Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers - Closers & Relievers (RP)

Kirby Yates - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 53% of Leagues ANALYSIS: After a blown save last Tuesday and an appearance Friday that included another hit and a walk in an inning pitched, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy stated that Jose Leclerc would be used in lower-leverage situations for the time being. Doing so opened... Read More

David Robertson - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 42% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Veteran reliever David Robertson is pitching for his sixth team since 2021, but a week ago he was a speculative-add in the event Texas Rangers closer Jose Leclerc continued to be ineffective and lost his job. Fast forward a week and speculation... Read More

Ryne Stanek - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues and AL-Only Leagues ROSTERED IN: 3% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Ryne Stanek picked up his second save of the season on Friday for the Mariners. The M's usual closer, Andres Munoz, also pitched, but it's not necessarily a case of Munoz being relieved of his duties. Munoz pitched the... Read More

Mason Miller - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 60% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Mason Miller is poised to be the closer for the Oakland A's in 2024. The 25-year-old notched his first save of the season on Tuesday in a 4-3 win over the Rangers. The righty didn't allow a hit or a walk and... Read More

Michael Kopech - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 29% of Leagues ANALYSIS: In 2024, the Chicago White Sox have turned to former starter Michael Kopech as their closer. His stuff profiles much like a typical closer, with a four-seamer that can touch triple digits paired with an 86 mph slider (80% FB usage so... Read More

Kevin Ginkel - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 58% of Leagues ANALYSIS: With Arizona's primary closer Paul Sewald on the shelf to start the season with an oblique injury, it has been Kevin Ginkel filling in as closer and getting the save opportunities. Ginkel's first two appearances of the season were mostly clean, not... Read More

Justin Slaten - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 2% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Boston Red Sox reliever Justin Slaten was drafted in 2019 and has had strong strikeout numbers at every stop in the minors. Between Double-A and Triple-A in 2023, he struck out 86 hitters over 59 2/3 IP. His MLB debut came in... Read More

James McArthur - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 23% of Leagues ANALYSIS: William Smith was the presumptive closer for Kansas City to begin the season, but after an ineffective start that included six earned runs on four hits, a 4:2 BB:K, and a blown save, the veteran was removed from a save situation on... Read More

Chris Stratton - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 1% of Leagues ANALYSIS: William Smith was the presumptive closer for Kansas City to begin the season, but after a shaky start that included six earned runs on four hits, a 4:2 BB:K, and a blown save, the veteran was removed from a save situation on... Read More

Mason Miller - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 59% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Mason Miller was briefly a starter for the Oakland A's in 2023 until a UCL strain caused him to miss from mid-May to mid-September. Once he came back he was used more as an opener and a reliever in order to reduce... Read More

Brock Stewart - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 8% of Leagues ANALYSIS: With primary closer Jhoan Duran out with an injury for at least the first month of the season, the Twins will need to look elsewhere for someone to finish off games. Griffin Jax was fantastic in the spring and has recorded the... Read More

David Robertson - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 37% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Despite turning 39 years of age in early April, David Robertson has found a way to stick around and pitch in the major leagues. The veteran has pitched for six different teams since 2021, and while that is a lot, if his services... Read More

Kyle Finnegan - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 59% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Kyle Finnegan recorded his second save of the season on Wednesday for the Nationals. If not for an error on the defense, it could have been a 1-2-3 inning for the 32-year-old. The righty pitched the ninth and struck out the first batter... Read More

Joel Payamps- Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 48% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Joel Payamps remains in the mix for save opportunities with primary closer Devin Williams (back) sidelined for three months. Payamps is 1-for-2 in save chances with two holds while posting a 10.80 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and a 3:0 K:... Read More

Chad Green - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 7% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Injuries to closer Jordan Romano and presumed backup option Erik Swanson have thrown the Blue Jays' end-of-game sequence into flux, with manager John Schneider stating that it will be a closer-by-committee situation. That means Tim Mayza, Yimi Garcia, or Chad Green will be... Read More

Michael Kopech - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 17% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Prior to Tuesday, the White Sox had used a plethora of pitchers in the final inning of their games so far in 2024, including Dominic Leone, John Brebbia, Deivi Garcia, Steven Wilson, and Tim Hill. None were actual save chances, although the... Read More

Aroldis Chapman - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 37% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Aroldis Chapman collected his first save of the season in Monday's win over the Washington Nationals. The 36-year-old has yet to allow a run with a 3:0 K: BB ratio across 2 1/3 innings in 2024. Chapman is the... Read More

William Smith - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 56% of Leagues ANALYSIS: William Smith signed a one-year, $five million contract with the Kansas City Royals this offseason, where he began his career in 2012. The 34-year-old racked up 22 saves while posting a 4.40 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 55:17 K: BB across 57 1/3 innings... Read More

Abner Uribe - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 38% of Leagues ANALYSIS: It was Abner Uribe, not Joel Payamps or Trevor Megill, who pitched the ninth inning on Friday for the Brewers' first game of the season at Citi Field against the Mets. Uribe picked up the save for the Brew Crew, retiring all three... Read More

Hunter Harvey - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 68% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Washington Nationals right-hander Hunter Harvey was lights out this spring. The 29-year-old posted a 2.16 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and a 15:2 K: BB across 8 1/3 innings. He has been primarily used in a high-leverage role for the Nationals, setting career highs across the... Read More

Yuki Matsui - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 39% of Leagues ANALYSIS: While Yuki Matsui is not the Padres closer as of now, the 28-year-old reliever has the pedigree to take over the job at some point this season. The lefty had 236 career saves in the JPPL, and just last season had a... Read More

Justin Lawrence - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team and NL Only Leagues ROSTERED IN: 9% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Rockies reliever Justin Lawrence features a sinker and a sweeper that he uses 51.3% and 48.2% of the time, respectively. The fastball averaged 95.4 mph in 2023 but can touch triple digits at times, while the sweeper is nasty... Read More

Yimi Garcia - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 23% of Leagues ANALYSIS: With closer Jordan Romano and fellow reliever Erik Swanson starting the season on the 15-day IL, Yimi Garcia could be in line for a handful of save opportunities for the Blue Jays early on. The 33-year-old saved three games for the Jays last... Read More

Jason Foley - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 9% of Leagues ANALYSIS: On Opening Day, the Detroit Tigers called on right-hander Jason Foley for the team's first save opportunity of the season. Andrew Chafin tossed a scoreless eighth inning and retired one batter in the ninth before being replaced by Foley. The 28-year-old struck... Read More

Griffin Jax - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 57% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The Minnesota Twins placed star closer Jhoan Duran (oblique) on the 15-day injured list with a moderate right oblique strain. The 26-year-old is expected to be out for more than 15-day minimum and likely miss most of April. With Duran sidelined, the... Read More

Mason Miller - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 59% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Entering spring training, Mason Miller was a buzzy player after it was reported that he was moving to the bullpen this season. We all just assumed that he would step right into the closer role, as Oakland's bullpen lacks many other exciting late-inning options.... Read More

Chad Green - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 6% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Chad Green, alongside Yimi Garcia, stand to open as Toronto’s closer committee chair with news that Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson will both open on the IL. Tim Mayza is also in the mix but carries a lesser upside. It isn’t much, but every bit counts. Fantasy baseball tweet:... Read More

Jeff Hoffman - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 6% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The former Rockie/Red has found a new life away from Coors/GABP and the need to work deeply as a starter. The Hoff came to Philly last season and added three ticks to his heater (94 to 97 mph) and doubled his slider... Read More

Brock Stewart - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 6% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Stewart may get a surprising amount of action in the ninth with Jhoan Duran on the shelf. The 32-year-old had a pristine 0.65 ERA and 1.08 WHIP over 27.2 IP, posting an absurd 35.8% strikeout rate (39 Ks) that ranked 11th among 550... Read More

James McArthur (KC, RP) - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 15+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 14% of Leagues ANALYSIS: McArthur boasts more upside than William Smith, that’s for sure. He finally broke into the majors as a 26-year-old and posted a robust 2.78 FIP/2.80 xFIP/2.65 SIERA sabermetric profile underneath the 4.63 ERA. James McArthur is making a strong case to close games... Read More

Trevor Megill - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 6% of Leagues ANALYSIS: It’s astounding that Trevor Megill's rostered rate can sit so far below that of Joel Payamps and Abner Uribe. He was a dog in the second half, posting an electrifying 32:5 K:BB in just 20 IP after the break. Sounds like the... Read More

Michael Kopech - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 13% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Michael Kopech is throwing triple-digit heat after being transitioned to the bullpen. Don’t go thinking he’ll be THE guy because Pedro Grifol has made it clear that he’ll throw these relievers wherever he wants. But building up Kopech’s trade value with some... Read More

Kevin Ginkel - Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 17% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Monday evening saw the Arizona Diamondbacks announce Paul Sewald had a Grade 2 left oblique strain and would open 2024 on the IL. We likely won’t see him until May, which should elevate the entire bullpen leverage ladder up a notch. Diamondbacks’... Read More

Louie Varland (MIN, SP/RP) - Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Waiver Wire Adds for Week 1

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 38% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Minnesota’s No. 5 spot is now Varland’s with Anthony DeSclafani’s injury. Disco never should’ve been ahead of him anyway. Louie Varland is ready to take the final spot in the #MNTwins starting rotation. 🔥⚾️ pic.twitter.com/8XKZVLUtxE — SKOR North - Minnesota Sports (@SKORNorth) March... Read More

Pete Fairbanks - Fantasy Baseball Closer Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 98 CURRENT ADP: ~115 overall ANALYSIS: Pete Fairbanks is another closer that managers tend to be gun-shy about due to his injury history. The hard-throwing right-hander made two trips to the IL last season due to inflammation in his forearm and his ship. Looking further back, Fairbanks double-dipped in 2021... Read More

Andres Munoz - Fantasy Baseball Closer Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 92 CURRENT ADP: ~113 overall ANALYSIS: Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz has shown a lot of potential over the past two years. He has a 2.68 ERA combined over the 2022 and 2023 seasons with 17 saves and 163 strikeouts across 114 IP. Now, entering the season as... Read More

Mason Miller - Fantasy Baseball Closer Draft Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 240 CURRENT ADP: ~286 overall ANALYSIS: Entering spring training, Mason Miller was a buzzy RP2 pick after it was reported that he was moving to the bullpen this season. We all just assumed that he would step right into the closer role, as Oakland's bullpen lacks many other exciting... Read More

Jose Alvarado - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 171 CURRENT ADP: ~183 overall ANALYSIS: Jose Alvarado was awesome last year. He pitched to a 1.74 ERA, 2.82 xERA, and 1.16 WHIP with a 37 percent strikeout rate. The issue is he picked up just 10 saves as he took a backseat to Craig Kimbrel while also missing some time. Kimbrel... Read More

Griffin Jax - Fantasy Baseball Closer Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 250 CURRENT ADP: ~440 overall ANALYSIS: With the news breaking that Minnesota's top closer Jhoan Duran will begin the season on the IL, Jax gets an immediate bump in value as he should be the first reliever in line to take over the closer's job while Duran is out.... Read More

Yuki Matsui - Fantasy Baseball Closer Outlook (2024)

ANALYSIS: San Diego Padres reliever Yuki Matsui is a 28-year-old relief pitcher signed from Rakuten in the Japan Central League. The lefty has 236 career saves in the JPPL and is now in the rebuilt San Diego bullpen. Last season, Matsui had a career-high 39 saves with a tidy 1.57 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 72 strikeouts in... Read More

Scott Barlow - Fantasy Baseball Closer Outlook (2024)

ANALYSIS:  The right-hander posted a 4.37 ERA, and 1.40 WHIP, with a 79/34 K/BB ratio and 13 saves last season. He had pitched extremely well during the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Kansas City Royals. His first couple of appearances were marred by Coors and the Dodgers, but his final 21 games yielded this... Read More

Hunter Harvey - Fantasy Baseball Closer Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 285 CURRENT ADP: ~298 overall ANALYSIS: The Nationals will likely open 2024 with Kyle Finnegan as their closer, but Harvey remains the talent to side with. Remember Harvey’s 10-game window from June 21 to July 14: 9 ⅔ IP, 6 SV, 1 ER, 10:1 K:BB. But then he missed a... Read More

Robert Stephenson - Fantasy Baseball Closer Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 241 CURRENT ADP: ~256 overall ANALYSIS: The Rays traded for Stephenson to kick off June and promptly unlocked his next form. The 31-year-old started to show more life in June before becoming untouchable in July. His final 28 games saw 26 IP supply a 43:3 K:BB with four earned... Read More

Jason Adam - Fantasy Baseball Closer Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 271 CURRENT ADP: ~306 overall ANALYSIS:  Pete Fairbanks will open the year as Tampa's primary closer, but Adam should remain fantasy-relevant in leagues that count holds as a high-leverage, late-inning reliever Adam has proven to be a valuable commodity for the Tampa Bay Rays. The 32-year-old righty had four... Read More

Tanner Scott - Fantasy Baseball Draft Values and Sleepers (2024)

BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 120 CURRENT ADP: ~134 overall ANALYSIS: Tanner Scott got 20 saves with the Marlins in 2022. His 31.1% strikeout rate that year resulted in 90 strikeouts out of the bullpen to boot. His command, as it always had been, was awful and he posted the worst walk rate (15.9%)... Read More

Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Waiver Wire Adds for Week 20

As the fantasy baseball season rounds the bend into the final playoff push, pitching options on the waiver wire have dwindled in most leagues. The majority of intriguing prospects have had at least a cup of coffee to prove if they are worth an MLB (and fantasy) roster spot. Historically slow starters have now had... Read More

Clarke Schmidt - Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Waiver Wire Adds for Week 19

BALLER MOVE:  Add in deeper leagues. ROSTERED IN: 28% of leagues ANALYSIS:   Clarke Schmidt has now won five of his last six starts for the Yankees. He's only won seven of his 21 starts overall this season, but he's been a consistent winner lately. Schmidt recorded seven and eight strikeouts in two of those... Read More

Jameson Taillon - Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Waiver Wire Adds for Week 19

BALLER MOVE:  Add in deeper leagues. ROSTERED IN: 27% of leagues ANALYSIS:   Jameson Taillon has finally turned the corner this season. While he has a 5.46 ERA, his xFIP is 4.77. He's now had four straight starts with at least five innings pitched and three earned runs or less. Taillon has also struck out... Read More

Nick Pivetta - Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Waiver Wire Adds for Week 19

BALLER MOVE:  Add in deeper leagues. ROSTERED IN: 32% of leagues ANALYSIS:   Nick Pivetta has been pitching out of the bullpen, but he's completed at least five innings of pitching in three of his last four outings. He has 27 strikeouts in 17 innings over that span and has allowed only two earned runs.... Read More

Kyle Hendricks - Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Waiver Wire Adds for Week 19

BALLER MOVE:  Add in all leagues of any size. ROSTERED IN: 45% of leagues ANALYSIS:   Don't ask me how Kyle Hendricks is doing this, but at a certain point, you have to just take the good results he's giving us. Hendricks has had two quality starts in a row with four and five strikeouts... Read More