Paul’s Call to the ‘Pen: May 6 – Saves Edition

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  • By Paul Williamson

    Last Updated on May 8, 2026 2:39 pm by Paul Williamson | Published: May 8, 2026

    Some ‘pens are clear as day.

    Some have been frustrating guessing games.

    Some closers have run away with their resective jobs.

    Some are barely hanging on.

    As always, I will list my closers in the following 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?

    MUST ROSTER

    Raisel Iglesias – ATL – Iglesias was activated Tuesday and promptly was used in the ninth. He is back as the closer.

    Cade Smith – CLE – Four saves, six Ks in his last 4.1 innings. Yeah, he’s da man.

    Andres Munoz – SEA – Some struggles led to a Jose A. Ferrer save but I wouldn’t panic on him. His swing and miss numbers are still elite. But I will say, his fastball has lost considerable armside break to it and it’s stuff+ number is down to 96 and he has allowed the worst barrel rate of his career so far. Just sayin’.

    Ryan Helsley – BAL – Is a stash while he is on the mend.

    Mason Miller – SDP – Only seven K’s in his last 6.0 innings. Sheesh he has fallen off, eh? (That was sarcasm).

    Jhoan Duran – PHI – The Phils didn’t want Duran going on back-to-back days after coming off the IL so soon so Keller did get the last save, and Duran did poor in his first outing back. But the velo was there as there is no reason to panic.

    David Bednar – NYY – He hasn’t been dominant but is far from losing his job.

    Daniel Palencia – CHC – Has returned and already notched a save on Thursday, getting team out of a bases loaded ninth inning jam with a five-run lead.

    Louis Varland – TOR – Varland continued to be the closer so he remains in this tier. Getting K’s too. I do still believe in Hoffman long term but that confidence will wain with each passing week.

    Devin Williams – NYM – Nine K’s and no walks in his last 6.1 innings as he got three saves. He seems to have righted the ship.

    Bryan Baker – TBR – The Rays do what they do and we saw Baker get an eighth inning. But he still figures to get the lion share of saves moving forward.

    SOLID PLAY

    Aroldis Chapman – BOS – It was just one outing, but he totally nixed that four-seamer in his last outing. The one that I said had lost velo and had me concerned. He also hasn’t walked anyone in his last 4.0 innings. That’ll make me second guess my ‘sell-high’ call from last week.

    Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia – LAD – Scott is currently the priority add and I almost put Vesia down a tier but I just feel like the Dodgers will give Vesia a ninth inning here soon.

    Kenley Jansen – DET – He is on the cusp of being dropped down a tier, but maybe his injury impacted his performance. Keep an eye out.

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    May 8, 2026, 2:39 pm