Now that we have a couple of weeks in the books, we are starting to see the trends and usage of arms in these ‘pens, though there are still plenty of questions that remain unanswered.

Who is the dude in Pittsburgh? What about Cincinnati while Alexis Diaz works his way back…. will Diaz even be the dude when he does return? Did Tanner Scott finally get the monopoly on the saves? With Jason Foley in AAA, who is it in Detroit?

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

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

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 7.

Astros

Closer – Josh Hader – Strong

Hader got his third save of the year this week.

Through five innings pitched he has a 1.80 ERA with six Ks.

He is the dude in Houston.

Next!

Holds

Bryan Abreu got his thrid hold and Bryan King got his second hold with Tayler Scott notching his first.

Abreu is the dude to roster for holds out of this ‘pen.

King is looking good early and he did have good numbers vs. lefties last year so he might be more than a matchup dude.

Scott has struggled with walks and should be left on wires.

Steven Okert is someone to keep an eye on. As with King, he had good numbers vs. lefties and could get some late inning run.

 

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Angels

Closer – Kenley Jansen – Strong

Ryan Zeferjahn got the only save for the Halos last week.

Jansen kept the game tied in the ninth and Zeferjahn got the save in the 11th inning.

Jansen will continue to the be the choice arm for the ninth for the other team in LA.

Holds

Brock Burke and Ben Joyce each got their second holds of the season with Ian Anderson and Garrett McDaniels each got a hold.

Burke is the lefty matchup based dude. Should continue to get a handful of holds for the rest of the year, though it won’t be consistent. But the metrics against him in 2024 do support a bounce back campaign for him.

Use him if you need to catch up in holds as a weekend stream and need a dart throw.

Joyce is the only clear pick up for holds leagues.

Athletics

Closer – Mason Miller – Strong

Miller got two saves to get to three on the year.

He has eight Ks in four innings pitched with one walk and two hits.

Miller is the dude.

Holds

Justin Sterner got two holds while Tyler Ferguson got his second hold.

Sterner is off to a great start with no earned runs eight Ks in five innings. He struckout a ton and walked a ton in the minors and that has carried over into the majors with three of them so far. But if he keeps up the K’s then it shouldn’t hurt him too much. Consider him a deep league dart throw, for now and if T.J. McFarland continues to struggle, Sterner could leap frog him.

Ferguson has already made six appearances and is a veteran that sure to get more hold chances.

Blue Jays

Closer – Jeff Hoffman – Strong

Hoffman has started the year just as managers had hoped as he notched two more saves this week.

He now has three saves, a 1.69 ERA and six Ks in six innings.

Hoffman has the job.

Holds

Yimi Garcia got his first two holds as Chad Green got his first hold with Brendon Little and Yariel Rodriguez getting their second.

Garcia and Green are the two main arms to target.

Little is the lefty matchup based guy for a handful of holds. Just a dart throw.

If Rodriguez can get the walks a bit more under control, he has the stuff to be an intriguing late inning dude. Just a watch list dude for now.

Braves

Closer – Raisel Iglesias – Strong

Still no saves in Atlanta for now.

But it’ll be Iglesias when the time comes. Be patient.

Holds

Pierce Johnson, Dylan Lee and Daybel Hernandez each got a hold this week.

Lee put together a nice campaign in ’24 is looking like the beneficiary of the injury to Joe Jimenez.

He and Johnson are the names to know for holds in Atlanta.

Brewers

Closer – Trevor Megill – Strong

Megill and Joel Payamps each got a save this week.

Megill pitched two days in a row so he got a night off and Payamps shut the door.

It was good to see Payamps get back on track after allowing five runs in three innings to open 2025.

Holds

Byran Hudson got two holds while Payamps, Elvis Peguero and Abner Uribe each got a hold.

Payamps is the top name for holds out of this ‘pen.

Hudson got 14 holds in ’24 and is racking up holds to begin 2025 and has yet to allow an earned run. Though the walks are concerning.

Peguero could get some holds but isn’t an arm to really care much about. Maybe a weekend dart throw.

I called Uribe the dark horse last week as he served his suspension and has made four appearances. He got a hold while not allowing a walk nor an earned run while striking out five in four innings. He could end up as the 1B to Payamps 1A in terms of holds.

Cardinals

Closer – Ryan Helsley – Strong

There were not saves in St. Louis as Helsley blew a save chance..

Don’t fret. He is the man in St. Louis.

Holds

Phil Maton got his second hold.

Maton has high-leverage bullpen experience and has a hold in two straight weeks.

JoJo Romero got 30 holds last year and has limited damage this year as I’d expect holds to come his way.

Kyle Leahy is off to a nice start and needs to be watched.

Romero and Maton are the two main guys with Leahy and Ryan Fernandez the two dart throws.

Cubs

Closer – Ryan Pressly – Probably

Pressly got two saves while throwing three frames with no earned runs last week, though he was charged in the loss he allowed an unearned run in vs. the Padres.

He allowed two walks and three hits so it wasn’t pretty overall.

Until Pressly starts to give it up more and Porter Hodge begins to dominate over an extended period of time, Pressly will keep the job.

Holds

Hodge got two holds while Brad Keller and Julian Marryweather each got a hold.

Hodge is the top arm for holds.

With Keller converting from a starter to a ‘pen arm, he has gained velocity and the results have been intriguing. He has two holds with six Ks, one walk in five innings.

Merryweather had 17 holds in 2023 before losing 2024 to injury. Consider him a deeper league dart throw.

Rest of the arms are blind dart throws.

Diamondbacks

Closer – Justin Martinez – Probably

A.J. Puk got two saves while Martinez got one this week.

Puk is looking like like the closer when the hitters that are due up are lefties, like they were for his work this week against the Yanks.

Martinez should get most of the save chances but not all of them, for now.

Holds

Puk, Martinez and Shelby Miller each got a hold.

Puk and Martinez are the main two dudes for holds.

Miller is off to a great start to 2025 and is a deeper league holds option.

After Puk and Martinez, Miller will be competing with Joe Mantiply, Jalen Beeks and Ryan Thompson for the rest of the holds.

I’d say Thompson has a 24 hold season under his belt last year and Mantiply is the lefty matchup depended dude but was able to get 16 holds in that role last year.

Thompson is a decent deep league option. Mantiply, Beeks and Miller are the deep league dart throws in that order.

Dodgers

Closer – Tanner Scott – Probably

Scott got the only two saves last week.

If you felt a random gust recently on a day with no wind, that was probably Scott managers breathing a sigh of relief as multiple arms have gotten saves already this year but Scott held the monopoly on the saves this week.

If we see this again next, I will give him the strong rating.

Holds

Alex Vesia got two holds while Blake Treinen and Ben Caspariius each got one.

Kirby Yates, Blake Treinen and Vesia are the top arms for holds out of this ‘pen.

Casparius is off to a hot start with no runs allowed in his first seven innings. He is getting plenty of run and should be considered in deeper holds lseagues.

But honestly there are so many arms with Anthony Banda and Luis Garcia also in this ‘pen, outside of the main arms (Vesia, Treinen, Yates), everyone else are dart throws in deeper leagues.

Giants

Closer – Ryan Walker – Strong

Walker has two holds this last week and Comilo Doval got one save.

Walker pitched on March 31 then on April 1, opening up the door for Doval to shark another save.

But Walker is the dude. He did very well last year and is off two a good start in ’25 with three saves, four Ks, one walk and three hits in five innings.

Holds

Tyler Rogers got three holds, Hayden Birdsong got two holds, Randy Rodriguez and Erik Miller each got one hold over the last week.

It was quite the productive week for this ‘pen.

Doval is the top holds league options but Rogers needs to be on rosters too.

He has four holds now and has gotten 30 or more holds in three of his last four campaigns.

Birdsong will be used as a bulk reliever and is a dart throw for holds/bulk relief saves/wins in this kind of a role. He is also the next man up in the rotation. Not a bad stash in deeper leagues, especially in holds leagues.

Miller is the lefty matchup dude and should be in line for 10+ holds on the year. Dart throw.

Rodriguez had some interesting metrics in 2024 and is off to a good start. Watch list him. If he keeps notching holds, he could be seen as a deep league option.

Guardians

Closer – Emmanuel Clase – Strong

No one got a save.

Clase is off to a rough start but it is way too early to panic.

He is the closer.

Holds

Paul Sewald, Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith each got a hold last week.

Sewald is a former closer but he has allowed a lot traffic in 2025 as his struggles look to be continuing. I’d avoid him.

Gaddis and Smtih both had a ton of holds last year and are the top options again in 2025.

Tim Herrin is the lefty specialist dart throw.

Mariners

Closer – Andres Munoz – Strong

Munoz got his third and fourth save this week. He has eight Ks in five innings but also four walks. But that has been the only blemish.

He is the closer.

Holds

Gabe Speier and Trent Thornton each got a hold.

Speier is the lefty specialist dart throw.

Thornton and Gregory Santos are the top holds options. They both made four appearances this week and they performed well.

Santos had a solid 2023 with ten total holds/saves with good ratios.

Thornton had ten holds last year.

This  ‘pen is missing Austin Voth and Ryne Stanek so holds are available as Santos and Thornton are the two to know.

But when Matt Brash comes back, he could quickly take over as the main setup man.

Marlins

Closer – Committee

Anthony Bender got the only save this week.

Crazy how much a difference a week makes.

Faucher lost his grip real quick as he coughed up three runs in one outing, getting a blown save.

Bender is the hot hand right now has 3.2 innings of scoreless ball to begin 2025.

But this is the Marlins. Both are deep league adds and 12-team streams.

Holds

Lake Bachar, Ronny Henriquez, and Anthony Veneziano each got two holds this week.

Don’t be fooled.

The poor team context will make weeks like this very rare.

Faucher and Bender are the only two options in holds leagues.

Mets

Closer – Edwin Diaz – Strong

Diaz, Huascar Brazoban and Ryne Stanek each got a save this week.

Brazoban got the save in the 11th with Diaz and Stanek working earlier to preserve the tie.

Stanek got the save with Diaz pitching multiple days in a row.

Diaz is safely the main closer.

Holds

Reed Garrett and Danny Young each got two holds with A.J. Minter and Jose Butto each got a hold this week.

Given Garrett’s history as a favored high-leverage arm, he can be a holds league dude.

The previously mentioned Stanek is the top arm though for hold leagues.

Young is another lefty specialist dart throw.

Butto is filling the bulk relief/spot starter role. But that role got him seven wins, four holds and three saves last year. Maybe a deeper league manager could use that nice little collection of counting stats in a deeper roto league. He also has some K upside to boot.

Minter is more than a pure lefty specialists with 64+ innings pitched in the last two seasons prior to last year’s injury shortened season.

Nationals

Closer – Kyle Finnegan – Strong

He gets the strong rating with three saves and strong performances. (Don’t come at me about Tanner Scott’s proabably rating. He has more competition).

He now has five saves with a 1.59 ERA.

I do not like the walks to go with limited K upside, but for now, he is solidly the dude.

But be ready for a blow up. I view him as a fringey 12-team option.

Holds

Jorge Lopez, Eduardo Salazar and Jose A. Ferrar each got two holds with Lucas Sims notching one.

Ferrar is my favorite for holds after last year’s performance that had good metrics backing up his production.

Lopez is next but his metrics were not as good as Ferrar’s so keep an eye on him and be wary of a blow up.

Sims has a history of high-leverage work but the walks are stupid high. Like worse than Aroldis Chapman kind of bad without the super elite K upside so I don’t trust him.

Salazar lacks an MLB track record to be trusted in any fantasy league.

Orioles

Closer – Felix Bautista – Strong

There have been no saves for the O’s this year.

And Bautista has only been deployed three times as the Orioles are sticking to their word and limiting his usage.

The sinker is over two ticks lower. The slider is also almost two ticks slower.

We  may not see 100 MPH Bautista, but he doesn’t HAVE to hit that to be effective.

But it sure would be nice to see him a bit more to see if he CAN.

I’m not sold on him.

But if you drafted him, you’re clearly holding him.

Holds

No one got a hold for the O’s.

My two options in this ‘pen for holds are Yennier Cano and Keegan Akin.

Cano is off to a good start in ’25 and notched 31 and 34 holds the last two years with good ratios and metrics.

Akin bounced back with two scoreless innings after a let down. Akin had a very good ’24 and with Jacob Webb and Daniel Columbe’s and their double digit holds out of the way, there is a holds vacuum to be filled.

However, Seranthony Dominguez but his high ERA last year was supported by the metrics so I don’t trust him long term.

Cionel Perez may be the lefty matchup dude but in 62 games and just 53 innings last year, he notched 22 holds. So he is a deep league add, not a stream.

Padres

Closer – Robert Suarez – Strong

Suarez got three saves last week.

And so far, he is making me look like a fool for calling him a fade during draft season. He has five saves in five outings with no earned runs allowed with seven Ks, one walk, no hits in five innings.

But his 17.1% SwStr% is sticking out like an outlier.

Five innings isn’t enough for me to change my mind.

But it is a start.

I’m holding on to my Jeremiah Estrada stashes, for now.

Holds

Estrada and Jason Adam got two holds while Wandy Peralta and Adrian Morejon got one.

Morejon got the ninth when Suarez was not available in the first week of the year and got a hold. He threw 63.2 innings in 60 appearances so he is not a situational lefty.

Morejon is now a deep league option while Adam and Estrada are the favorites.

Peralta is the lefty dart throw.

Phillies

Closer – Jose Alvarado – Weak

Jose Alvarado got two saves, Jordan Romano go one.

Alvarado gets the designation in this space as the closer but I’m not ready to go higher than ‘weak’.

But he did mow down the top of the Dodgers’ lineup in his save on Sunday.

The big thing is, so far, the Ks are back for Alvarado as he will need them to balance out his poor walk numbers.

If that sticks,then he will be the dude.

But there is so much competition behind him and Rob Thomson is notorious for using his closer early in games. And with so many good high-leverage arms behind Alvarado, Thomson has the bullpen depth to play around.

Romano’s velocity just isn’t where it needs to be as he is not in the ninth inning mix.

Holds

Matt Strahm got three holds, Jose Ruiz got two while Romano and Orion Kerkering each got one.

Strahm and Kerkering are the two main names for holds.

I’m not trusting Ruiz.

Keep track of Romano’s velocity. If, at any point, it comes back, then he can cut into the conversation.

Pirates

Closer – Dennis Santana – weak

Santana and Thomas Harrington got the two saves for the Pirates this week.

Santana did enter the eighth innings but that was because the top of the Yanks lineup was due up and he is their best reliever right now.

This means a double-edged sword. He is going to get in the game in the toughest spots, which don’t always come in the ninth.

Ryan Borucki blew the save later. Womp.

Harrington got a bulk save. Could rejoin rotation.

Holds

Borucki, Santana and Colin Holderman each got a hold.

Holderman walks a ton without the K upside to balance it out along with a ton of barrels, that’s why he isn’t in my discussion for saves. But for holds managers in deeper leagues can use him.

Borucki has struggled too much to trust.

Caleb Ferguson could take Borucki’s spot.

Rangers

Closer – Luke Jackson – Probably

Jackson got two more saves this week.

And he gets the upgrade to probably.

Since blowing up to open up the 2025 campaign, Jackson has five scoreless innings with three hits and one walk allowed with four Ks.

He is allowing a 50% hard-hit rate in the early going and the SwStr% rate is down.

If you can trade him for a top 10 closer (maybe someone is panicking on Raisel Iglesias’ saveless start or even Felix Bautista), I’d do it now.

But it would need to be a top 10 dude. Don’t deal  him for a Dennis Santana, Fairbanks. Maybeeeee Kyle Finnegan? Eh. IDK.

Holds

Chris Martin got three holds, Robert Garcia got two while Jacob Webb snagged one hold this week.

Martin and Garcia are definite options in holds leagues. Martin has the experience and Garcia had a very unlucky 2024.

And if Jackson falters, one of them will get the call (I actually lean Garcia a little bit but not shocked if it ends up Martin).

Webb is a dart throw being so low on the depth chart but he did get 14 holds last year so he can get some.

Rays

Closer – Pete Fairbanks – Probably

No one got a save this week.

It is hard to make any changes. Fairbanks only made one appearance.

I still like Edwin Uceta or even Mason Montgomery to take over for Fairbanks at some point. I didn’t like what I saw from Fairbanks in 2024. Uceta and Montgomery have elite upside.

Holds

No one got holds in Tampa.

This team lost a lot this week. They won’t lose this much each week.

Uceta and Mongomery are the arms for holds out of this ‘pen.

Garrett Cleavinger and Manuel Rodriguez can be considered a deeper league dart throw for a weekend stream? Maybe?

Red Sox

Closer – Aroldis Chapman – Probably

Aroldis Chapman got two saves while Cooper Criswell got one.

Criswell is in the minors as he got a bulk save.

Keeping Chapman at probably. He has a history of looking great.. .then not so great as his walks end up hurting him.

I like Justin Slaten to eventually take over.

Holds

Justin Wilson, Zack Kelly and Greg Weissert each got a hold last week.

Wilson is the left specialist dart throw.

I don’t trust Kelly’s walks without elite K upside.

Weissert has some numbers I like but I need to see more. Watch list.

Slaten and Garrett Whitlock are my favorite two arms here.

Reds

Closer – Committee

Tony Santillan got the only save for the Reds last week.

Santillan was reported to be manager Terry Fancona’s favorite go-to guy in the games highest leverage situations.

That’s how he got this save as Hunter Greene spun 8.2 innings of beautiful baseball before Santillan was called on to get the save.

I’m calling this a committee as Pagan is the number two dude, and that’ll put him in lines for saves, but if Santillan wasn’t used, then it’ll probably be him.

I still like Graham Ashcraft in the long run.

Holds.

Santillan got three holds, Taylor Rogers, Pagan, Scott Barlow and Ashcraft each got one hold.

Santillan needs to be rostered in all holds leagues.

As should Pagan and Ashcraft.

Rogers is better than a lefty specialist dude, but early on, that’s the role he has.

Rockies

Closer – Seth Halvorsen – Probably

Victor Vodnik got the lone save for the Rockies.

Vodnik got the save after pitching a good eighth, followed by five runs by his offense, so he stayed in instead of Halvorsen.

But with it being the Rockies, Halvorsen is a 12-streamer and a 15-team add.

Holds

Jake Bird and Luke Peralta each got a hold.

Don’t trust Bird. Peralta is a lefty specialist on a poor team (so, no).

Only Vodnik and Halvorson should be seen as viable and only in deeper holds leagues.

Royals

Closer – Carlos Estevez – Probably

Estevez got the only two saves for the Royals last week.

Four walks in five innings is not what you want to see.

Until he starts to miss out, i’m keeping him at probably.

But Lucas Erceg has allowed zero earned runs and has only one walk.

Just sayin….

Holds

Hunter Harvey and Erceg both got three holds each.

What a start to the year from Harvey! 0 ER, 0 BB, seven Ks in 5.1 innings.

Go ahead and ride the streak for holds.

But Erceg is the preferred option.

Tigers

Closer – Tommy Kahnle – Weak

Kahnle got the only save for the Tigers last week.

He got the save and pitched the ninth to secure a four run win over the Yanks.

He is a veteran arm with loads of experience so he is getting the first crack at the role over Beau Briske and Tyler Holton.

Will Vest could be an option too.

Holds

Vest and Briske each got a hold.

Vest, Briske, Holton and Kahnle are the hodls league options.

Vest is probably fourth.

Twins

Closer – Jhoan Duran – Strong

No one got the save. But this is Duran’s job.

Holds

Danny Coulombe, Justin Topa, Jorge Alcala, Darren McCaughan, Griffin Jax, Duran and Cole Sands each got a hold.

Jax is the top man for holds.

Sands and Topa I like the most after Jax. They got the metrics to support their previous production and are off to a solid start.

Columbe is probably next but keep an eye on his performance. His velo is below 90 now.

Topa is intriguing if he can find his 2023 form.

Alcala got 15 holds last year. He and Columbe are deeper league dart throws.

Don’t trust McCaughan.

White Sox

Closer – Mike Clevinger – Weak

No saves this week.

Clevinger came in the seventh on Sunday and  it wasn’t some key moment so it’s hard to say he is the definite closer.

Jordan Leasure got a ninth inning save chance and blew it.

Even if there was a set closer…it’s the White Sox. So… only a deeper league stream? I guess.

Holds

Clevinger, Cam Booser, Penn Murfee and Fraser Ellard each got a hold.

But I wouldn’t really trust anyone.

Same analysis from closers applies here.

Just… no.

Yankees

Closer – Devin Williams – Strong

Luke Weaver got the only save last week.

Williams was on paternity leave so congrats to he and his expanding family.

He is back and promptly got walked off by the Pirates. But one bad thing shouldn’t scare you off.

If he is healthy, he is a stud closer.

Holds

Fernando Cruz, Mark Leiter Jr., and Tim Hill each got a hold last week.

Weaver is the top man for holds.

Cruz’s elite K upside makes him an intriguing holds league play and ditto for Leiter Jr.

Hill, while he is a lefy, is not a lefty specialist dart throw, averaging more than an inning per outing in 2024. But given the pecking order of the ‘pen, he is just a deeper league play.

/wcm_restrict]

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