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Ryan Kirksey's top fantasy baseball closers to stash and waiver wire pickups for Week 12 of 2025. His favorite relief pitchers to add for sneaky waiver wire saves.
Among closers who started the year looking impenetrable, we are seeing some cracks in their armor. Most teams have established their bullpen pecking order at this point in the fantasy baseball season, but are still willing to change it if pitchers start to struggle. Injuries are also beginning to mount, which is causing upheaval in several bullpens around the league.
Teams like Seattle, Washington, Atlanta, and San Diego had zero questions about their closers after the first six weeks of the season. But with recent developments, will these teams start to explore new options? Playoff hopefuls like San Diego, Atlanta, and Seattle might be candidates for a shorter leash down the stretch.
If you are hunting for saves, then consider stashing some top relievers who currently aren't their team's top option in the ninth inning. In this article, I'll provide some of the top options to stash widely available in Yahoo leagues. To stay up to date with all the latest developments in the world of relief pitching, be sure to check out our Fantasy Baseball Closer Depth Charts for saves, holds, and bullpens.
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Fantasy Baseball Closer Handcuffs
In this section, I'll highlight some of the established setup men who are the clear backup to an established, firmly entrenched closer on their team. These teams have absolute clarity for right now, but each of these pitchers is just an injury or a sudden cold streak away from being promoted to the closer. From this group, I believe the one closest to gaining a closer job right now is Jason Adam.
Jason Adam, San Diego Padres (39% rostered)
Robert Suarez was flawless to start the season, and leads all of baseball with 21 saves. But he has a 13.80 ERA over the last two weeks, while Jason Adam is at 1.54 for the season, has 17 holds, and strikes out more than 10 batters per nine innings. If there are any more struggles for Suarez, they could give him a break for a while and rely on Adam.
Randy Rodriguez, San Francisco Giants (28% rostered)
Camilo Doval has been just alright recently with a 4.50 ERA in the last 14 days. On one hand, he is striking out 12 men per nine, but on the other, he is walking six batters per nine. That won't stand for a team with new designs on a long playoff run. Randy Rodriguez has the lowest ERA in the league (0.90) and strikes out over 13 batters per nine innings.
Randy Rodríguez has ICE in his veins, striking out the first batter he faces out of the bullpen 🥶 pic.twitter.com/kHM4bnmBvH
— MLB (@MLB) June 5, 2025
Lucas Erceg, Kansas City Royals (28% rostered)
Keep an eye on Carlos Estevez, who has a 2.05 ERA on the season, but it's 3.38 with just 8.8 strikeouts per nine over the last two weeks. Erceg, meanwhile, has not allowed an earned run in that time.
Bryan Abreu, Houston Astros (25% rostered)
The Houston Astros are very clear about their late-inning intentions, which is why Abreu has zero saves on the season. Josh Hader has been incredible, so there is no imminent action here, but Abreu would jump up to a top-5 spot if something happened to Hader. Monday night's walk-off homer run aside, Abreu has an ERA right around 2.00 and is at 11 K/9.
Abner Uribe, Milwaukee Brewers (22% rostered)
Trevor Megill has certainly been better than expected, with a 2.96 ERA and 15 saves. However, should there be a need, Abner Uribe has established himself as an absolute force in the bullpen. His 1.31 ERA and 32% strikeout rate are among the best in baseball.
Reed Garrett, New York Mets (16% rostered)
If not for Rodriguez, Reed Garrett's 0.95 ERA would lead the entire league. He also strikes out almost 11 batters per nine innings, and his fastball is hitting above 98 miles per hour on average this season.
Hunter Gaddis, Cleveland Guardians (15% rostered)
While Cade Smith has been just as good, Hunter Gaddis is likely the next man up if something happens to Emmanuel Clase in Cleveland. Gaddis doesn't have a career save, but has been a lights-out high-leverage reliever for Cleveland for three seasons now.
Matt Brash, Seattle Mariners (5% rostered)
After a rough patch, Andres Munoz has settled down with a 0.00 ERA over his last two weeks. Matt Brash (9.5 strikeouts per nine) doesn't have the powerful stuff of Munoz (11.7 this season), but he has a 0.00 ERA over 12 innings since coming back from injury.
Mariners RP Matt Brash - AKA “The Fireman” has been LIGHTS OUT this season.
🔥 12.1 Innings Pitched
🔥 0 Earned Runs AllowedSeattle has a DISGUSTING duo between Brash & Muñoz. pic.twitter.com/UtFnaSPsW7
— SleeperMLB (@SleeperMLB) June 14, 2025
Bryan Baker, Baltimore Orioles (5% rostered)
Bryan Baker might have the least name recognition on this list, but fantasy managers should get familiar with his game. His 35.7% strikeout rate is among the top marks of all setup men in MLB. The Orioles are surging, but Yennier Cano doesn't have a save in his last six outings.
Relievers With Closer Potential on Teams With Closer Uncertainty
Ryan Pressly, Chicago Cubs (54% rostered)
Ryan Pressly started the season as the closer for the Chicago Cubs, but after a memorable implosion where he gave up eight earned runs without getting an out on May 6th. After that, Daniel Palencia was given the ninth inning, but Pressly has been sneaky good since then. He has not allowed an earned run since that blow-up and locked down a save in a game Palencia wasn't available.
Tommy Kahnle, Detroit Tigers (37% rostered)
Will Vest is currently day-to-day with a finger injury, but is likely to avoid the IL. Kahnle proved earlier this season that he can close (eight saves on the season). While technically listed as c0-closers, this is a fluid situation, and Kahnle is certainly in line for more ninth innings this season.
Chris Martin, Texas Rangers (21% rostered)
Robert Garcia and Luke Jackson have both accumulated more than five saves for the Texas Rangers and serve as co-closers, but Martin has been better than both of them. Martin has a 1.61 ERA, 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings, and a devastating 95 miles per hour fastball at his disposal.
Dennis Santana, Pittsburgh Pirates (16% rostered)
David Bednar's start to the season was horrific, and he had an ERA over 5.00 as recently as May 24th. While he has been much better since, Dennis Santana has five saves when Bednar was sent to the minor leagues to work on his pitches. If issues arise again, Santana and his 1.74 ERA stand ready to take back over the ninth.
Dennis Santana, Nasty 89mph Changeup. 👌 pic.twitter.com/cru6HwYpsm
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 17, 2025
Alex Vesia, Los Angeles Dodgers (18% rostered)
Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates have been shaky at times for a Dodgers team that is World Series or bust. Vesia, on the other hand, has a 2.64 ERA and a 35.8% strikeout rate. Vesia has three saves already and certainly could end up with five to eight more this year.
Dylan Lee, Atlanta Braves (7% rostered)
When will the Atlanta Braves pull the plug on Raisel Iglesias? He has a 6.23 ERA on the season, including 9.82 over the last two weeks. Meanwhile, Dylan Lee is sitting on a 2.03 ERA, more than a strikeout per inning, and zero home runs or walks allowed over the last 14 days.
Ryan Thompson, Arizona Diamondbacks, (1% rostered)
Justin Martinez is now on the 60-Day IL and might be lost for the season. Shelby Miller is the nominal closer right now, but Ryan Thompson is the right-handed setup option in the bullpen and has saved eight games since 2021. Thompson has some bad BABIP luck this year, but his walk rate has been phenomenal.
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