Florio's Fantasy Baseball Bullpens Report: Panic in the Bronx, Changes in the Desert

May 7, 2025

Michael Florio reviews fantasy baseball closers, saves, and waiver wire pickups for Week 6 of 2025. He analyzes changing bullpens and RP risers with elite ratios.

It is only May, and we have seen several big-name closers already lose their gig. Some were short-lived and have since returned. But what about under the bright lights of New York?

Plus, there are several teams now dealing with injuries that have shaken up their late-inning bullpen usage. If you need saves, there is a good chance some are sitting out on your waiver wire. This is also a time you can try and buy low on some struggling big names.

Do not forget that we are still a couple of months away from trades shaking a whole bunch up, so it is not like this is your only time to strike for saves. But if you are falling in the standings, now is a good time to try and swing a move.

Changing Bullpens for Fantasy Baseball

Things have gone from bad to worse for Devin Williams and the Yankees. It was starting to look like Williams was figuring things out, pitching in the eighth inning, and then Monday happened. Williams entered the eighth with a 3-0 lead against the Padres and was shelled. He and Luke Weaver allowed the Padres to take the lead. Williams now has a 10.03 ERA, 5.60 xERA, 1.97 WHIP, and a 22 percent strikeout rate.

His strikeout rate is down and walk rate is up, while his hard-hit rate, barrel rate, and average exit velocity are all well above his career norms. He is two runs away from tying his career high. It is impossible to trust Williams right now, but I do not want to drop him yet if I can prevent doing so. The upside is still very high, and the Yankees have an incentive to try and get him back in the ninth.

While he has to hit the bench, this means a longer leash for Weaver, who is a must-start closer until we see otherwise.

Devin Williams has allowed 13 runs this season.

It's the same amount of runs he allowed in 2023 and 2024 combined.

13 runs is tied for the second most runs he's allowed in a season in his career. It's May.

— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) May 6, 2025

The Guardians removed Emmanuel Clase from the closer role for a bit, but he has firmly taken it back. In the last week, he has picked up all three saves for the Guardians. It is as simple as if Clase is getting save chances for Cleveland, he is a must-start fantasy option. His being pulled for a small stretch was enough to give us full confidence that Cade Smith is next in line in this bullpen.

Just a week after the Diamondbacks had to place A.J. Puk on the IL, Justin Martinez suffered the same fate. Martinez is set to begin a throwing program, but his timeline remains fluid. In the last week, three different relievers have closed out games for the Diamondbacks. Shelby Miller, Ryan Thompson, and Jalen Beeks each picked up one, which leaves out Kevin Ginkel, who has been heavily used in the late innings.

Miller is my favorite of this trio and is a must-start option in Roto formats for the time being. Not only will he get some save chances, but he also provides elite ratios and strikeouts. I would spend 5-8 percent of FAAB if I needed saves. I rank the next three as Beeks, Ginkel, and then Thompson. With Puk and Martinez eventually returning, though, I would not spend much FAAB on them.

Torey Lovullo injury updates

- Corbin Burnes threw on flat ground today, still scheduled for his next start

- Justin Martinez will pick up a ball later this week

- Kendall Graveman to pitch in Reno on Wednesday pic.twitter.com/hOkJS6Xj9P

— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) May 5, 2025

The Pirates are starting to look like they have a set closer in David Bednar. Dennis Santana was on the bereavement list for a couple of days last week, so it is not set in stone. However, since Bednar returned, he has picked up two of the three saves. He misses bats more, and I believe the Pirates have an incentive to build his value up in case they opt to trade him. He is quickly becoming a player you can just start weekly. Santana is a deeper league option.

The Tigers have a closer committee between Tommy Kahnle and Will Vest. In the last week, the lone save went to Kahnle. He now has five saves on the year to Vest’s three. Brant Hurter also has two this season. A committee is not ideal for fantasy purposes, but as long as it remains to two options, the players remain viable in fantasy.

Kahnle is the top option here, but Vest should also be started in Roto formats moving forward. It is a bit tougher to trust them in head-to-head leagues where you typically start just two relievers.

Speculative Saves for Fantasy Baseball

The Dodgers have a lead closer in Tanner Scott, but the issue is that they do not like to use him on back-to-back days. He has also been pitching in the eighth more than fantasy managers would like. In the last week, Scott has not picked up a save. Meanwhile, Kirby Yates and Evan Phillips each picked up one. This bullpen has the potential to turn into a mess, especially when Blake Treinen returns.

Still, Scott remains a must-start option for fantasy until we see otherwise. Yates and Phillips both provide very strong ratios and strikeouts, and clearly can get some save chances on a team that is going to win a ton of games. They are both viable options in Roto leagues.

Kirby Yates Records First Save On Monday https://t.co/QCPo1vIn5L

— RotoBaller MLB (@RotoBallerMLB) May 6, 2025

The Phillies bullpen has been in turmoil for seemingly years. The one consistent in that period has been Jose Alvarado. He not only picked up the lone save for the Phillies in the last week, but he also leads them with six saves. It seems like the fantasy baseball community is always searching for a new option to emerge in this bullpen, but until that happens, Alvarado is a must-start option in fantasy baseball. Just be warned that there will be some blow-up appearances.

The Reds have a set closer, it is just not the one anyone envisioned heading into the season. Emilio Pagan has picked up eight of the Reds' 10 saves this season. If there were any doubts that this may change soon, Alexis Diaz was sent down to the minors last week. Pagan is a must-start option moving forward until something changes.

The #Reds are trying to rediscover the 2023 All-Star version of Alexis Diaz.#ATOBTTR | @Reds
🔗 https://t.co/6YbqEWFvEp pic.twitter.com/gsidB0LSbJ

— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) May 5, 2025

The Marlins are best left for the desperate. Not only do they not win many games and only have five saves on the season, but they have three different options who all get mixed in. On the year, Calvin Faucher has two, Jesus Tinoco has two, and Anthony Bender has one. None of the three provides elite strikeouts or ratios, either. It makes it very difficult to trust any of them.

I rank them Faucher, Bender, then the recently struggling Tinoco. Again, though, I only want to go this route if I am badly in need of saves. For head-to-head leagues, I would completely ignore this bullpen if possible.

The Rockies have five saves this season, and four different pitchers have picked them up. So far this season, Zach Agnos has two saves, while Tyler Kinley, Victor Vodnik, and Seth Halvorsen each have one. Agnos did pick up each of his two in the last week. If you were to go with anyone in this bullpen, he is the guy. But this bullpen is the last in the league you should touch unless you are very desperate for saves.

Elite Strikeouts and Ratios for Fantasy Baseball

Chris Martin is not the Rangers closer, but he is next in line. Given Luke Jackson has been a bit up and down, including getting shelled during an outing last week, Martin could potentially see some save chances. Martin has a 2.30 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with a 29 percent strikeout rate. That is all with an incredibly low 55 percent strand rate, so that ERA could improve moving forward. Martin provides elite ratios and strikeouts, while potentially being in the saves mix down the road.

I wanted to write about the White Sox arms since I never really do in the above sections. That is because they have picked up one save all year. That went to Brandon Eisert, who has struck out 30 percent of the batters he has faced this season. He provides average ratios, but if you want strikeouts and a chance at some saves, he is an arm you can stream.

Fernando Cruz has struck out 40 percent of the batters against him this season, the fourth best among all relievers. He also sports a 1.42 ERA and a 0.79 ERA. He provides absolute elite strikeouts and ratios while pitching in a bullpen that recently made a closer change and is in turmoil. He could see some save chances down the road.

Ryan Zeferjahn has struck out 47 percent of the batters he faced, the second highest among all qualified relievers. His ERA sits over four, but all his ERA indicators are significantly better than that. He has had a bit of bad luck with BABIP and home runs, but I am expecting much better results for the Angels reliever moving forward.

Make sure to follow Michael on X, @MichaelFFlorio. 

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