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David's closers and saves fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and bullpen report for Week 23 (2025). His relief pitcher updates, and closers to add for saves.
Just in time for many leagues to begin their fantasy playoffs, two big closers landed on the injured list. We're at the part of the fantasy baseball season where one save could keep your team alive, or one save from an opponent could metaphorically send you home.
Flexor strains and elbow sprains are sure to cause nightmares for some fantasy managers this week, but there's always hope on the waiver wire, right? Lots to look at and talk about, so here we go!
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 new information becomes available.
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Waiver Wire Pickups For Standard Leagues
Abner Uribe, Milwaukee Brewers (Rostered in 39% of leagues)
Shelby Miller, Milwaukee Brewers (Rostered in 15% of leagues)
The big bullpen news of the week was the Brewers sending closer Trevor Megill (elbow) to the injured list with a flexor strain. The closer says he only plans to spend the minimum 15 days on the IL, and imaging showing a mild Grade 1 strain seems to support his claim. Still, for now, the Brewers need a closer.
Abner Uribe has been an elite setup guy and seems like the logical temporary replacement for Megill. He has the upside to put up elite closer numbers while in the role and should be added in almost all formats. Shelby Miller figures to be the backup plan in case Milwaukee wants to keep Uribe in a little more of a versatile role.
Abner Uribe couldn't contain his excitement after getting out of the inning. 🕺
(Via: @MLB) pic.twitter.com/IhfFCrOGlt
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) August 24, 2025
Keegan Akin, Baltimore Orioles (Rostered in 8% of leagues)
It looks like the Orioles finally settled on a closer after injuries and trades made their bullpen look a little different than it did earlier this season. Keegan Akin has been pitching in the closer role and has generally performed well. He took a blown save and a loss this week, but before that had been on a streak of six straight scoreless outings.
He's far from a must-add, but he's available almost everywhere and should contribute with saves and strikeouts down the stretch.
Keegan Akin since taking over as the Orioles' top relief option after the trade deadline:
12 innings, 2.25 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 8.3 K/9
3 saves, 3 holds🎥: @Orioles pic.twitter.com/z3eDqZMgZq
— Matt Weyrich (@ByMattWeyrich) August 28, 2025
Justin Topa, Minnesota Twins (Rostered in 9% of leagues)
The Twins traded almost everyone on their team at the trade deadline this year, but they still have to keep playing games, and every once in a while, that means they'll need someone to attempt a save. After some shuffling the past few weeks, it's Justin Topa who has landed in that role.
Topa has four saves since the deadline and has allowed just three earned runs in his past 12 appearances. It's slightly surprising that he himself wasn't moved at the deadline, but he should serve in Minnesota's closer role for the next few weeks and can be added off the waiver wire in over 90% of leagues right now.
Justin Topa retires Andy Ibanez to secure the 6-3 Twins victory.
called by Dan Dickerson and Andy Dirks of Fanduel Sports Network Detroit:#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/8v6OARTQOS
— CyLouie (@CyLouie__) August 6, 2025
Victor Vodnik, Colorado Rockies (Rostered in 19% of leagues)
It's a Rockies reliever, so tread carefully, but Victor Vodnik seems to have the Colorado closer's job locked up. He had a stretch earlier this month of four saves in five days and is currently on a streak of six straight scoreless outings.
The Rockies don't end up with save chances all that often, which of course limits Vodnik's fantasy value, but he's "the guy" in that bullpen and could put up a big week of saves like he did earlier in August.
Victor Vodnik, Wicked 93mph Changeup. 👌 pic.twitter.com/zld6szrOts
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 13, 2025
Waiver Wire Pickups For Deeper Leagues
Reid Detmers, Los Angeles Angels (Rostered in 5% of leagues)
Kenley Jansen seems to have escaped without a serious injury, but his fastball velocity is still down one to two mph, which is somewhat concerning. Next guy up would presumably be Reid Detmers, so fantasy managers in deep leagues with barren waiver wires should keep an eye on that Angels bullpen.
JoJo Romero, St. Louis Cardinals (Rostered in 23% of leagues)
Riley O'Brien, St. Louis Cardinals (Rostered in 8% of leagues)
The Cardinals look ready to ride out the year with a lefty-righty committee approach made up of JoJo Romero and Riley O'Brien. Despite being the lefty in the pair, Romero gets the slight nod because of the way he's used. His most recent save was a two-inning appearance, so St. Louis is not afraid to use him against more than just lefty hitters.
Calvin Faucher, Miami Marlins (Rostered in 20% of leagues)
Marlins manager Clayton McCullough continues to do things with his bullpen that do not make sense and are unclear, but one consistent thing is that Calvin Faucher pitches in leverage situations. This week, McCullough deployed a pitcher with an 8.87 ERA into the ninth inning of a tie game. It went even worse than anyone expected: the guy allowed seven runs and got just one out.
Short Relief: More Bullpen Notes
-This week's saves leader is Aroldis Chapman with four. The 37-year-old is having one of the best closer seasons of all time.
-The holds leader for the week is Chapman's setup man, Garrett Whitlock. He had three.
-Randy Rodriguez (elbow) had to be placed on the IL this week (EDIT: it'll be Tommy John for RandRod, so he's out for this season and at least most of next), giving the Giants' closing job back to Ryan Walker. Walker wasn't mentioned above, as he is rostered in 69% of leagues, likely due to being a leftover from earlier this season.
-Tanner Scott is back, healthy, and earning saves again.
-Craig Kimbrel is still relevant in 2025. He made one appearance for the Braves earlier this season before being sent packing, but he's back in the bigs as part of the Astros bullpen and tossed a scoreless outing with two strikeouts in his Houston debut.
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