* | Drunk Tank | Hunter Strickland | Jeff Hoffman | Joel Kuhl | Lucas Sims Tony Stanillan Alexis Diaz | Diaz is joining the long list of Reds' arms on the IL. |
MIL | Sober | Josh Hader | Devin Williams | Brad Boxberger | Hader is back from the paternity list. | |
PIT | Sober | David Bednar | Chris Stratton | Wil Crowe | David Bednar is dealing with a back issue, but will avoid an IL stint. | |
STL* | Drunk Tank | Ryan Helsley | Giovanny Gallegos | Zack Thompson | Alex Reyes Genesis Cabrera | Genesis Cabrera has been placed on the IL, which moves Thompson up the chart. |
NL WEST | ||||||
ARI | Sober | Mark Melancon | Ian Kennedy | Joe Mantiply | Melancon seems to have gotten himself back on track racking up four saves and his first win in his last 7 games. | |
COL | Sober | Daniel Bard | Alex Colome | Carlos Estevez | Tyler Kinley | Kinley is on the IL. I guess Estevez gets his spot on the chart back. |
LAD | Sober | Craig Kimbrel | Brusdar Graterol | Evan Phillips | Blake Treinen Daniel Hudson | Daniel Hudson suffered a season ending ACL injury. Graterol will be the setup man for Kimbrel for the rest of the season. |
SD | Sober | Taylor Rogers | Luis Garcia | Nabil Crismatt | Pierce Johnson Robert Suarez | Robert Suarez was placed on the IL with a knee injury. Crismatt will move up the hierarchy. |
SF | Sober | Camilo Doval | Dominic Leone | Jake McGee | McGee's has been struggling and recently has been taken out of late inning work, so he is moving down the chart. |