Last Updated on June 3, 2025 10:09 pm by Paul Williamson | Published: June 3, 2025

We got some committees, performance concerns and a potential injury that is changing the landscape for saves over the last week.

Can Devin Williams be trusted now that Luke Weaver is hurt? Camilo Doval is now the dude in San Fran, but can he also be trusted? Has the committee in Detroit been settled? Should we add Alex Vesia out of the Dodger ‘pen with Tanner Scott’s struggles?

And then you have the ever changing holds landscape.

I’ve 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 June 2. .

Angels

Closer – Kenley Jansen – Strong

Jansen got the only save for the Angels the last seven days.

He had a minor hiccup this week but nothing too crazy.

He is the dude and the Halos remain just 5.5 games back of first in the AL West. if they start to slip, he might be a trade candidate and he becomes a sell high.

Holds

Hector Neris and Reid Detmers each got two holds with Ryan Zeferjahn getting one.

Detmers might be a deep league play now as he has produced three holds in two weeks and has continued to flash solid K upside.

Neris has allowed runs in two of his last seven outings with four holds. He can be a sneaky holds play in deep leagues.

Zeferjahn had a bad outing but  has seven Ks in his last six outings as I still like his upside.

My bold prediction is Detmers ends up being the main setup man.

Astros

Closer – Josh Hader – Strong

Hader got the only two saves for the ‘Stros.

Five Ks in 2.0 innings.

He is the closer.

Holds

Bryan Abreu got two more holds with Bryan King notching one.

This ‘pen is easy.

Abreu is a must roster dude. King is a solid deep league play.

Athletics

Closer – Mason Miller – Strong

No one got a save in the last seven days.

Miller only got into one game since the last Call to the ‘Pen last week. But it is worth mentioning MIller has struggled as of late with runs allowed in five of his last eight outings.

The leash for him will be longer as he is still seen as the closer of the future and they’re going to want to see him through the struggles.

But if you’re hunting for saves in deeper formats, go ahead and speculatively add someone like Justin Sterner, Tyler Fereguson or Michel Otanez. It’s a guessing game as to who would replace him but that’s the order I’d add them. But, the entire A’s bullpen has been up and down all year.

Holds

Mitch Spence got the only hold last week.

As of now, the guys like Sterner, Otanez and Ferguson are just dart throws as they have each had their own struggles and each of them just have one hold in the last 30 days.

Spence may over take them so keep an eye on him.

Blue Jays

Closer – Jeff Hoffman – Strong

Jeff Hoffman got the only two saves last week but had a hiccup.

He has only allowed runs in three of his last 10 outings but they have seen him allow two or more.

He’s not in any imminent danger but if he has another hiccup or two in this coming days, I’d see look into adding someone like Chad Green, Brendon Little or even Yariel Rodriguez in deep leagues if you’re hunting for saves.

Holds

Little and Rodriguez each got a hold this last week.

So much for Green being a must add with improved performance and Garcia on the IL.

He proceeded to allow two and one earned runs in two of his three outings this week..

Rodriguez is not the only must add arm in this ‘pen for holds. He has a 0.54 ERA with 17 Ks in his last 16.2 innings and leads the team with five holds.

Little is right behind him.

Braves

Closer – Raisel Iglesias – Probably

There were no save chances this week in Atlanta.

Iglesias allowed yet another run to score this week as that now makes six outings out of 10 that he has allowed a run.

But the Braves have not been winning much lately so we are still in the dark on if he is still the dude.

And now Pierce Johnson has allowed runs in three of his last five outings and I may slide Dylan Lee ahead of him in the pecking order to replace Raisel. Daysbel Hernandez seemed like a long shot but he has allowed runs in two of his last three, walking four in 2.0 innings.

He has K’d nine and BB’d two and allowed just three earned in the last ten outings.

Then Craig Kimbrel is down in Triple-A but is third priority add.

Holds

There were no holds.

Lee is the only must-add player right now for holds and he leads the team with five over the last 30 and Johnson only has three, tied with Rafael Montero and Hernandez.

Brewers

Closer – Trevor Megill – Strong

Megill got both of the saves for the Brew Crew over the last seven days.

The only blemish was one hit allowed as he struckout two in two innings.

He will continue to be the dude.

Holds

Abner Uribe and Jared Koenig each got two holds while Rob Zastryzny got one.

Urbe’s excellent campaign continues as he must be rostered in all holds leagues.

Koenig got two but he  allowed three hits and three walks as he played with fire. But he keeps getting used and keeps producing holds.

Koenig and Nick Mears are fringey deep league plays.

Cardinals

Closer – Ryan Helsley – Strong

Helsley got the only three saves.

3.0 innings, three hits and four Ks.

He continues to be the closer.

Holds

Phil Maton at three holds with JoJo Romero getting one.

Maton is the must roster dude here but we could also consider Kyle Leahy and Romero as solid names as well.

Romero and Leahy are 1B to Maton’s 1A.

Cubs

Closer – Daniel Palencia – Strong

Palencia got the only two saves in the last seven days.

I got to give him the ‘strong’ rating. He has five saves the last 12 appearances with a 1.50 ERA, 15 Ks in 12.0 innings with just three walks.

He might be doing so well that the Cubs will keep him in the role when Porter Hodge returns.

Holds

Ryan Brasier, Caleb Thielber and Brad Keller each got a hold the last seven days.

Keller is now the must roster dude as he has a per 0.00 ERA in his last 13 appearances with 11 Ks, 2 BBs in 13.2 innings.

Drew Pomeranz is a solid deeper league play as is Ryan Pressly.

A couple more holds over the next week or so and we may start to pay attention to Thielbar.

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