Florio's Fantasy Baseball Bullpens Report: Changes in Texas, Chicago, Arizona, More Coming?

May 14, 2025

Michael Florio reviews fantasy baseball closers, saves, and waiver wire pickups for Week 7 of 2025. He analyzes changing bullpens and RP risers with elite ratios.

Bullpens are many things, but one thing they are never is boring. Just this week alone, we have seen several changes to late-inning arms on teams that should see many save chances.

Whether it be from injury or poor performance, the closer carousel just keeps on turning. If you are a save-needy fantasy baseball manager, you need to be ready to pounce this week. Several arms could help in the short term and could be grabbed off the waiver wire.

There are also several big names that you could attempt to buy low on. And if you are still not satisfied, there are bullpens where we have not seen a change yet, but the closer is struggling. That is where you can nab the potential replacement for cheap before a move is made. If you need saves, this is a great week for you!

Changing Bullpens for Fantasy Baseball

Rangers closer Luke Jackson took a line drive off his throwing shoulder on Monday and exited the game. Manager Bruce Bochy said afterward that an IL stint is possible, although X-rays came back negative. Fantasy managers will have to keep a close eye on this one. At the very least, plan on being without Jackson for a couple of days, but a couple of weeks is not ruled out.

We saw Jacob Webb come in and finish out the Rockies for his first save of the season. However, Chris Martin and Robert Garcia, the other Rangers pitchers who have picked up a save this season, had already pitched in a setup role to Jackson. Martin is my preferred pickup as he provides elite strikeouts and ratios. Garcia has been better in those regards than Webb, so I would rank him ahead here as well. This is a developing situation, though, and needs to be monitored moving forward.

Luke Jackson’s hand swelling has gone down significantly. The Rangers are in a bit of a standstill with him as far as a move goes so he will be reevaluated in 4-5 days to see if a move is needed #AllForTX

— Kane McCutchen (@Kane_McCutchen6) May 13, 2025

The Cubs bullpen has been in turmoil since Ryan Pressly was lit up a little over a week ago. We saw him pitch in a low-leverage situation on Friday, going in the sixth inning. The Cubs then turned to Porter Hodge for the save on Saturday. However, Hodge came into a tie game in the eighth on Saturday and was lit up. The Cubs then turned to Drew Pomeranz for the save on Monday night. Yes, that Pomeranz who hasn’t pitched since 2021.

This bullpen is a mess right now. I still value Pressly the most of the bunch. If you are sitting pretty in saves, you can play it safe and bench him for the time being. However, I am not anywhere close to cutting him. As for the others, I would rank them Hodge then Pomeranz, but that could quickly change. These two are cheaper pickups that could provide a handful of save opportunities. The Cubs are ideal candidates to be in the reliever market this summer, but fantasy managers will have to navigate murky waters until then.

Drew Pomeranz is throwing his fastball 84% of the time this year—and it’s working.

Why? His 98th percentile spin rate gives it 18.7” of rise, 2.5” more than the average lefty.

Hitters are whiffing on 34.4% of four-seamers and haven’t pulled a fly ball in the air yet against it. pic.twitter.com/NB9stRRV0E

— The Wrigley Wire (@TheWrigleyWire) May 11, 2025

The Yankees do not have a save in the last week, so their bullpen is kind of in status quo. The good thing for them is Devin Williams did not allow a run in his two appearances in the last week. He continues to try and work his way back to his pre-Yankee dominant form. In the meantime, Luke Weaver is holding down the closer gig for the Yankees. That makes him a must-start fantasy option until we see otherwise. The good part is, even if a change were to occur and Weaver is locked into your starting lineup for the week, he provides such strong strikeout and ratio numbers that you will be fine.

Williams could potentially hit the fantasy bench, but do not think about cutting him. He is far too proven and the Yankees are going to get a ton of save chances the rest of the way. I still very much believe they want him to overtake the closer role again. Just be patient. If anything, he is a buy-low target.

Dennis Santana picked up the lone save for the Pirates in the last week. Still, David Bednar continues to outpitch him. While this is a committee for now, I would much prefer Bednar to Santana the rest of the way. If you are a save-needy team, you could try and buy low on Bednar, who, despite pitching better, has not seen many save chances as of late. That is more on the team than on him.

While I think Bednar should be started in all fantasy formats, Santana remains a viable option in Roto leagues as long as he is in the saves picture. However, it may not be a bad idea to find the teams in your league that need saves and try to flip him in a trade.

Shelby Miller picked up his second save for the Diamondbacks on Monday night. While I believe he is their best available reliever, the D-backs have not opted to use him as a traditional closer. In the last week, Miller, Kevin Ginkel, and Ryne Nelson have each picked up a save. Miller, who provides elite strikeouts and ratios, is the only one I would be aggressive going after. Even so, though, I would max out around 6-8 percent of FAAB. The others are a chance to grab a cheap save or two off the waiver wire.

Justin Martinez will throw to live hitters on Wednesday, somewhere in the 15-18-pitch range, manager Torey Lovullo said.

A.J. Puk is expected to pick up a baseball later this week or early next week.

— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) May 12, 2025

Everything here could soon change, though, as Justin Martinez has thrown a bullpen and is set to face live batters on Wednesday. He is eligible to return from the IL on Friday, which is something to monitor this week. A.J. Puk has begun a throwing program, but he is still ineligible to return for another month.

Speculative Saves for Fantasy Baseball

I am not saying a change is coming for the Braves, but you also cannot definitively rule one out. Raisel Iglesias picked up a loss on Sunday against the Pirates, then blew a save, allowing two runs, but ultimately picked up the win on Monday. Iglesias has been struggling. He has pitched to a 6.06 ERA and 5.71 xERA, with a 1.41 WHIP and a 26 percent strikeout rate. Those would all be career highs, except for strikeout rate, which ties last year for lowest he’s posted since 2016.

Daysbel Hernandez has been the primary setup man, but he is more of a pitch-to-contact pitcher who allows a good amount of traffic. While he may seem like the next man up, Pierce Johnson has been very effective, has the highest strikeout rate in this bullpen, and has been a closer in the past. He is my preferred option if I am looking to get out in front of a move here. Dylan Lee is another option in play as well.

The Tigers have a committee with Tommy Kahnle and Will Vest. On the year, Kahnle has five saves to Vest’s one. However, it is worth pointing out that since April 19th, Vest has four while Kahnle has one. It is hard to ignore that he has been the preferred option as of late. I originally preferred Kahnle of the two, but Vest appears to be earning more and more chances. Both are worth using in Roto formats.

Will Vest, Dirty 89mph Slider. 😨 pic.twitter.com/3dfLsNRWZw

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 10, 2025

The Dodgers have had seven different pitchers pick up a save for them this season. It is only mid-May. Tanner Scott has nine and is the clear lead option. That makes him a must-start fantasy option. But, it also means other arms can be used in Roto formats.

Kirby Yates has one of the best strikeout rates amongst all relievers, provides elite ratios, and will get a save chance here and there. Evan Phillips has yet to allow a run, picked up a save, and has a closer history. Alex Vesia is top 10 amongst relievers in strikeout rate and provides strong ratios, while getting a save chance every so often.

The Phillies bullpen is a mess. Jose Alvarado was looking like the clear-cut closer, and then he got shelled last week against the Diamondbacks. Since then, he has not picked up a save. In the last week, Jordan Romano and Matt Strahm each picked up a save. I still am not ready to cut bait on Alvarado, but I do think it is time to add Strahm in Roto formats. Romano is an option in deeper leagues.

Matt Strahm gets told he looks like Nicolas Cage a lot

So now he has a baseball glove with the Declaration of Independence on it 😭 pic.twitter.com/5okjVEwgnA

— MLB (@MLB) April 18, 2025

The Marlins have two, maybe three options for saves. Jesus Tinoco leads them with three saves and has the lone one in the last week. He has seen the bulk of opportunities as of late and is the top option in this bullpen. Calvin Faucher, who has two saves, would be second. Anthony Bender has a save, but I am not sure he is really in the mix here. He can be left on waiver wires for now.

Elite Strikeouts and Ratios for Fantasy Baseball

Nick Mears leads all qualified relievers with a 0.47 WHIP. Opposing batters are hitting just .104 against him. He has a 0.60 ERA and has struck out 28 percent of the batters he has faced this season. He deserves some love! He is certainly in play in Roto formats.

Lucas Erceg has pitched to a 0.52 ERA and 0.52 WHIP -- both are top three among qualified relievers. He has struck out 22 percent of the batters he faced, while walking less than 2 percent and giving up just a .140 batting average against. Plus, he is next in line for saves on the Royals.

Danny Coulombe leads all relievers with a 0.00 ERA. He and Andres Munoz are the only qualified relievers who have yet to allow an earned run. Coulombe has struck out 33 percent of the batters he has faced, while walking less than 2 percent. He has a 0.55 WHIP. If you want elite strikeouts and ratios, look no further.

The Mets have several arms that can go multiple innings and give strong results. On the season, Max Kranick, Jose Butto, and Huascar Brazoban have each pitched at least 22 innings. Reed Garrett has thrown 16. To put that into perspective, only 13 relievers have gone 22 innings, and three are on the Mets. Brazoban has a 1.23 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and a 24 percent strikeout rate. He would be the top arm of this bunch, followed by Garrett, Butto, and Kranick.

Make sure to follow Michael on X, @MichaelFFlorio. 

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