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David's closers and saves fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and bullpen report for Week 10 (2025). His relief pitcher updates, and closers to add for saves.
It's almost June, folks! We're past Memorial Day and (un)officially into the summer of 2025. Baseball still rules even if so many other things don't right now, even if there are still Major League Baseball teams with single-digit wins. We're possibly a Mariners or Padres win away from the league leader in saves having twice as many saves as an entire other team has wins. (EDIT: it happened! Robert Suarez has 18 saves, the Rockies have nine wins.)
Big news this week from the Bay Area, a little bit deeper of a mess in Texas, and a seeming settling down in Philadelphia. We have more question marks in Miami and Pittsburgh, and a big exclamation point in Seattle.
Let's dive into this week's report! As always, stay tapped in with our Fantasy Baseball Closer Depth Charts for saves, holds, and bullpens. They will be updated frequently throughout the 2025 baseball season as news breaks.
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Waiver Wire Pickups For Standard Leagues
Camilo Doval, San Francisco Giants (Rostered in 49% of leagues)
The big news of the week came from the San Francisco bullpen, where Ryan Walker was demoted from the closer's role while Camilo Doval ascended. Manager Bob Melvin made the move official with an announcement after Wednesday's game. Doval is having an incredible season, posting a 1.16 ERA with five saves and seven holds.
He hasn't allowed a run since April 7, putting him on a 19-game scoreless streak and counting.
Walker, meanwhile, put up 10 saves in 12 chances but struggled with a 4.95 ERA and will now work in more of a setup role ahead of Doval. Walker should still have holds league value, but Doval will be one of the more popular waiver claims of the week in saves-only formats, and rightfully so. Doval is still available in about half of fantasy baseball's waiver wires and should absolutely be picked up in just about every format.
Camilo Doval, Wicked Sliders. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/hl5I0s2VN0
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 7, 2025
Robert Garcia, Texas Rangers (Rostered in 11% of leagues)
Luke Jackson, Texas Rangers (Rostered in 33% of leagues)
The Rangers' bullpen continues to be kind of a mess, but at least it looked like we got a tiny little slice of clarity this week. In a tie game, the Rangers put Luke Jackson on the mound in the eighth inning to face the middle of the order against the Blue Jays. He got out unscathed and eventually got the win.
The save in that game went to Robert Garcia, who struck out two and locked it down with a scoreless ninth inning for his third save of the season. Based on that usage, Garcia would seem to at least be near the top of a bullpen committee in Texas. Despite that, he remains available in almost 90 percent of leagues right now.
He should be rostered in deeper leagues and by any managers looking to add saves. He may not have the closer's job outright just yet, but he's likely the best bet to earn a save in a Rangers uniform right now.
Robert Garcia in his Regular Season Debut with the Rangers:
0.2 IP
0 H
0 ER
0 K
2 BB
24 PitchesHis Changeup continues to be lethal. He threw 8 Changeups yesterday, and recorded:
16.7" HB
1.4" iVB
88.7 MPH
1,706 RPM
6.3 Ft Extension
66.7% Whiff Rate pic.twitter.com/1w3A79tfh1— mntsports (@mnt_sports) March 28, 2025
Justin Martinez, Arizona Diamondbacks (Rostered in 54% of leagues)
Shelby Miller, Arizona Diamondbacks (Rostered in 25% of leagues)
UPDATE: Justin Martinez earned the save in Sunday's game, with Shelby Miller being used in a traditional eighth-inning setup role.
The Diamondbacks bullpen welcomed Justin Martinez back after almost a month on the injured list by throwing him directly into a scalding hot fire. Martinez's first appearance after his shoulder injury came in the eighth inning of a one-run lead against the heart of the Cardinals' order. It didn't work out, as he ended up allowing two runs and suffering a blown save and a loss.
Martinez was better his next time out, though, as he tossed a scoreless inning with a strikeout to earn his first hold since his injury and his fourth of the season. For now, the Arizona bullpen seems like a mix-and-match situation, but Martinez should ultimately end up above Shelby Miller in the pecking order.
A.J. Puk (elbow) has started a throwing program and will be a key factor in this bullpen as well once he returns, but he is still a ways away.
Justin Martinez, INSANE 90mph Splitter...with Tail.
Imagine trying to hit that. pic.twitter.com/vkDB3QaxQs
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 5, 2025
Daniel Palencia, Chicago Cubs (Rostered in 31% of leagues)
UPDATE: Palencia saved one more and now has five saves in his last five appearances.
It looks like the Cubs may have found their closer. Daniel Palencia now has four saves, all from his last four appearances. Since Palencia's first save on May 21, no other Cubs pitcher has recorded one. If that doesn't say "closer" then nothing does.
Palencia's rostered rate increased from seven percent last week to 31 percent this week. That's still very low, though, meaning fantasy managers in most leagues can still go to their waiver wire and pick up a guy working in a solidified closer's role right now. He should be rostered in just about every eligible format.
Brad Keller, Ryan Pressly, and Drew Pomeranz (plus Porter Hodge whenever he comes back) will work ahead of Palencia and could all have value in holds leagues, but in saves formats, Palencia is clearly the guy.
Daniel Palencia, 101mph ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/Vf0DT9Dyz4
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 29, 2025
Jordan Romano, Philadelphia Phillies (Rostered in 70% of leagues)
Jordan Romano is the Phillies' closer. Full stop. For the first time in what seems like a very long time, the Phillies have an actual closer and not a committee or a matchup-based approach or anything else. Just a closer, and it's Jordan Romano.
Romano is rostered in 70 percent of leagues, so he might not be available for free in yours, but a guy on a good team who is pitching this well and locked into a closer's role should certainly not be around on 30 percent of waiver wires. Since April 29, Romano has seven saves, two holds, 18 strikeouts, and just five walks. All but one of his 12 appearances in that time have been scoreless.
That's definitely not a guy who should be on the waiver wire.
Jordan Romano, K'ing the Side. pic.twitter.com/FUzvNO35ds
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 14, 2025
Will Vest, Detroit Tigers (Rostered in 44% of leagues)
Tommy Kahnle, Detroit Tigers (Rostered in 32% of leagues)
UPDATE: Will Vest earned save number nine on Sunday.
The Tigers' bullpen continues to show how a closer-by-committee approach is supposed to work. Two guys, Will Vest and Tommy Kahnle, who both do their jobs when called upon. Since May 1, Vest has four saves and Kahnle has two. This past week, it was two for Vest and one for Kahnle, and for the season, they have seven each.
Right now, Vest gets the slightest nod if you're choosing between Tigers relievers due to his slightly higher strikeout upside, but both guys are very similar and both should absolutely be rostered in holds leagues and in deeper saves formats.
Will Vest, Wicked 97mph Sinker. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/Q5EVX3j0dU
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 22, 2025
Waiver Wire Pickups For Deeper Leagues
Dennis Santana, Pittsburgh Pirates (Rostered in 20% of leagues)
David Bednar, Pittsburgh Pirates (Rostered in 42% of leagues)
The Pirates have continued with their two-headed approach to the closer's role as well. Since the month began, David Bednar has three saves while Dennis Santana has two. This week, it was two for Bednar without any for Santana, which could be a key sign of things to come.
Santana remains much more available on waiver wires, but Bednar is still out there in more than half of fantasy leagues. In deeper formats and most save only leagues, Bednar should be picked up right away in case this kind of usage continues.
Ronny Henriquez, Miami Marlins (Rostered in 5% of leagues)
UPDATE: Calvin Faucher got a save on Saturday in a standard save situation, so this will likely continue as a very fluid bullpen.
The Marlins will probably continue to mix and match all season, and their bullpen (and whole roster) will certainly look different after the trade deadline, but at least for right now, it looks like Ronny Henriquez could be worth a roster spot in deeper leagues. Henriquez earned the first save of his career earlier this week and was used in very much closer-type situations multiple times.
He has nice strikeout upside (31.9 K%) and has been pitching the best out of anyone in the Miami bullpen. He's by no means a must-add in standard leagues, but those in deep leagues looking to sneak their way into a save or two can likely find him on the wire.
Short Relief: More Bullpen Notes
-This week's saves leader is a three-way tie with three for Daniel Palencia, Trevor Megill, and Ryan Helsley.
-The holds lead for the week goes to five different guys who all had three: Brad Keller, JoJo Romero, Manuel Rodriguez, and a pair of Phillies in Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm.
Los Angeles Dodgers
UPDATE: Alex Vesia earned a save on Friday and could see more chances. Michael Kopech looms.
The Dodgers acquired Alexis Diaz from the Reds in exchange for minor leaguer Mike Villani. Diaz had been pitching in Triple-A for Cincinnati after struggling through six big league innings earlier in the season. With the Triple-A Louisville Bats, Diaz pitched 13 2/3 innings with a 4.61 ERA. He was missing bats but still struggling mightily with his control.
In his 13 2/3 innings, he had 16 strikeouts, but 12 walks, two hit batters, and two wild pitches. It's unclear what his role with the Dodgers will be, but he clearly won't suddenly have fantasy value with the team change.
New York Yankees
Luke Weaver needed a day off, so the Yankees went with Devin Williams for a save chance. He ended up earning the save, but it wasn't pretty: he allowed two runs on three hits without getting a strikeout and just barely squeaked out the victory for his team.
It was the first save chance for Williams since April 17, and absolutely nothing to worry about for Weaver, who has allowed as many runs all season (two) as Williams allowed in that one appearance.
Seattle Mariners
UPDATE: Well, that curse came quickly. Munoz allowed three runs in one inning on Friday.
Not really news here, just admiration: Andres Munoz has now pitched 22 2/3 innings over 23 appearances. He leads all of baseball (tied with Robert Suarez) with 17 saves and has yet to allow a run. A 0.00 ERA heading into June is certainly worth a spot in the Short Relief section!
Kansas City Royals
Holds legend Lucas Erceg landed on the injured list on Friday with a lower back strain. Carlos Estevez has a solid grasp on the closer's role, but John Schreiber and Angel Zerpa figure to see some more holds league value while Erceg recovers.
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