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David's closers and saves fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and bullpen report for Week 3 (2025). His relief pitcher updates, and closers to add for saves.
Another week in the books, and even more information and examples for us to look at in the bullpen world. Roles are solidifying, struggles are rearing their heads, and guys we'd never heard of before the season started are suddenly true fantasy assets.
Entering Week 3, we're past the weird scheduling to start the season with odd off days and in some leagues, the extra few games to make up for an incomplete first "week" of the season around Opening Day. More weird scheduling around the All-Star Break, but that's a problem for the July versions of ourselves.
Read on for this week's report! Be sure to also keep an eye on our Fantasy Baseball Closer Depth Charts for saves, holds, and bullpens. They will be updated daily or sometimes even more often throughout the 2025 baseball season.
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Waiver Wire Pickups For Standard Leagues
Anthony Bender, Miami Marlins (Rostered in 9% of leagues)
The Marlins were likely counting on Calvin Faucher to fill their closer role this season after he was very effective in 2024, saving six games and posting a 3.19 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings. Things have been different with 2025 on the calendar, though, as Faucher posted a 7.04 ERA in spring training and has started the regular season with an 8.31 ERA and more walks than strikeouts.
He also did not allow a home run all last season, but allowed two in spring training and one already this season.
In steps Bender. The new Marlins closer isn't the robot from Futurama, but he's a guy who entered the season with 10 career saves and consistently solid ratios.
He's off to a good start this season, pitching five 1/3 scoreless and hitless innings so far. He's been used as the highest leverage option for the Marlins, which will often translate to save chances. Marlins manager Clayton McCullough might occasionally use Bender earlier in games, but he's currently the one to roster from the Fish team's bullpen, and he's available in 91 percent of leagues for now.
Anthony Bender made Manny Machado swing on THIS pitch fully in the lefty batters box pic.twitter.com/b2Ei8pqnKE
— Alex Krutchik (@AlexKrutchikFOF) August 10, 2024
Dennis Santana, Pittsburgh Pirates (Rostered in 20% of leagues)
The Pirates sent down David Bednar (who has reportedly looked a lot better in Triple-A), and Dennis Santana has been the high-leverage arm in the Pittsburgh bullpen. It's increasingly rare to see a team remove their closer and not go to a committee, but it looks like the Pirates have handed Santana their ninth inning.
He's been solid so far this year, posting a 2.45 ERA with a save and two holds, but the underlying numbers (5.78 xERA, 5.13 xFIP, 4:3 K:BB) are a bit concerning. Still, he's being trusted with the closer role right now, and that certainly gives him fantasy value. He's on the wire in 80 percent of fantasy leagues at this point.
Dennis Santana with the best K "strut" of all-time pic.twitter.com/46xS1tK30g
— Platinum Ke’Bryan (@PlatinumKey13) August 24, 2024
Luke Jackson, Texas Rangers (Rostered in 61% of leagues)
This one feels a little bit like cheating since Jackson isn't widely available, but it really feels like he shouldn't be available in 39 percent of fantasy leagues right now. He's currently second in all of baseball with five saves, and after a rough first outing of the season, he's been excellent.
In his first appearance, he allowed three runs. Since then? He's pitched five 2/3 scoreless innings and saved five games in a row.
The Luke Jackson thing seems legit, folks. Check your wire and scoop him up before that 61 percent number climbs up past 80. While he's not getting the same level of swing-and-miss as he used to, he's still looked good since his first outing, and most of the underlying numbers (3.68 xERA, 3.99 SIERA) agree.
Luke Jackson recorded another save for Texas today as it looks like he has taken control of the closer role
His deathball slider looks great and he pairs it with a mid-90s fastball pic.twitter.com/SWfsBBVB73
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) April 2, 2025
Waiver Wire Pickups For Deeper Leagues
A.J. Minter, New York Mets (Rostered in 5% of leagues)
This is far from a hot take, but Edwin Diaz doesn't look right. His velocity is down, his ERA is close to six, and he isn't making hitters look silly like he used to. It wouldn't be surprising to see him spend some time on the injured list if his struggles continue. If that were to happen, the Mets might go to a committee of sorts, but A.J. Minter would likely be a large part of it.
Minter has had some bad luck this season, but he has elite stuff. His 4.15 ERA is paired with a 0.01 FIP (that's not a typo), and an 8:1 K:BB in four 1/3 innings. Minter is already an elite option in holds leagues and would move into a must-roster in all leagues if he were to take over the ninth.
Remember, this is completely speculative right now, but Minter is around for free in 95 percent of leagues and could be a huge difference maker.
AJ Minter's 3Ks in the 7th pic.twitter.com/kExC4mPuHZ
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 4, 2025
Emilio Pagan, Cincinnati Reds (Rostered in 19% of leagues)
Alexis Diaz is working his way back from the hamstring injury that forced him to start this season on the injured list. For now, though, it looks like it'll continue being veteran Emilio Pagan for the Reds in save situations. This is a very temporary add, though, as Diaz has already made three rehab appearances with the Triple-A Louisville Bats.
Diaz should be back sooner rather than later, so those among the 19 percent rostering Pagan may want to look into some of the other arms mentioned in today's article. Once he's back up to speed, there's no reason to believe this won't be Diaz's job to keep.
Alexis Diaz today at AAA-Louisville in his third game of his rehab assignment:
1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K
25 pitches, 13 strikes#Reds #RedsMiLBpic.twitter.com/GS78zYXAtf— Chatterbox Sports (@CBoxSports) April 9, 2025
Seth Halvorsen, Colorado Rockies (Rostered in 20% of leagues)
Victor Vodnik, Colorado Rockies (Rostered in 1% of leagues)
Jake Bird, Colorado Rockies (Rostered in 0% of leagues)
It's getting harder and harder to recommend any Rockies reliever for any fantasy league. Seth Halvorsen is the closer, but he has just one save and a 5.06 ERA. Victor Vodnik figures to be the next up, but he also has just one save and an even worse 7.20 ERA. The most effective Rockies reliever has been Jake Bird, who has a hold this season and one save in his career (from last season).
Someone has to close games for the Rockies, and we know that manager Bud Black generally prefers mostly set roles in his bullpen, so whoever it ends up being will have some fantasy value. Bird might be the word if Halvorsen and Vodnik keep coughing up runs at these rates, but for now, it's much more of a wait-and-see than it is a run-to-the-waiver-wire for a Colorado reliever.
Jake Bird's 5 Consecutive Strikeouts. pic.twitter.com/BDKyVUQvHf
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 6, 2025
Short Relief: More Bullpen Notes
New York Yankees
Devin Williams is struggling with his new team, as he's already allowed more runs (five) in just three innings than he did in all 21 2/3 innings he pitched last season (three). He also has a 5:4 K:BB and a 12.00 ERA. He'll obviously improve on these numbers soon (a 3.67 FIP is a good sign), but results matter so if he keeps struggling, Luke Weaver could potentially jump back into the closer role he was in last season.
Weaver has been struggling with his control a bit, but is still getting great swing-and-miss numbers and hasn't allowed a run yet. He's currently rostered in 24 percent of leagues and should be a starter in all holds formats. It's not a move to make just yet in standard leagues, but it's something to think about and keep an eye on just in case.
San Diego Padres
There was a lot of concern about Robert Suarez at the end of the Padres' bullpen heading into this season. He struggled to a 15.43 ERA in spring training after slumping in the second half of last season (1.67 ERA in the first half, 4.28 in the second). People were wondering who would be next in line in San Diego. Jason Adam? Jeremiah Estrada?
Robert Suarez. Still. He's pitched six scoreless innings, allowing just two walks but no hits, and has struck out seven. He leads the league in saves with six. I think Robert Suarez is going to be just fine, folks.
Robert Suarez’s fastball remains incredibly nasty…
Tonight it averaged:
17.9” iVB
8.5” Horizontal Break
-4.5 (Vertical Approach Angle)
99.3 MPHSuarez is yet to allow a hit this season. pic.twitter.com/qdPVylYQqe
— Clark Fahrenthold (@CFahrenthold11) April 8, 2025
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