Nick Mariano's Closer Rankings and Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 8)

May 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 8 of 2026.

Welcome, RotoBallers, to Nick Mariano's closer rankings for the upcoming week. This column will discuss our updated fantasy baseball closers rankings for Week 8 of the 2026 fantasy season, bringing you a tiered closers rankings table, and several key relievers to add.

This article is a way for fantasy managers to see everything closer related. We'll go through closers trending up and some closers to pick up off waivers. We'll also include a section at the bottom of this article with some bullpen notes to keep in mind moving forward. These rankings are compiled by Nick Mariano, and the write-up blurbs below the tied rankings are written by me (Joey Pollizze).

So, let's take a look at the top 50 closers in fantasy baseball for Week 8. All stats are updated through action on May 14.

Top 50 Closers: Fantasy Baseball Rankings (Week 8)

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!!

Louis Varland, Toronto Blue Jays (68%)

Louis Varland continues to operate as the Blue Jays' closer. Things have been quiet for him on the saves front recently, as he has just had one save since May 1. However, Varland is still in full control of this role. He has a 0.96 ERA, five saves, and 13 strikeouts since taking over as the team's closer on April 21. Just make sure no one dropped him amid a stretch of limited save opportunities.

Bryan Baker, Tampa Bay Rays (63%)

It's amazing what Bryan Baker has done this season. He currently ranks fourth in saves (11) and owns a 2.60 ERA across 17 1/3 innings pitched. Although Baker has gotten some work in the eighth inning in a few of his recent relief appearances, the right-hander is still seeing most of Tampa Bay's save opportunities. He has converted 11-of-14 save chances so far and is somehow still available in over 35% of Yahoo! leagues.

Bryan Baker, 99mph ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/CHiwZ1EoRP

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 12, 2026

Lucas Erceg, Kansas City Royals (61%)

Lucas Erceg should be rostered in every league, which is why he is featured in this section. Erceg has been lights out in that closer role since taking over for an injured Carlos Estevez after the first few games. The Royals reliever has 10 saves on the year and has allowed only one run over his last nine innings pitched dating back to April 21. With Estevez nursing a rotator cuff strain, this will be Erceg's job for the foreseeable future.

Seranthony Dominguez, Chicago White Sox (57%)

There are a few arms in the Chicago White Sox's bullpen that could be knocking on the door for save opportunities if Seranthony Dominguez eventually struggles. Grant Taylor has a 2.11 ERA and a 34.4% strikeout rate in 21 1/3 innings pitched, and Bryan Hudson has a 0.90 ERA and two saves this year. For now, though, Dominguez is locked in as the team's full-time closer.

He has 10 saves on the season and has pitched better recently with a 2.70 ERA across his last seven appearances.

Tanner Scott, Los Angeles Dodgers (45%)

Tanner Scott has settled into that ninth-inning role since Edwin Diaz went on the injured list. Scott has earned four saves to go with a 1.86 ERA across his last 10 appearances. Every save opportunity that the Dodgers have had since Diaz went down with an elbow injury has gone to Scott. He continues to be the closer to own in Los Angeles' bullpen.

Given that Diaz is expected to be out for multiple months, Scott should be rostered in more leagues.

Gregory Soto, Pittsburgh Pirates (42%)

It's clear that Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly prefers Gregory Soto in that closer role. The southpaw has saved three games over the past nine days, and he has been far better than Dennis Santana in the later innings. Soto has a 1.69 ERA and a 32.9% strikeout rate in 21 appearances this season. That's straight dominance on the mound.

SOTO SAYS NO-TO! 🚫

Back-to-back saves for Gregory Soto 🤫 pic.twitter.com/qm3dB3XVGK

— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) May 7, 2026

Rico Garcia, Baltimore Orioles (35%)

Rico Garcia has arguably been the most dominant reliever in baseball this season. He has allowed just one hit across 19 innings pitched and currently owns a 0.47 ERA  on the year. For as long as Ryan Helsley is out, Garcia will be a solid source of saves. The Orioles reliever has earned two saves since May 6 and also earned a hold in Monday's win as he was tasked with facing the heart of the Yankees lineup.

The good news for Garcia is that Helsley has not started throwing yet, so the 32-year-old should see more save chances moving forward.

Jacob Latz, Texas Rangers (35%)

Jacob Latz got plummeted in his most recent save opportunity on Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He failed to record an out while giving up three runs on three hits with one walk. However, Latz is still the closer to own in this Texas bullpen. The left-hander pitched for the third time in four days, and manager Skip Schumaker acknowledged that it was "not fair" to put him in again.

Outside of this blown save chance on Wednesday, Latz has been nails in that ninth-inning role. He has earned five saves since April 25.

Graham Ashcraft, Cincinnati Reds (15%) 

With Emilio Pagan out between four and eight weeks, saves are likely to be distributed among multiple relievers. But Graham Ashcraft has a prime opportunity to earn some of those saves. He has worked the ninth inning in each of his last two appearances and has posted better all-around numbers than Tony Santillan this year. Ashcraft's 1.66 ERA and 29.4% strikeout rate could play well in that closer role until Pagan returns.

Gus Varland, Washington Nationals (13%)

Gus Varland has already picked up four saves this season and appears to be the preferred closer option for manager Blake Butera. While his numbers are a bit worrisome (4.50 ERA and a 1.500 WHIP), he could be a source of saves. Varland has two saves and one hold in his last five appearances dating back to April 30.

Caleb Kilian, San Francisco Giants (8%)

The San Francisco Giants are going to need a reliever to step up in that closer role, especially with Ryan Walker being optioned to Triple-A on Sunday. In the team's first save opportunity since Walker's demotion, it was Caleb Kilian who earned the save. He threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings with one strikeout against the Dodgers on Tuesday. He's the reliever to own on this Giants team.

Ryan Zeferjahn, Los Angeles Angels (2%)

The Los Angeles Angels haven't had many save opportunities in the month of May. But the only time they have, that save chance went to Ryan Zeferjahn. Zeferjahn threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings with two walks and three strikeouts against the White Sox in his only save chance this month. He might not get many save opportunities on this Angels team, but he should be the top choice to earn chances when there is one.

Ryan Zeferjahn's Sweeper was the Highest Grading tjStuff+ Pitch from yesterday pic.twitter.com/ICDhSFyJek

— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) April 30, 2026

Short Relief: More Closers and Bullpen Notes

- Paul Sewald blew his first save of the season on Wednesday, allowing three runs on three hits against the Texas Rangers. But Sewald is in no position to lose his closer job. He was a perfect 9-for-9 on save opportunities prior to Wednesday's blown save.

- Erik Sabrowski has been phenomenal in high-leverage spots for the Guardians this season. He has a 1.86 ERA, 35 strikeouts, and 16 holds across 19 1/3 innings of work. If anything ever happens to Cade Smith, Sabrowski could be next in line for save opportunities.

-Trevor Megill has thrown the ball well since losing his closer job in mid-April. The Brewers reliever has a 1.80 ERA and 14 strikeouts in his last 10 appearances. Abner Uribe is still Milwaukee's go-to closer in the ninth inning, but keep an eye on how Uribe does moving forward.

-Despite some struggles a few weeks ago, Kenley Jansen has returned to dominating in that ninth-inning role. He saved a game against the Kansas City Royals on May 10 and struck out all three batters he faced in Wednesday's non-save situation.

- Josh Hader should be returning from the 60-day injured list before the end of May. He threw one scoreless inning with one hit and one strikeout at Double-A in his first rehab assignment outing. Once Hader returns, he will return to being Houston's closer.

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