In this week’s Closer Report, Edwin Díaz made his Dodgers return on Wednesday after a three-month absence and stepped right back into the closer role for his first save since April 7. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks are giving Paul Sewald lower-leverage work as they search for more consistency in the ninth inning. All that and more as we break down the last week in saves.
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2026 Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings
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▶ Tier 1
Mason Miller – San Diego Padres
Jhoan Duran – Philadelphia Phillies
Cade Smith – Cleveland Guardians
Louis Varland – Toronto Blue Jays
Bryan Baker – Tampa Bay Rays
Josh Hader – Houston Astros
Miller made four perfect appearances this week, picking up three saves and a win. He’s up to 28 saves with a 0.79 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, and 85 strikeouts over 45 2/3 innings. There continues to be speculation about a possible trade ahead of the deadline. Setup man Adrian Morejon is another target for competing teams. Jeremiah Estrada, fresh off the injured list, could slot in to fill the closer role if Miller is moved.
Duran struck out the side in a non-save situation against the Yankees on Saturday. He then had a rare bad day on the mound on Monday, giving up three runs against the Marlins for his second blown save of the season. With Brad Keller on the 60-day injured list, the Phillies could be a team looking to get a deal done for a high-leverage arm.
Smith entered in the eighth inning on Thursday against the Twins and allowed an inherited runner to score, charging him with a blown save. He bounced back on Tuesday with a scoreless ninth against the Reds. The 27-year-old right-hander leads baseball with 30 saves and a 2.52 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 70 strikeouts over 50 innings.
Varland picked up three more saves this week, giving him 23 with a 0.98 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 73 strikeouts over 54 innings, making him one of the most valuable relievers in baseball. Baker is right up there with 29 saves after locking down four more this week for the Rays, who could be looking to strengthen the back end of the bullpen as they lead the AL East. And Hader picked up two more saves for the Astros this week, giving him 14 since his season debut on June 3.
▶ 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
Edwin Diaz – Los Angeles Dodgers
Three more scoreless outings and three more saves for Bednar, who extended his scoreless streak to 22 appearances. That streak was broken on Tuesday against the White Sox as he surrendered two runs before holding on for his 22nd save. The Yankees will likely be in play for a high-end reliever and have been linked to Mason Miller.
Chapman has also been on a roll, converting two more saves this week for nine in July and 25 this season to go with a 1.77 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts over 35 2/3 innings.
Muñoz is in the middle of his best stretch of the season, making 13 straight scoreless appearances. Like Bednar, he saw his streak come to an end on Tuesday, giving up one run against the Dodgers while converting his 19th save. The Mariners are another team linked to some of the top relievers available, including Miller.
Iglesias picked up a save against the Padres on Thursday, then was charged with a blown save, giving up an unearned run against the Orioles on Sunday. He bounced back with a scoreless inning on Wednesday against the Mets for his 22nd save. Setup man Robert Suarez still appears to be a few weeks away from returning. He’s been sidelined since late June with right elbow inflammation.
Latz gave up one run in back-to-back outings this week, holding on for a save against the Mariners on Friday. He then tossed a scoreless inning against the Rays on Tuesday for his 21st save to go with a 1.80 ERA, 0.66 WHIP, and 51 strikeouts over 50 innings. At the top of the AL West standings, the Rangers are sure to be in the market for bullpen arms at the deadline.
Megill recorded the final out against the Rockies on Saturday for his 17th save of the season. He’s had a strong season, posting a 2.97 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 49 strikeouts over 39 1/3 innings.
Scott picked up a save against the Mets on Friday, his 16th of the season to go with a 2.32 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and 55 strikeouts over 42 2/3 innings. Diaz was activated from the injured list on Wednesday, ending a three-month absence after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow. He stepped right in for his first save chance, giving up a run before holding on for his fifth save against the Mariners. The most important development for Díaz was that his velocity was back in his first appearance, averaging 96.9 mph on his fastball.
Tier 3
Riley O’Brien – St. Louis Cardinals
Grant Taylor – Chicago White Sox
Emilio Pagán – Cincinnati Reds
Kenley Jansen – Detroit Tigers
Yoendrys Gómez – Minnesota Twins
Devin Williams – New York Mets
O’Brien wasn’t used in a 5-3 extra-innings loss against the Reds on Sunday as he was held out due to an illness. He returned with a scoreless inning of work against the Cubs on Wednesday in a tie game.
Two of Taylor’s last three appearances have come in the seventh inning. And he pitched both the ninth and tenth in an extra-inning contest against the Yankees on Wednesday. Despite being the favorite for saves right now, the team is still utilizing a committee approach, using their best reliever in high-leverage situations. And in Cincinnati, Pagán tossed a clean inning with two strikeouts for his 10th save against the Cardinals on Friday.
Jansen picked up a save on Friday against the Royals, his 12th of the season. The Tigers are in a difficult spot at the trade deadline, but should they choose to sell, Jansen could be one of several veterans moved. Meanwhile, Gómez continues to get the job done for the Twins, picking up his 13th save against the Athletics on Saturday. And Williams worked around a hit on Sunday against the Dodgers, striking out the side in a non-save situation, then picked up his 15th save with a scoreless inning against the Braves on Wednesday.
▶ Tier 4
Clayton Beeter – Washington Nationals
Pete Fairbanks – Miami Marlins
Gregory Soto/Mason Montgomery – Pittsburgh Pirates
Erik Miller/Kaleb Kilian – San Francisco Giants
Jordan Romano – Colorado Rockies
Jacob Webb/Trent Thornton – Chicago Cubs
Beeter picked up back-to-back saves for the Nationals over the weekend against the Diamondbacks, giving him 10 on the year. He’s posted a 3.69 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 33 strikeouts over 31 2/3 innings. Meanwhile, in Miami, Fairbanks converted saves on Tuesday and Wednesday against the Phillies for 15 on the season.
Montgomery gave up two runs against the Cubs on Sunday, but held on for his second save of the season. He came back with a scoreless inning on Monday against the Diamondbacks to fall in line for a win.
Miller got the only save of the week for the Giants, striking out two in a clean inning against the Brewers on Monday. Kilian tossed a scoreless inning to fall in line for a win against the Royals on Friday, but hasn’t converted a save since July 4.
Romano converted a save for the Rockies on Friday, tossing a scoreless inning against the Brewers for his eighth save of the season and fourth with Colorado. He’s given up one run with nine strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings this month since joining the team.
▶ Tier 5
Alex Lange – Kansas City Royals
Brandyn Garcia/Juan Morillo – Arizona Diamondbacks
Hogan Harris – Athletics
Tyler Wells/Andrew Kittredge – Baltimore Orioles
Ryan Zeferjahn/Kirby Yates – Los Angeles Angels
Paul Sewald tossed a clean inning against the Nationals on Friday, striking out one batter to pick up a save. He then blew a save on Tuesday against the Pirates, giving up three runs on a pair of homers. The long ball has been an issue for Sewald, surrendering 11 home runs this year. It’s led to a 5.26 ERA across 37 2/3 innings and prompted manager Torey Lovullo to state on Wednesday that Sewald would be pitching in lower-leverage situations, for now. Garcia got the save on Wednesday against the Pirates, but we’re looking at a volatile committee situation. Garcia does have the best strikeout rate in the bullpen and could be the better reliever to roster if chasing saves.
Lange and Harris each picked up a save this week for the Royals and A’s, but it’s really tough to trust anyone down in this tier. Lange has collected 10 saves for Kansas City with a 6.00 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 42 innings.
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