Updated Fantasy Baseball Closer Report (2026)

It was only a month ago that I went in-depth on every team’s bullpen situation. Many things can change in a month. For this updated fantasy baseball closer report, I will not be looking at all 30 MLB teams as I did the first time. Instead, we’ll focus on situations where there have been changes or additional clarity.

Updated Fantasy Baseball Closer Report

Kansas City Royals

Much has been made of the preseason velocity reading of Carlos Estevez. Last season, he averaged 95.9 miles per hour (MPH) on his fastball. He has been nowhere close to that mark in spring training. His average fastball velocity is under 90 MPH. A bit of a decrease is to be expected, but not to that extent.

Estevez’s decreased velocity has impacted his performance. He has only pitched two innings in spring training. That’s partially because he was playing in the World Baseball Classic. In those two spring training innings, he allowed four earned runs, including three home runs.

The Royals have two other options to fill in if Estevez’s struggles carry over into the regular season: Matt Strahm and Lucas Erceg. Taking Strahm with one of your last picks if you are chasing saves isn’t a bad strategy.

Texas Rangers

In the last version of this article, the Rangers’ situation was described as difficult to figure out. We’ve received clarity since that article was posted. One name that was mentioned was Alexis Diaz. He was recently demoted to Triple-A, so he is no longer in contention.

That whittles the closer options down to Chris Martin and Robert Garcia. Given his history in the role, Garcia is the favorite for saves and the one who should be selected in fantasy baseball drafts.

Los Angeles Angels

Injury attrition has reduced the number of potential closers in the Angels’ bullpen.

We already knew Ben Joyce would begin the season on the injured list (IL). He’s still recovering from the labrum surgery that ended his season in May. Sometime this May is a realistic expectation for his return.

Another option in the Angels’ bullpen was Robert Stephenson. He has pitched 10 total innings since the start of the 2024 season, battling a variety of elbow injuries. It was believed his injuries were behind him, but he recently had another setback. Report indicate additional damage to his UCL. At this point, there can be no faith in his ability to stay healthy.

That leaves Kirby Yates as the closer to begin the season for the Angels. Last season was a struggle for Yates, with a 4.76 FIP for the Dodgers over 41 innings. However, just a season before that, he recorded 33 saves and a 2.50 FIP with the Rangers. Yates has shown he can have success as a closer in the past.

Houston Astros

In our last update, Josh Hader declared he would be ready to pitch at the start of the regular season. That is not the case. Hader will begin the season on the IL. Officially, it isn’t the shoulder injury that sidelined him at the end of last season, but rather biceps inflammation.

While Hader hasn’t pitched a single inning in official game action in spring training, he has been throwing. It’s been reported that he will throw again this weekend.

While Hader recovers, Bryan Abreu is a borderline top-10 closer for fantasy baseball. While he has never had double-digit saves in a season, he has also had a FIP under 3.00 in three of the past four seasons. He had a K-BB% of 25%. The only relievers with at least 70 innings who had a better mark were Cade Smith and Jeremiah Estrada.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Spring training performance is typically something you should ignore when it comes to assessing fantasy selections. However, in the case of the Diamondbacks’ bullpen, spring training statistics have likely shown us who will begin as the closer.

A quick reminder that the player who begins the season as the closer for the Diamondbacks is unlikely to finish the season as the closer. That’s because during the regular season, A.J. Puk is expected to return. While Justin Martinez had full Tommy John surgery, Puk had the internal brace procedure, which typically doesn’t require as long to recover.

To begin the season, though, it will likely be Paul Sewald as the closer. He had issues last season with a 4.66 FIP in 19 innings between two teams. When he was with the Diamondbacks in 2024, he was effective as the closer with 16 saves. In spring training, he has allowed two earned runs in five innings with four strikeouts and zero walks.

The top healthy competitor to Sewald is supposed to be Kevin Ginkel. He has been with Arizona his entire career and has often posted decent underlying marks. Last season’s 3.64 FIP was his highest since 2021. Even while he has pitched well, the Diamondbacks have been hesitant to ever give him the closer role.

Ginkel has never had a season with double-digit saves. His seven earned runs in 4.2 spring training innings are likely to keep him in a set-up role to Sewald to begin the season.