As if managing the fantasy baseball 2025 MLB closer position isn’t difficult enough, but potential injuries to key MLB closers are making life even more difficult for fantasy baseball managers in Week 5. 

We did see the return of two former big-time closers over the past week. Pittsburgh Pirates reliever David Bednar is back in the bigs after being demoted to the minor leagues after his poor start to the season. He hasn’t given up a run in his two appearances since being recalled. 

 

 

 

Bednar was used in late inning non-save situations on Saturday and Tuesday and has a good chance at reclaiming his closer’s role if he continues to pitch well. He did record a hold on Tuesday.

Liam Hendriks was recently reactivated off the IL by the Boston Red Sox. He is being eased into action and has pitched in two late-inning, non-save situations thus far. He gave up a home run and two earned runs in his first one inning relief appearance but shut out the Seattle Mariners for an inning in his second appearance. 

It might be a while before he is regularly given the opportunity to close out games. Aroldis Chapman has four saves, and a 1.93 ERA and Justin Slaten has three saves and an 8/1 K/BB ratio. Chapman has been known to implode in recent seasons so there’s always a chance Hendriks will be back pitching in high leverage late inning situations before too long.

MLB Closers 2025: Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Rankings

In this article we’ll fill you in on some other late inning high leverage relievers to keep an eye on as well as some bullpen situations that deserve your attention. 

With the 2025 MLB closer and late inning high leverage reliever landscape continuing to change on a daily basis do yourself a favor and check out our 2025 Fantasy Baseball Closer Grid regularly. We update the grid as news happens. 

(Stats quoted in this article are current as of the morning of April 23rd, 2025)

 

 

 

Cleveland Guardians

Emmanuel Clase is widely regarded as one of the best MLB closers in the game but the Guardians’ last two save opportunities were handled successfully by Cade Smith. Clase had made appearances on three consecutive days (April 18th through Sunday April 20th) so Smith taking the save chance on Monday makes sense. However, Smith was asked to convert a save on Tuesday as well. 

According to Zack Meisel, Guardians beat writer for the Athletic, manager Stephen Vogt is sending mixed signals regarding Clase’s availability. Vogt is now admitting that Clase experienced some shoulder discomfort after his appearance on Sunday in which he was lit up for three runs, four hits and a walk in his one inning of work. 

If Smith is available on your league’s waiver wire, he’s probably worth a speculative add. In addition to the two saves he recently converted, he has seven holds on the season to go along with a 1.38 ERA. Hunter Gaddis is another Guardians reliever worthy of being on your watch list. He already has eight holds on the season and hasn’t given up a run in 9.2 IP.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Heading into the 2025 fantasy baseball season A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez were expected to operate as co-closers for the Diamondbacks. Things change quickly when it comes to MLB closers because it’s week 5 of the baseball season and Puk is on the IL and Martinez hasn’t pitched since last Thursday due to what manager Torey Lovullo called arm fatigue. 

Lovullo told reporters that he was available to pitch on Tuesday but with the Diamondbacks comfortably beating the Tampa Bay Rays by a 5-1 margin, Martinez wasn’t needed. Hopefully Martinez’s arm fatigue isn’t the precursor to an injury that will require an IL stint but if you do roster Martinez you might want to grab Shelby Miller off the waiver wire just in case. 

Miller has just three career saves, (all earned between the 2023 and 2024 seasons) but the Diamondbacks have been using him in the seventh and eighth innings of games this season. He has three holds and hasn’t given up a run in 10 IP.

Miami Marlins

We can’t blame you if you’re confused as to who the Marlins’ closer is right now. Jesus Tinoco picked up back-to-back saves for the Marlins on Sunday and Monday.  Sunday’s save came in the 10th inning after Calvin Faucher had already shut down the Philadelphia Phillies in the ninth inning. 

Faucher, who many predicted would be the Marlins’ closer to start the season, is tied with Tinoco for the team lead in saves with two. Faucher’s most recent save came on Tuesday night. Anthony Bender is the only other Marlins reliever with a save and he does have some closer experience. 

Perhaps, if the smoke ever clears, he could eventually be the last man standing in the ninth inning for the Marlins but until that happens it looks like Faucher might still be the favorite to close out games for the team. 

New York Mets

As this article was originally being written, news broke that Mets closer Edwin Diaz was removed from his appearance in the team’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday afternoon. He had already worked a perfect ninth inning and was lifted midway through the 10th inning due to what manager Carlos Mendoza called cramping in his left hip. 

Diaz shrugged it off and said he doesn’t think it’s anything to be concerned about for the long term. He also mentioned that on Tuesday he and Mets trainers noticed that one of his legs was longer than the other. Very puzzling indeed! 

Should Diaz miss time due to this freak potential injury Ryne Stanek or A.J. Minter would likely be used to close out games for the red-hot Mets. Stanek has 12 career saves and entered Wednesday’s action with a 0.96 ERA. Minter also has closer experience. He has 36 career saves and a 1.74 ERA this season.

 

 

 

MLB Relievers on the Rise

Tim Herrin, Guardians

With the recent uncertainty surrounding Emmanuel Clase’s availability we thought we’d highlight Herrin as another Guardians reliever that you should be aware of. He has five holds on the young season as well as a 2.00 ERA. 

He has struck out 13 batters and walked just two in nine IP. Herrin is accustomed to pitching in late inning high leverage situations as evidenced by his 17 career minor league saves.  

Jalen Beeks, Arizona Diamondbacks

With the Diamondbacks waiting on a second opinion regarding the MRI of A.J. Puk’s elbow and Martinez dealing with arm fatigue, Beeks becomes a late inning high leverage reliever that you should add to your watch list. 

He has 15 career saves and a 0.64 ERA in 14 IP this season. Beeks also has 14 Ks, just three walks and he has recorded three holds this season. 

Evan Phillips, Los Angeles Dodgers

Phillips, the former Dodgers’ closer, was activated off the IL and promptly recorded holds in his first two eighth inning appearances. 

The Dodgers bullpen is a great resource for holds and although they have plenty of good relievers on their roster, Phillips’ closer experience makes him a reliever who has a potential path to future save opportunities. 

 

 

 

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