Paul’s Call to the ‘Pen: June 26

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  • By Paul Williamson

    Last Updated on June 26, 2026 2:14 pm by Paul Williamson | Published: June 26, 2026

    This article will place relievers in to four tiers –

    Must-roster – they should be rostered in all leagues.

    Solid play – They are 12-team viable, fringe options for shallower leagues.

    Fringe-play – I would only roster them in 12-team leagues if I was starved for saves or holds

    Deep league play – I’m only using them in deeper than 12-team leagues

    Dart throw – Are you desperate?

    Then, within each tier, I will differentiate between SAVES ONLY LEAGUES and SAVES + HOLDS LEAGUES.

    MUST ROSTER

    SAVES ONLY LEAGUES

    Mason Miller- SDP – He’s good.

    Josh Hader – HOU – He has  been *chef’s kiss since coming off the IL.

    Louis Varland – TOR – He has just been so good this year.

    Raisel Iglesias – ATL – He is perfect in converting all his save chances but the team context is getting very worrisome. Might  be knocked down a tier next edition.

    Trevor Megill – MIL – Has held on strong to this job once he got it back.

    Riley O’Brien – STL – is tied for third in the majors with 19 saves. A sentence I did not think I’d write this year.

    Daniel Palencia – CHC – it isn’t looking like a long IL stay.

    Paul Sewald – ARI – He has 18 saves near the midway point of the year as the D’backs have remained steady at .500. One blow out has made his recent data look down.

    Tanner Scott – LAD – Continues to be a steady ninth inning dude for the Dodgers.

    Cade Smith – CLE – Not worried about recent struggles

    Andres Munoz – SEA – After some struggles, he has thrown four straight scoreless outings with four straight saves.

    Jhoan Duran – PHI – Smooth sailing.

    Bryan Baker – TBR – What a waiver wire find he has been

    David Bednar – NYY – It has been solid for his first full year as the closer in the Bronx.

    SAVES+HOLDS LEAGUES

    Hader, Bryan King – HOU – the must roster Astros setup dude may fluctuate between who is performing as King is the one doing well with no runs in nine of his last 10.

    Varland – TOR

    Iglesias, Robert Suarez, Dylan Lee – ATL – Lee-Suarez-Iglesias is as good as it gets for the backend of this Brave ‘pen.

    Megill, Abner Uribe – MIL – These two have not done anything to lose their spots at the top of the hiearchy.

    O’Brien – STL

    Jacob Webb, Caleb Thielbar – CHC – With Palencia down, these two will be heavily leaned on late in games, that means holds.

    Sewald – ARI

    Scott,  Alex Vesia, Kyle Hurt – LAD – Vesia and Scott are the main high leverage dudes and Hurt has been earning his keep and is now earning holds. Scoop him up.

    Smith – CLE

    Miller, Jason Adam, Adrian Morejon – SDP – Adam has had his struggles lately but the leash should be fairly long for him. Morejon continues to be rock solid.

    Duran, Orion Kerkering – PHI – With Brad Keller down, Kerkering should get plenty of late looks. His recent meltdown was just the third time in ten games he has allowed a run.

    Jacob Latz, Jakob Junis – TEX – Junis has been such a solid setup man all year despite no swing-and-miss ability.

    Baker, Kevin Kelly, Garrett Cleavinger – TBR – Baker and Kelly have been solid all year and Cleavinger has starter to look like his usual self with five straight scoreless outings with just one hit and one walk allowed. This Rays team should provide plenty of leads to protect.

    Bednar, Fernando Cruz – NYY – Cruz just keeps Cruzin’ right along. Hehe, 

    SOLID PLAY

    SAVES ONLY LEAGUES

    Aroldis Chapman – BOS – Too bad the Red Sox as a team have not been good enough to get him more saves.

    Greg Soto – PIT – has really settled into the ninth this year.

    Jacob Latz – TEX – He has been a rock solid closer for an arm that was thought to be a possible starter when he was first brought in by the Rangers.

    Ryan Helsley – BAL – I am just a little worried about the struggles right off the IL but the velo and skills still look OK. The O’s also have not provided the best team context.

    Devin Williams – NYM – The Mets team context stops him from being ‘must roster’.

    SAVES + HOLDS LEAGUES

    Mason Montgomery – PIT – has continued to flash elite K-upside but the walks are a concern. Though he has improved on that front.

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    June 26, 2026, 2:14 pm