X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Mid-March Bullpen Updates for Closers & Saves

We're almost halfway through March and we have about as much clarity at the back end of some bullpens as we had in December. While many bullpens are set in stone, there are still a few heated competitions happening across Grapefruit and Cactus League play as managers try to decide who to hand the ball to in the ninth inning when their teams have a small lead.

To stay up to date with our MLB closer and saves depth charts, bookmark this page and check back each day for new updates.

Here's a look at where the bullpens stand as of now, all are of course subject to change before Opening Day based on injury or in some cases competition.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

AL East Closers & Saves Options

New York Yankees: Aroldis Chapman (solid, top tier option)

Boston Red Sox: Craig Kimbrel (solid, top tier option despite a somewhat down year last season.)

Toronto Blue Jays: Roberto Osuna (solid, excellent option)

Baltimore Orioles: Zach Britton (solid, top tier option, despite being found on a milk carton in last year's Wild Card game.)

Tampa Bay Rays: Alex Colome (solid, very good option, but keep an eye on trade rumors.)

 

AL Central Closers & Saves Options

Detroit Tigers: Francisco Rodriguez (solid, mediocre option)

Kansas City Royals: Kelvin Herrera (solid, very good option)

Cleveland Indians: Cody Allen (solid, excellent option. *Andrew Miller is also a mixed league option)

Chicago White Sox: David Robertson (shaky, excellent option if closing. Robertson's name has come up in trade rumors. He'll likely close wherever he plays, but there's always a chance he ends up setting up an established closer on a new team. If Robertson is traded, Nate Jones becomes a very good fantasy option as Chicago's closer.)

Minnesota Twins: Brandon Kintzler (shaky, and not a good option anyway. Kintzler is in the lead to return as the Twins closer, but he's not a particularly good pitcher and will likely lose his job once Glen Perkins returns.)

 

AL West Closers & Saves Options

Texas Rangers: Sam Dyson (solid in his role, but a middling option at best due to low strikeouts)

Seattle Mariners: Edwin Diaz (solid, excellent option)

Los Angeles Angels: Huston Street (injured- Street might not be ready for Opening Day, and he probably won't be great once healthy anyway. Cam Bedrosian has a chance to run away with the Angels ninth inning job, and he'd be a strong fantasy option if he did.)

Oakland Athletics: Committee (the A's seem not only destined but also resigned to a closer-by-committee for this season. They have Ryan Madson, Sean Doolittle, Santiago Casilla, and John Axford in their pen. All would make average to above average fantasy closers, but as members of a committee, none will have mixed league value. Avoid.)

Houston Astros: Ken Giles (somewhat shaky. The Astros gave up a ton to get Giles last year and they really want him to work as their closer. He will get the chance to solidify himself in the role, but Will Harris and Luke Gregerson will be breathing down his neck. Lots of upside, some significant risk.)

 

NL East Closers & Saves Options

Miami Marlins: A.J. Ramos (solid, but a shorter leash than previous years. Still a very good option.)

Washington Nationals: Shawn Kelley (solid unless a trade is made, rumors of the Nationals talking to the White Sox about David Robertson. Kelley can be an above average option if he locks down the role though.)

New York Mets: Addison Reed (most likely. Mets closer Jeurys Familia is likely to begin the season by serving a suspension stemming from a domestic violence incident. Reed is an excellent option as a closer, but not knowing how long he will stay in the role makes him a very risky draft pick at this point.)

Atlanta Braves: Jim Johnson (shaky. Johnson isn't very good, and the Braves are rebuilding and may want to see what their younger arms can do at the end of games. This is a bullpen to avoid outside of deep leagues and NL-only.)

Philadelphia Phillies: Jeanmar Gomez (shaky. The Phillies believe that Gomez "deserves a chance" to close, but the problem is there are several better pitchers who project as excellent closers in the Phillies bullpen. While Gomez keeps the job (maybe until mid-May?) this is a bullpen to avoid in all formats, but if Hector Neris takes over, he could be an above average fantasy option.

 

NL Central Closers & Saves Options

Chicago Cubs: Wade Davis (solid. Davis is an excellent closer when healthy, and he seems to be okay this spring, but he missed a lot of time last season with forearm issues, so he is a risky pick despite significant upside.)

St. Louis Cardinals: Seung-Hwan Oh (solid. Oh is just outside of the top-tier of closers and has no real competition in the Cardinals bullpen. He's a great fantasy choice.)

Pittsburgh Pirates: Tony Watson (shaky/competition. Watson and Daniel Hudson are competing for the closer role in Pittsburgh. Watson will likely get the first chance due to incumbency, but he didn't do great as the Pirates closer last season and he hasn't been having a great spring. This may be a bullpen to avoid until some more clarity is provided.

Milwaukee Brewers: Neftali Feliz (shaky. Feliz was signed to be the Brewers closer, but injuries limited him to one game last September. He is reportedly healthy though, and should be able to fend off any competition from Corey Knebel and Carlos Torres. Still, he's a middling fantasy option at best.)

Cincinnati Reds: Raisel Iglesias (shaky/committee. Iglesias is the favorite to start the season as the Reds closer, and he has been great this spring, helping himself in the process. However, he has been used for multiple innings several times and there has been chatter coming out of Reds camp that the team may go with a matchup-based committee approach. Iglesias can be a solid closer, but he likely doesn't have the upside to be worth the risk of drafting a reliever who ends up as a part of a committee.)

 

NL West Closers & Saves Options

San Francisco Giants: Mark Melancon (solid, great option. Melancon is very effective relief pitcher, but he doesn't put up the strikeout numbers to be an excellent fantasy option.)

Los Angeles Dodgers: Kenley Jansen (solid, top tier option. Jansen might end up as the best fantasy closer in 2017.)

San Diego Padres: Brandon Maurer (shaky. Maurer will enter the season as the Padres closer, but his 4.52 ERA/1.26 WHIP in 2016 doesn't inspire much confidence. With Carter Capps back from Tommy John Surgery, Maurer's days as Padres closer in 2017 may be numbered before they even start. Capps has league-winning upside, but the risk of re-injury and rule changes are always there with him, not to mention he is not even the closer yet.)

Arizona Diamondbacks: Fernando Rodney (solid in name only. Rodney is the closer for the Diamondbacks. Rodney was a very bad pitcher in the second half of 2016. Both of these statements are true right now, but the first won't be true anymore if Rodney doesn't go back to his 2016 Padres form quickly. The DBacks don't have much else in their bullpen behind Rodney, so while he may get a long leash in real life, he probably shouldn't be on many fantasy teams.)

Colorado Rockies: Adam Ottavino (solid, but with competition. Ottavino is almost sure to start the season as the Rockies closer, but Colorado signed Greg Holland this offseason and will likely have him work late in games and may want him to close sooner than later. If he solidifies his spot, Ottavino becomes a more attractive fantasy option despite playing his home games in Denver.)

 

More Bullpens & Closers Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Justin Verlander

Plans to Pitch in 2026
Junior Caminero

Day-to-Day With Back Tightness
Will Smith

Won't Return When First Eligible
Tyler Soderstrom

Returns to A's Lineup
Tyler Warren

Sidelined on Wednesday with Toe Injury
Jaylen Waddle

Questionable for Week 3 Against Buffalo
Joe Burrow

Bengals Not Closing the Door on Joe Burrow Returning This Year
CFB

LaNorris Sellers to Play Against Missouri?
Kyle Tucker

Progress has "Plateaued"
Isaac Paredes

has "Outside Chance" to Return This Weekend
CFB

Kaidon Salter Expected To Start for Colorado on Saturday
Willson Contreras

Goes on 10-Day Injured List, Done for Season
Justin Fields

Ruled Out for Week 3 Due to Concussion
Jayden Reed

Out Indefinitely After Foot and Shoulder Surgery
Washington Commanders

Preston Smith Signs With Commanders
Trey Jemison III

Joins Knicks on Two-Way Contract
Kevin McCullar Jr.

Signs New Two-Way Deal With Knicks
Matt Ryan

Returns to Knicks on Exhibit 10 Contract
New York Knicks

Alex Len Signs Exhibit 9 Deal With Knicks
Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Expected to Take on Larger Offensive Role With Hawks
Thomas Sorber

Undergoes Surgery
Dominic Canzone

Has Five-Hit, Three-Homer Game Tuesday
Cal Raleigh

Sets Single-Season Home Run Record for a Switch-Hitter
Jayden Reed

Undergoes Clavicle and Foot Surgeries, Out for Foreseeable Future
Bo Bichette

to Miss Rest of Regular Season
Zach Neto

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Hand Injury
Yordan Alvarez

Out on Tuesday, Dealing With "Significant" Ankle Sprain
Aaron Jones Sr.

Vikings Place Aaron Jones Sr. on Injured Reserve With Hamstring Injury
CFB

Diego Pavia Refutes Report of Seeking Seventh Collegiate Season
Christian Kirk

Expected to Return in Week 3
CFB

Diego Pavia Seeking Another Year of Eligibility
Tarik Skubal

on Track to Start Thursday
CFB

Kevorian Barnes Questionable Against SMU
Bo Bichette

has Short-Term Knee Injury, Could Return for Postseason
Tosan Evbuomwan

Joins Knicks
NBA

Kai Jones Links Up With EuroLeague Team
Bismack Biyombo

Returns to Spurs
Bones Hyland

Rejoins Timberwolves
Kobe Bufkin

Moves to Brooklyn
Trey Yesavage

Sets Franchise Strikeout Record On Monday
Yordan Alvarez

To Receive MRI For Sprained Left Ankle On Tuesday
Willson Contreras

Exits Early Monday With Right-Biceps Tightness
Yordan Alvarez

Exits With Ankle Sprain
Brock Bowers

Officially Active on Monday Night
Jauan Jennings

Day-to-Day With Ankle Injury
Logan O'Hoppe

Activated Off Seven-Day Injured List
CBJ

Denton Mateychuk Dealing With Groin Issue
Bo Horvat

Fine for Training Camp
Kirby Dach

on Track to Be Ready for Opening Night
Jose Altuve

Returns Against Rangers
J.J. McCarthy

Expected to Miss 2-4 Weeks With High-Ankle Sprain
J.J. McCarthy

Likely Out for Week 3 With High-Ankle Sprain
Jean Silva

Gets Finished For The First Time In His Career
Aaron Jones Sr.

Unlikely to Play in Week 3 Due to Hamstring Injury
Diego Lopes

Returns To The Win Column
Jayden Daniels

' Week 3 Status in Doubt
Rob Font

Outclassed In The Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
David Martinez

Wins His Second UFC Fight
Jared Gordon

Suffers Brutal TKO Loss At Noche UFC 3
Rafa Garcia

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Brian Thomas Jr.

Dealing with Wrist Injury
Dustin Stoltzfus

Drops A Decision At Noche UFC 3
Kelvin Gastelum

Gets Back In The Win Column
Diego Ferreira

Suffers Second-Round TKO
Alexander Hernandez

Extends His Win Streak With A Brutal TKO
Quang Le

Suffers First-Round Knockout
Santiago Luna

Shines In His UFC Debut
Christopher Bell

Earns his First Bristol Cup Series Victory
Alex Bowman

Falls Short of Advancing Through Cup Series Playoffs
Chase Briscoe

Collects his Third Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

Strong Top-Five Bristol Performance Advances him to the Playoffs
Corey Heim

Earns his First Career Cup Series Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Leads Greece to Bronze Medal
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Drops 28 Points in EuroBasket Finals
CFB

Indiana's Lee Beebe Jr. Out for Season with Knee Injury
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Named EuroBasket MVP
Bryce Eldridge

Giants to Promote Bryce Eldridge
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Progressing in Recovery
Jonathan Kuminga

Receives New Offer From Warriors
Kenneth Walker III

Bounces Back with Big Week 2 Performance
Bijan Robinson

Rushes for 143 Yards in Week 2
Justin Fields

Currently in Concussion Protocol
Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Calling Around to Available Free-Agent Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow

to Undergo Surgery, Out at Least Three Months
Emil Heineman

Aiming to Take the "Next Step" This Season
Braeden Cootes

Good to Go for Camp
Ivan Fedotov

Blue Jackets Acquire Ivan Fedotov From Flyers
Quentin Grimes

Still Not Close to a New Contract Agreement
Joel Embiid

"Looking Slender, Spry and in Positive Spirits"
Ty Gibbs

Has Arguably his Best Career Drive, but Only Finishes 10th
Chase Elliott

Despite Crashing Out at Bristol, Chase Elliott Advances to Round of 12
Austin Dillon

Misses Round of 12 After Extremely Mediocre Bristol Run
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Fails to Advance to Round of 12
Josh Berry

Finishes Last in All Three Round of 16 Races to Fail to Advance
CFB

Ryan Williams Explodes In Return To Field
CFB

Drew Allar Plays Mediocre Game In Blowout Win
CFB

LaNorris Sellers Exits Game In Blowout Loss
CFB

DJ Lagway Tosses Five Interceptions In Loss
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Plays Game Manager in Saturday's Win
CFB

CJ Carr Remains Poised In Narrow Loss
CFB

John Mateer Leads Oklahoma In Rout
CFB

Arch Manning Struggles Against UTEP
CFB

Jeremiah Smith Impresses In Win
CFB

Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Samuel Girard

Skates With Non-Contact Jersey
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
Spencer Knight

Signs Three-Year Extension With Blackhawks
Chris Buescher

May have Another Solid Run at Bristol
Corey Perry

Out 6-8 Weeks Following Surgery
Kyle Busch

Should DFS Managers Roster Kyle Busch at Bristol?
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Too Risky to Consider Rostering at Bristol?
Michael McDowell

Could be A Solid Value Option For Bristol DFS Lineups
Chase Elliott

Probably Won't Factor in for Bristol Win
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

Needs to Win to Make Round of 12
Ross Chastain

has Never Led at Bristol but Has Been Pretty Consistent
Austin Dillon

Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
Justin Haley

Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
CFB

Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
CFB

Nico Iamaleava Struggles In Fourth Straight Loss
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Dealing With a "Tweak"
BUF

Alexandar Georgiev Joins Sabres on One-Year Deal
Corey Perry

Injured During Pre-Camp Skate
CFB

Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
CFB

CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
CFB

Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
Jean Silva

A Favorite At Noche UFC 3
Diego Lopes

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Event
Rob Font

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
David Martinez

Set For Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
Rafa Garcia

An Underdog At Noche UFC 3
Jared Gordon

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Kelvin Gastelum

In Dire Need Of Victory
Diego Ferreira

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Malcolm Brogdon

Heading to Knicks on One-Year Deal
Landry Shamet

Staying with the Knicks

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP