In this week’s Closer Report, we wrap up the season with the year-end closer rankings. Mason Miller led the way wire-to-wire and should be the consensus first closer taken in 2027 drafts. Meanwhile, this season also brought us some incredible breakouts, such as Bryan Baker and Louis Varland. All that and more in the final 2026 edition of the Closer Report.
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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
Josh Hader – Houston Astros
Bryan Baker – Tampa Bay Rays
Louis Varland – Toronto Blue Jays
Miller went wire-to-wire at the top spot in the rankings all season as the best closer in baseball. Through Wednesday’s action, he’s gone 37-for-40 in save chances with a 1.19 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and 125 strikeouts over 68 innings.
Duran had his best season despite missing a few weeks early in the season with an oblique strain. The 28-year-old right-hander has amassed 33 saves with a 1.88 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 81 strikeouts over 57 1/3 innings. His 33 saves and 35.2% strikeout rate set career highs.
Smith picked up three more saves this week to reach 40 on the season, tying Bryan Baker for the lead in baseball. In his first full season as a closer, the 27-year-old right-hander has posted an incredible 1.99 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 104 strikeouts over 72 1/3 innings, giving him at least 100 strikeouts in three straight seasons to start his career.
Hader showed no signs of wear coming off of shoulder and biceps injuries. Since starting his season on June 3, he’s been perhaps the best closer in baseball, posting a 1.01 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, and 55 strikeouts over 44 2/3 innings while compiling 26 saves. He’ll be back among the top five closers in 2027 drafts.
Baker picked up a win this week and remains tied for the lead in saves with 40. The 31-year-old right-hander was one of this season’s most valuable early waiver adds, breaking out to a 1.47 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 63 strikeouts over 61 1/3 innings. Among this top tier of 2026 closers, Baker’s underlying skills indicate that he’s most likely to see some regression next season.
Varland was another valuable waiver add that’s paid off over the season. The 28-year-old right-hander established himself as one of the top high-leverage relievers, collecting 34 saves with a 1.29 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 95 strikeouts over 77 innings.
▶ Tier 2
Trevor Megill – Milwaukee Brewers
David Bednar – New York Yankees
Aroldis Chapman – Boston Red Sox
Mason Montgomery – Pittsburgh Pirates
Jacob Latz – Texas Rangers
Raisel Iglesias- Atlanta Braves
Tanner Scott – Los Angeles Dodgers
Megill gave up two runs to blow a save on Friday before bouncing back with a clean inning against the Orioles on Sunday. He then tossed a scoreless ninth on Wednesday in Philadelphia for his 30th save. The 29-year-old right-hander stayed healthy this season for a career year, posting a 2.67 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 68 strikeouts over 60 2/3 innings.
Bednar had a successful first full season as the Yankees’ closer. The 31-year-old right-hander has recorded 35 saves with a 2.54 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 74 strikeouts over 67 1/3 innings. He remains a steady, solid closing option for fantasy teams going into 2027.
Chapman had sat out about a week while managing a lat injury. He returned on Wednesday to close out the ninth against the Guardians and struck out the side for his 35th save. The 38-year-old veteran left-hander has had a spectacular season, posting a 1.92 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 71 strikeouts over 51 2/3 innings.
If the Pirates don’t add an established closer over the offseason, Montgomery is going to be an excellent mid-round pick in fantasy leagues after his dominant second-half run. He’s converted three more saves in the last week, giving him 16 with a 2.59 ERA over 66 innings. The same goes for Latz, who stepped up for the Rangers this season to lock down 30 saves with a 2.15 ERA over 71 innings.
Iglesias, one of the most steady closers over the last decade, had another excellent season with the Braves. The 36-year-old right-hander posted a 2.64 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 61 strikeouts over 58 innings while converting 34 saves.
Scott continues to work as the Dodgers’ closer, picking up his 23rd save this week. Edwin Díaz was activated from the injured list this week, but he’ll get work in lower-leverage situations for now. Roki Sasaki was also reinstated and will pitch in one-inning appearances.
▶ Tier 3
Emilio Pagán – Cincinnati Reds
Andrés Muñoz – Seattle Mariners
Riley O’Brien – St. Louis Cardinals
Kenley Jansen – Detroit Tigers
Kodai Senga – New York Mets
Yoendrys Gómez – Minnesota Twins
Jordan Romano – Colorado Rockies
Pagán turned his season around since returning from a hamstring injury in early July. After posting a 6.06 ERA in the first half, he’s recorded a 1.78 ERA over 25 1/3 innings since the All-Star break. The 35-year-old right-hander has converted 24 saves this season and could be an option for teams looking for a closer as he heads towards free agency this winter.
Muñoz left Sunday’s game against the Rockies with an apparent knee injury. MRI results came back negative. Still, it’s been an incredibly disappointing season for the 27-year-old right-hander, who gave up more hits and homers, leading to a 4.24 ERA and 10 blown saves despite maintaining an elite strikeout rate. Among this tier, he’s the only one likely locked into a closer role going into next season and a good bounce-back candidate.
O’Brien remained locked in as the Cardinals’ closer all season despite some inconsistency throughout the year. He’s converted 38 saves with a 4.08 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 64 strikeouts over 64 innings. In Detroit, Jansen has had a strong second half, posting a 1.86 ERA since the All-Star break.
Senga picked up another save for the Mets this week. He’s filled in at closer since Devin Williams landed on the injured list in early August. Williams was reactivated on Tuesday, though he may not be used as the closer over the final few games.
Gómez was due for regression after a solid first half, and it’s really caught up with him over the last two months, with an 8.59 ERA since the start of August. Jeff Hoffman had strung together 11 straight scoreless outings before giving up a run on Tuesday. He held on to a two-run lead to earn a save against the Giants. And Romano hasn’t had the best month to end the season. He gave up a run on Friday to take a loss against the Mariners.
▶ Tier 4
Ben Joyce – Los Angeles Angels
Erik Tolman/Jack Sinclair – Washington Nationals
Rico Garcia/Andrew Kittredge – Baltimore Orioles
Daniel Palencia/Ryan Zeferjahn/Ryan Rolison – Chicago Cubs
Grant Taylor/Sean Newcomb/Bryan Hudson – Chicago White Sox
Joyce took a loss last Thursday, giving up two runs against the Twins. He bounced back with a clean inning on Saturday. The 26-year-old right-hander has posted a 4.11 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts over 15 1/3 innings.
Tolman blew back-to-back save chances against the Cardinals this week before recovering with a scoreless inning on Tuesday, striking out the side to pick up his fourth save against the Tigers. In Baltimore, Garcia picked up a save for the Orioles. Félix Bautista was activated from the injured list to get some work in after missing all of the season with a torn labrum. The 31-year-old right-hander will likely make for a good late-round save spec in 2027 drafts.
Things have been messy in Chicago all season, on both sides of town. It’s incredible that the Cubs don’t have a reliever with double-digit saves. This week, it was Rolison who picked up a save. Meanwhile, Taylor did reach double digits, picking up his tenth save for the White Sox.
▶ Tier 5
Elvis Alvarado/Hogan Harris – Athletics
Calvin Faucher – Miami Marlins
Nate Pearson/Steven Cruz – Kansas City Royals
Dylan Smith/Trent Harris – San Francisco Giants
Brandyn Garcia/Juan Morillo/Kevin Ginkel – Arizona Diamondbacks
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