MLB Closer Rankings 2025: Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report, 5/8
As fantasy baseball managers, most of us put a lot of effort into evaluating 2025’s MLB closers and late-inning high-leverage relievers, but sometimes saves come from unlikely sources. For instance, Seattle Mariners reliever Carlos Vargas picked up his first career big league save on Tuesday night. He’s been a bit too hittable (20 hits in 17.1 IP, .410 BAA right-handed batters) this season, but he has recorded four holds and has a 2.60 ERA.
In last week’s article, we talked about Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase’s early-season struggles, but he seems to be back on track. We also talked about the Chicago Cubs’ bullpen, and after Ryan Pressly’s epic meltdown on Tuesday night, there’s even more uncertainty surrounding how long he’ll hold on to his closer’s role. Porter Hodge hasn’t given up a run in his last seven outings (6.2 IP) and is almost certainly the next man up in that bullpen.
There’s plenty more ground to cover in this week’s Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report. Don’t forget to check out our 2025 Fantasy Baseball Closer Grid on a regular basis. We update the grid as news happens.
(Stats quoted in this article are current as of the morning of May 7th, 2025)
Boston Red Sox
Aroldis Chapman has been chugging along, but the late-inning high-leverage pitchers behind him on the Red Sox depth chart have hit a roadblock lately. That may leave the door open for Liam Hendriks to climb up the ladder and inch ever closer to getting his own chance at closing out games for the Sox should Chapman struggle or be unavailable. Both of Chapman’s setup men have been struggling lately. Justin Slaten has two losses and has given up five earned runs in two IP in his last two outings. Garrett Whitlock has given up five earned runs in four IP over his last two appearances. The Red Sox have been easing Hendriks back into action since his season debut back on April 20th. They’ve been using Hendriks late in games, and while he’s struggling with his control a bit, he hasn’t given up a run in his last five innings of work. He has five strikeouts and four walks during that time span.
New York Yankees
Liam Hendriks may be moving closer to earning save opportunities, but unfortunately for the Yankees, former 2025 MLB closer Devin Williams, his future looks like it’s heading in the opposite direction. Williams seemed to be heading in the right direction as he pitched three scoreless innings and picked up a hold in his first three appearances since being removed as the Yankees’ closer. However, his early-season struggles were on full display once again on Monday night. Williams left the bases loaded in the eighth inning after he gave up a hit and walked two. He was charged with three earned runs in 0.2 IP against the San Diego Padres. Manager Aaron Boone was optimistic and diplomatic when forced to talk about Williams’ ongoing struggles with the media, but it’s looking like it might be a while before Williams is closing out games for the Yanks. Luke Weaver, who was equally ineffective following Williams on Monday night, will continue to close out games for the Yanks for now, but the high-leverage reliever to watch in the Bronx continues to be Fernando Cruz. We’ve spoken about Cruz in this column before. He hasn’t given up a run in 16 of his 17 appearances, and on the season, he has six holds, two saves, and he has 29 Ks and seven walks in 19.2 IP. He’s been equally effective against right and left-handed batters and is likely next in line for save opportunities should Weaver be unavailable or struggle.
San Francisco Giants
Ryan Walker could be losing his grip on his role as the Giants’ 2025 MLB closer. Walker gave up two walks, a hit, and two earned runs in 0.2 IP on Tuesday night. Walker has now given up at least two runs in three of his last six appearances. Camilo Doval, who was previously the Giants’ closer during parts of the 2022 through the 2024 seasons, has been enjoying a resurgent 2025 season. Doval, who lost his role as Giants’ closer last season and even saw himself sent down to the minors, has been virtually unhittable this season. His 2025 strikeout rate (5.94 K/9) is much lower than his career rate (11.08 K/9), but Doval hasn’t given up a run in his last 12 appearances spanning 11.1 IP. Doval has three saves and four holds during that time span, making him a logical choice to replace Walker should the Giants look to make a change.
Athletics
Mason Miller had an unusually bad outing Tuesday night, and he has given up four walks in 1.2 IP across his last two appearances, but we’re not ready to move him out from among the elite relievers on our closer grid just yet. However, keep an eye on Justin Sterner, whom we highlighted in a previous article, just in case there’s something brewing with Miller that we’re unaware of. Sterner still hasn’t given up a run all season (18.1 IP), and he does have some minor league closing experience. Tyler Ferguson has had some control issues (4.50 BB/9), but he has pitched to a 2.00 ERA this season, and he also recently picked up a save. He has seven holds and hasn’t given up many hits. Ferguson would continue to be in the mix for late-inning high-leverage opportunities should Miller be unavailable.
Player News
Braves recalled RHP Hunter Stratton from Triple-A Gwinnett.
Stratton is replacing Carlos Carrasco on the roster after the latter was designated for assignment. With Hurston Waldrep moving into the rotation, Stratton could fill a role in the Braves bullpen for the foreseeable future.
Braves designated RHP Carlos Carrasco for assignment.
This doesn’t come as a huge surprise with Carrasco having yet another subpar start on Wednesday night. With Hurston Waldrep pitching well, this move opens up a spot for him to remain in Atlanta’s rotation going forward. Sadly, this may be the end of the road for Carrasco.
The Chicago Sun-Times’ Kyle Williams reports that, even with Miguel Vargas off the IL, the White Sox can “afford to let [Curtis] Mead play through growing pains.”
With Miguel Vargas returning and playing first base, the White Sox are going to move Mead over to third base to allow him to play regularly. ‘‘We need to find out about Curtis, and we haven’t seen him [at third] at the big-league level, so part of that is to explore what the best alignment is going to be,’’ White Sox manager Will Venable said. Despite not yet producing at the big league level, Mead is a former top-50 overall prospect who’s a career .298 minor league hitter with an .878 OPS. He’s worth a look in deeper leagues now that we know he’s going to play most days.
Forrest Whitley threw six shutout innings for Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.
Whitley struck out eight, walked one, and allowed only three hits. Since the Rays transitioned Whitley back into a starting pitcher, he has posted a 1.76 ERA in 30 2/3 innings with a 39/6 K/BB ratio. With a revamped arsenal and plenty of Triple-A success behind him, we may get a chance to see Whitley make MLB starts later this season.
Colton Cowser (concussion) “will be out a little longer than hoped.”
Cowser is eligible to return from the concussion injured list on Thursday, but it’s not going to happen. He’s still dealing with some soreness and is in concussion protocol.
Michael Kopech (knee) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday.
Kopech was put on the injured list back on July 1st with knee inflammation and then had surgery later in the month to repair a torn meniscus. The Dodgers wanted Blake Treinen to throw on back-to-back days before being activated, so if they take the same approach with Kopech, it might be a couple of weeks before the 29-year-old is back in the Dodgers’ bullpen.