Nick Mariano's Closer Rankings and Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 4)

April 17, 2026

Nick Mariano's top 50 closer fantasy baseball rankings, breakouts and closer waiver wire pickups for saves and holds - updated rankings for Week 4 of 2026.

The Mariano Bullpen conglomerate is pleased to offer you, the dear readers, a one-stop shop article with my rest-of-season closer ranks and waiver wire recommendations! This piece will focus on our updated fantasy baseball closers rankings for Week 4 of 2026, and provide you with a tiered closers rankings table and relievers to add. We'll check in on the closer waiver wire, trade targets, cut candidates, and more.

Bullpen analysis has always been reserved for the slightly insane, but 2026 feels like a particularly strong bucking bronco. Some are blaming the World Baseball Classic, but Team USA's Mason Miller is paving a Cy Young campaign from the ninth inning. And there are so many teams that refuse to name a set closer, which leaves us trying to identify the best available talent to play.

With another chaos-filled Thursday unfolding as this column gets written, let's all reassess RPs with my top 50 fantasy baseball closer leaderboard. Once we've established the landscape with that, we'll dig into some actionable moves. Without further ado, let's get to my ranks and waiver adds, accompanied by tiers and Yahoo rostered rate, with most stats gathered through April 16.

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Top 50 Closers: Fantasy Baseball Rankings (Week 4)

Mariano's Closers Fantasy Baseball Analysis, Waiver Wire Pickups

Many of the closer candidates in the 40-60% rostered band have been widely discussed, so we'll aim lower for this week's chat. Respect the Tier 1++ demarcation, as everyone in Tier 2 has something up. Perhaps Jhoan Duran deserves Tier 2 to himself? Don't forget to check our daily updates on the closer depth charts!!

**UPDATE: Daniel Palencia hits the IL with a strained oblique, brutal. Phil Maton and Hunter Harvey are already on the IL!

Ben Brown, Chicago Cubs (1%)
Caleb Thielbar, Chicago Cubs (2%)

Palencia's injury burns, as he hadn't pitched since Sunday and he was so good at the WBC. With no clear experienced closing option, perhaps we get Ben Brown (14:5 K:BB in 14 2/3 IP) and his strong knuckle curve in the ninth. He would slot around the 30th slot in the ranks table.

Thielbar (and Hoby Milner) could see left-handed opportunities, but Brown is where the fantasy ceiling lies. It's a longshot, but oblique injuries can linger, so throw a dart if you can. We'll see if Craig Counsell provides clarity in the meantime.

Alex Vesia, Los Angeles Dodgers (22%)
Tanner Scott, Los Angeles Dodgers (16%)

Edwin Diaz is dealing with diminished velocity (and results), though slower Aprils are his “new norm” following the 2023 knee injury at the World Baseball Classic. In 2024, he was fantastic in April (10 ⅔ IP, 3 ER, 17:4 K:BB) before a tough May. But April ‘25 was worse (12 IP, 6 ER, 20:7 K:BB) before a nearly perfect May.

I don't think it's a coincidence that his worst game came after the whole "brimless hat" picture came to light. It's horrible.

Never seen this before.

Edwin Díaz rolled out to stretch today in a brimless hat. Just a regular Dodger cap with the bill sliced off. He said Tanner Scott started the trend. pic.twitter.com/tKEi1TaUs9

— Jake Mintz (@Jake_Mintz) April 7, 2026

Vesia and Scott have been reliable thus far and are worth rostering on their own, even with just a sporadic rogue save. Fun fact, going into Thursday, Vesia's 83.4 mph average exit velocity on flies and liners was the sixth-lowest mark among 378 qualified arms.

Bryan Baker, Tampa Bay Rays (18%)

Baker blew a save last Saturday, but he got a six-pitch cheap save on Tuesday and handled Thursday’s save with little issue. He did start the frame with a leadoff walk, but if Tampa had an ABS challenge remaining, it would’ve overturned that to a strikeout. Therefore, I petition that he actually has an 8:1 K:BB through 7 ⅓ IP!

Griffin Jax allowed two runners alongside two outs in the sixth, so he’s still far off. Edwin Uceta’s rehab assignment moved to Triple-A on Wednesday and resulted in a mixed bag (five hits, but three strikeouts in 1 ⅓ IP). Everyone is caught up on the future committee mess, but Kevin Cash may simply trust Baker with the gig moving forward.

Tony Santillan, Cincinnati Reds (18%)

With Emilio Pagan’s hamstring barking, Santillan becomes a strong add where possible. He had seven saves and 33 holds last year, illustrating clear trust from Terry Francona. The 2.33 ERA/1.11 WHIP enjoyed some good fortune (3.72 FIP and SIERA), with a 24.9% K rate nosediving from the whopping 37.7% clip seen in 30 IP the year before.

And while I’m not enamored with his six walks in eight innings, a .152 xBA with zero barrels affords you a few extra walks. Hopefully, his control regresses alongside the bats coming around. Let’s see how Pagan’s next couple of appearances go.

Drew Pomeranz, Los Angeles Angels (4%)

Jordan Romano got wrecked at Yankee Stadium, supplying two blown save/loss combo meals while retiring only one of his nine batters faced. His recent years shouldn’t afford him a long leash, but injuries to Kirby Yates (knee) and Ben Joyce (shoulder) gave Romano an early bump.

Jordan Romano early modeling scores:

69 Location+
69 Pitching+

Nice? Those (dis)respectfully rank 380th and 381st out of 382 Ps with 5+ IP. Gooooooooood

— Nick Mariano (@NMariano53) April 16, 2026

Yates’ rehab assignment should start soon, making him a solid stash. But Pomeranz has stabilized after a three-run affair on March 29, including a pair of four-out holds in each of Romano’s implosion games.

Both Chase Silseth and Sam Bachman are running early walk rates north of 20%. I still like Ryan Zeferjahn, but he’s been given fewer leverage spots to operate in lately.

Enyel De Los Santos, Houston Astros (3%)

Houston was in trouble with Josh Hader out and Bryan Abreu unable to throw strikes, but De Los Santos has helped since returning from an early right knee strain. He’s logged their last two saves and is throwing the changeup very confidently, which makes him a true three-pitch arm rather than a fastball-slider guy with the rare offspeed dropped in.

This is likely a short-term theater with Hader working back, but an arm injury is ripe for setbacks. Bryan King is proving a steady southpaw, though he’s needed wherever the left-handedness demands. Abreu looked better on Wednesday, but still allowed a steal, uncorked a wild pitch, and walked the first batter faced before settling in.

Joel Kuhnel, Athletics (11%)

Kuhnel has come out hot with three saves in ‘26 after failing to make an impression as a journeyman reliever, playing for six different Triple-A affiliates in 2024-25 alone. He threw a bit of everything the last time we saw him, a kitchen-sink arsenal if you will. He’s now rocking a 61.5% sinker usage to the top, with a cutter (29%) and occasional changeup (8%) rounding him out.

Simply put, the A’s are desperate for a champion to emerge from their bullpen. Jack Perkins has a bright future, but they understandably prefer using him in multi-inning spots. Now, a sinkerballer isn’t going to live on a .083 BABIP, but good control and being tough to square up can go places. Ride the wave before the carriage becomes a pumpkin.

Erik Miller, San Francisco Giants (0%)

Miller closed the door on the Reds with three strikeouts (with emphasis following the heated series) to cap off an incredible three-inning effort from the southpaw, Keaton Winn, and Ryan Walker.

Walker, Winn and Miller today:

3.0 IP | 0 H | 0 R | 1 BB | 6 K pic.twitter.com/hROsRFXGFj

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) April 16, 2026

It was Miller’s first save and drags his 6.00 ERA down towards the 1.82 FIP, but I must note another walk that gives him a 6.0 BB/9 that aligns with his lofty career mark over 103 ⅓ IP. Being a groundballer with whiffs allows you to work around some self-induced traffic, but it must be addressed.

Everyone is panicking about Walker’s seventh-inning usage, and that may be warranted, but the context could loom large. The game was tied 0-0 after six frames, and the scorching Sal Stewart was leading off the seventh. Given earlier usage and comments from Tony Vitello, it’s very possible that Ryan Walker was warming up to take on Stewart at this point.

Then the Giants scored three to take the lead with the snowball already rolling downhill. Vitello is clearly not attached to Walker in the ninth to the point where he’d sit him to rush someone else up. Walker, Miller, and Winn have been named as options, so they’re all in play.

Gus Varland, Washington Nationals (1%)

Varland snuck back onto the scene with back-to-back saves earlier in the week, which stands out in such an ambiguous, low-ceiling bullpen. Of course, Thursday saw him take the last two outs of the seventh after Washington gained a 7-6 lead. Still, what followed may lead to more save chances for the veteran.

Cionel Perez got the eighth, likely due to Brandon Lowe leading off. Clayton Beeter blew the save via two walks, a hit by pitch, and an RBI single, but wound up with the win after Dennis Santana let the placed runner score in the 10th. Orlando Ribalta wound up with the save, but he entered play with a career 7.53 ERA and 28:19 K:BB in 28 ⅔ IP.

Short Relief: More Closers and Bullpen Notes

-Matt Brash and Jose A. Ferrer will gain attention as Andres Munoz tries to regain the feel for his slider. The closer’s wild 10:5 K:BB and 9.45 ERA/1.95 WHIP comes with a .412 BABIP (.273 career).

Caught up with Andrés Muñoz, who detailed why his slider has remained a challenge -- it's a grip issue, which he notices immediately coming out of hand.

He's primarily consulted Trent Blank on this, but has also reached out to mentor Joakim Soria.

"I need to find myself again."

— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) April 16, 2026

-The saves leader for the season so far is Arizona’s Paul Sewald, with six. Congratulations to the Driveline Baseball backers of the universe. He gives up some hard contact, but the 10:0 K:BB is crispy.

-Erik Sabrowski is still your holds leader at seven, with Juan Morillo and Santillan one behind him.

-Aaron Ashby captured his fifth win of the year with a one-out appearance on Thursday. While we can’t give in to the hot-hand fallacy, this is what can happen for relievers who are constantly used in high-leverage spots across the late innings.

-Trevor Megill struck out a pair during a 1-2-3 eighth inning, which must’ve led to a massive collective exhale from both Megill and Pat Murphy. We’ll see if it’s Abner Uribe or Megill next. I’m not reading much into Angel Zerpa’s Thursday save, as we know he’s the top lefty, especially with Jared Koenig out.

-Ryan Helsley has pushed through some bad luck and holds a 2.45 ERA/2.54 SIERA, with the latter figure ranking 37th among 230 RPs (min. 5 IP) heading into Thursday. Great, right? Well, yes, but he ranks fifth on his own team. Rico Garcia (29th, 2.42), Anthony Nunez (8th, 1.41), Grant Wolfram (5th, 1.11), and Yennier Cano (2nd, 0.39) are all dazzling!

-Riley O'Brien’s 0.91 SIERA ranks third, by the way. His swift rise up the closer ranks leaderboard is deserved, especially with so much uncertainty in the middle tiers.

-David Bednar’s average fastball velocity rose to 96.3 mph after living in the 94-95 range. He blamed the cold weather, but springtime is here (we hope).

-Jakob Junis was thrown into the fireman spot as the A’s threatened Texas in the seventh inning. He handled that but then got lifted after loading the bases with two outs in the eighth.

Mother Nature then blew a would-be flyout away from Wyatt Langford’s glove, which resulted in a bases-clearing double. I’m not going to let that dig at me (much).

that is certainly one way to lose a game pic.twitter.com/GnZdA2uR4E

— kennedi landry (@kennlandry) April 16, 2026

-Cade Smith entered the ninth after Parker Messick lost his no-hit bid, and the closer’s command still looks iffy. The five balls in play were a 105.5 mph single, 99.1 mph (355 ft) sac fly, 100.4 mph double, 101.8 mph flyout, and a 107.5 mph groundout. Perhaps he thought Messick was going the distance, but you can’t do that and be a star closer.

-Carlos Estevez expects to kickstart a rehab assignment by this weekend. The first velocity readings will speak volumes. Lucas Erceg entered Thursday with a horrid 15.5% CSW rate and whopping 94% zone-contact rate against, and then gave up three runs in the loss. But Matt Strahm hasn’t been sharp either, so there’s little to do here but wait on Estevez.

-Antonio Senzatela is kind of amazing out of the bullpen?

Antonio Senzatela, the reliever btw:

12 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 15:3 K:BB

— Nick Mariano (@NMariano53) April 15, 2026

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