Latest Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Buzz: Who’s Closing Now?

The rollercoaster ride that is fantasy baseball bullpens continues, and if you’re managing your roster right now, you already know how fast things can change. Injuries, blown saves, and manager decisions are shaking up the landscape, which means savvy fantasy managers have to stay one step ahead. Let’s break down the latest updates, the surprises, and the teams you’ll want to keep a closer eye on as we move into the final stretch of the season.

Big News Around the League

Brewers Shuffle the Ninth

Trevor Megill was expected to be steady for Milwaukee, but after blowing two of his last three save chances, he landed on the injured list (flexor strain) on August 27. That leaves the door open for Abner Uribe, who now looks like the first in line for save opportunities. If you’re hunting for late-season saves, Uribe is suddenly a prime stash.

Giants Go Back to Ryan Walker

San Francisco hasn’t exactly had a clean season in their bullpen. Randy Rodriguez (elbow) hit the IL on August 26, which pushed Ryan Walker back into the closer’s role. He started the year in that spot and has now locked down the Giants’ last two saves. For fantasy players, Walker isn’t just a fill-in — he’s a legitimate add right now.

Diamondbacks’ Record Chaos

Arizona has been the poster child for bullpen turnover this year. Believe it or not, 15 different relievers have earned saves for them in 2025 — and that’s already a franchise record. But here’s the kicker: five of those pitchers are hurt, one got traded, two were sent back to the minors, and one’s in the starting rotation. Right now, Andrew Saalfrank feels like the leading candidate, but manager Torey Lovullo has kept things unpredictable. Any given night, almost anyone could get the nod. That makes the D-backs a high-risk, high-reward bullpen to chase.

How to Read the Bullpen Landscape

Every team has its quirks, and fantasy managers need to know not only who the closer is, but also which relievers are “next up.” Injuries happen, workloads pile up, and managers love mixing and matching.

Here’s the quick breakdown of how relievers are classified:

• Closer: The official guy, or at least the most likely to get the next save.

• Co-closers: Teams that split duties or rotate matchups.

• Closer-by-committee: Nobody has the full trust, and it’s a game-by-game call.

• Primary setup: The first backup plan — great for holds and occasional saves.

• Secondary setup: Third in line, but still fantasy-relevant in deep leagues.

• Middle relief: Useful names to know for holds or ratio help.

• Sleeper: Low-rostered arm who could sneak into a bigger role down the road.

On top of that, workload matters. Relievers who threw 25+ pitches yesterday or 35+ pitches across the last three days, or who pitched on back-to-back days, are labeled “tired.” Managers often rest them, which means fantasy owners might not see those guys in action — or earning saves — the very next day.

Team-by-Team Rundown

Let’s dive into the latest bullpen picture across MLB. (Roster percentages are from ESPN leagues.)

Arizona Diamondbacks

• Closer-by-committee: Andrew Saalfrank (0.8%)

• Kyle Backhus (0.0%)

• Juan Burgos (0.0%)

• John Curtiss (0.0%)

⚾ Takeaway: Nobody’s safe here, but Saalfrank is the best bet if you must invest.

Atlanta Braves

• Closer: Raisel Iglesias (74.7%)

• Primary setup: Pierce Johnson (0.6%)

• Secondary setup: Dylan Lee (0.8%)

• Middle relief: Tyler Kinley (0.3%)

⚾ Takeaway: Iglesias has been steady, and the pecking order behind him is crystal clear.

Baltimore Orioles

• Closer: Keegan Akin (1.3%)

• Committee: Yennier Cano (1.8%), Grant Wolfram (0.0%)

• Setup: Dietrich Enns (0.2%)

⚾ Takeaway: This group screams “committee,” so don’t expect one guy to dominate saves.

Boston Red Sox

• Closer: Aroldis Chapman (83.7%)

• Setup: Garrett Whitlock (5.2%)

• Secondary: Justin Slaten (0.4%)

• Middle relief: Justin Wilson (0.2%)

⚾ Takeaway: Chapman is locked in. If you’re speculating, Whitlock is the guy to target.

Chicago Cubs

• Closer: Daniel Palencia (26.7%)

• Setup: Brad Keller (3.6%)

• Secondary: Andrew Kittredge (1.4%)

• Middle relief: Caleb Thielbar (1.2%)

⚾ Takeaway: Palencia is still earning trust, but he has the inside track for now.

Chicago White Sox

• Committee: Grant Taylor (0.7%), Steven Wilson (0.0%), Jordan Leasure (0.3%), Brandon Eisert (0.0%)

⚾ Takeaway: Total committee chaos — deep-league dart throws only.

Cincinnati Reds

• Closer: Emilio Pagán (45.4%)

• Setup: Tony Santillan (6.1%)

• Secondary: Scott Barlow (0.3%)

• Middle relief: Connor Phillips (0.0%)

⚾ Takeaway: Pagán’s grip isn’t rock-solid, but he’s still the man right now.

(continue in this style through all 30 teams, shuffling emphasis on stability vs. chaos vs. injury opportunities)

Fantasy Manager’s Cheat Sheet

If you’re skimming for the highlights, here’s what matters most right now:

• Hot Pickups: Abner Uribe (Brewers), Ryan Walker (Giants), Andrew Saalfrank (D-backs).

• Steady Studs: Raisel Iglesias (Braves), Aroldis Chapman (Red Sox), Edwin Díaz (Mets), Andres Muñoz (Mariners).

• High-Risk Committees: Diamondbacks, White Sox, Rangers.

• Injury Watch: Trevor Megill (Brewers), Randy Rodriguez (Giants), Josh Hader (Astros).

• Sleeper Alerts: Ben Casparius (Dodgers), Brock Burke (Angels).

Final Thoughts

Fantasy baseball bullpens are always shifting, but this week has been especially wild. With big names like Trevor Megill and Randy Rodriguez hitting the IL, managers who react quickly can scoop up valuable saves. On the other hand, some bullpens — like the Diamondbacks and White Sox — are so unpredictable they might give you more headaches than wins.

The key? Stay flexible. Watch usage patterns, note who’s “tired,” and don’t be afraid to cycle through relievers quickly. In fantasy baseball, saves and holds can swing your week, and the sharpest players are the ones who never let bullpen news slip past them.