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Bryan Baker Picks Up his 13th Save, a Must-Add Off Waiver Wire
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Bryan Baker has been great in 2026, with a 2.66 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings pitched. He picked up his 13th save of the season on Tuesday against Baltimore and is now third in MLB with 16 save opportunities and 13 saves on the season, trailing only Mason Miller and Cade Smith in both. Not only has Baker looked solid on the surface, but his 2.53 xERA, .187 xBA, and 85.9 mph average exit velo all rank in the 90th percentile or better, and he has great swing and miss stuff, which is evident by his 29.3 percent strikeout rate. He has proven to be Kevin Cash's top option to close out games. Because it is the Rays, fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if Baker, every so often, is used in the 7th or 8th inning in a high-leverage situation, but overall, they should feel comfortable knowing they have a top 5 closer given the current state of closers in 2026.
Source: Baseball Savant
Source: Baseball Savant
