The latest fantasy baseball closer report paints a dynamic picture of relief pitching across the majors, with several relievers cementing their spots in tiered rankings.
The Closer Landscape
Tier 1 closers such as Mason Miller of the Padres and Josh Hader of the Astros have dominated the conversation, posting sub‑1.00 ERAs and racking up strikeouts that place them at the top of most rankings.
Ben Joyce has been effective as the Angels' closer, converting three saves with scoreless appearances and a strong K/BB ratio that underscores his reliability.
Tanner Scott stepped in for the Dodgers after Edwin Díaz was placed on the injured list, securing saves in Colorado and recording his 17th and 18th saves of the week.
Daniel Palencia is expected to return to the Cubs’ bullpen on Friday, though his immediate role as the team’s closer remains uncertain.
Other relievers making noise include Jhoan Duran of the Phillies, who converted saves against the Twins and Marlins, and Cade Smith of the Guardians, who recorded his 31st save with a 2.29 ERA. David Bednar of the Yankees and Riley O’Brien of the Cardinals posted strong weeks in Tier 2, with Bednar converting saves despite a blown save and O’Brien delivering solid outings.
Kenley Jansen of the Tigers struggled after converting two saves, giving up runs in a late outing against the Pirates, while Yoendrys Gómez of the Twins secured three saves with a 3.20 ERA, defying underlying skills indicators. Emilio Pagán of the Reds added saves against the Marlins and Cardinals, posting a 4.30 ERA and reaching 16 saves for the season. Mason Montgomery of the Pirates converted two saves, and Jacob Webb of the Cubs secured his ninth save despite Palencia’s injury, illustrating the depth of options in the bullpen.
Underlying statistics such as ERA, strikeout rates and K/BB ratios continue to drive the conversation, with Miller’s 95 strikeouts and a 0.86 ERA standing out as benchmarks.
Broadcast Future
Heading into the 2026 season, MLB will return to NBC and Peacock, bringing Sunday Night Baseball, Opening Day and postseason broadcasts back to traditional television, along with new draft events that promise to reshape how fans engage with the sport.