Fantasy Baseball Closer Chart 9/12/22 update: Matt Barnes is back and Jose Leclerc is the Rangers' closer again!
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 | Sober | Felix Bautista | Dillion Tate | Cionel Perez | Baustista is dealing with some arm fatigue, managers need to pay attention to his usage. | |
| BOS* | Drunk Tank | John Schreiber | Matt Barnes | Garrett Whitlock | Tanner Houck | Barnes is making a "come back" and is now the second head of Boston's committee. |
| NYY* | Drunk Tank | Clay Holmes | Wandy Peralta | Jonathan Loaisiga | Michael King Aroldis Chapman | Caly Holmes has returned from the IL and regains his spot as the leader of the committee. |
| TB* | Drunk Tank | Pete Fairbanks | Colin Poche | Jason Adam | Andrew Kittredge J.P. Feyereisen | Pete Fairbanks has been one of the best bullpen arms in baseball and will lead the Rays going forward. |
| TOR* | Sober | Jordan Romano | Yimi Garcia | Anthony Bass | Romano recorded his 32nd save on 9/6. | |
| AL CENTRAL | ||||||
| CHW | Sober | Liam Hendriks | Kendall Graveman | Joe Kelly | Hendriks is on fire, recording four saves and one win in his last five outings. | |
| CLE | Sober | Emmanuel Clase | James Karnichak | Trevor Stephan | Karnichak records his second save and is moving up the chart! | |
| DET* | Drunk Tank | Gregory Soto | Joe Jimenez | Andrew Chafin | Soto has been hit or miss lately, managers need to pay attention to see if Jimenez gets more work. | |
| KC | Sober | Scott Barlow | Dylan Coleman | Amir Garrett | Taylor Clarke Josh Staumont | Barlow records his 21st save on 9/4. |
| MIN | Sober | Jorge Lopez | Jhoan Duran | Emilio Pagan | Jorge Alcala | Twins are no longer a committee and Lopez is the guy. |
| AL WEST | ||||||
| HOU | Sober | Ryan Pressly | Rafael Montero | Ryne Stanek | Pressly has been activated off the IL. | |
| LAA* | Drunk Tank | Jose Quijada | Jimmy Herget | Ryan Tepera | Despite recording his second blown save, Herget has been effective recording 10 strikeouts in his last seven innings. Herget could receive more work in the Angels' committee, | |
| OAK* | Drunk Tank | A.J. Puk | Dany Jimenez | Sheldon Neuse | Zach Jackson | Sheldon Neuse has been fantastic and don't be surprised if he is the closer by the end of the season. |
| SEA* | Drunk Tank | Paul Sewald | Diego Castillo | Andres Munoz | It appears that Seattle wants Sewald to be the main closer, but need to see more consistent work before removing the committee tag. | |
| TEX | Sober | Jose Leclerc | Jonathan Hernandez | Matt Moore | It took a minute, but Leclrec is back to being the closer for the Rangers. | |
| NL EAST | ||||||
| ATL | Buzzed | Kenley Jansen | Raisel Iglesias | A.J. Minter | Jansen is struggling and could loss his job if he can't turn it around. He has a 8.44 ERA in his last six games. | |
| MIA | Sober | Dylan Floro | Tanner Scott | Steven Okert | Dylan Floro recorded his 4th save on 9/9. | |
| NYM | Sober | Edwin Diaz | Adam Ottavino | Seth Lugo | Ottavino has a 17% swinging-strike rate in his last five outings and is the new setup man for Diaz. | |
| PHL* | Drunk Tank | David Robertson | Brad Hand | Jose Alvarado | Seranthony Dominguez | Seranthony Dominguez is close to returning from the IL. |
| WAS* | Drunk Tank | Kyle Finnegan | Carl Edwards Jr. | Hunter Harvey | Tanner Rainey | The Nationals are pitching Finnegan all over the place, so we going to apply the committee tag again. |
| NL CENTRAL | ||||||
| CHC | Sober | Brandon Hughes | Rowan Wick | Michael Rucker | Hughes is officially the Cubs closer. | |
| CIN | Sober | Alexis Diaz | Hunter Strickland | Justin Hoffman | Lucas Sims | Diaz has recorded two wins in a row. |
| MIL | Sober | Devin Williams | Taylor Rogers | Matt Bush | Bush has recorded three holds in a row and is now on the chart. | |
| PIT* | Drunk Tank | Wil Crowe | Yerry De Los Santos | Duane Underwood | David Bednar | Bednar is on the 15-Day IL and the Pirates will now become a committee until Bednar returns. |
| STL* | Drunk Tank | Ryan Helsley | Giovanny Gallegos | Jordan Hicks | Alex Reyes | As soon as I add Hicks to the chart he starts to struggle again, allowing three earned runs and one home run. |
| NL WEST | ||||||
| ARI* | Drunk Tank | Ian Kennedy | Mark Melancon | Joe Mantiply | Kennedy has blown two saves which opens the door for Melancon to get his old job back. | |
| COL | Sober | Daniel Bard | Carlos Estevez | Alex Colome | Tyler Kinley | Alex Colome is back from the IL. |
| LAD | Sober | Craig Kimbrel | Evan Phillips | Aelx Vesia | Daniel Hudson Brusdar Graterol | Blake Treinen is back from the IL, but the Dodgers will take their time in bringing him back. |
| SD | Sober | Josh Harder | Nick Martinez | Luis Garcia | Pierce Johnson Robert Suarez | Hader is back as the committee leader for the Padres. |
| SF | Sober | Camilo Doval | John Brebbia | Tyler Rogers | Dominic Leone | Dominic Leone is on the IL with a elbow issue. |
