Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Aroldis Chapman still getting it done for surging Red Sox
· Yahoo Sports
In this week's Closer Report, Edwin Díaz is checking off all of the boxes in his recovery as he nears his return to the Dodgers. And Aroldis Chapman is still getting it done as a key piece on a surging Red Sox team, picking up four saves this week to help Boston tie a franchise record with 15 consecutive wins. All that and more as we cover the last week in saves around baseball.
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2026 Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings
Fantasy Baseball Steals Report: Nasim Nuñez can’t be stopped, Marlins hit untimely skidWho is stealing bases, who isn’t, why, and how?▶ Tier 1
Mason Miller - San Diego Padres
Jhoan Duran - Philadelphia Phillies
Cade Smith - Cleveland Guardians
Louis Varland - Toronto Blue Jays
Josh Hader - Houston Astros
Bryan Baker - Tampa Bay Rays
Miller struck out the side in a non-save situation against the Royals on Friday. Trade rumors are swirling around the 27-year-old flamethrower. The Padres would ideally attach a big contract to a Miller trade, but moving him to replenish the farm system is a real possibility. He's been the best reliever in baseball all season, posting a 0.89 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and 75 strikeouts over 40 2/3 innings.
Duran made two appearances in non-save situations against the Mets and Dodgers. He's been an easy number two in the rankings, enjoying a career year with a 1.32 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts over 34 innings while converting 24 saves.
Smith struck out two in a clean inning of work against the Pirates on Saturday to fall in line for a win, then picked up a save against the Twins on Tuesday. He's been steady all season as one of the top closers, converting 29 saves with a 2.72 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 66 strikeouts over 46 1/3 innings.
Varland converted his 20th save against the White Sox on Saturday with a clean inning of work, striking out one. He's allowed just six runs all season for a 1.08 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 68 strikeouts over 50 frames as the top closer breakout.
Hader has been outstanding since coming off the injured list. He made three appearances this week, giving up one run in a non-save situation on Monday against the Marlins before bouncing back with a save on Tuesday against the Marlins. Meanwhile, Baker pitched a clean inning with one strikeout against the Blue Jays on Wednesday for his 26th save. He's posted a 1.69 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts over 37 1/3 innings.
▶ Tier 2
David Bednar - New York Yankees
Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox
Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners
Raisel Iglesias- Atlanta Braves
Jacob Latz - Texas Rangers
Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers
Tanner Scott - Los Angeles Dodgers
Make it 17 straight scoreless appearances for Bednar. He recorded five outs against the Dodgers on Sunday, striking out two batters to pick up a win. The 31-year-old right-hander has posted a 2.72 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts over 41 2/3 innings.
Chapman was busy out of the break, locking down four saves with four scoreless appearances against the Rays and Orioles, helping the Red Sox extend their winning streak to 15 games before falling to the Orioles in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader. The 38-year-old left-hander looked like a prime trade candidate at one point. Now, he's a key piece on a surging Boston team.
Muñoz has seen his fortune turn with 12 straight scoreless appearances. He pitched two perfect innings this week, picking up his 17th save against the Giants on Sunday. Jose Ferrer, Gabe Speier, and Eduardo Bazardo have all been excellent behind Muñoz, giving Seattle one of the best bullpens in baseball.
Iglesias made back-to-back appearances in non-save situations, giving up one run against the Rangers on Sunday. The 36-year-old right-hander has been consistent in his 12th season, posting a 2.36 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 38 strikeouts over 34 1/3 innings while converting 19 saves.
Latz worked a four-out save against the Braves on Saturday, striking out one batter for his 19th save of the season. Jakob Junis was activated from the injured list on Saturday and stepped back into a setup role.
Megill was on an excellent run, making his 15th straight scoreless appearance with an inning of work against the Marlins on Saturday. That streak was snapped with a run allowed against the Mets on Wednesday, but he held on for his 16th save of the season. Meanwhile, Scott is back on track with four consecutive scoreless outings. He picked up his 15th save against the Phillies on Tuesday. Edwin Diaz could be on tap to return from the injured list sometime in the next week as he makes his way back from elbow surgery to remove loose bodies. He's currently on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City. He'll throw on Thursday in his first back-to-back, then again on Sunday before potentially being back with the Dodgers next Tuesday.
▶ Tier 3
Riley O'Brien - St. Louis Cardinals
Grant Taylor - Chicago White Sox
Paul Sewald - Arizona Diamondbacks
Emilio Pagán - Cincinnati Reds
Kenley Jansen - Detroit Tigers
Yoendrys Gómez - Minnesota Twins
Devin Williams - New York Mets
O'Brien picked up a save against the Diamondbacks on Friday, then gave up two runs to blow a save chance and take the loss against the Angels on Monday. He bounced back with a scoreless inning on Wednesday for his 26th save. Meanwhile, Taylor continues to solidify his role as the go-to guy in the ninth inning, picking up a save against the Blue Jays on Sunday with a scoreless inning. Three of his five saves have come in his last four appearances.
Sewald has surrendered at least one run in seven of his last 11 outings. He took a loss against the Cardinals on Friday, held on for a save on Saturday, then gave up two runs to blow a save against the Athletics on Tuesday. The 36-year-old right-hander holds a 4.95 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 42 strikeouts over 36 1/3 innings. Despite Sewald's 23 saves, if the Diamondbacks are to make a run for a playoff bid, they're going to need better performance in the late innings.
Pagán gave up a run in a non-save situation on Sunday in Colorado, then worked back-to-back scoreless appearances to lock down a pair of saves against the Mariners. The 35-year-old right-hander has made six appearances since coming off the injured list, stepping back into the closer role.
Jansen made two scoreless appearances this week, striking out two batters in each. He fell in line for a win on Monday against the Cubs. The 38-year-old right-hander has converted 11 saves with a 4.21 ERA across 25 2/3 innings and could be a trade candidate at the deadline. And in Minnesota, Gómez worked a scoreless inning against the Cubs on Friday for his 12th save.
There was some speculation regarding a potential role shift for Williams, but he worked the first save chance out of the break, tossing a clean inning with one strikeout last Thursday against the Phillies.
▶ Tier 4
Gregory Soto/Mason Montgomery - Pittsburgh Pirates
Kaleb Kilian - San Francisco Giants
Clayton Beeter - Washington Nationals
Jordan Romano - Colorado Rockies
Pete Fairbanks - Miami Marlins
Jacob Webb/Trent Thornton - Chicago Cubs
Soto was charged with a blown save on Saturday against the Guardians. Montgomery recorded the final out in the eighth and pitched a scoreless ninth on Wednesday against the Yankees before Soto picked up a save in the tenth. The two are trending in different directions, with Montgomery on a nine-game scoreless streak.
No saves for Kilian this week. He gave up a run against the Royals on Monday to take a loss. He remains at eight saves, with his last one on July 4. Beeter is also at eight saves after converting one on Sunday against the Athletics. He's given up at least one run in each of his last three appearances and holds a 3.94 ERA across 40 1/3 innings.
Romano worked a clean inning with two strikeouts to pick up a save against the Nationals on Tuesday, his seventh of the season and third since joining the Rockies. He's allowed one run with an 8/4 K/BB ratio across 5 2/3 innings with Colorado.
Fairbanks gave up three runs to blow a save and take the loss against the Brewers on Sunday. He's converted 13 saves, but it's come with a 7.42 ERA and 1.52 WHIP over 30 1/3 innings. And in Chicago, no saves for the Cubs' committee this week.
▶ Tier 5
Alex Lange - Kansas City Royals
Tyler Wells/Andrew Kittredge - Baltimore Orioles
Elvis Alvarado/Hogan Harris - Athletics
Ryan Zeferjahn/Kirby Yates - Los Angeles Angels
Lange blew two save chances this week before locking down his ninth against the Giants on Tuesday. In Baltimore, three different relievers were charged with a blown save this week for the Orioles, including Kittredge, Rico Garcia, and Yennier Cano. Meanwhile, Wells picked up a save on Friday before taking a loss on Monday. And Harris picked up a save against the Diamondbacks on Monday, his first save since June 10.