Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Assessing the saves landscape and closer rankings at the All-Star break – NBC Sports
Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Assessing the saves landscape and closer rankings at the All-Star break
- By
- Jorge Montanez,
- By
- Jorge Montanez
Published July 16, 2026 01:37 AM
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In this week’s Closer Report, Mason Miller remains at the top of the closer rankings at the All-Star break. Bryan Baker, Louis Varland, and Jacob Latz highlight some of the first half’s biggest closer breakouts. All that and more as we cover the saves landscape around baseball going into the second half
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- Eric Samulski,
- Eric Samulski,
2026 Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings
▶ Tier 1
Mason Miller – San Diego PadresJhoan Duran – Philadelphia PhilliesCade Smith – Cleveland GuardiansLouis Varland – Toronto Blue JaysJosh Hader – Houston AstrosBryan Baker – Tampa Bay Rays
Miller locked down back-to-back saves over the weekend heading into the break, tossing a pair of scoreless innings against the Blue Jays. The 27-year-old right-hander ends the first half with 25 saves while posting a 0.91 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, and 72 strikeouts over 39 2/3 innings. Padres general manager A.J. Preller iterated that the team has no intention of trading Miller at the deadline. Things can always change over the next two weeks, but the Padres would understandably need an incredible offer to move Miller, who has three years left of team control.
Duran also picked up two saves before the break, giving him 24 with a 1.38 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts over 32 2/3 frames. He’s been nothing short of outstanding for the Phillies in his first full year with the team
Smith was busy before the break, making four appearances this week. He added two saves, giving him an MLB-leading 28. The 27-year-old right-hander is on pace for a near carbon copy of his 2025 season, proving himself as one of the league’s top closers
Varland has been one of this season’s biggest breakouts at the closer position, taking over the ninth-inning role in Toronto. He added a save on Friday against the Padres, giving him 19 with a 1.10 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 67 strikeouts over 49 innings
Hader took the loss against the Rangers on Sunday, giving up one run on three hits without recording an out. Still, it’s been an exceptional start for the 32-year-old left-hander, posting a 1.17 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 25 strikeouts over 15 1/3 innings while converting 10 saves since his season debut on June 3
No saves for Baker over the final weekend. He’s been another gem through the first half, emerging as one of the top closers in baseball. The 31-year-old right-hander has converted 25 saves for the Rays with a 1.73 ERA over 36 1/3 innings
▶ Tier 2
David Bednar – New York YankeesAroldis Chapman – Boston Red SoxRaisel Iglesias- Atlanta BravesAndrés Muñoz – Seattle MarinersJacob Latz – Texas RangersTrevor Megill – Milwaukee BrewersTanner Scott – Los Angeles DodgersRiley O’Brien – St. Louis Cardinals
Bednar has been on an incredible run over the last two months. He’s gone 16 straight appearances without allowing an earned run, dating back to May 22. Before then, he had a 5.14 ERA over 21 innings. Now, he’s worked that down to a 2.70 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over 40 frames while converting 18 saves on the year
Chapman has had a strong first half. He picked up a win and a save, giving him 19 saves with a 2.20 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 36 strikeouts over 28 2/3 innings. The Red Sox completed a 9-0 road trip before the All-Star break and suddenly find themselves back in the playoff race, which could affect how they approach the trade deadline. Chapman and Garrett Whitlock were believed to be on the trade market, but a strong finish to the half could now make them buyers over the next couple of weeks
Iglesias added his 19th save with a scoreless inning against the Cardinals on Sunday. The team is still waiting for the return of setup man Robert Suarez, but he has yet to be cleared to resume throwing as he remains on the injured list with right elbow inflammation. Dylan Lee has stepped up with 19 holds and a 1.47 ERA
Muñoz made one more appearance before the break, striking out two in a scoreless inning against the Rays in a non-save situation on Sunday. He ends the first half on a strong note, going 10 straight outings without allowing a run. The Mariners are believed to be in the market for another high-leverage reliever at the deadline, with Matt Brash still on the 15-day injured list with a lat strain
Fantasy managers who were early on Latz have been rewarded with 18 saves, a 1.61 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, and 46 strikeouts over 44 2/3 innings. He also picked up his second win with a scoreless inning against the Astros on Sunday
Megill didn’t make an appearance over the weekend. He ends his first half with a 3.00 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 46 strikeouts over 36 innings. Megill had taken a step back from the closer role for a while, but took back the lead with a strong May and June, taking 14 saves into the break
Scott has been solid filling in for Edwin Díaz, converting 13 saves with a 2.56 ERA across 38 2/3 innings. But his time as the Dodgers’ closer may be nearing an end. At least the primary share of closing duties. Díaz has tossed two scoreless innings so far in his minor league rehab assignment. He’ll likely need at least a few more outings, but a return later this month seems imminent
O’Brien made two appearances before the break, picking up a pair of saves against the Braves. He’s up to 24 saves with a 3.43 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 39 strikeouts over 39 1/3 innings. The 31-year-old right-hander represented the Cardinals in his first All-Star game
▶ Tier 3
Paul Sewald – Arizona DiamondbacksEmilio Pagán – Cincinnati RedsKenley Jansen – Detroit TigersGrant Taylor – Chicago White SoxYoendrys Gómez – Minnesota TwinsDevin Williams – New York Mets
Sewald ended the first half with two clean outings against the Padres and Dodgers, adding two saves to give him 22. The 36-year-old right-hander has been prone to giving up home runs, but has been otherwise solid and dependable for the Diamondbacks
Pagán has made three appearances, picking up one save, since his return from a two-month absence on the injured list with a hamstring strain. The 35-year-old right-hander has recorded seven saves with a 6.06 ERA over 16 1/3 innings
Jansen added one more save on the week, giving him 11 with a 4.56 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 25 strikeouts over 23 2/3 innings. Meanwhile, Taylor picked up his fourth save for the White Sox, his second in July. If that trend continues following the All-Star break, Taylor will be quickly rising up the rankings
It’s not the best closer profile, as the underlying skills suggest Gómez has pitched above his head, but he continues to get the job done for the Twins. He added his 11th save with a 3.50 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 38 strikeouts over 43 2/3 innings
In New York, there’s some speculation heading into the second half that the Mets could give Williams a break from the closer role after he blew a save on Sunday against the Red Sox. He went into the break with a 4.83 ERA over 31 2/3 innings. Luke Weaver would make for a solid speculative pickup. He’s been excellent, with a 1.85 ERA over 39 innings. Weaver recorded eight saves for the Yankees in 2025 and could fill the role for the Mets, especially if they’d like to showcase him before the trade deadline. Interim manager Andy Green stated that Williams will remain the closer as the second half starts, but it’s certainly worth monitoring.
▶ Tier 4
Gregory Soto/Mason Montgomery – Pittsburgh PiratesKaleb Kilian – San Francisco GiantsClayton Beeter – Washington NationalsTyler Wells/Andrew Kittredge – Baltimore OriolesPete Fairbanks – Miami MarlinsJacob Webb/Trent Thornton – Chicago Cubs
There was some speculation that Soto could be losing hold of the closer role as he struggled through June. Both he and Montgomery picked up a save during Saturday’s doubleheader against the Brewers
It was not the best end to the half for Kilian, who surrendered three runs without recording an out to blow a save against the Rockies on Friday. JT Brubaker picked up a save the next day, and Erik Miller could be in the mix against left-handed hitters to close out games
The Nationals have had one of the worst bullpens in baseball as late-inning struggles continue to hold the team back. Beeter contributed with a blown save on Saturday against the Yankees. Still, he’s the favorite for saves, leading the team with seven, to go with a 3.62 ERA across 27 1/3 innings
A week after Wells stepped up with two saves for the Orioles, it was Kittredge who converted a pair of saves in Baltimore. The team will likely continue to use a committee approach, with six relievers on the roster having recorded a save
Fairbanks surrendered a solo homer in a non-save situation on Sunday for his final outing of the first half. The 32-year-old right-hander has struggled with a 6.83 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and 38 strikeouts over 29 innings. And it’s a full committee in Chicago, where Webb and Thornton each recorded a save for the Cubs before the break
▶ Tier 5
Alex Lange – Kansas City RoyalsJordan Romano – Colorado RockiesSam Bachman/Kirby Yates – Los Angeles AngelsElvis Alvarado/Hogan Harris – Athletics
Lange has been hit with some serious regression over his last few outings, giving up ten runs over his last four appearances. Still, he remains the favorite for saves on the Royals
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