Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: As the season draws to a close, saves are needed

As the last week of baseball approaches, we look at each team's closer situation and recap the previous week's saves across the league in this week's Closer Report.

Rankings for Fantasy Baseball Closers

Level 1

Chapman, Aroldis, Boston Red Sox

Muñoz Andrés, Seattle Mariners

On Saturday, Chapman allowed a run in a non-save scenario against the Yankees, but on Sunday, he recovered with a clean inning and a save by striking out one hitter. The 37-year-old left-hander has pitched 58 1/3 innings, recorded 30 saves, and has a 1.23 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, and an 82/14 K/BB ratio. Additionally, Muñoz recorded his 35th save of the season on Friday against the Angels, striking out two batters in each of his two clean innings pitched this week. When Muñoz was unavailable on Saturday, Matt Brash filled in and made his fourth save.

Level 2

The Philadelphia Phillies' Jhoan Duran

Díaz, Edwin, of the New York Mets

San Diego Padres player Robert Suarez

Duran made four appearances on the mound this week, so he was very busy. Before blowing a one-run lead against the Dodgers on Monday, he recorded saves over the Royals and the Mets. On Tuesday, he bounced back with a clean inning, recording his 31st save of the season and his third of the week. Since joining the Phillies at the trade deadline, he has already converted 15 games.

On Saturday, Díaz allowed a run on three hits, blew the save, and lost to the Rangers. In the past week, he has made two more appearances in non-saving circumstances without scoring. Since the beginning of August, the 31-year-old right-hander has only made three saves. With a stellar 1.88 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and an 85/21 K/BB ratio over 57 1/3 innings, he is still at number 26. Suarez, meanwhile, recorded three saves to give him a season total of 39, which leads the NL.

Level Three

The New York Yankees' David Bednar

The Tampa Bay Rays' Pete Fairbanks

Los Angeles Angels' Kenley Jansen

Carlos Estévez of the Royals of Kansas City

The Milwaukee Brewers' Abner Uribe

Pagán Emilio of the Cincinnati Reds

The Cleveland Guardians' Cade Smith

Iglesias Raisel of the Atlanta Braves

The San Francisco Giants' Ryan Walker

The Los Angeles Dodgers' Tanner Scott

Houston Astros' Bryan Abreu

The Toronto Blue Jays' Jeff Hoffman

The Detroit Tigers' Will Vest

For the Pittsburgh Pirates, Dennis Santana

After converting three this week, Bednar now has 25 saves, including eight with the Yankees. After registering a 5.77 ERA in 2024, the 30-year-old right-hander has had an incredible comeback season. In 57 2/3 innings pitched, he recorded a 2.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and a 79/16 K/BB ratio.

Fairbanks' 26th save against the Cubs on Saturday set a new career record with Tampa Bay. He then converted his 27th save on Wednesday after throwing a clean inning in a non-save situation against the Blue Jays on Monday. Given that Fairbanks has recovered and been healthy throughout the season, recording a career-high 57 1/3 innings, it is difficult to imagine the organization not activating the right-hander's 2026 club option.

Despite just making one appearance this week in a non-save scenario, Jensen still has 27 saves. Estévez was sidelined for Sunday's game against the Phillies in Kansas City due to moderate back pain. He pitched the ninth inning against the Mariners on Wednesday after taking a few days off, allowing one run and holding on for his 40th save.

This week, Uribe defeated the Cardinals on Saturday after extra innings. After a live batting practice, Trevor Megill experienced fresh pain, even though it seemed like he would be coming off the injured list this week. In Megill's absence, Uribe is expected to remain the team's closer.

Pagán pitched a scoreless inning in a non-save scenario against the Cardinals on Monday, going without a save this week. This week, top rookie Chase Burns was activated off the injured list and will spend the rest of the regular season pitching out of the bullpen.

Smith blew a save with one run allowed against the Tigers on Tuesday before sliding in line for a victory after making three saves in four days for the Guardians. In his last eight appearances, he has struck out several batters. Over 69 2/3 innings, the 26-year-old right-hander has up to 15 saves, a 3.10 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP, and a 100/19 K/BB ratio.

After making two more scoreless appearances this week, including a save against the Nationals on Tuesday, Iglesias reduces his second-half ERA to 2.08. In his last 22 appearances, the 35-year-old right-hander has given up only one run. As he reaches free agency this winter, he is undoubtedly demonstrating that he has a lot of energy left.

Walker got the loss in the ninth inning against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday, worked around two baserunners in a scoreless inning on Wednesday, then threw a scoreless inning in a non-save situation against the Dodgers on Friday. Scott, meanwhile, allowed three runs in Friday's loss to the Giants in Los Angeles. He recovered by making two clean appearances against the Phillies and Giants in non-saving circumstances.

Since taking up the closer position in Josh Hader's absence, Abreu hasn't been quite as effective. He picked up a four-out save on Tuesday after working around three hits and a walk on Monday while stranding two hits and a walk for a save against the Rangers.

With a 4.64 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and an 83/23 K/BB ratio over 64 innings, Hoffman collected the final two outs on Tuesday for his 31st save of the season after striking out two in a scoreless inning in a non-save scenario against the Rays on Monday.

Vest recorded a save in Miami on Sunday after throwing two scoreless innings against the Marlins on Saturday. He lost to the Guardians on Tuesday after giving up four runs, three of which were earned, in his third appearance in four days. Santana, meanwhile, made one appearance against the Nationals on Saturday in a non-save circumstance.

Level Four

The Texas Rangers' Shawn Armstrong

The Washington Nationals' Jose Ferrer

The Baltimore Orioles' Keegan Akin

Brad Keller/Andrew Kittredge, Chicago Cubs

Riley O'Brien and JoJo Romero of the St. Louis Cardinals

Miami Marlins players Calvin Faucher, Ronny Henriquez, and Tyler Phillips

On Saturday in New York, Armstrong recorded his eleventh save while playing two scoreless games against the Mets. This season, the 35-year-old right-hander has pitched 67 2/3 innings with a 70/19 K/BB ratio, 0.83 WHIP, and a 2.39 ERA. Against the Pirates on Friday, Ferrer also recorded his ninth save of the year. And with three saves for the Orioles, Akin had a fantastic week. Most fantasy leagues still have Armstrong, Ferrer, and Akin available for teams trying to add some last-minute saves as the season draws to a close.

As part of a committee to cover Daniel Palencia's closer position, Kittredge and Keller each recorded two saves. As he recovers from a shoulder injury, Palencia might start a rehab assignment this weekend. Additionally, O'Brien made two saves for the Cardinals during his week in St. Louis.

Level Five

Kody Funderburk and Justin Topa of the Minnesota Twins

Sean Newcomb, who plays sports

Jake Woodford and Andrew Saalfrank of the Arizona Diamondbacks

Mike Vasil and Jordan Leasure of the Chicago White Sox

Colorado Rockies' Victor Vodnik