We have a month in the books and bullpen pecking orders are starting come into focus.

For the most part.

What do we do with Devin Williams? Who do we add in Detroit? Are we going to start caring about the Marlins? How long can someone like Emilio Pagan and Luke Jackson hold on to their roles.

And then you have the ever changing holds landscape.

I got your answers in my latest installment of Paul’s Call to the ‘Pen!

The closer’s I will label in the following tiers (I’ve added a fourth tier from last year):

Strong – they are definitely the closer.
Probably – they look to be the closer, for now.
Weak – I’m not betting on them to be the closer in the long-term
Committee – We just don’t know who will get the ball in the ninth. Shrug.

Alright, let’s get into it!

NOTE; All stats are for games played through April 21.

Astros

Closer – Josh Hader – Strong

Hader got the only two saves for Houston last week. He struck out six in 3.0 innings pitched.

Yeah. He’s the dude.

Holds

Bryan King got three holds while Bryan Abreu got two holds.

King continues to rack up holds while not pitching full innings (3.1 innings in four games this week). Go ahead and use him while the holds keep coming.

But Abreu continues to be the main dude for holds.

Steven Okert and Tayler Scott are dart throws.

Angels

Closer – Kenley Jansen – Strong

Kenley Jansen got the only save.

There is no signs of this role slipping from him.

Holds

No one got a hold for the halos this week.

Ryan Zeferjahn is the name to know for holds right now. He has struckout 18 hitters in 8.2 innings. He has started to earn a look in late inning situations, especially with Brock Burke struggling.

Rookie Ryan Johnson is performing well and can be considered a dart throw.

Athletics

Closer – Mason Miller – Strong

Miller got the only three saves for the A’s.

He has been great. Keep using him.

Holds

Tyler Ferguson and Mitch Spence got two holds with Justin Sterner getting one.

It is interesting Spence was not used as a long-relief dude this week so keep an eye on that.

Ferguson continues to be solid and is a deep league target for holds.

But I like Sterner the most still long term for holds out of this ‘pen (soft contact allow plus a 15.1% SwStr% so far).

Blue Jays

Closer – Jeff Hoffman – Strong

Jeff Hoffman got the one and only save for Toronto last week.

He is the dude north of the border.

Holds

No one got holds this week.

Yimi Garcia the only true holds option out of this ‘pen right now.

Green scares me some but figures to get chances, which at least makes him a dart throw.

Brandon Little also continues to be the lefty specialist dart throw.

Braves

Closer – Raisel Iglesias – Strong

Raisel Iglesias got one save and Dylan Lee got the other.

It hasn’t been pretty and if this weren’t Raisel Iglesias, he’d get a downgrade. He owns a 5.73 ERA, has a 8.26 xERA, 7.70 FIP, and a K rate of just 22.7%  But I have to trust the track record.

Deeper traditional 5-category leagues can speculatively add Lee or Pierce Johnson. But I’ll repeat what I said last week…

We are a bit a way from panicking but we will monitor him.

He did just need nine pitches to take care of the Rockies on Monday… but… it was the Rockies.

Holds

Daysbel Hernandez got two holds while Rafael Montero and Pierce Johnson got one hold last week.

Montero should be ignored until the results get to be consistent.

Before this last week, Lee had averaged well less than an inning per outing  but got 3.2 innings in three appearances. He has a .163 wOBA against rigthies this year and he got the save chance.

Lee should be rostered in all holds leagues right now. He has a good enough SwStr% right now despite a low K rate and he allows super soft contact and ground balls.

I don’t like that Hernandez doesn’t strike anyone out but did have good K rates in the minors,so maybe they’ll come around. But he does have a 2.50 ERA with a 2.49 xERA, 2.11 FIP and allows 2-play contact.

Along with Lee, Pierce Johnson is a good guy to roster for holds.

Lee and Johnson are 1A/1B and is the hiearchy battle I will be watching.

Brewers

Closer – Trevor Megill – Strong

No one got a save for the Brewers.

Megill did get tagged for a loss but it was just his second game allowing a run in his last 10 outings.

His knee issue has limited him to just 7.1 innings but he has struck out nine in that time.

Until we learn he has a long term serious knee issue, I will consider him the closer.

But it could be worth adding someone like Abner Uribe or Joel Payamps in deeper traditional saves leagues.

Holds

Nick Mears and Jared Koeng each got a hold.

Mears could be working his way up the hiearchy for the Brew Crew. He now has a hold in each of the last three weeks.

However, Koenig is also doing well.

Uribe had some struggles this week but I still think he is the lead for holds, unless those struggles continue. Hold strong for now.

It was good to see Payamps right the ship with a couple of scoreless outings with no walks, including a two perfect innings against the Cards.

Uribe is my number 1 still and Payamps is starting to work his way back into fantasy managers’ good graces. But Mears and Koenig are going to challenge for their spot.

Cardinals

Closer – Ryan Helsley – Strong

Ryan Helsley got a save and a blown save.

But it was just his second outing allowing runs at all.

He is the closer.

Holds

Phil Maton and Kyle Leahy each got two holds while Steven Matz and Riley O’Brien each got a hold.

Ignore O’Brien until the holds consistently come and he makes us pay attention.

This is Leahy’s second week in a row with two holds.

Go ahead and use him while the holds are coming but I’m not too sure he is a ROS dude. The  BABIP is a freaking insane .083 but he is inducing soft contact and a lot of ground balls.

Maton is the dude I’d target out of this ‘pen for holds.

Matz is long relief dude so not much to see there.

Kyle Leahy got two holds while Phil Maton and Ryan Fernandez each got one hold.

Leahy has pitched well, allowing runs in just two outings this year.

He could start to see more hold chances and is worth an add in deeper holds leagues.

Cubs

Closer – Ryan Pressly – Weak

What a difference a week makes.

Hodge blew up and Pressly had been doing well but now Hodge has put together a string of scoreless outings while Pressly’s knee injury has slowed him down.

When looking at the metrics, Hodge is actually outperforming Pressly by a wide margin and now is the time to add him. I think it is just a matter of time before Hodge is the dude in the ninth.

Holds

Caleb THielbar, Brad Keller, Julian Merryweather and Daniel Palencia each got a hold.

Palencia can be ignored.

Keller had a major blow up but he is still on my watch list as a converted starter into a reliever with added velocity.

Merryweather continues to produce at least a hold per weak and I still like him as a deeper league option.

Hodge is the dude for holds as he could end up the closer.

Diamondbacks

Closer – Justin Martinez – Probably (injury?)

Martinez got the only save this week.

But following a bout of fatigue in his shoulder, he came out and his velocity was down across the board on his arsenal. But he still got the save

Nothing has been announced but I had to knock him down a rating and it would be smart to speculatively add Shelby Miller or Kevin Ginkel, who was activated off the IL on Tuesday.

There is also Jalen Beeks and Ryan Thompson so there is competition behind Martinez.

Holds

Thompson and Beeks each got two holds while Miller got one. Each of them got tagged with a blown save.

I still have confidence in Beeks as his blow up this week represented just his second outing allowing runs.

Thompson’s two straight poor outings has him on the drop list until we see him turn things around.

Miller and Beeks are two adds in holds leagues but Kevin Ginkel may cut into either of their’s roles and he needs to be added for holds leagues.

Make sure all three are rostered but this might be a situation where they all step on each other’s toes for holds.

Dodgers

Closer – Tanner Scott – Strong

Yoendrys Gomez got the only save. It was a volume save.

Scott is still the dude despite his blown save.

Holds

Luis Garcia, Kirby Yates and Alex Vesia each got a hold.

Despite struggles this week, I still view Vesia as a great holds option.

Yates is also a must roster dude.

Deeper leagues can consider Evan Phillips and Garcia is a dart throw.

Giants

Closer – Ryan Walker – Probably

Camilo Doval got two saves this week.

If it were not for manager Bob Melvin saying Walker is going to get the next save chance, he’d go down to weak.

Since blowing up for six earned runs in two outings, he has struck out four in two scoreless innings.

But go ahead and pick up Doval as he might over take Walker. Though I still do believe in Walker long term here.

Holds

Erik Miller got the only hold for the Giants.

This is Miller’s fourth hold as he is a dart throw for holds.

Tylor Rogers is the dude behind Doval for holds here.

Guardians

Closer – Emmanuel Clase – Strong

Cade Smith got the only two saves in Cleveland this week.

When you’ve been as good as Clase has been, it seems silly to over react to just a handful of bad  outings. It seems very reasonable to think the shoulder soreness was to blame.

Manager Stephen Vogt gave him a big vote of confidence after he dominated with two Ks in one inning of work on Saturday.

Yes, go ahead and add Smith as he his an awesome pitcher  in his own right. But don’t expect a long term add.

Holds

Hunter Gaddis got two holds, with Clase and Tim Herrin getting a hold each. \

Gaddis and Smith are the holds arms here. Herrin is a lefty specialist dart throw.

With Paul Sewald on the IL, Jakob Junis and Joey Cantillo become a little more intriguing. But still just dart throws behind Gaddis and Smith and Herrin getting the lefties.

Mariners

Closer – Andres Munoz – Strong

Andres Munoz got three saves.

He is the dude.

Holds

Gabe Speier, Trent Thornton and Colin Snider each got a hold.

Speier now has five holds as the lefty specialist so, a dart throw.

I’d like to say Thornton’s struggles have been unlucky with a very high HR:FB ratio and a low SIERA, but he is getting barreled and his SwStr% is down. Until that gets corrected, I feel like he can’t be trusted.

Snider also isn’t missing bats but  his barrels and overall contact numbers are better and I trust him more than Thornton right now.

Also, consider this your weekly reminder about Matt Brash. This ‘pen could use him.

Marlins

Closer – Committee

Calvin Faucher got the save this week.

He did better this week with four Ks in 3.0 innings but did allow two walks. But it is worth noting Jesus Tinoco pitched in two straight days before Faucher’s outing.

Tinoco’s Ks are not there but it has only be 8.0 innings for him The ERA and the estimators look good.

I’d say Tinoco is the favorite followed by Faucher in this committee.

They are both deep league adds.

But the Fish are now 12-16 so maybe this is a better team context?

Maybe….

Holds

Tinoco and Anthony Bender each got a hold this week.

Bender along with Tinoco and Faucher can be considered in deep holds leagues.

Mets

Closer – Edwin Diaz – Strong

Jose Urena got a volume save and Edwin Diaz got the other.

This is Diaz’s job.

Holds

Huascar Brazoban, Reed Garrett and A.J. Minter each got two holds with Danny Young and Max Kranick

Minter is possibly out for the year so that really sucks. He had really started to emerge as a good holds arm.

Garrett’s great start the year continues as he absolutely needs to be on all holds rosters.

It’s hard to totally give up on Stanek. The SwStr% is fine but the contact has been the hardest it has ever been. and that makes the walks harder to take. I’d consider dropping him.

With no Minter, Danny Young should see holds as a lefty specialist dart throw.

After Garrett it is shaping up to be a competition between Kranick and Brazoban for the second spot behind Garret for holds.

I’d lean Brazoban slightly but Kranick has pitched well as he doesn’t really walk any one but also doesn’t strike anyone out. Consider both speculative adds in deeper leagues.

Keep an eye on Jose Butto.

Nationals

Closer – Kyle Finnegan – Strong

Finnegan got the only save for the Nats.

The K rate is up to 27%, what would be a career high. But the SwStr% is a career low at 8.6% so not sure that continues.

But the dude is inducing tons of ground balls and soft contact.

He is a 12-team dude but the WHIP is 1.45 and a lot of this soft contact and good ground ball numbers look like outliers compared to his career numbers.

So be careful.

Holds

Jose A. Ferrer got two holds with one hold for Jackson Rutledge.

Ferrer has now allowed runs in three of his last six appearances. But the ERA estimators and quality of contact continue to look OK.

Rutledge is off to a hot start. Tons of Ks and swings and misses. It’s a small sample but keep an eye on him.

Jorge Lopez and Lucas Sims had better weeks but didn’t get holds so keep them on the wire for now.

Ferrer is a deep league option at best with Rutledge on the watch list.

Orioles

Closer – Felix Bautista – Strong

Bautista got two more saves this week.

He continues to produce and has no signs of slowing down.

Holds

Gregory Soto got two holds with Yennier Cano getting one.

Soto got two holds but allowed three earned runs over the last three outings. Dump him if you added him.

Keegan Akin had a better week with five Ks and just one walk in 4.0 innings of work this week. He is back in the dart throw conversation and another good week and a hold or two would help give me confidence in him.

Right now it’s Cano for sure but Akin and Seranthony Dominquez are deep league dart throws.

Padres

Closer – Robert Suarez – Strong

Suarez got the only save.

He allowed his first run of the year.

But he has, so far, proved me very, very, very wrong.

He is the dude in San Diego.

Holds

Jason Adam got the only hold this week.

He and Jeremiah Estrada are the key names for holds leagues.

Phillies

Closer – Jose Alvarado – Probably

Jordan Romano got the only save for the Phills.

Romano got the save in extras after Alvarado kept the game tied earlier in the game.

Definitely continue to consider Alvarado the closer. The ‘probably’ is because manager Rob Thomson likes to use him earlier.

Holds

No one got a hold last week.

Good news for Romano is the fastball velo hit 96+ in his last outing so keep an eye on him for holds leagues again.

Orion Kerkering struggles continue and if you can find one of the the good holds arms on your wire that I’ve mentioned, then you can drop him for them. But don’t drop him for a dart throw kind of arm.

Matt Strahm is the must roster dude for hols from the Phils.

Pirates

Closer – David Bednar – Weak

Bednar and Dennis Santana each got a save over the last week.

Bednar got five Ks in 3.0 innings this week and worked the ninth with Santana working the eighth for his save.

He looks to be given a second chance but I need to see more before I totally trust him.

If you rostered Santana in a deeper league, hold him. 12-teamers can drop him and watch both he and Bednar.

Holds

Bednar and Santana each got two holds last week with Ryan Borucki, Justin Lawrence and Caleb Ferguson each got one hold.

Borucki keeps getting holds and maybe I can start to trust him? With Lawrence on the IL, he could start to see more holds come his way.

Santana and Bednar the must add arms for holds. Borucki is a deeper league dart throw. Guess same for Ferguson but you gotta be scraping the bottom of the barrel with him.

Rangers

Closer – Luke Jackson – Probably

Jackson got the only two saves this last week.

His loss was just horrible luck with errors leading to an inside the park homer in a tie ballgame.

The SwStr% and Ks are not there for him yet but the contact remains soft. I still don’t like him long term.

Holds

Robert Garcia got three holds, Chris Martin got two holds and Hoby Milner got one.

Garcia and Martin both continue to pitch very well and will push Jackson for that closer’s spot at some point. They’re both must adds in holds leagues.

Milner has pitched well but until he starts to get hols consistently, ignore him.

Rays

Closer – Pete Fairbanks – Probably

Fairbanks got three saves as Garret Cleavinger and Eric Orze each got one save.

Cleavinger came on after Fairbanks had worked two straight days and Orze got a save in extras after Fairbanks secured the tie.

The walks suck and the SIERA is 4.21 but the contact has been soft enough. Still unsure about this long term but for now, he’s the dude.

Holds

Edwin Uceta and Manuel Rodriguez each got two holds with Hunter Bigge and Mason Montgomery each getting one.

Getting two holds has me paying attention to Rodriguez. He has done very well this year and can be added in deeper leagues as he has four holds now.

Uceta is the must roster arm and Montgomery still has so much upside.

I’d consider them all adds in holds leagues.

Bigge will need to produce more holds before we can consider him.

Red Sox

Closer – Aroldis Chapman – Probably

No one got a save this week.

Chapman got an inning of work in ans stuck out two.

He should still be the dude.

Holds

Holds this week went to Justin Wilson, Garret Whitlock and Greg Weissert.

Whitlock and Justin Slaten are the main arms for holds here.

I don’t really trust Wilson but Weissert could force his way into this conversation. Watch him for now.

Hendriks just came back and didn’t look all that great but he could just be knocking off rust.

Reds

Closer – Emilio Pagan – Strong

Emiliio Pagan got a whooping four saves last week.

Shut me up for now.

He has a near 80% flyball rate. High ERA estimators. Hard contact.

I still don’t buy him long term.

But for now.. He is the dude.

Holds.

Tony Santillan got three holds while the following arms got one hold: Taylor Rogers, Scott Barlow, Ian Gibaut, Alexis Diaz and Graham Ashcraft. and Diaz each got a hold.

Diaz only got one inning under his belt this week and I still consider him a deep league speculative add.

Santillan is the dude for holds here.

Rogers is the lefty dart throw.

Barlow is OK, I guess. Dart throw/deep league.

Gibaut is not someone I’m interested in for now.

Ashcraft has done well in his new role in the ‘pen and he is worth an add for holds.

Rockies

Closer – Seth Halvorsen – Probably

No one got a save.

This team has four wins.

Don’t add anyone.

Holds

See what I said above.

Royals

Closer – Carlos Estevez – Strong

Estevez got two saves while Lucas Erceg got one.

Erceg got the save with Estevez needing a night off after taking on a heavy workload.

While Estevez seems to have a long leash, Erceg is performing better and I think will eventually be the closer.

Holds

Erceg got two holds along with Steven Cruz as John Schreiber got one.

Cruz is off to a solid start but he isn’t someone I trust.

Schreiber has a history of getting holds but is third in the pecking order,making him a deep league play, for now.

Tigers

Closer – Committee

Will Vest got the only save in Detroit over the  last week.

Kahnle had been getting the chances then Vest came in to the ninth and Kahnle wasn’t in need of rest so we can only assume this is a committee right now.

They’re both performing well so this is truly looking like split. Consider them both a fringe 12-team play.

Holds

Kahnle, Sean Guenther, Brendan Hanifee and Tyler Holton each got a hold.

Kahnle and Vest are the two holds arms.

Need to see more from Guenther to consider him.

Hanifee has pitched well and is the second setup man behind the Vest/Kahnle combo.

Holton is a lefty specialist dart throw.

Twins

Closer – Jhoan Duran – Strong

Jhoan Duran got one save along with Danny Coulombe.

Duran had a heavy workload, allowing Coulombe to shark his second save. .

But Duran is the dude in Minnesota.

Holds

Brock Steward and Griffin Jax each got two holds while Louis Varland got one.

Stewart needs to watched as he got seven holds in just 16 games last  year and he has good K upside. But leave him on wires for now.

I still like Varland as he should be a fine deep league play.

Cole Sands and Coulombe are also deep league plays. Too bad  these arms all share a ‘pen with Jax and Duran.

White Sox

Closer – Mike Clevinger – Weak

Brandon Eisert got a volume save.

That volume save is the first save for the White Sox.

They have seven wins.

It doesn’t matter who the closer is. You don’t want them.

Holds

Jordan Leasure got a hold.

No one has more than two holds on the year.

It’s the White Sox.

Avoid them all.

Yankees

Closer – Luke Weaver – Weak

No one got a save.

Manager Aaron Boone made it easy for us when he announced Devin WIlliams will work on getting right in low-leverage spots and Weaver will get the most save chances.

Williams is not getting any swing-and-miss, is walking a ton of batters with a ton of barrels.

His four-seamer has lost a tick but has gainied almost two inches of IVB and still has great extension. The changeup has lost about an inch of verticle drop and gained an inch of fade.

But stuff+ doesn’t like that change in the change.

Ultimately this comes down to command and control issues. Could be a mechanics thing. I do think he will eventually regain the role.

Until then, role with Weaver who has a 0.00 ERA, and good ERA estimators.

Holds

Fernando Cruz and Mark Leiter Jr. each got a hold.

Cruz is off to a scorching start and should be on all holds rosters.

Leiter Jr. is also off a great start. But I slightly prefer Cruz.

With Williams struggles and Weaver the closer, both need to be rostered.