Welcome to The Game Day’s Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings, Depth Charts, Bullpen Report, & Sleepers For Saves.
When you’re working the fantasy baseball waiver wire and trying to find the best sleepers for saves, you have to know each Major League Baseball team’s relief pitchers. Who has a path to 2022 fantasy baseball saves? Who’s going to focus on holds and setup appearances?
Frank Ammirante ranks each fantasy baseball bullpen from strongest (1) to weakest (30) while giving security ratings for each club’s relief corps.
See which fantasy baseball closers are secure, questionable, or on shaky ground in their job security so you can plan ahead and stay aggressive on the waiver wire. Identify the fantasy baseball league pickups you should make soon so you can have control over erratic 2022 fantasy baseball saves pictures.
Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings
Drag the table to the left to see the entire closer depth charts and rankings list. New closers denoted by all caps.
| Rk | Team | Closer | Next In Line | More To Watch | Job Security | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mets | Edwin Diaz | Mychal Givens | Adam Ottavino | GREAT | Diaz is the best closer in baseball right now. |
| 2 | Guardians | Emmanuel Clase | Trevor Stephan | James Karinchak | GREAT | Clase has a 1.32 ERA, 0.69 WHIP, and 26 SV. |
| 3 | White Sox | Liam Hendriks | Kendall Graveman | GREAT | Hendriks now 3rd due to Josh Hader's struggles. | |
| 4 | Padres | Josh Hader | Luis Garcia | GREAT | Hader's ERA has ballooned from 1.09 at end of June to 4.66. | |
| 5 | Blue Jays | Jordan Romano | Anthony Bass | Yimi Garcia | GREAT | Romano has been rock-solid on a contending team. |
| 6 | Astros | Ryan Pressly | Hector Neris | Rafael Montero | GREAT | Pressly has 28 K's in last 15 IP with 1.20 ERA. |
| 7 | Cardinals | Ryan Helsley | Giovanny Gallegos | GREAT | Helsley has video game numbers with 0.79 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, and 13.2 K/9. | |
| 8 | Giants | Camilo Doval | Jake McGee | Tyler Rogers | GREAT | Doval has only 15 SV, but with a 2.93 ERA and 58 K's in 46 IP |
| 9 | Dodgers | Craig Kimbrel | Chris Martin | Blake Treinen (IL) | GREAT | Kimbrel has been inconsistent, but the job security and elite team keep him here. |
| 10 | Braves | Kenley Jansen | Raisel Iglesias | A.J. Minter | GREAT | Manager Brian Snitker called Jansen his primary closer with Iglesias as the secondary. |
| 11 | Orioles | FELIX BAUTISTA | Dillon Tate | GREAT | Bautista has converted 3 SV since being named closer. | |
| 12 | Rockies | Daniel Bard | Alex Colome | GREAT | Bard has been elite, but stays lower because he's on a bad team. | |
| 13 | Mariners | Paul Sewald | Diego Castillo | GREAT | Sewald has been lights-out as Mariners closer. | |
| 14 | Royals | Scott Barlow | Josh Staumont | GREAT | Barlow now has a 2.19 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 17 SV. | |
| 15 | Yankees | AROLDIS CHAPMAN | Clay Holmes | SHAKY | Chapman is back as the Yankees' closer. | |
| 16 | Twins | Jorge Lopez | Jhoan Duran | SOLID | Lopez blew most recent save chance. | |
| 17 | Cubs | Rowan Wick | Steven Brault | SOLID | Wick has notche 10 straight scoreless appearances. | |
| 18 | Rangers | JONATHAN HERNANDEZ | Brett Martin | SOLID | Hernandez has established himself as the Rangers' closer. | |
| 19 | Tigers | Gregory Soto | Andrew Chafin | SOLID | Soto was rocked for 5 ER in a recent appearance. | |
| 20 | Nationals | Kyle Finnegan | Steve Cishek | SHAKY | Finnegan has pitched 7th inning in 3 straight appearances. | |
| 21 | Marlins | Tanner Scott | Dylan Floro | SHAKY | Scott converted the last save opportunity, so he still has job despite rough stats. | |
| 22 | Diamondbacks | Mark Melancon | Ian Kennedy | SHAKY | Melancon has 16 SV but plays for a bad team and hurts you in ratios. | |
| 23 | Brewers | Devin Williams, Taylor Rogers, Matt Bush | COMMITTEE | Rogers is injured, opening the door for Williams, but there's Bush too. | ||
| 24 | Phillies | David Robertson, Seranthony Dominguez | COMMITTEE | Both Robertson and Dominguez have gotten recent saves -- this is a committee. | ||
| 25 | Angels | RYAN TEPERA | Aaron Loup | SHAKY | Tepera converted most recent save. | |
| 26 | Athletics | Dany Jimenez, A.J. Puk, Zach Jackson | COMMITTEE | Expect Jimenez to take over the role soon. | ||
| 27 | Red Sox | John Schreiber, Tanner Houck (IL) | COMMITTEE | Schreiber is the best bet in this committee. | ||
| 28 | Pirates | David Bednar (IL) | Wil Crowe, Yerry De Los Santos | COMMITTEE | Bednar was placed on the IL, so we could see a committee. | |
| 29 | Reds | Hunter Strickland | Ross Detwiler | SHAKY | Strickland has hurt your ratios, but he's the best bet for saves. | |
| 30 | Rays | Colin Poche, Jason Adam, Brooks Raley | COMMITTEE | This is a full-blown committee. |
MLB DFS Play of the Day
Looking for a new MLB DFS site? when you sign up for FanDuel DFS today.
Read our FanDuel DFS review for more insight and get your welcome bonus below.
Fantasy Baseball Closer News
New York Yankees: Aroldis Chapman (Aug. 11)
Chapman appears to have rediscovered his form, turning in seven consecutive scoreless appearances with six strikeouts and one walk during that span. Meanwhile, Clay Holmes has struggled lately with a 9.64 ERA over his last 10 appearances.
Aroldis Chapman Fantasy Tip: Chapman is likely headed for a return to the closer role. If he was dropped in your league, be sure to pick him up immediately. He’s back.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Wil Crowe (Aug. 11)
With David Bednar on the IL, it looks like Crowe can slot in for saves, but Yerry De Los Santos is another option as well. It comes down to whether the team wants to go with veteran experience (Crowe) or better stuff (De Los Santos).
Wil Crowe Fantasy Tip: This might be a committee on a bad baseball team, so it’s not the greatest situation here. Monitor it closely, but don’t act on Crowe just yet.
- Looking for more fantasy baseball tips? Catch our Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups.
Philadelphia Phillies: David Robertson (Aug. 11)
We expected Robertson to be the closer in Philly after he was acquired at the trade deadline, especially since he picked up the team’s first save post-deadline. However, Seranthony Dominguez has converted the last two opportunities.
David Robertson Fantasy Tip: This is a committee where the Phillies will use the better reliever (Dominguez) in tougher matchups. That makes this a headache for fantasy players.
Baltimore Orioles: Felix Bautista (Aug. 11)
Bautista has lived up to the hype as the new closer in Baltimore after replacing the departed Jorge Lopez, converting all three save opportunities since Lopez was dealt.
Felix Bautista Fantasy Tip: Bautista looks like an elite closer for the rest of the season, as the ratios are great and the Orioles are contending. If you picked him up, you’re reaping the rewards now.
Los Angeles Angels: Ryan Tepera (Aug. 11)
Tepera secured the most recent save for the Angels, who look like they’re going with experience in the wake of the Raisel Iglesias trade.
Ryan Tepera Fantasy Tip: Pick up Tepera if you need saves, but understand that this is a bad team where save opportunities are few and far between.