You really need to be alert when managing the fantasy baseball MLB closer position. Late inning high leverage relievers like Jose Alvarado also make it a priority to be ready for whatever situation they’re faced with on any given day. 

Alvarado stays alert and ready by starting his day with six espressos. We’ll take a closer look at his ever-evolving role, focus on a few other bullpens that deserve your attention, and identify a few relievers on the rise who should be on your radar.

 

 

 

MLB Closers 2025: Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Rankings

With the 2025 MLB closer and late inning high leverage reliever landscape changing on a day-to-day basis do yourself a favor and check out our 2025 Fantasy Baseball Closer Grid regularly. 

We update the grid as news happens. The following are a few bullpens and relievers that deserve your attention as we head into the weekend:

(Stats quoted in this article are current as of the morning of April 16th, 2025)

Cincinnati Reds

Alexis Diaz was activated off the IL on Tuesday but according to manager Terry Francona at least for the short term he won’t be the team’s closer. Francona will use him “when it makes sense”. On Tuesday night that meant bringing Diaz in at the start of the sixth inning with the Reds leading the Seattle Mariners 6-4. 

Diaz pitched 2/3 of an inning and recorded a hold. He was a bit rusty. Diaz faced five batters, and picked up a strikeout and he also issued two walks. Francona looks like he’ll ease Diaz back into action and lifted him with Julio Rodriguez coming up to the plate in favor of Graham Ashcraft. 

Emilio Pagan has picked up the last three saves for the Reds and looks like he’s earned Francona’s trust for the short term. Roles can eventually change but for now Pagan will likely continue to get the ball in the ninth inning with Tony Santillan, who already has five holds this season, working as his setup man. 

 

 

 

New York Yankees

Yankees closer Devin Williams is in no real danger of losing his job but in giving up runs in three of his first four appearances of the season, some fans were comparing him to former occasionally effective Bronx Bomber closer Clay Holmes. Control has been a big issue for Williams. 

He’s already walked six batters and given up seven hits in six innings pitched, but he’s been a notoriously slow starter throughout his career. He has a 3.51 lifetime ERA in March and April compared to his lifetime overall 2.53 ERA. Williams did pick up back-to-back saves on Monday and Tuesday (his second and third of the season) and looks like he might be on his way to winning over those Yankees fans who’ve been giving him the business about his early season struggles. 

Luke Weaver continues to be one of the better setup men in baseball and will get an occasional save chance when Williams is unavailable. Weaver hasn’t given up a run in nine IP this season and has a save and five holds, four of which were recorded over the past week. 

Milwaukee Brewers

Trevor Megill hasn’t pitched since April 12th, a game in which he blew a save opportunity and gave up his first earned runs of the young season. There’s been some concern due to reports that Megill has been dealing with a knee issue this season, but it hasn’t impacted his availability thus far. 

Megill went for an MRI on the knee, and it came back clean, but he is seeking a second opinion which is a bit worrisome. Should he be forced to miss time the Brewers have some options in their bullpen. Unfortunately, former setup man Joel Payamps and his bloated ERA (19.06) isn’t one of them. 

However, we highlighted right-handed reliever Abner Uribe’s good start to the season in last week’s article. He has four holds so far this season and has brief experience as an MLB closer. Lefty reliever Jared Koenig, who has a 2.16 ERA, three holds and a win this season, is another option. He has seven career minor league saves and also recorded a save for the Brewers last season.

Philadelphia Phillies

Phillies manager Rob Thomson is back at it, frustrating fantasy baseball managers who are looking for stability at the closer position. It appears that Thomson still wants to manage his bullpen based on best matchups. 

On Tuesday he used Jordan Romano in the seventh inning, followed by a fully caffeinated Jose Alvarado in the eighth inning. Both picked up holds. Matt Strahm picked up his first save of the season in the ninth inning, needing only seven pitches to do so. 

If you picked up Alvarado off the waiver wire don’t panic just yet. He came on to face the top of the San Francisco Giants’ lineup and is probably the reliever Thomson trusts most in late inning high leverage situations for now.

 

 

 

MLB Relievers On The Rise

Justin Sterner, Athletics

Athletics MLB closer Mason Miller is one of the best in the game and he has two very capable set up men. Tyler Ferguson is one of those setup men. The 31-year-old right-hander owns a 1.08 ERA and has recorded three holds. Sterner is another mature right-handed reliever who sets up for Miller and he has gotten off to a hot start. 

The 28-year-old hasn’t given up a run in nine appearances spanning 9.1 IP and he has recorded three holds to go along with 14 strikeouts and five walks this season. Sterner made the A’s as a non-roster invitee after pitching 12 scoreless innings this spring. 

He has 15 career minor league saves and if Miller should be unavailable, he could be used to close out games for the A’s. For now, the A’s seem to be a much more competitive team than last season and that makes both Ferguson and Sterner potentially good resources for holds moving forward.

Bryan King, Houston Astros

Last week we highlighted Steven Okert as an outstanding Astros reliever, but King should also be on your radar as well. In nine appearances this season across 8.1 scoreless IP, he has struck out 13 batters while walking just two. 

King also has recorded four holds this season. It’s unlikely that he’d be asked to fill in for Astros closer Josh Hader, but King does have seven minor league career saves making him accustomed to pitching in late inning high leverage situations.

Ronny Henriquez, Miami Marlins

Surprisingly heading into Wednesday’s action, the Marlins are a .500 team. It’s a long season and we can’t get too excited about their better-than-expected start but thinking optimistically, their bullpen collectively has the sixth most holds in baseball. Henriquez has been one of their better relievers this season. 

He has three holds and a win and is pitching to a 1.08 ERA. Anthony Bender and Calvin Faucher appear to be sharing closer duties for the Marlins right now, but Henriquez does have five career minor league saves. Should Bender or Faucher struggle at some point Henriquez might see some save opportunities come his way.

 

 

 

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