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2025 Closer Situations: Team Analysis
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Arizona Diamondbacks
Team: Arizona Diamondbacks
Total Saves: 7
Closer: Committee
Next in Line: A.J. Puk 15-Day IL, Justin Martinez Day-To-Day, Shelby Miller
(4/21) Justin Martinez entered the campaign as the slight favorite for saves in Arizona with manager Torey Lovullo electing not to name a closer, but A.J. Puk (elbow) holds a small edge with 4 saves to Martinez's 2 through late-April. However, Puk was recently placed on the IL due to left elbow inflammation, so the role will likely be filled by Martinez until Puk returns. Kevin Ginkel (shoulder) should also be in the mix once he recovers from a shoulder injury, though he's more likely to fill a setup role. Jalen Beeks and Shelby Miller are also in the setup mix and could see occasional save chances with Puk currently on the shelf.
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Sacramento Athletics
Team: Sacramento Athletics
Total Saves: 7
Next in Line: Jose Leclerc 15-Day IL, Michel Otanez 15-Day IL
(4/19) Mason Miller has solidified himself as the Athletics' closer after dominating in the role last year, averaging 100.9 mph on his 4-seamer while blowing away opposing hitters at a league-leading 41.8% clip. He currently sports a 57.1% strikeout rate and his upside is among the highest of all closers in the league. If Miller were to get hurt or be unavailable, A's newcomer Jose Leclerc is the logical next-man-up for closing duties, given that he has the most experience with 41 career saves. Tyler Ferguson (2 saves in 2024) and Michel Otanez (100+ strikeouts between the majors and minors last season) are likely to fill setup roles, while Noah Murdock (a Rule 5 pick of the A's) could also emerge in high-leverage.
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Atlanta Braves
Team: Atlanta Braves
Total Saves: 4
(4/19) Raisel Iglesias has been one of the most consistent and reliable closers over the past decade and has maintained his high-level production as he enters his mid-30's. While save chances have been somewhat limited thus far in 2025, Iglesias maintains very high stability as Atlanta's closer. Pierce Johnson and Aaron Bummer have not performed well in their setup roles, but Dylan Lee, Enyel De Los Santos and Daysbel Hernandez have been solid as part of the bridge to Iglesias.
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Team Notes
  1. 6/29:A.J. Minter, who logged his first save of the season Tuesday at Philadelphia, has appeared in 3 games in 4 days. This makes Will Smith the likeliest candidate for a save chance if one were to arise Wednesday.
Baltimore Orioles
Team: Baltimore Orioles
Total Saves: 2
(4/19) - Baltimore ranks near the bottom of the league with one save through mid-April and Felix Bautista hasn't been dominant in the early going of 2025. The Orioles' have been cautious with Bautista's usage, but "The Mountain" has walked six batters through five innings thus far while losing a few miles per hour on average on his sinker (97 mph compared to 99.5 mph prior to Tommy John surgery). Other than his poor walk rate, Bautista's underlying metrics look promising. If Bautista requires a break from closing, Seranthony Dominguez and Yennier Cano could step into closing duties, as both have yet to allow an earned run through 7.1 innings apiece.
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Boston Red Sox
Team: Boston Red Sox
Total Saves: 8
(4/23) Chapman was named Boston's closer late in spring training, and he's been quite effective early in 2025 with a 1.93 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 14:4 K:BB across 9.1 innings while going 4-for-5 in save chances. The high walk total isn't surprising, but the early numbers there are actually better than expected given his BB/9 exceeded 5.5 in each of the past four seasons. Justin Slaten also has three saves, but Chapman still appears to be the primary closer, at least for now. Slaten has given up just four hits and a walk over nine innings and has been unscored upon in all but one of his outings, and there's certainly a chance he gets a look as the main closing option before the end of the year. Liam Hendriks is now healthy after missing the start of the campaign with an elbow issue and should fill a high-leverage role. Garrett Whitlock has also been dominant in the early going with a 1.84 ERA and 19:5 K:BB while recording three holds.
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Team Notes
  1. 6/27:Tanner Houck was placed on the restricted list Monday prior to Boston's three-game series at Toronto. Matt Strahm and John Schreiber are the likeliest candidates for save opportunities should any arise during the series.
  2. 10/11:Hansel Robles exited Game 3 of the ALDS on Sunday due to a stomach illness after allowing two runs in two-thirds of an inning. He should be considered day-to-day due to his illness. Assuming he tests negative for COVID-19, it wouldn't be surprising to see the right-hander available for Game 4 on Monday. It was the first earned run he's allowed since August 29.
  3. 10/5:Entering tonight's AL Wild Card game against the Yankees, Hansel Robles has not allowed an earned run in 15 consecutive outings. Both he and Adam Ottavino enter tonight's contest with two-days rest, while Garrett Richards and Garrett Whitlock have had one day of rest after both pitched on Sunday.
Chicago Cubs
Team: Chicago Cubs
Total Saves: 6
Closer: Ryan Pressly Day-To-Day
(4/19) The Cubs traded for a proven closing option in January when they acquired Ryan Pressly from Houston. Pressly leads Chicago with 4 of the team's 6 saves through mid-April, but the veteran is working with a poor 4:6 K:BB ratio through 10 innings with a 1.80 WHIP. His skills have been in steady decline and it's fair to question whether he'll be able to hold the closer role all year for a team with playoff aspirations. If the Cubs turn away from Pressly at any point in 2025, Porter Hodge and Julian Merryweather have closing experience, though the former currently sports inflated ratios in the early going. Daniel Palencia throws triple-digits and could be a dark horse for save chances if he maintains a relief role into the second half of 2025.
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Cincinnati Reds
Team: Cincinnati Reds
Total Saves: 6
Closer: Committee
(4/15) Emilio Pagan has filled in admirably for Alexis Diaz (hamstring) in the closer role, posting a 1.23 ERA while going 4-for-4 in save chances through eight appearances this season. Diaz appears to be on the verge of a return after completing a rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville, and he seems to think he's ready to slot back in as the closer right away, though it will ultimately be manager Terry Francona's decision. Francona himself has said on multiple occasions that he wants Diaz to be the man in the ninth inning again eventually, but he may want to see it from Diaz first -- improved command and control in particular, after the hamstring injury sapped Diaz's effectiveness in spring training. Tony Santillan is the only other Reds pitcher to record a save for the team through 16 games in 2025. Graham Ashcraft has transitioned well to the bullpen and has stated his desire to work his way into the closer role eventually.
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Cleveland Guardians
Team: Cleveland Guardians
Total Saves: 8
Closer: Emmanuel Clase Day-To-Day
Next in Line: Cade Smith , Paul Sewald
(4/23) Emmanuel Clase was the best closer in all of baseball during the 2024 regular season, but he struggled in last year's playoffs (9.00 ERA) and those struggles have carried into the 2025 campaign. He was charged with the blown save Opening Day and sits with a 7.71 ERA and only one save through seven appearances. His 7:1 K:BB looks OK, but that comes with a whopping 14 hits allowed through seven innings, so while he should still have a fair amount of leash in the role, his performance so far has raised some eyebrows after three consecutive 40-plus-save seasons. Paul Sewald has the only other Guardians save so far in 2025 and has pitched well overall, and his past experience closing games (85 career saves) may position him as the next man up behind Clase for the ninth. Cade Smith is still spotless with his ERA through eight appearances, adding five holds, continuing his brilliance from 2024.
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Team Notes
  1. 7/1:Emmanuel Clase has appeared in each of the last 3 games. It's likely that Eli Morgan or Trevor Stephan would receive a save chance if one were to arise tonight against the Yankees.
Colorado Rockies
Team: Colorado Rockies
Total Saves: 3
Closer: Committee
(4/19) Colorado has two saves as a team through mid-April with one apiece going to Seth Halvorsen and Victor Vodnik. Both figure to split closing duties in 2025, as neither have separated himself enough from the other to take over the reigns completely. Unfortunately, Colorado relievers rank near the bottom of MLB in walks and home runs allowed, while also ranking near the bottom among all bullpens in strikeouts, so the alternatives aren't promising. However, two relievers who are not currently in the majors - Zach Agnos and Jaden Hill - are worth monitoring for potential second-half save opportunities.
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Chicago White Sox
Team: Chicago White Sox
Total Saves: 0
Next in Line: Fraser Ellard 15-Day IL, Cam Booser
(4/16) Manager Will Venable said late in camp that the Mike Clevinger would be "near the top" of the options for the ninth inning. However, the right-hander yielded five runs with an ugly 3:8 K:BB over 5.2 innings to lose the trust of his manager. As a result, Clevinger was subsequently designated for assignment. With Clevinger out of the picture and Fraser Ellard (hamstring) currently on the IL, Jordan Leasure might be the best bet for saves in a shaky White Sox bullpen.
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Detroit Tigers
Team: Detroit Tigers
Total Saves: 8
Next in Line: Tyler Holton , Will Vest
(4/18) Detroit's closing situation began the season as one of the blurriest in the league, but Tommy Kahnle has quickly settled in as the primary option with a 1.29 ERA, 0.43 WHIP and 5:0 K:BB over seven innings while converting all three save chances. The right-hander is the only Tigers reliever with any high-leverage saves, as Brant Hurter's two saves are both of the three-inning variety. The job is likely to stick with Kahnle as long as he remains effective and healthy, but his health is not a given considering that his 50 appearances last year was his highest total since 2017. Tyler Holton and Will Vest have been effective early in high-leverage roles and could also see some saves chances, while Beau Brieske has picked up two holds despite an 8.59 ERA. Jason Foley, who led the bullpen with 28 saves and a 3.15 ERA in 2024, began the season at Triple-A Toledo and is now down with a shoulder injury, though he could still be a factor later in the campaign.
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Houston Astros
Team: Houston Astros
Total Saves: 7
Closer: Josh Hader
(4/19) - Josh Hader's stability as the Astros is as high as it comes among closers in the league. Even after yet another stellar campaign, during which he led all relievers with 105 strikeouts and was 3rd among them with a 37.8% strikeout rate, the southpaw worked this offseason on limiting his movements before his windup in an effort to not tip his pitches. So far, he's been highly effective in 2025, pitching to a 0.90 ERA, 0.60 WHIP and 13:2 K:BB through 10 innings. He's relying less on his sinker and throwing more sliders (42% usage) and changeups (5%), the latter of which he intended to make a bigger part of his arsenal in 2025. Bryan Abreu is the clear backup for closing duties, as Houston elected to trade setup man Ryan Pressly earlier this offseason.
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Team Notes
  1. 7/1:Ryan Pressly has recorded a Save in each of the past 2 days. He has yet to work 3 games in a row this season, so it's likely a save chance would go to Rafael Montero on Friday.
  2. 9/29:Ryan Pressly is currently managing a knee issue and hasn't pitched since Saturday. Kendall Graveman was placed on the paternity list Tuesday. Look for Ryne Stanek or Yimi Garcia as the favorites to pitch in potential save opportunities for the next couple days if Pressley remains unavailable.
Kansas City Royals
Team: Kansas City Royals
Total Saves: 6
Next in Line: Lucas Erceg , Hunter Harvey 15-Day IL
(4/19) Carlos Estevez is among the league leaders with 5 saves (T-6th) through mid-April. Estevez - who inked a two-year, $20.2 million contract in late January - has pitched well for the Royals, while Lucas Erceg has typically taken on the highest-leverage spots prior to the ninth inning. Erceg has yet to record a save for Kansas City in 2025, but could still approach double-digit saves as the season progresses. Hunter Harvey (shoulder), who was also acquired by Kansas City ahead of last summer's trade deadline, is off to a promising start in 2025, but is currently on the IL with a Grade 1 right teres major strain. The injury isn't believed to be a serious concern, but the right-hander will likely need a bit of time to build his arm back up even if he restarts his throwing program next week.
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Los Angeles Angels
Team: Los Angeles Angels
Total Saves: 7
Next in Line: Ben Joyce 15-Day IL, Ryan Johnson
(4/23) Closer of the future and current setup man Ben Joyce landed on the injured list after just five outings due to a shoulder issue, and it's unclear how long he'll be unavailable. Veteran closer Kenley Jansen has been reliable as ever through seven appearances, as he's recorded his first five save chances and has a 7:2 K:BB through seven scoreless innings. The save volume isn't likely to hold with the Angels likely to slip from their 11-11 record, but Jansen could still have a chance to reach 30 saves for the first time since 2022. Ryan Johnson and Ryan Zeferjohn have also picked up a save apiece but aren't likely to see more than the occasional opportunity. Brock Burke has recorded three holds and two wins but has a 5.79 ERA through 10 outings.
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Los Angeles Dodgers
Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Total Saves: 11
Closer: Committee
Next in Line: Tanner Scott , Blake Treinen 15-Day IL, Kirby Yates
(4/16) Three Dodgers relief pitchers have recorded saves through mid-April, but Tanner Scott appears poised for his first 30-plus save campaign. The southpaw signed a hefty four-year contract with Los Angeles this offseason and is yet to walk a batter through nine innings thus far. Others like Blake Treinen, Kirby Yates and Alex Vesia will get the occasional save chance, but Scott looks to have a firm hold on closing duties, even if his strikeout and opposing hard-hit rates currently suggest otherwise.
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Team Notes
  1. 10/14:Corey Knebel will serve as the opener for Thursday's NLDS Game 5 matchup against the Giants. Knebel filled the opener role four times during the regular season, allowing one run in a combined 5.2 innings of work. Julio Urias is expected to follow him in bulk relief.
  2. 10/6:The Dodgers' highest-leverage relievers are well rested, as Jansen, Treinen and Vesia enter Wednesday's NL Wild Card game against the Cardinals on 4 days rest.
Miami Marlins
Team: Miami Marlins
Total Saves: 5
Closer: Committee
(4/23) The Marlins have five saves through 23 games (11 wins), with Jesus Tinoco and Calvin Faucher recording two apiece and Anthony Bender nabbing one. Tinoco has already spent some time on the injured list, so his two early saves should hold a bit more weight for now, and he's pitched well enough with two runs allowed and a 2:3 K:BB over 5.2 frames. Bender has pitched the best of the trio with a 1.80 ERA across 10 innings, though a 7:5 K:BB could be some cause for concern. Faucher also has a 7:5 K:BB in nine outings while giving up four earned runs, so there's a limited ceiling even if one of the three relievers takes command of a larger share of the committee. Andrew Nardi was expected to be in the high-leverage mix after tallying three saves and 32 holds across the past two seasons, but he opened the year on the 60-day IL due to a back issue.
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Milwaukee Brewers
Team: Milwaukee Brewers
Total Saves: 4
(4/21) - Trevor Megill looked dominant through his first five outings, pitching 4.1 scoreless frames with one save and an 8:1 K:BB ratio. The 31-year-old imploded during his sixth appearance, permitting five consecutive batters to reach safely before blowing his first save of the year against Arizona. Megill subsequently had imaging done on his knee, which initially came back clean but is being evaluated again this week for a second opinion. If Megill were to miss any time, Abner Uribe and Nick Mears stand out as potential options to close for the Brewers. Mears leads Milwaukee relievers with a 1.44 Game Leverage Index (gmLI), while Uribe (1.32) ranks second per that statistic. However, Uribe has closing experience and the electric arm, averaging 98.5 miles per hour on his sinker (98th percentile per Statcast). The Brewers have also summoned 25-year-old righty Craig Yoho from Triple-A Nashville, where he pitched 9.2 scoreless innings with an 9:3 K:BB and one save.
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Minnesota Twins
Team: Minnesota Twins
Total Saves: 2
Closer: Jhoan Duran
Next in Line: Griffin Jax , Cole Sands
(4/23) Jhoan Duran's velocity was "down by design" during spring training as the Twins' closer focused on his mechanics and pitch movement, but he's bumped his velocity up for the regular season, with his 100.3-mph average fastball being a marginal drop from 2024. The Twins have scuffled to an 8-15 record, which has resulted in just two saves, both of which were converted by Duran. The right-hander has been a bit wild with six walks over 10.1 innings (which is more than double his 2.5 BB/9 from last year), but he's still been effective with a 1.74 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 10 strikeouts. Even if Minnesota is unable to push for a playoff spot, there should be some more save volume before long. After being one of the most dominant relievers in MLB last year, Griffin Jax remains as the primary setup man and has already recorded six holds with a 14:3 K:BB, but he's also blown two saves while giving up 10 earned runs across nine innings. Cole Sands has picked up three holds and has a 3.24 ERA, while Louie Varland's move to the bullpen has gone well with four holds, a 2.25 ERA and a 15:4 K:BB. Danny Coulombe isn't likely to be a factor for saves even with some injuries, but he has two holds and hasn't given up a run through 10 appearances.
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New York Mets
Team: New York Mets
Total Saves: 8
Closer: Edwin Diaz Day-To-Day
Next in Line: A.J. Minter , Ryne Stanek
(4/23) Diaz is one of a few veteran closers that have labored early in 2025, though it has yet to cost him a save as he's still a perfect 6-for-6. The right-hander has a 5.59 ERA and 15:6 K:BB across 9.2 innings, and he's already served up a pair of home runs. Diaz is likely to get on track soon and still has plenty of job security, but it's still worth keep an eye on him to see how long it takes to fully settle in. A.J Minter signed with the Mets during the offseason and has immediately stepped in as a reliable setup man with six holds while allowing just two earned runs with 13 Ks in 11 outings. Ryne Stanek (one save, two holds) and Reed Garrett (seven holds) have also been dominant in high-leverage roles with just one earned run given up between them.
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New York Yankees
Team: New York Yankees
Total Saves: 9
(4/16) - Devin Williams has struggled through his first seven appearances in pinstripes, permitting at least one run in three of those contests while walking six over six innings. His ratios are inflated in his small sample and he's only recorded three saves thus far, but all indicators suggest his numbers will rebound as the season progresses and the weather warms up. If Williams' struggles persist into the summer, the Yankees could turn to Luke Weaver for the more than the ancillary save chance. Weaver was New York's most trusted reliever late last season and is once again off to a nice start in 2025.
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Team Notes
  1. 7/1:Aroldis Chapman was activated from the 15-day IL. Clay Holmes has worked 3 games in the last 5 days, but did not pitch yesterday. Don't be surprised if the Yankees elect to give Holmes another day of rest with Chapman back. It's possible Chapman gets the call tonight if a save opportunity were to arise.
  2. 6/29:Aroldis Chapman is likely to return Friday.
  3. 10/5:Entering tonight's AL Wild Card game, Aroldis Chapman has a career 6.43 ERA and 2.07 WHIP in 14 innings at Fenway Park. However, he logged a 2.70 ERA against Boston this season with a 8:4 K:BB in 6.2 innings, albeit with two home runs allowed.
  4. 9/29:Jonathan Loaisiga (shoulder) will likely be activated Wednesday.
Philadelphia Phillies
Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Total Saves: 7
(4/15) Presumptive favorite Jordan Romano has taken a back seat to lefty Jose Alvarado early on, with Alvarado earning three saves to Romano's one through 16 team games. A longtime closer during his time in Toronto, Romano has struggled to regain his pre-injury velocity, though he recently stated that the Phillies' coaching staff helped him identify a mechanical issue behind the velocity dip. Perhaps Romano can wrestle the job back in time, and Alvarado's history of wildness (career 4.9 BB/9) leaves that door very much open. Orion Kerkering hasn't displayed much of a strikeout punch so far in 2025, but the 24-year-old is still widely viewed as the closer of the future in Philadelphia.
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Pittsburgh Pirates
Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
Total Saves: 4
Closer: Committee
(4/19) - The Pirates recalled David Bednar from Triple-A after the former All-Star found his form in Indianapolis, where he didn't issue a walk while allowing only one hit while striking out six batters across four scoreless innings. Even with Dennis Santana faring well as the Pirates' closer, Bednar should get another chance at the role as long as he carries his strong play from Triple-A into the majors. Consider this a committee for now as Bednar eases back into action with Pittsburgh.
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San Diego Padres
Team: San Diego Padres
Total Saves: 11
The Padres are tied for the best record in baseball at 17-7, which has helped Suarez lead the league with 10 saves through nearly one month of the season. In addition to racking up saves, the right-hander has pitched exceptionally well with a 13:2 K:BB and just three hits allowed over 11 scoreless innings. After posting a 2.77 ERA with 36 saves in his first season as a closer in 2024, Suarez is cementing his place as one of the best ninth-inning options in the league. Trade rumors swirled during spring training, but San Diego's hot start will likely keep those discussions at bay for the near future. Jason Adam would be the likely next man up and has also been electric with nine holds and a 0.69 ERA, while Jeremiah Estrada, Wanda Peralta and Adrian Morejon have also enjoyed strong starts to the campaign.
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Seattle Mariners
Team: Seattle Mariners
Total Saves: 7
Next in Line: Matt Brash 15-Day IL, Collin Snider
(4/23) Munoz has recorded seven saves and is the only Mariners pitcher to tally a save through 23 games under new manager Dan Wilson. The right-hander has yet to give up a run across 11 appearances, and his 14:5 K:BB is on par with his ratios from last year. The 26-year-old totaled a career-high 22 saves in last season but appears poised to blow past that figure in 2025, assuming he can stay healthy. Matt Brash is coming back from a lost season due to Tommy John surgery but could be activated from the IL in the coming weeks, and he may serve as the primary option for the eighth inning after posting a 13.6 K/9 with 25 holds in 2023. Colin Snider stepped up last year with a 1.94 ERA in 42 appearances and continues to pitch well in a setup role this year, but the Seattle bullpen doesn't have much established depth beyond that.
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San Francisco Giants
Team: San Francisco Giants
Total Saves: 8
Closer: Ryan Walker
(4/16) Manager Bob Melvin indicated in mid-February that Ryan Walker would open the season as the Giants' closer and he's recorded 4 of the team's 6 saves through mid-April. Walker was outstanding last season, ranking 10th among relief pitchers with both a 0.85 WHIP and 26.1 K-BB percentage, and was the only pitcher in baseball to record double-digit saves (10), wins (10) and holds (21). Meanwhile, Camilo Doval took major steps backwards in 2024, but is pitching much better in the early going of 2025. Doval may have an opportunity to earn the job back later this season if he can improve his walk rate (14.4% was 2nd-worst among relief pitchers last year) and deflate his ratios, but Walker figures to have a fairly long leash after his impressive results.
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Team Notes
  1. 5/18:Camilo Doval has recorded a save in 3 straight games for San Francisco. The Giants are off on Thursday, but Doval may get a breather on Friday after his recent heavy usage.
  2. 10/4:The Giants bullpen gets a much-needed break after winning the NL West. Camilo Doval, in particular, pitched 4 times in 5 days during the final week.
  3. 10/1:Doval, Rogers and Leone have worked 2 out of the past 3 games, with Rogers throwing 47 pitches over that span. Strong possibility Rogers gets the night off against San Diego.
  4. 9/30:Doval earned his 2nd big-league save on Wednesday and may be the new closer in San Francisco.
  5. 9/29:The plans for Jake McGee (oblique) beyond Wednesday aren't entirely clear, but so long as he gets through mound work without any setbacks, a return to the Giants' bullpen for the final regular-season series against the Padres might not be out of the question.
St. Louis Cardinals
Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Total Saves: 5
Next in Line: JoJo Romero , Phil Maton
(4/23) After leading MLB with 49 saves to go along with 2.04 ERA and 79:23 K:BB last season, it's been a bit slow going to begin 2025. With the Cardinals five games under .500, the right-hander has gone 3-for-4 in save chances with a just two earned runs allowed over eight innings, though he's also already issued eight walks. Four of those came in one appearance, however, so it isn't major cause for concern. St. Louis ended up holding onto Helsley during the offseason, but he's a strong bet to be traded this summer while in the final year of his contract. JoJo Romero has struggled early after recording 30 holds with a 3.36 ERA last year, but Phil Maton and Kyle Leahy have pitched well while taking on high-leverage spots. Romero remains the current favorite to close should Helsley be dealt, but it could be more of an open competition with someone like Ryan Hernandez potentially getting a chance.
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Team Notes
  1. 10/6:The Cardinals' highest-leverage relievers are well rested, as Gallegos, Cabrera and Reyes enter Wednesday's NL Wild Card game against the Dodgers on 4 days rest, while Garcia is on 3 days rest.
  2. 10/1:Garcia earned his 2nd save of the season Thursday night as the Cardinals give Gallegos some much deserved rest before the playoffs. Gallegos has logged a new career-high 79.1 innings this season.
Tampa Bay Rays
Team: Tampa Bay Rays
Total Saves: 3
(3/11) When Fairbanks was healthy last season, he tallied 23 of the Rays' 33 saves for a 70% team save share, which would have been a top-10 mark among closers. Unfortunately, the right-hander's stability continues to remain low, as he consistently misses time due to injuries every year. When Fairbanks has been unavailable, manager Kevin Cash has afforded save opportunities to various relievers. Edwin Uceta and Garrett Cleavinger appear to be next in line for saves behind Fairbanks, but Hunter Bigge, Mason Montgomery and Eric Orze have emerged as potential Closer of the Future candidates. In addition to Fairbanks' durability issues, his contract status - he makes a reasonable $3.67M in 2025, but has a $7M team option in 2026 (or $1M buyout) before he becomes a free-agent in 2027 - could make him a trade candidate if he performs well in 2025. Fairbanks has issued 4 walks over 1.2 Grapefruit League innings this spring, so consider him a risky option for saves.
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Team Notes
  1. 10/11:Collin McHugh will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher Monday against the Red Sox as part of a bullpen day in Game 4 of the ALDS, Manager Kevin Cash hasn't appointed a primary pitcher to work behind McHugh, as the Rays will instead likely turn to a cadre of arms to fill innings out of the bullpen. Josh Fleming, JT Chargois, Pete Fairbanks, J.P. Feyereisen, Andrew Kittredge and Matt Wisler tossed 20 pitches or fewer in Sunday's 13-inning loss, so the Tampa Bay bullpen should be relatively fresh for Monday's contest.
Texas Rangers
Team: Texas Rangers
Total Saves: 9
(4/16) Luke Jackson's Statcast profile and his 19.2 strikeout rate aren't very impressive, but he's successfully converted five consecutive save chances for Texas. The 33-year-old flew under the radar for much of draft season, but when the Rangers didn't sign a high-profile closer this off-season, Jackson leap-frogged Chris Martin, Robert Garcia and Marc Church within the Rangers' hierarchy for saves. Jackson's handle on closer duties in Texas might not be a firm one, as his performance doesn't exactly align with his current standing on MLB's saves leaderboard. Manager Bruce Bochy could easily shift to a matchups-based approach in the ninth inning between Martin and Garcia, who are more than capable high-leverage arms.
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Toronto Blue Jays
Team: Toronto Blue Jays
Total Saves: 7
Next in Line: Yimi Garcia , Nick Sandlin 15-Day IL
(4/16) Jeff Hoffman has taken over the closer job in Toronto after signing a three-year, $33 million contract in January. After the right-hander worked in a closing committee for the Phillies last season, he's operated as more of a traditional closer with the Blue Jays, recording 3 of the team's 5 saves through mid-April. He's dominated on the mound, posting a 13:1 K:BB over his first 9.1 innings to improve his stability. Yimi Garcia and Nick Sandlin are next in line should Hoffman's shoulder issues resurface, but so far he's proven to be healthy in the early going of 2025.
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Washington Nationals
Team: Washington Nationals
Total Saves: 8
Next in Line: Jorge Lopez , Jose Ferrer
(4/16) Kyle Finnegan finished third in the league with 38 saves in 2024, but his middling numbers (3.68 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 60:24 K:BB over 63.2 innings) resulted in the Nationals non-tendering him in November rather than paying his rising salary in arbitration. The right-hander ultimately re-signed on a one-year, $6 million contract in February to once again serve as Washington's primary closer to begin 2025. He should have decent stability after recording 95 percent of the Nationals' saves last season, but the ERA and WHIP are high for a closer and create room for volatility. Jose Ferrer and Jorge Lopez are the primary setup candidates and should be next in line for saves should Finnegan falter.
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Team Notes
  1. 9/23:Tanner Rainey earned the save for the Nationals last night and has worked 3 out of the last 4 games. Expect Kyle Finnegan, who hasn't pitched since Sept. 19, to get the save chance if one presents itself against the Cardinals tonight.