Nick Mariano's Closer Rankings and Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 13)

June 19, 2026

Nick Mariano's top 50 closer fantasy baseball rankings, breakouts and closer waiver wire pickups for saves and holds - updated rankings for Week 13 of 2026.

Let's take the summer by storm and handle the heat with another updated version of my rest-of-season closer ranks and waiver wire recommendations! This column supplies our updated fantasy baseball closers rankings for Week 13 of 2026 to give you tiered closers ranks and several key relievers to add across all league types. Look for sneaky trade values even if these relievers are already rostered in your league.

Here's my chance to present my overall bullpen and closer thoughts, working in some IL stashes with the usual. Some teams are tougher to buy into, while others are flashing warning signs, despite holding onto the role. We need to read between the lines wherever possible!

Stick with us to keep up with everything in baseball through our industry-leading news notifications, which will help you stay ahead of your leaguemates. And now it's time for my top 50 fantasy baseball closer leaderboard and waiver suggestions. Note that most stats are gathered through June 18 as you digest the tiered ranks that come alongside the Yahoo rostered rates before moving on to the waiver adds.

Top 50 Closers: Fantasy Baseball Rankings (Week 13)

Mariano's Closers Fantasy Baseball Analysis, Waiver Wire Pickups

Don't forget to check our daily updates on the closer depth charts if you have more questions and want even more names!!

Jacob Latz, Texas Rangers (52%)

Yahoo! Latz soars from 43% to 52% rostered over the last week, it’s finally happening! All it took was a nearly perfect few weeks. Over the last month, he has turned eight appearances into seven saves and a win (following the stat correction from June 11). Those in shallower formats should absolutely get him above the 70% mark and rob me of the chance to praise him here.

**Paul Sewald, Pete Fairbanks, Kenley Jansen, and Gregory Soto are all near that 50-70% rostered band, making them viable buys for shallow-leaguers.

Yoendrys Gomez, Minnesota Twins (22%)

We got back-to-back perfect saves on June 14 and 15, with the latter being of the four-out variety. The Twins won’t be gunshy about using him in an earlier spot if needed, which is logical, even if it isn’t fantasy-friendly.

Now with six saves, a 21:7 K:BB, and a 1.53 ERA (2.25 FIP, 3.19 xERA) since joining the Twins, the man deserves more respect. Yahoo’s 5x5 scoring has him ranked 121st over the last 30 days, making him the RP14 in that window (omitting SP/RP guys who start).

I know the track record doesn’t exist, but his velocity is climbing as the heaters and cutters are doing work! And there is an identified mechanical change that went around on socials lately, if that makes you feel better.

the yoendrys gomez trade has been a solid win for the twins ops, coaching and science departments.

one adjustment was to his posture so his shoulders stay in line with the plate.

this has improved command/velo… pic.twitter.com/0D2zIbcaEJ

— parker hageman (@HagemanParker) June 17, 2026

Caleb Kilian, San Francisco Giants (9%)

This has to be the most lukewarm reception to a team outright naming a closer in a while. Trusting Tony Vitello and this bullpen has been a sadistic exercise thus far, but this is the most concrete stance we’ve seen yet.

Tony Vitello has officially named a closer: Caleb Kilian.

Ryan Walker will be in a “fireman” role.

— Justice delos Santos (@justdelossantos) June 12, 2026

Ryan Walker is the fireman at 27% rostered, though perhaps that is a good “dead league” barometer. Erik Miller has allowed a run or multiple baserunners in each of his last five games, and hasn’t looked good since returning from the back issue in mid-May. We haven’t seen him pitch in a week as well. Mix in Keaton Winn on the IL, and Kilian is the dude. Act accordingly.

Elvis Alvarado, Athletics (15%)

Alvarado has jumped from 1% last week, thanks to consecutive save appearances last week, although he did allow a solo homer on June 16 in a tie game. The good news is that he was used last, and looks like the man of the hour.

Perhaps he does become more solidified in the ninth inning, but Hogan Harris and Mason Barnett are holding steady. Harris is surely going to remain a saves factor as the top lefty, while Barnett is a Grant Taylor-esque producer for as long as the A’s keep him in the ‘pen.

Alex Lange, Kansas City Royals (22%)

Lange has run into some trouble of late, allowing runs in back-to-back games on June 10 and 13, but he was still the last man used in a 6-2 win on Wednesday. For now, we’ll take that as a signal that he remains the reserved closer rung on the ladder.

Jacob Webb & Caleb Thielbar, Chicago Cubs (3%, 2%)

Webb secured Wednesday’s save against the Rockies, giving him the first one after Daniel Palencia’s IL placement. He did allow a solo homer to Kyle Karros, which means he’s surrendered a run in three of his last four games. The 3.13 ERA/1.29 WHIP is still strong, and his 2.14 ERA (2.22 xERA) since May began is a step up.

The 39-year-old Thielbar saw saves during Palencia’s prior IL stint in mid-April, but then succumbed to a left hamstring strain and lost the moment. It’s been rocky since returning, as he’s allowed six runs over 11 IP (three holds). He did stabilize the eighth inning after Ethan Roberts got into trouble before Webb’s save, so he’s in the late-leverage conversation.

**Kudos to Ryan Rolison, who is another ex-Rockies pitcher finding success after leaving the altitude. He hasn’t yielded an earned run in 11 games, posting an 11:2 K:BB with only three hits allowed (all singles) in 8 ⅓ IP this June.

Grant Taylor, Chicago White Sox (23%)

We saw Seranthony Dominguez give up a run on one hit and two walks on June 14 to sneak in his first save since May 25. Taylor also gave up two runs over his two frames, but at least he didn’t walk anyone, requiring three fewer pitches than Dominguez despite double the outs. It’s not a consistent workload, but Taylor remains the best bet here.

Tony Santillan, Cincinnati Reds (9%)

Santillan has had an awful year, but a recent nudge in velocity has come with two saves in his last two games. Three of his last four appearances have seen him average 95.9-96.3 mph on the heater after going anywhere between 93-95 for much of the year. That four-seamer has a .507 SLG against after .318 in 2025, yet his .426 xSLG actually trails last year’s .441. Funky!

Tony Santillan closed out last night's win.
His fastball averaged 96.3 mph, up from his season average of 94.5, and matching his 2025 average of 96.3

He got six misses on 11 swings (55%).
2 of 2 on slurve, 1 of 1 on slider.

That's six straight scoreless appearances, with 0… pic.twitter.com/K8rfyyhfeR

— LanceMcAlister (@LanceMcAlister) June 17, 2026

Pagan is increasing his rehab and is slated to throw live batting practice on Friday. If that goes well, then a rehab assignment should be on the horizon, meaning we could see him back in the saddle before July comes. Then we will have to reassess whether his early command troubles were rooted in that nagging hammy or not.

Garrett Whitlock, Boston Red Sox (15%)

It appears that Aroldis Chapman’s hamstring is okay, as his average velocity rose nearly two full ticks on Thursday, maxing out at 100.1 mph. He took a tough-luck loss on a Fenway double off the monster, which followed a missed foulout catch attempt from Connor Wong. However, we’ve still only gotten four Chapman appearances since May 20.

Whitlock remains the hedge, retiring six of his seven batters faced with pair of Ks after returning to action from a knee injury in early June.

Short Relief: More Closers and Bullpen Notes

-Bryan Abreu does look like a preferred option for when Josh Hader is resting, but I’m still terrified of trusting him. Do what you've gotta do.

-Adrian Morejon and Jason Adam remain on standby with Mason Miller on the bereavement/family medical leave list, where he could remain through the weekend. We haven’t seen a save chance for SD since Miller left, but Morejon pitched the ninth of their 6-1 win on June 17, with Adam in the eighth.

-Riley O'Brien has had a gnarly last 30 days, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits with more walks (9) than strikeouts (7). The 6.75 ERA in that timeframe is somehow superior to the 8.74 xERA. Matt Svanson has pitched well since returning from the minors, while Ryne Stanek and George Soriano have also been steady. Perhaps STL devolves into a committee again.

-Ryan Zeferjahn snagged a one-out save on June 12 and has a wild 11:8 K:BB over 6 ⅓ IP of no-hit ball in his last six games. When he can harness the stuff, then he’s electric. And even when he can’t, he’s still capable of runs like this. Your ratios aren’t safe, but LAA needs him. Sam Bachman has hit some speed bumps, and Ben Joyce is still rehabbing.

-Since May 8, Brad Lord has quietly amassed a 1.11 ERA (2.95 xERA, 2.97 FIP) with an improved 23:8 K:BB, four wins, two holds, and a save. Clayton Beeter and Gus Varland still possess the inside track for saves, but we have to give Lord credit here.

-Daniel Espino struck out a pair during his heartwarming MLB debut after recovering from multiple shoulder surgeries, which have heavily limited him since 2022. He held a 29:15 K:BB in 18 ⅔ IP at Triple-A that would make Zeferjahn proud, but if he attacks hitters with confidence, then the whiffs could play into a valuable role in holds leagues.

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