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Mike looks at nine potential fantasy baseball breakouts, sleepers for closers and saves for Week 9 of 2026. His top relief pitcher waiver wire and trade targets for saves.
The month of May ends later this week, and the perpetual search for closers and relief pitchers who can help your rosters continues unabated. There is always help on the waiver wire if you are willing to look more deeply at the player pool.
The key caveat here is that none of these pitchers are pure closers. Some are in time shares, some are a step away from being in the role. With stats gathered through May 25th, let's talk about some pitchers to add to the roster (by waiver or trade) or watch list.
The hope here is that the pitchers listed here are available to you on the waiver wire or via trade in your league. There is help to be had if we look in the right spots. Let's break down some bullpen shenanigans going into Week 9 of the 2026 fantasy baseball season.
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Ian Seymour, Tampa Bay Rays
Syemour has been really good for the Rays. A converted starter, he has been in a top setup role this season. This past week, he has a hold, a win, and a save. On the season. Seymour has two saves, nine holds, and a 26.9% K%.
You can see that the current 4.85 ERA does not match his most recent results. In May, Seymour has been terrific with a 2.84 ERA and 0.87 WHIP. Should closer Bryan Baker need a break or a night off, Seymour should be the top saves option.
Jeff Hoffman, Toronto Blue Jays
Hoffman started the year with a tenuous grip on the closer job in Toronto. He subsequently lost it in April to Louis Varland. However, Hoffman is back in the conversation with two of the team's last four saves. He also added a hold this week.
Hoffman is such an interesting figure, as his Statcast data shows he should have better results. For example, Hoffman has a 5.09 ERA, but his xERA is 2.72. He has a video game-like 37% K% on the year. Hoffman has a 3.48 ERA in May with a win and two saves in 11 games.
Varland has done nothing to lose the closer job, but should he falter in any way, Hoffman could ease back into the top job in Toronto.
Kyle Hurt, Los Angeles Dodgers
Hurt has quietly ascended the leverage ladder in Los Angeles and is their top setup option along with lefty Alex Vesia. He is now pitching in the eighth inning, and he has been spectacular.
See his pitch tracking below. Of note to me is the difference in velocity between his four-seamer and his changeup from his small sample in the 2024 season. Hurt has a 31.6% K% and is yet to give up a barrel this season. Tanner Scott is not a sure deal; Hurt could get chances.
Richard Lovelady, Washington Nationals
Multiple teams have cut Lovelady over the last two years, but he has pitched well for the Washington Nationals, especially over the last month. The veteran lefty has earned four saves this season, pitching in multiple roles. This looks to be a committee situation for the near future.
If you look at Lovelady as the type of pitcher who could get you a few vulture saves while you are waiting for someone to return to your team, he could help you.
Clayton Beeter, Washington Nationals
The bullpen has seemed to be in flux all season in Washington, with seven different pitchers earning saves. Beeter was the preseason favorite, and just returned to action this week from an IL stint. Beeter has two saves, a 2.92 ERA, and a 24.5% K%.
What is there to like here? I like pitchers who can get a high amount of groundball outs. At this point, Beeter has a whopping 63.% groundball percentage in 12 games pitched this season. I still believe he is the best option in the Washington bullpen to get saves.
Grant Taylor, Chicago White Sox
Taylor has been an effective pitcher for the Chicago White Sox in 2026. He earned his first save this week and has a 2.45 ERA and 35.2% K% on the season. Given the recent struggles of closer Seranthony Dominguez, Taylor could work his way into save chances.
The White Sox management has consistently stated its goal to get Taylor to 100 innings this season. With the Sox surprising people with their .500 record, the team could look at Taylor in the closer role. This is one to watch carefully.
Look at his Statcast data below. He does give up some hard contact, but a high strikeout percentage, coupled with elite velocity, makes him an ideal closer candidate.
Nate Pearson, Houston Astros
It feels like we have been waiting for Pearson to impact a major league roster, and he may be able to do just that in Houston. He has only appeared in two games so far, but earned a save on Sunday, his first since 2024.
Could he become part of the leverage ladder in Houston? Even with the prospect of veteran closer Josh Hader returning, Pearson could become a dynamic part of a beleaguered bullpen.
Hogan Harris, Athletics
Keep your expectations in check, but Harris could get to double-digit saves even if he does not have the full-time closer job for the Athletics. The lefty has four saves as part of a three-man committee with Mark Leiter Jr. and Joel Kuhnel.
Harris has 27 strikeouts in 24 innings, to go with a 53.7% groundball rate and a low 84.8 MPH exit velocity. He has already matched his save total from 2025 and should continue to be in the leverage mix for the Athletics.
Keaton Winn, San Francisco Giants
Winn does not have the closer job in San Francisco right now, but is the top setup option to closer Caleb Kilian. He seems to have found a home in the bullpen after struggling as a rotation piece; in 2024, he made 12 starts, where he lost eight of those starts with a whopping 7.16 ERA.
Winn is doing the job by limiting hard contact, a paltry 85.3 MPH exit velocity, a 1.8% barrel rate, and a 24.6% hard-hit percentage. He had a hold and a win this past week.
Quick Hits:
- Dylan Lee continues to be a great setup man for the Atlanta Braves, with a win and a hold over the last week. He has eight holds, a 1.11 ERA, and a 33% K%.
- The Colorado Rockies' Jaden Hill could start drawing some interest for those looking at relief pitchers. He has nine holds, a 2.84 ERA, and a 25% K%. Antonio Senzatela's grip on the job might not be that tight.
- JoJo Romero has 15 holds for the St. Louis Cardinals, and with Riley O'Brien running through tough times the last week, could Romero end up getting some save chances?
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