The Bullpen Landscape
The recent stretch of games has put several relievers under the spotlight, with Raisel Iglesias leading the way after extending his scoreless streak to open the season. His dominance has set a tone for a bullpen that is otherwise in flux.
Devin Williams, who struggled early in April, has now posted a series of clean outings that showcase his sharp secondary pitches and a rising strikeout rate, suggesting he is regaining the form that made him an All‑Star just two years ago.
The demotion of Ryan Walker in San Francisco has created a vacancy that could benefit Kaleb Kilian, who seized the opportunity by converting the only save for the Giants this week with four solid innings against the Dodgers.
Broadcast Returns in 2026
Fans will also notice a major shift off the field, as Major League Baseball announced that it will return to NBC and its streaming partner Peacock in 2026, bringing exclusive coverage of Sunday Night Baseball and other marquee events to the network’s primetime lineup.
Among the emerging arms, Mason Miller continues to impress, having recorded a four‑out save against the Cardinals while posting a 0.92 ERA and 40 strikeouts over 19 2/3 innings this season.
Cade Smith has locked down four more saves this week, pushing his total to 13 with a 3.05 ERA and 29 strikeouts across 20 2/3 innings, underscoring his reliability in high‑leverage moments.
Jhoan Duran contributed three scoreless appearances and picked up his sixth save against the Red Sox, while Aroldis Chapman has maintained a 0.66 ERA, a 0.88 WHIP and 19 strikeouts over 13 2/3 innings, keeping him among the most effective closers in the league.
Andrés Muñoz added his eighth save of the season with a scoreless inning against the Astros, and Riley O’Brien went 2‑for‑3 in save chances this week, posting a 2.70 ERA and 23 strikeouts over 20 innings.
Bryan Baker has emerged as the top closing option for the Rays, boasting a 2.60 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP and 20 strikeouts over 17 1/3 innings, while Tanner Scott converted a save with a clean ninth against the Braves and sits at a 1.56 ERA with a 16‑to‑2 strikeout‑to‑walk ratio in 17 1/3 innings.
Paul Sewald locked down two more saves this week but blew a two‑run lead against the Rangers, illustrating the fine line relievers walk when protecting late‑game leads.
Pete Fairbanks was reinstated from the 15‑day injured list and stepped straight back into the closer role, while Louis Varland made four appearances this week, picking up a save against the Angels.
Seranthony Domínguez recorded his tenth save but gave up two runs against the Royals, whereas Kenley Jansen struck out two batters in a clean outing for his seventh save of the season.
Abner Uribe collected a win and a save during the week, though he blew a save chance against the Padres, highlighting the volatility that still exists in the closer market.
Lucas Erceg extended his streak of eight straight scoreless appearances with a win over the Tigers, and Jacob Latz gathered two more saves, posting a 2.08 ERA and a 0.60 WHIP across 21 1/3 innings.
Gregory Soto picked up two saves for the Pirates and has a 1.69 ERA and 0.70 WHIP over 21 1/3 frames, while Rico Garcia and Anthony Nunez alternated save chances for the Baltimore Orioles.
Gus Varland converted a four‑out save against the Twins before bouncing back with a scoreless ninth against the Reds, and Graham Ashcraft took the ninth inning in a tie game against the Nationals, positioning himself as the favorite for the closer role.