In this week’s Closer Report, Jacob Latz is one of the biggest risers as he led baseball in saves in June. The Reds got their closer back, activating Emilio Pagán. And the Orioles could see their closer sidelined once again after Ryan Helsley experienced some elbow discomfort on Wednesday.
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2026 Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings
▶ Tier 1
Mason Miller – San Diego Padres
Jhoan Duran – Philadelphia Phillies
Cade Smith – Cleveland Guardians
Louis Varland – Toronto Blue Jays
Josh Hader – Houston Astros
Miller made one appearance this week, recording two outs against the Cubs in a non-save situation. He’s posted a 0.78 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and 66 strikeouts over 34 2/3 innings. Meanwhile, Duran locked down two more saves this week for the Phillies. He’s up to 21 with a 1.52 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts over 29 2/3 innings in what has been a career season so far.
After giving up four runs in two appearances last week, Smith bounced back with a pair of saves against the Mariners on Saturday and Sunday. He leads baseball by a good margin at 26 saves to go with a 3.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 57 strikeouts over 38 1/3 innings.
Varland pitched a scoreless inning against the Rangers on Friday, then allowed a run on a wild pitch in a tie game on Sunday to take the loss. He bounced back on Monday, striking out two to pick up his 17th save against the Mets.
Hader added two more saves and a win with three scoreless appearances this week. He’s now 8-for-8 in save opportunities with just one run allowed and a 21/5 K/BB ratio across 13 innings.
▶ Tier 2
Aroldis Chapman – Boston Red Sox
Raisel Iglesias- Atlanta Braves
Bryan Baker – Tampa Bay Rays
Andrés Muñoz – Seattle Mariners
David Bednar – New York Yankees
Jacob Latz – Texas Rangers
Tanner Scott – Los Angeles Dodgers
Trevor Megill – Milwaukee Brewers
Chapman made three appearances against the Yankees, picking up a save on Thursday, followed by a scoreless inning for his 16th save on Saturday. Then, pitching for the third time in four games, he gave up one run on Sunday to blow a save chance. With Boston in last place in the AL East, there’s a good chance Chapman will be on the move before the end of the month.
Iglesias worked a clean inning to pick up a save against the Giants on Friday, then worked a perfect frame in a non-save situation against the Cardinals on Tuesday. The 36-year-old right-hander is up to 16 saves with a 1.27 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts over 28 1/3 innings.
Baker tossed a clean inning against the Diamondbacks on Saturday for his 21st save of the season in his only appearance this week. Meanwhile, Muñoz has put together one of his better stretches this season, with three straight perfect outings. He added his 15th save against the Guardians on Friday.
Bednar pitched two scoreless innings against the Red Sox on Sunday before starting the week on the paternity list. The 31-year-old right-hander has tossed 14 scoreless innings with a 15/3 K/BB ratio since May 22.
It was a busy week for Latz, who made four appearances in six days, collecting four saves to give him 18 on the season with a 1.71 ERA, 0.62 WHIP, and 43 strikeouts over 42 innings. The 30-year-old left-hander has emerged as a legitimate top saves option.
Scott recorded the final out in the seventh against the Padres on Sunday before tossing a scoreless eighth. Edgardo Henriquez then took over in the ninth and closed out the game for his first save. Despite being the primary option for saves in Los Angeles, this usage will suppress Scott’s save total. And in Milwaukee, Megill ends June with four scoreless appearances this week, picking up his 12th save with a scoreless inning against the Reds on Wednesday.
▶ Tier 3
Riley O’Brien – St. Louis Cardinals
Devin Williams – New York Mets
Ryan Helsley – Baltimore Orioles
Emilio Pagan – Cincinnati Reds
Paul Sewald – Arizona Diamondbacks
Kenley Jansen – Detroit Tigers
O’Brien worked two scoreless appearances, picking up saves against the Marlins and Braves on Sunday and Tuesday. He’s up to 21 with a 3.82 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 34 strikeouts over 35 1/3 innings. The Cardinals entered the season in a bit of a rebuild but find themselves in the hunt for the playoffs. It’ll be interesting to see which direction they go at the trade deadline, as they could be a candidate to add to the back end of the bullpen.
Williams made two scoreless appearances in non-save situations, then converted a save with a scoreless inning against the Blue Jays on Tuesday for his 12th of the season. While Williams has been much better after an abysmal April, it hasn’t necessarily led to more saves on a disappointing Mets team.
Helsley was supposed to make an appearance against the White Sox on Tuesday, but was held out with elbow discomfort. It’s not a good sign after Helsley missed time with elbow inflammation. He’ll undergo further evaluation, but it would be no surprise if he lands back on the injured list. Fantasy managers could speculate on Yennier Cano, Andrew Kittredge, or Rico Garcia in the event Helsley misses time. Garcia previously recorded four saves in Helsley’s absence, but never made him the primary option. And recent usage suggests Cano and Kittredge remain high in the leverage hierarchy.
The Reds got their closer back this week, reinstating Pagán following a nearly two-month absence with a hamstring strain. Manager Terry Francona confirmed Pagán will slot back into the ninth-inning role.
Sewald made one appearance this week, giving up two runs against the Giants on Monday before holding on for his 19th save. He’s allowed six runs in his last four outings, giving him a 4.50 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 33 strikeouts over 30 innings.
It wasn’t Jansen’s best week, either. He gave up a run in a non-save situation against the Astros on Thursday, then surrendered three to Houston on Sunday to take a loss. Still, the Tigers are short on alternatives, with Will Vest landing on the injured list with right elbow inflammation.
▶ Tier 4
Gregory Soto – Pittsburgh Pirates
Pete Fairbanks – Miami Marlins
Alex Lange – Kansas City Royals
Yoendrys Gómez – Minnesota Twins
Kaleb Kilian – San Francisco Giants
Clayton Beeter – Washington Nationals
In Pittsburgh, Soto’s freefall continues as he gave up five more runs over two appearances, including a blown save against the Reds on Saturday. Fantasy managers could speculate on Mason Montgomery or Dennis Santana. Meanwhile, Fairbanks gave up one run in a non-save situation in his only appearance for the Marlins this week. And Lange had a meltdown against the White Sox on Friday, giving up five runs while recording one out, then bounced back with a scoreless inning for a save on Sunday. Lange is up to seven saves with a 4.95 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, and 37 strikeouts over 36 1/3 innings.
Gomez has run away as the primary closing option for the Twins. He picked up two more saves this week against the Rockies and Astros. The 26-year-old right-hander is up to nine with a 3.57 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 36 strikeouts over 40 1/3 innings. While he may be worthy of a pickup for saves in deeper leagues, I wouldn’t expect this success to last all season. His 4.82 FIP and 5.30 xFIP suggest he’s been incredibly fortunate so far.
Kilian blew a save last Thursday against the Athletics, giving up four runs. He gave up another run on Sunday, but held on to convert a save, then bounced back with a scoreless inning on Wednesday against the Diamondbacks for his seventh save.
Beeter was charged with a blown save last Thursday in the seventh inning, walking two batters and allowing an unearned run to score. He then bounced back with a clean inning against the Orioles on Saturday, striking out two batters to pick up a win.
▶ Tier 5
Grant Taylor/Seranthony Domínguez – Chicago White Sox
Jacob Webb/Caleb Thielbar – Chicago Cubs
Sam Bachman/Kirby Yates – Los Angeles Angels
Antonio Senzatela – Colorado Rockies
Elvis Alvarado/Hogan Harris – Athletics
No saves for the White Sox this week. Taylor did pick up two wins with a pair of scoreless two-inning appearances. Despite having only two saves, he’s the only reliever worth rostering in the bullpen, with a 2.70 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 62 strikeouts across 43 1/3 innings.
Bachman appeared to have worked his way into the primary closer role, but he worked the eighth inning on Saturday against the Athletics before Yates stepped in for a save. If it’s a committee situation for the Angels, it’s not one worth chasing.
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