Florio's Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report: Yankees, Giants, Rangers, Cubs Closer Changes

June 4, 2025

Michael Florio reviews fantasy baseball closers, saves, and waiver wire pickups for Week 10 of 2025. He analyzes changing bullpens and RP risers with elite ratios.

This was an eventful week when it comes to bullpens. I have a feeling I will be saying that a lot in the next two months.

We saw a top team place its closer on the IL, while another team announced a change at closer. Then there are those teams that have not yet made a move, but their current closer is struggling, so one could be coming. Oh, and have I mentioned yet that the trade deadline is quickly approaching and no position is affected more by it than relief pitchers?

Yes, this is a very fun time of year for those who love late-inning bullpen usage. It is also a time to be aggressive on the waiver wire if you are in need of saves!

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Changing Bullpens for Fantasy Baseball

No bullpen saw a larger change this week than the Yankees. For weeks now, I have been saying to hold Devin Williams, that he has been getting better results, and a return to the closer role at some point was on the table. With Luke Weaver landing on the IL due to a hamstring injury, Williams is set to handle the closer role moving forward.

Since May 7th, Williams has pitched to a 1.80 ERA, with a .080 WHIP and a 40 percent strikeout rate. In those 11 outings, he allowed a run in just one of them -- his lone save chance in that span. We have to see if his dominant form can return to the ninth inning, but given how well he has pitched and that he is closing out games for the Yankees, it is enough to make him a must-start option again. We will worry about him vs. Weaver when that time comes, but early reports indicate that could be in four to six weeks.

Aaron Boone confirms that Devin Williams will do most of the closing while Luke Weaver is out

He also added that Fernando Cruz is retuning tonight pic.twitter.com/VQUxllDBpg

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) June 3, 2025

The Giants made a change at closer this week. Camilo Doval is officially their closer moving forward, although manager Bob Melvin did say that the situation “can be fluid” moving forward. Still, Doval picked up both save chances this week for the Giants. He now has seven on the season. As long as he is the primary option, he is a must-start in all fantasy formats. Ryan Walker still leads the team with 10 saves, but he has struggled as of late and has been removed from the role. That means he can be thrown back onto the waiver wire in all but deep Roto formats.

Camilo Doval getting some of the Worst Swings/Swords you'll see. pic.twitter.com/pDNBMA3d7j

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 17, 2025

The Rangers bullpen has officially changed. Robert Garcia picked up the lone traditional save this week for Texas (Caleb Boushley picked up a three-inning save). Luke Jackson still leads the team with eight saves, but he has not picked one up since April 25th. That is not a reliever you can trust outside of real deep Roto formats. Meanwhile, Garcia has two saves since May 25th. He is a must-start option moving forward.

The Cubs have a set closer, at least for the time being. Daniel Palencia not only picked up the Cubs' two saves this last week, but he now leads the team with five on the year. He has pitched well with a 1.74 ERA, 3.19 xERA, 0.77 WHIP, and a 28 percent strikeout rate. That makes him a must-start fantasy option moving forward. However, I do have to warn you that the Cubs are one of the best teams in baseball, with a glaring hole in the bullpen. I expect them to be very aggressive in the trade market, so Palencia could be usurped.

The Diamondbacks have two stud options at the end of their bullpen in Justin Martinez and Shelby Miller. I have been advocating that both should be rostered in fantasy, and that is still the case. In the last week, Martinez picked up their lone save. He is the preferred option in this bullpen and should be viewed as the favorite to lead them in saves moving forward. Miller, though, has been dominant, provides strong ratios and strikeouts, and we have not yet seen enough to rule him out of the saves picture in this bullpen.

Miller is an elite strikeout and ratio pitcher who could still provide some saves. That makes him a strong start candidate in Roto formats. Martinez is a must-start option until we see otherwise.

Speculative Saves for Fantasy Baseball

The Dodgers have had a very eventful week. Not only did they trade for former Reds closer Alexis Diaz, but they have Kirby Yates and Michael Kopech nearing a return. Oh, and Tanner Scott struggled! He blew a save, allowing four runs to the Guardians, then pitched the eighth inning against the Yankees a couple of days later. Alex Vesia picked up his second save of the season that game. Scott then pitched the 10th inning against the Mets on Monday, allowed two runs (one earned), and picked up the loss, his second of the week. His last save came on May 21st.

While Scott should still be viewed as the closer here, things are getting a bit dicey. The Dodgers, who are starting to get healthy in the bullpen, certainly have other options they could turn to. While Scott should still be rostered and started, Yates provides elite ratios and strikeouts and has a lot of closer experience. He is a good option to target off the waiver wire. Vesia and Kopech are deeper league options, but this is certainly a bullpen to monitor moving forward.

Tanner Scott last 7 appearances:

6 IP
12 Runs
13 H
2 HR
3 Blown saves

— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) June 3, 2025

The Marlins bullpen has been a tough one to figure out all season long, but we are starting to get an answer. Calvin Faucher picked up two saves in the last week and is now tied for the team lead with Jesus Tinoco, with four on the year. Neither of them provides strong ratios or strikeouts, but Faucher has been better of the two. He would be my preferred option and should be started by teams in need of saves moving forward.

Tinoco is best left for saving-needy teams in deep Roto formats. In head-to-head leagues where you typically only start two relievers, I would try to avoid this bullpen altogether. Also, do not rule out the Marlins trading one or both at the deadline.

The Blue Jays do not have a changing bullpen, but could they down the road? Jeff Hoffman has picked up a team-high 13 saves this season, including two in the last week. But on the year, he sports a 5.81 ERA, albeit with a 2.86 xERA. He has had some bad luck in terms of balls leaving the park and having a very low 58 percent strand rate. I would argue that he is more of a buy-low candidate than a reliever who should lose his job.

However, all the Blue Jays likely care about is results. If Hoffman continues to struggle, could a move occur? Top replacement option Yimi Garcia is currently sidelined, but Chad Green and Yariel Rodriguez are names to keep an eye on just in case.

“I think he’s putting too much pressure on himself… He’s starting to ask himself ‘Am I good enough to be a closer?’”

Chris Leroux shares his concern levels on Jeff Hoffman with @SNJeffBlair & Kevin Barker. #LightsUpLetsGo

📺 https://t.co/SqK7M993Jz
📻 https://t.co/tEtiRUWyip pic.twitter.com/OhJhb6DYWR

— Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) June 2, 2025

I talk a lot in this article about teams that could trade their closers. I have already mentioned the Marlins could be sellers. Another team I think could deal with its closer is the Angels, as Kenley Jansen is a veteran on a one-year deal with lots of closing experience. The same could be said about the Nationals and Kyle Finnegan. The Pirates with David Bednar and Dennis Santana feels like another obvious situation where they are likely to sell. Could the Reds look to deal Angel Pagan? These are all bullpens I would be trying to get out in front of if you are desperate for saves. There are also a couple more spicy options below.

Elite Strikeouts and Ratios for Fantasy Baseball

Last week, I speculated that the Orioles, who are having a very dismal season, could opt to sell superstar closer Felix Bautista. He has pitched to a 3.86 ERA, 3.62 xERA, 1.39 WHIP, and a 30 percent strikeout rate. He has experience closing in the playoffs. He is also 30 and coming off a severe arm injury on a team that is not competing this year.

This is far from a lock, but if a move were to occur, both Seranthony Dominguez and Yennier Cano would be the top options to close games for the Orioles. I have a lean toward Cano, who has slightly better numbers this year and experience closing for Baltimore. But it is also possible these arms are involved in trade talks. This is a bullpen to keep a close eye on in the next six weeks.

The A’s have a superstar closer in Mason Miller. He is still under team control for another three years, so they have no reason to trade him unless they are blown away. But is it possible, given how many competing teams need late-inning bullpen arms? I think so. He would be the crown jewel on the market. If he were to be moved in a blockbuster trade, that would leave the A’s in need of a closer for the second half of the season.

Tyler Ferguson has picked up a save this season and sports a 3.76 ERA, 3.08 xERA, 1.18 WHIP, and a 22 percent strikeout rate. Those are certainly not elite numbers, but if you hear any rumors of a Miller trade, make sure to add him.

I have written a lot about Raisel Iglesias' struggles so far this season. His numbers have not improved, and the Braves sit under .500. It is still early in the season, but they are not in a position to give games away. If Iglesias struggles, they could make a change. Their trading for a reliever should not be ruled out, but in-house, there is one clear top option in Pierce Johnson.

Not only has Johnson recently picked up a save, but his 27 percent strikeout rate is the second highest in this bullpen. He also has closer experience in the past. Johnson is a top stash option currently. Dylan Lee is another option to keep an eye on in this bullpen.

Fernando Cruz is expected back Tuesday for the Yankees. That is a huge boost to their bullpen as Cruz had pitched to a 2.66 ERA, 2.55 xERA, 0.97 WHIP, and a 38 percent strikeout rate, one of the very best by any reliever this season. Add in that the Yankees just placed Weaver on the IL, and he is expected to be out at least a month. If Williams struggles to readjust to the closer role, Cruz should be next in line. He provides elite strikeouts and ratios and could see some save chances on a team that wins a lot of games. What is not to love?

Make sure to follow Michael on X, @MichaelFFlorio. 

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