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David's closers and saves fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and bullpen report for Week 11 (2025). His relief pitcher updates, and closers to add for saves.
School's out for summer (in most places, I still have another week of teaching before sweet freedom), and baseball season is completely, totally, and thoroughly in full swing. Big bullpen news this week with injuries falling upon one of baseball's best, and confusion and almost predictable chaos around the rest of the league.
A formerly elite closer slogs his way back into a closer's role, a team gets three saves in three days from three different relievers, and a questionable deployment of a delicate arm. All that and more, coming right up in this week's coverage!
Let's dive into this week's report! As always, stay tapped in with our Fantasy Baseball Closer Depth Charts for saves, holds, and bullpens. They will be updated frequently throughout the 2025 baseball season as news breaks.
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Waiver Wire Pickups For Standard Leagues
Camilo Doval, San Francisco Giants (Rostered in 59% of leagues)
EDIT: Doval earned his ninth save of the year on Sunday with another scoreless outing.
New Giants closer (who has been the Giants' closer before) saw his rostered rate shoot up by almost 15 percent this week. That's still not enough, as he remains available in 41 percent of leagues. Camilo Doval is the unquestioned closer for a team winning plenty of games, and he should absolutely be rostered in almost all formats.
Doval was unavailable due to a high workload in a game this week, leading to Ryan Walker stepping back into a save chance, only to need Randy Rodriguez to finish the game after Walker could only get one out. Rodriguez has been elite and may see his role push him past Walker in the hierarchy before long, but it's undoubtedly still Doval at the end of a game.
He took a blown save in an extra-inning game this week, but before the two runs he allowed in that game, he hadn't let a runner cross the plate since April 7. He returned right after his blown save and earned his eighth save of the year in Thursday's game. Check your waiver wires and add Doval immediately if he's still there.
Camilo Doval getting some of the Worst Swings/Swords you'll see. pic.twitter.com/pDNBMA3d7j
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 17, 2025
Robert Garcia, Texas Rangers (Rostered in 20% of leagues)
Chris Martin, Texas Rangers (Rostered in 20% of leagues)
EDIT: Robert Garcia got the save in Sunday's game, recording the last four outs in a two-run win.
It looks like the Rangers have mercifully ended the Luke Jackson experiment, at least in the ninth inning. Lefty Robert Garcia has taken over closing duties in Texas and has relegated Jackson to a setup role.
Garcia went through a small rough patch in which he allowed one earned run for three outings in a row, but then he had two scoreless outings in a row, striking out four and allowing just one hit. Unfortunately, that trend did not continue, as he blew a save and took a loss on Thursday after allowing three runs while only getting two outs.
Veteran Chris Martin (shoulder) has been on the injured list for about three weeks now, but he was activated on Friday and will be rejoining the Rangers bullpen. If he's healthy, he should mix in for saves and will likely join Garcia in a committee of sorts in Texas.
Justin Martinez, Arizona Diamondbacks (Rostered in 54% of leagues)
Shelby Miller, Arizona Diamondbacks (Rostered in 22% of leagues)
The Diamondbacks' bullpen may be starting to shape up, or may be starting to get even more confusing. It's so hard to tell these days. Since coming off the injured list, Justin Martinez has pitched four times. He had one bad outing, his first, two good outings, and then one weird-but-ultimately-good outing most recently.
Martinez came into a one-run lead in the eighth inning with one out and two runners on base. He got two strikeouts to wrap up that inning, then came back out for the ninth. Two walks, a wild pitch, and a hit-by-pitch in the ninth inning made things very difficult for Martinez, but he got away with the save thanks to an insurance run from his offense in between his innings.
The fact that he threw 37 pitches wasn't the most closer-like thing to happen, but the fact that he was called upon in the highest possible leverage moment of the game certainly was. Shelby Miller also continues to get leverage work and figures to mix in with Martinez at times, but it's starting to look like Martinez could be the guy in the Arizona pen. Miller was the guy in for the save on Thursday, but Martinez was never going to pitch the day after throwing that many pitches, so it's not much to look into right now.
It took Justin Martinez 37 pitches (and four walks), but he nails down the five-out save in a big win for the Diamondbacks.
1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 K. pic.twitter.com/puojhzeUMJ
— Alex D’Agostino (@AlexDagAZ) June 5, 2025
Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves (Rostered in 1% of leagues)
Pierce Johnson, Atlanta Braves (Rostered in 1% of leagues)
Dylan Lee, Atlanta Braves (Rostered in 5% of leagues)
Rafael Montero, Atlanta Braves (Rostered in 1% of leagues)
EDIT: Craig Kimbrel made one appearance for the Braves in 2025 and then was designated for assignment. That was fun while it lasted?
The Braves have a closer problem and no clear, easy solution. Veteran closer Raisel Iglesias is having a rough year. He's carrying a 6.75 ERA alongside a 3-5 record, four blown saves, and eight saves. In eight of his last 11 outings, he's allowed at least one run with 20 hits and 12 runs total across those 10 innings.
Thursday was another Iglesias meltdown, as he coughed up the game by giving up three runs on four hits and a walk while getting just two outs. The guys listed above have been pitching in leverage situations for the Braves this year and are the four guys with multiple holds on the team (besides Craig Kimbrel, for now).
Lee is a lefty who usually matches up in the late innings (but he's actually been better against righty hitters this season). Daysbel Hernandez had been the primary eighth-inning guy, but he was forced to leave Wednesday's game with an injury and has been placed on the injured list. Montero has 30 saves in his career, giving him almost twice as many as the other two non-Kimbrel guys combined.
Speaking of Kimbrel! The Braves summoned Kimbrel from Triple-A after Thursday's game. He's been solid in the minor leagues so far this year, pitching 18 innings to the tune of a 2.00 ERA with 23 strikeouts and nine walks (14 2/3 innings at the Triple-A level, 3 1/3 in Double-A). It's unclear what Kimbrel's role will be right away upon arriving in Atlanta, but his 440 career saves certainly make him one of the more likely options.
The Braves clearly need to make a move here, but the move itself remains unclear. Check in later in the weekend for any updates!
Raisel Iglesias is COOKED, blows a 10-7 lead with the help of Scott Blewitt (lol) who originally had a 10-4 lead, the ANSWERBACKS are so back pic.twitter.com/yNSboJMubh
— Goldschmidt Happened (@GoldyHappens) June 5, 2025
Daniel Palencia, Chicago Cubs (Rostered in 46% of leagues)
All Daniel Palencia does now is save games. The 25-year-old had one save in his major league career as of May 20 this year. Then, he appeared five times and earned five saves. Each of Palencia's last five outings has ended with him locking down a victory for the Cubs. He also hasn't allowed a run in that span and only one hit.
Palencia's rostered rate has grown immensely over the past two weeks, but he currently remains available in over half of fantasy leagues. He's locked in as the Cubs' closer and should be rostered everywhere at this point.
Daniel Palencia bringing 101-mph GAS to end it ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/0LPRUGtNJH
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) May 31, 2025
Will Vest, Detroit Tigers (Rostered in 56% of leagues)
Tommy Kahnle, Detroit Tigers (Rostered in 35% of leagues)
EDIT: Will Vest picked up his 10th save of the season on Friday.
The Tigers continue to attack the ninth inning with a two-headed monster made up of Will Vest and Tommy Kahnle. The two have combined for 17 saves this season, with nine on Vest's ledger and eight on Kahnle's. Vest has appeared in 27 games, Kahnle in 25. Vest has a 1.80 ERA/2.27 FIP, Kahnle's at 1.35 ERA/3.11 FIP.
The two are remarkably similar, with one noticeable difference: Vest has five wins and a 5-0 record, Kahnle has yet to record a decision, maintaining a 0-0 record. This week, Vest picked up two saves and a win, Kahnle earned a save and two holds. Vest still appears to be ever so slightly ahead of Kahnle in the pecking order, and it shows with their rostered rates. Both should be more widely rostered, however, as both have been solid for ratios besides their saves and holds.
Will Vest, Dirty 89mph Slider. 😨 pic.twitter.com/3dfLsNRWZw
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 10, 2025
Waiver Wire Pickups For Deeper Leagues
David Bednar, Pittsburgh Pirates (Rostered in 45% of leagues)
EDIT: Bednar earned his eighth save of the year in Saturday's win over the Phillies.
The Pirates look like they've finally landed on a closer, and it's the guy who was there all along: David Bednar. While Dennis Santana made some noise in the ninth this season and pitched well, it's been Bednar who has earned four of the last five saves for Pittsburgh.
Santana remains solid in holds leagues, but Bednar should be rostered in deeper saves formats right now, and he's still available in more than half of leagues. He got off to a rough start this season, but he has a 2.89 ERA since April 1 and a 1.63 FIP to back it up.
David Bednar, Painted 80mph Curveball. 🖌️🎨 pic.twitter.com/huJ32UMSjv
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 1, 2025
Short Relief: More Bullpen Notes
-This week's saves leader is Felix Bautista, with three. "The Mountain" looks like he's back!
-The holds lead for the week goes to Tyler Rogers with four holds in three innings pitched.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers' bullpen is in shambles. Kind of. Tanner Scott has been struggling a lot lately, putting up a 12.86 ERA since May 20 and only earning two saves in that entire month. Manager Dave Roberts said the team has "no dedicated closer" right now, so we'll see them mix and match likely based on usage and opposing batters. Scott looked much better on Thursday, allowing one hit and striking out two en route to his 11th save of the season.
Alex Vesia picked up the only Dodgers save of the week, with Scott, Ben Casparius, and Jack Dreyer picking up one hold each. Vesia (17% rostered) could see some more save chances, but it feels like one of those bullpens where no one specific pitcher will see consistent ninth-inning work.
With Michael Kopech (shoulder) and Kirby Yates (hamstring) expected to rejoin the team this weekend, there could be a three or four member committee brewing in Los Angeles.
RECOMMENDATION: Pick up Vesia for now if you're desperate for saves or if he's available in your holds league. Add Kopech or Yates if you like a little added risk with your potential saves.
New York Yankees
EDIT: Williams earned his seventh save of the year on Friday.
The big bullpen news of the week was Luke Weaver being forced to head to the injured list with a hamstring strain. Weaver has been elite all year, putting up eight saves and a 1.05 ERA. He's allowed three runs all season, and two of them came in his last three appearances.
Devin Williams, who was the Yankees' closer when the season started, will return to the role at least while Weaver is hurt. Williams hasn't been too impressive this season, as shown by his 6.35 ERA, but he has improved recently. Since May 7, Williams has a 2.45 ERA, two wins, two saves, and five holds.
There's a chance he takes off with the role and keeps it when Weaver returns, but Williams barely escaped with a save in his first chance after Weaver's IL move, so Weaver's fantasy managers shouldn't be too concerned.
RECOMMENDATION: Williams is rostered in 87% of leagues, but if he happens to be on your wire, pick him up. Weaver (57% rostered) should be picked up anywhere he's been dropped by any managers with an open IL spot.
Colorado Rockies
The 2025 Colorado Rockies are tied for the most wins in baseball in the month of June. Not only did they start the month by avoiding a nine-game losing streak, but they also won their first series! Wait, not only did they win their first series...they earned a sweep! On the road!
An embarrassing three-game series for the Marlins was likely the best series of the season for the Rockies, and they finished each win with a different pitcher on the mound. Zach Agnos earned the save in the series opener, Seth Halvorsen picked it up in the middle game, and Tyler Kinley got the last three outs to lock down the sweep. Three wins, three saves, six different pitchers.
RECOMMENDATION: Send your deepest condolences to your favorite Marlins fan. (It's me. I'm your favorite Marlins fan.)
Miami Marlins
What a rough week for the Marlins. They got swept by the team people have been confidently calling the worst in baseball history, and none of them were fluke games. They were soundly outplayed and outmanaged in all three games by a team that had won nine of their 59 games coming into the series.
In the bullpen, the Marlins look like they will continue without a closer and just play the matchups. Calvin Faucher has pitched as early as the fourth inning in a game this season, but has also been saved for the ninth inning in others. Similar usage has been seen for Anthony Bender and Jesus Tinoco. Ronny Henriquez has had more of a late-inning role but has still been passed over for saves at times. (EDIT: Tinoco was placed on the IL on Friday.)
It's a committee in Miami, but after a better-than-expected start, it looks like Fish Team is indeed bad and is unlikely to provide any legitimately fantasy-relevant bullpen arms.
RECOMMENDATION: In the deepest of leagues, Calvin Faucher and Ronny Henriquez would be the guys to roster from this bullpen, but you're probably better off streaming relievers at this point.
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