RADIO
Michael Florio reviews fantasy baseball closers, saves, and waiver wire pickups for Week 3 of 2025. He analyzes changing bullpens and RP risers with elite ratios.
This was not a wild week for bullpen changes. Still, there are always some moves we need to keep an eye on. This is a good week to get out in front of some potential changes, such as a former All-Star closer potentially returning soon, who you can likely grab off the waiver wire.
This is also a fantastic week to get those relievers who do not pick up saves but can greatly help your ratios without hurting your strikeouts. These are the type of arms you can use in a Roto format rather than streaming a back-end starting pitcher. Just ask those who streamed Tanner Houck this week.
These underlooked relievers can help stabilize your ratios in the early part of the season. And best of all -- they can be had for next to nothing on the waiver wire.
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Changing Bullpens for Fantasy Baseball
The thought coming into the season for the Phillies was that Jordan Romano could take over as the full-time closer. It is what I expected. That simply has not worked out, though. Romano is dealing with diminished velocity and has been crushed, as evidenced by his 10.50 ERA. If you are looking for a glimmer of hope, his xERA is just 4.19. Still, he is working only in low-leverage situations for the time being. I dropped Romano in a head-to-head points league. In Roto formats, the leash is a little longer for closers, but Romano is a cut candidate there as well.
Moving forward, expect the bulk of saves to go to Jose Alvarado, who, for the third straight year, could end up being a significant fantasy reliever, despite being overlooked in the offseason. Orion Kerkering is an arm they like in this pen, and he could see the occasional opportunity. He is a name to keep an eye on. Those save-needy teams in deep leagues could take a flier.
Jose Alvarado’s combined Spring Training & Regular Season stats this year:
16.1 IP | 9 H | 5 BB | 1 ER | 33 K | 0.56 ERA | 0.86 WHIPpic.twitter.com/qHqjF6wiDc
— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) April 14, 2025
The Dodgers bullpen has been pretty straightforward so far this season. Tanner Scott is the primary option, having picked up five of their eight saves this season. He has two of the three picked up in the last week. However, Los Angeles does not like to use him on back-to-back days and when he is unavailable, Blake Treinen is next in line. He has picked up two saves and put up strong strikeout and ratio numbers.
Scott is a must-start option. Treinen is very valuable in Roto formats. In head-to-head points where you traditionally start only two relievers, you likely have better options.
Despite what fantasy players are hoping for, the Diamondbacks are clearly in a platoon situation. For the year, A.J. Puk has three saves to Justin Martinez’s two. In the last week, they each have one. Both have been highly effective, putting up strong ratios and strikeouts. Ideally, one would get all the saves, but as long as both are in the mix, both are worth starting in fantasy baseball.
The Royals were thought to have two closer candidates heading into the season, but that simply has not been the case. Carlos Estevez has recorded five of their six saves, while Lucas Erceg does not have any. Estevez is a must-start fantasy option moving forward. Erceg may not be getting the save chances, but he is providing strong ratios and is next in line. He can be useful in deeper formats.
Speculative Saves for Fantasy Baseball
The Tigers have a platoon, but that is much easier to manage than a full-out committee. A platoon is just between two options; just ask Scott Engel! So far this season, both Tommy Kahnle and Brant Hurter have picked up two saves. They each have had one in the last week. As long as both get save opportunities, they are worth rostering. My preference is Kahnle, as he has averaged more strikeouts, fewer walks, and a lower average against. Tyler Holton and Beau Brieske, who many speculated would be in the closer mix during the preseason, are droppable.
No pitcher on the Pirates has more than one save this season. So far, Dennis Santana, David Bednar, and Thomas Harrington each have one. No one picked one up in the past week. For the time being, Santana should be viewed as the Pirates closer. That means he is worth rostering in all formats. Bednar, though, has faced 12 batters in the minors, struck out five, and has not allowed a single one to reach base. He could be returning to form, and if so, I would expect him back with the Pirates soon. He could quickly return to late-inning usage if so. Bednar is a strong stash candidate.
Pirates farm report: David Bednar dominating early on in Triple-A https://t.co/8pVIa00F1b
— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (@PittsburghPG) April 14, 2025
The White Sox are a hilarious bullpen for one reason. There is almost no one in the entire bullpen that is fantasy-relevant. They have not picked up a single save all season. This bullpen is best left alone unless you are desperate for saves. If so, Jordan Leasure and Cam Booser are the arms worth speculating on. Both have put up strong ratios and well over a strikeout per inning early on this season. They may not provide many saves, but at the very least, they can help your ratios.
Elite Strikeouts and Ratios for Fantasy Baseball
I am going to keep writing about the Mets bullpen as long as they keep dominating. So far this season, Ryne Stanek, Reed Garrett, and Max Kranick have yet to allow a run. All three have a WHIP of 0.90 or lower. I want to specifically highlight Kranick, who, in 10 innings, has a 0.20 WHIP. He is giving back-end starter innings, just with much better ratios. Huascar Brazoban has thrown over 11 innings with a 0.79 ERA and 0.71 WHIP.
Max Kranick, Reed Garrett & Ryne Stanek combined this season:
22 IP
0-0
0.00 ERA
0.55 WHIP
22 KsThese guys have been off the charts so far🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/gmuI31NbHf
— NYM Stats (@nym_stats) April 15, 2025
Also, Edwin Diaz has struggled as of late and his velocity has dipped. If anything was to happen to the Mets closer, Stanek looks like the clear next man up.
Kirby Yates is still the dominant reliever we saw last season, just without the save chances. He has struck out 47 percent of the batters he has faced to go with a 2.16 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and a .172 batting average against. The numbers are elite. And if anything were to happen to Tanner Scott, you have to believe Yates enters the saves mix on a Dodgers team that is going to get a ton of save chances this season.
Yuki Matsui has struck out half the batters he has faced this season, tied with Mason Miller for the highest strikeout rate amongst qualified relievers. He has a 1.50 ERA and 0.83 WHIP, and opposing hitters have hit just .136 against him so far this season. He may not provide saves, but he can give great ratios and strikeouts.
Yuki Matsui, K'ing the Side. pic.twitter.com/2r66nkhju5
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 12, 2025
Bryan King has pitched to a 0.00 ERA and 0.55 WHIP, with a .080 batting average against. He has struck out 46 percent of the batters he has faced. The hitters haven’t been able to get on base against him, let alone score a single run. Pitchers like him get overlooked due to not getting save chances. But if you need to stabilize your ratios, using him for a couple of weeks will greatly help.
Make sure to follow Michael on X, @MichaelFFlorio.
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