Midseason Bullpen Report: Fantasy Baseball Closers, Saves, Holds (2024)

July 19, 2024

Nick's 2024 midseason fantasy baseball closer updates, saves sleepers, holds risers/fallers for all teams. He analyzes each MLB bullpen during the All-Star break.

The All-Star break is already wrapping up, and now the majority of our attention shifts towards the trade deadline, which is guaranteed to move around a closer or two. We've already seen a handful of early moves but the bulk of bullpen landscape shifts will come at the end of July. That's why we're here with a midseason fantasy baseball bullpen report where we bring you a team-by-team breakdown!

The opportunity cost of a roster spot or two may feel like quite the pinch, but you have to play to win. Unearthing the next closer ahead of time is likely worth more to you at the cost of a bench spot for a week or two versus a mad dash in FAAB or your precious priority after a trade happens. Allow us to help you stay ahead of the curve.

Which teams are buying and selling is far from solidified thanks to expanded playoffs and quite the current standings crunch. We will continue evaluating across the site and specifically regarding bullpens on our legendary Closer Depth Charts. Let's use those charts here for a quick overview and then get into each team's breakdown below that -- cheers!

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AL East: Fantasy Baseball Closers & Saves

AL Central: Fantasy Baseball Closers & Saves

AL West: Fantasy Baseball Closers & Saves

NL East: Fantasy Baseball Closers & Saves

NL Central: 2024 Fantasy Baseball Closers & Saves

NL West: 2024 Fantasy Baseball Closers & Saves

Team-By-Team Midseason Bullpen Breakdowns

Arizona: Paul Sewald looked untouchable, but the wheels have come off lately. While he should stabilize and remain Arizona’s closer, Kevin Ginkel has a 21:2 K:BB with two earned and four holds in his last 13 games. Justin Martinez and Thyago Vieira also have ERA’s under 3.00 and over a strikeout per inning in the last month, but only one hold apiece. Ryan Thompson has seven holds in that span despite poor recent ratios and strikeout rates.

Atlanta: Raisel Iglesias secured his 22nd save of the season with a perfect frame on Sunday, which gives him a 2.02 ERA and 0.79 WHIP through the first half. The only quibble has been a lack of whiffs, but he now has a 40% strikeout rate in his last nine games after a 17% rate in his first 27 games. A.J. Minter is back as the left-handed setup man alongside Joe Jimenez ahead of Iglesias.

Baltimore: Craig Kimbrel’s bad nights get the spotlight, but the three-run homer allowed on Sunday ended a two-month stretch where he allowed one solitary earned run. The O’s should trade for another bullpen arm with Yennier Cano’s production sliding (4.70 ERA, 7:5 K:BB in the last month). Cionel Perez is the only BAL RP with an ERA below 3.45 in the last month, yet he holds a 5.02 SIERA and 5.76 xFIP in that window.

Boston: Kenley Jansen notched another two-inning save on Sunday and now carries 19 saves with a 2.16 ERA and 1.08 WHIP into the second half. The 53-42 Red Sox should trade for relief help as the deadline nears to reinforce the middle innings behind Jansen. Both Chris Martin and Justin Slaten are injured, with Zack Kelly and Cam Booser regularly working high leverage. Those seeking solds should note Kelly has a 1.80 SIERA behind the 1.86 ERA over the last month.

Chicago (AL): Michael Kopech looks amazing at times, such as pitching immaculate innings for a save, and awful in other games. He has a 5.05 ERA/1.39 WHIP over 41 innings, but 56 strikeouts in that span help whittle down a 3.41 SIERA. But the 12.7% walk rate and 1.76 HR/9  coincide with career-long trends that have not been rectified upon moving into the bullpen. If he’s traded, John Brebbia has the most fantasy upside, but Tanner Banks could also step in.

"I have a job to do here... if the business side of it takes me somewhere else, I'll be ready to do that job there."

Former Red Sox first rounder Michael Kopech on finding himself in trade talks again this season@WebsterOnTV | #RedSox pic.twitter.com/SXfo0pyoz2

— NESN (@NESN) June 8, 2024

Chicago (NL): This has been a mess in 2024 but Hector Neris has turned the corner with seven consecutive scoreless appearances going into the break. Tyson Miller and Porter Hodge are proving reliable in the middle innings alongside Mark Leiter Jr. as the strikeout/groundball fireman. Julian Merryweather and Adbert Alzolay are rehabbing, and Hunter Bigge was optioned in a brief roster squeeze during a doubleheader but should be back soon.

Cincinnati: Alexis Diaz has steadied after early control issues and remains the stopper. Fernando Cruz continues to rack up holds (eight in the last month) but has allowed eight runs with six walks in his last nine innings. Nick Martinez and Lucas Sims have also been good of late, but rostering non-closing relievers at Great American Ballpark is not recommended.

Cleveland: Emmanuel Clase continues to conquer MLB with a 0.81 ERA/0.68 WHIP over 44 ⅓ IP (45 games). I must point out he has zero strikeouts in his last six innings going into the break, however. Hunter Gaddis, Scott Barlow, and Cade Smith have proven incredible setup men worthy of rostering as good strikeouts and ratio sources even without saves. Those in sold leagues struck gold if they stacked Cleveland’s bullpen.

Colorado: The Coors Chaos wheel is spinning with no reliever able to earn consistent closing work. Victor Vodnik, Tyler Kinley, and Jalen Beeks appear to be the three most likely arms to see a save opportunity, but they take turns imploding just as one builds momentum. Most of you should not have to navigate these waters.

Detroit: Jason Foley opened 2024 with a flashy triple-digit sinker, but he’s lost most of his bite/velocity as the season has progressed. Shelby Miller recently notched a save, and Andrew Chafin remains a steady southpaw in the late frames. Tyler Holton and Alex Faedo are also quietly stacking holds but with lesser strikeout upside.

Shelby Miller 2024 stats outside of Anaheim
- 31 IP 11 ER 3.19 ERA 0.74 WHIP

Shelby Miller 2024 stats in Anaheim
- 1.2 IP 8 ER 54.10 ERA 5.26 WHIP

Millers 5.23 season ERA is extremely misleading, outside of one bad series he has been solid.

— T’s Tigers (@TannersTigers) July 17, 2024

Houston: Josh Hader has dealt with some homer issues of late but is otherwise the same tour de force of strikeouts and saves. Ryan Pressly and Bryan Abreu have combined for 36 holds, while Tayler Scott has recently surpassed Rafael Montero on the leverage ladder.

Kansas City: The William Smith experiment quickly ended, but now James McArthur and his 17 midseason saves have new competition in Hunter Harvey. The 29-year-old had an electrifying 34:6 K:BB and 2.15 ERA (2.11 FIP) through 29 ⅓ IP entering June before hitting a wall. His .326/.408/.558 triple slash allowed in June has given way to a still-troubling .333/.385/.667 slash in July.

LA Angels: Carlos Estevez is rolling strong toward a likely trade at the deadline with his 17 saves, 2.61 ERA, and 27.2% strikeout rate. The last month has seen Luis Garcia lead the Halos with four holds and he’d recorded ancillary saves earlier in the season, but the upside lies with fireballer Ben Joyce and converted starter Hans Crouse. Hunter Strickland is also steadily performing well with plus whiffs. Don't let Joyce's erasure let him slip through the cracks!

They said Mason Miller had the fastest pitch of the year at 103.4
Didn’t Ben Joyce hit 104.5 last week?

— Jon Castro (@defib4life) July 17, 2024

LA Dodgers: Evan Phillips leads the Dodger bullpen with 14 saves but it’s interesting to note he has the worst ERA and strikeout rate among himself, Daniel Hudson, Alex Vesia, and Blake Treinen. Vesia has five saves, Hudson has four, and Treinen has one. It’s a strong group but the Dodgers could certainly bring another RP in via trade, even if they’re confident Joe Kelly returns soon. Also notable, Phillips is holding right-handed bats to a paltry .156/.194/.188 triple slash with zero runs versus a .298/.365/.596 triple slash with 11 runs (nine earned) against lefties.

Miami: Tanner Scott has rebounded after early control problems to become a big trade chip for the Marlins. Several insiders have reported that he’s effectively traded already, which leads us to A.J. Puk. The starting rotation experiment did not work but his last 10 games in relief: 11 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 15 K. We are so back (unless they trade him too)!

Milwaukee: Devin Williams is expected back around the end of July after missing three months due to multiple stress fractures in his back. Trevor Megill has performed admirably as closer in his stead, while Bryan Hudson has emerged as a stud southpaw setup man. Elvis Peguero has two saves and nine holds alongside his 3.29 ERA, but the lesser 21% strikeout rate lessens his fantasy appeal. Don’t hastily drop Megill until Williams proves he’s truly healthy again.

Minnesota: Jhoan Duran has not looked himself for most of the season but recently ramped up his velocity toward 103 mph, so perhaps we’re back in business. The lesser VELO and strikeouts haven’t ruined him, as he still has a respectable 2.93 ERA and 15 saves, but the 24% strikeout rate is less than we’re used to seeing. Griffin Jax has been incredible, and both Jorge Alcala and Josh Staumont have recovered their pre-injury forms. Brock Stewart is rehabbing and should return soon.

Jhoan Duran's fastest pitches this season:

103.9 mph — TODAY
103.3 mph — TODAY
103.1 mph — May 28
103.0 mph — TODAY
102.8 mph — TODAY
102.7 mph — May 3
102.6 mph — May 3
102.5 mph — TODAY
102.4 mph — TODAY

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) July 14, 2024

New York (AL): Clay Holmes enters the break with rough outings in six of his last 10 appearances, but the larger body of his work this year signals he’ll remain in the role. Luke Weaver and Tommy Kahnle are the two premier setup men with Ian Hamilton and Jonathan Loaisiga out. If Holmes did require a break from closing, then we’d lean Kahnle for saves since Weaver can give multi-inning appearances.

New York (NL): The good news is Edwin Diaz looks (mostly) like himself again. The bad news is that he’s been hurt, suspended, and surrounded by inconsistent relievers. Reed Garrett looked like an RP breakout early on but lost his edge and is now on the IL with a right elbow injury. Adam Ottavino and Jake Diekman have a combined ERA of around 5.00, while Drew Smith and Brooks Raley are both done for the season. Dedniel Nunez and Jose Butto need to step up around Diaz to stabilize the situation.

Oakland: The preseason section here read “Mason Miller or Bust,” but that was unfair to Lucas Erceg. The converted third baseman had a blazing start halted by injury, but he’s back in the groove now and should ascend to the closer’s role should Oakland trade Miller. Of course, both could move too! With Dany Jimenez on the IL, Austin Adams and Scott Alexander might form an underwhelming committee if Miller and Erceg move.

Philadelphia: This bullpen is as advertised, dominating all who stand in its way. One intriguing recent development is the switch from Jose Alvarado seeing most of the save opportunities to Jeff Hoffman and his absurd 1.12 ERA getting the last several going into the break. Alvarado’s 3.92 ERA and 25% strikeout rate are fine in a vacuum but underwhelming compared to most PHI RPs. Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering both have ERAs under 1.50, and Gregory Soto has an 18:5 K:BB with one run allowed in his last 11 games. Hoffman leads a stunning group.

Pittsburgh: David Bednar has dealt with injuries and ineffectiveness at times but has generally looked good lately when healthy. Aroldis Chapman remains the hedge even with a poor 1.62 WHIP over 34 ⅔ IP. His 35.4% strikeout rate helps him wiggle out of self-inflicted trouble from the 20.3% walk rate. Colin Holderman has done well with a 1.77 ERA and 15 holds, providing Pittsburgh its most consistent RP from the No. 3 slot.

San Diego: Robert Suarez spearheads the bullpen with 22 saves, a 1.67 ERA (3.32 FIP, 3.38 SIERA), and 0.90 WHIP. It’s worth noting his strikeout rate tumbled from 28.9% in May to 18.2% in June and he has a 0% soft-contact rate in July thus far. Jeremiah Estrada stole the spotlight with a record-breaking strikeout streak but then got sick, losing 15 pounds and his top form in the process. His last couple of weeks have looked more familiar, with nine strikeouts and zero walks in 9 ⅔ IP, with the only blemish being a solo HR surrendered to Travis d’Arnaud on July 14. Yuki Matsui had early turbulence but his last 15 games have yielded a 20:6 K:BB and 1.80 ERA.

Jeremiah Estrada is now down 17 pounds and doctors don't know what caused his illness. He hasn't allowed an earned run in his last five appearances

(via @sdutKevinAcee)https://t.co/wQ9xIcwAfE pic.twitter.com/9h09jpism3

— Talking Friars (@TalkingFriars) July 5, 2024

San Francisco: Camilo Doval blew Sunday’s save (and Blake Snell’s seven innings of one-hit ball) with two earned on two hits and a walk after five consecutive games without a run. His command has certainly improved after a troubling start to the season, but he still doesn’t look like the dominant closer from past seasons, with six hits allowed and two walks in his last 3 ⅓ IP. Tyler Rogers has 18 holds and a save in an MLB-leading 49 games, but the 2.58 ERA has an underwhelming 18.4% strikeout rate. Ryan Walker’s 32% K rate is far more appealing if looking to hedge Doval’s control. He also has standalone value with K’s, the 2.32 ERA/0.89 WHIP, and six wins.

Seattle: Andres Munoz continues to manage a back injury, and while he’s stayed on the field with a pristine 1.41 ERA/1.04 WHIP, he’s walked seven with only three strikeouts in his last seven games. But he’s only given up one hit in that window, so no damage has come. Ryne Stanek remains ready to fill in (seven saves, 14 holds), and Gregory Santos is finally healthy, tossing two scoreless frames in the week leading up to the ASB and ready to bring some spice to the mound.

Santos walks the first batter he sees on 4 pitches then K's the next 2 and gets the comebacker to end the inning. Highsteps off the the field before remembering he needed the umpire check. All good.

— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) July 13, 2024

St. Louis: Ryan Helsley has 32 saves and top-flight whiffs as an elite RP. His overall strikeout rate is down eight percentage points compared to last season, yet his 16.4% swinging-strike rate is slightly up, and the 33% CSW rate is a career-best mark. Perhaps he could be even better down the stretch? Andrew Kittredge and JoJo Romero have combined for 51 holds thus far as the primary setup men.

Tampa Bay: The Rays have shirked their committee approach, with Pete Fairbanks securing 17 saves against just one hold. But his velocity has been down compared to previous seasons, with a subsequent drop in strikeouts and overall effectiveness. His 32:15 K:BB pales in compared to Jason Adam’s 44:14 figure, with both tied to trade rumors. Adam, Garrett Cleavinger, and Colin Poche need to be stashed ahead of the deadline.

Texas: Kirby Yates and his 1.05 ERA have comfortably held down the closer role for most of the season. David Robertson has been even better as their primary fireman/setup man, but it’s unclear whether Texas will be buyers or sellers at the deadline. Both are older RPs on expiring contracts. Jose Leclerc lost the closer’s role early on but has a 1.61 ERA and a 30:8 K:BB in his last 22 ⅓ IP. If Yates and/or DRob is dealt then Leclerc could find saves once again.

Toronto: Jordan Romano underwent arthroscopic surgery on July 3 to repair an elbow impingement and should miss another month as a result. At this point, a September 1 return feels like the hope. Yimi Garcia has been on the IL with right elbow ulnar neuritis but will be activated as the second half begins. This should lead to a brief audition of health before the trade deadline as one of several impending free agents for the Jays. Chad Green has been closing in the meantime and is signed through 2025, so keep him close. But note his 2.08 ERA/1.08 WHIP has an uglier 4.97 FIP and 3.81 SIERA behind it.

Washington: Kyle Finnegan was written off by many before the season even began. But it was Hunter Harvey who faltered (and has been traded), not Finnegan, who has 25 saves with a 2.45 ERA and just over a strikeout per inning across 41 games. The Nats already moved Harvey and should explore dealing Finnegan, Derek Law, and Dylan Floro as well. Deep-leaguers should scoop Law and Floro in case they’re the last man standing in Washington for valuable second-half saves, but opinions are divided as to whether Washington will "full send" as sellers.

I think trading Harvey makes it a lot harder to trade Finnegan.

If you get an incredible offer, you may take it. That said, Nats probably feel like they can contend for WC spot next year. You want to completely re-build back of pen? Costs a lot. Finnegan is cheap, quality CL.

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) July 14, 2024

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