Latest fantasy baseball bullpen updates
Hector Neris saved the Cubs' April 20 and 24 victories and Yency Almonte closed their April 23 win, signaling the team has shifted to a closer-by-committee. (April 25)
Joel Payamps has three of the Brewers' past four saves, with Abner Uribe working the eighth inning in each of his past three appearances. Payamps appears their go-to guy. (April 25)
Garrett Cleavinger notched the save on April 24, the Rays' first since placing Pete Fairbanks on the injured list. It appears the team will use a closer-by-committee in Fairbanks' absence. (April 25)
Recent usage suggests that Andres Munoz will not be used exclusively as the closer. Ryne Stanek is most likely to garner the save chances when Munoz is used earlier in the game. (April 21)
The Angels announced on April 16 that Robert Stephenson will miss the 2023 season with an elbow injury, solidifying Carlos Estevez's status as the team's closer. (April 17)
Team-by-team fantasy baseball bullpens
Each pitcher's roster percentages in ESPN leagues is listed in parentheses. Those who have been "heavily worked" over recent days have their names bolded and italicized. Pitchers who are thus labeled as "tired" are less likely to pitch in today's games and, therefore, less likely than normal to earn wins, holds or saves today. Our formula for deeming a reliever to be tired generally requires that he meets at least two of the following criteria: At least 25 pitches thrown the previous day; at least 35 pitches thrown over the last three days; appearances in both of the prior two days.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Closer: Kevin Ginkel (13.5%)
Primary setup: Ryan Thompson (0.2%)
Secondary setup: Bryce Jarvis (0.0%)
Injured: Paul Sewald (66.8%)
ATLANTA BRAVES
Closer: Raisel Iglesias (89.0%)
Primary setup: A.J. Minter (12.4%)
Secondary setup: Joe Jimenez (1.8%)
Sleeper: Pierce Johnson (0.5%)
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Closer: Craig Kimbrel (85.5%)
Primary setup: Yennier Cano (39.2%)
Secondary setup: Danny Coulombe (0.7%)
Sleeper: Dillon Tate (0.1%)
BOSTON RED SOX
Closer: Kenley Jansen (73.5%)
Primary setup: Chris Martin (3.8%)
Secondary setup: Justin Slaten (4.7%)
Sleeper: Josh Winckowski (0.7%)
CHICAGO CUBS
Closer-by-committee: Hector Neris (9.4%)
Closer-by-committee: Adbert Alzolay (57.5%)
Closer-by-committee: Mark Leiter Jr. (3.5%)
Closer-by-committee: Yency Almonte (0.6%)
CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Closer: Michael Kopech (6.0%)
Primary setup: Steven Wilson (0.2%)
Secondary setup: John Brebbia (0.9%)
Sleeper: Jordan Leasure (0.3%)
CINCINNATI REDS
Closer: Alexis Diaz (84.2%)
Primary setup: Emilio Pagan (0.2%)
Secondary setup: Fernando Cruz (2.5%)
Sleeper: Lucas Sims (0.5%)
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS
Closer: Emmanuel Clase (96.8%)
Primary setup: Scott Barlow (2.4%)
Secondary setup: Hunter Gaddis (4.1%)
Middle relief: Nick Sandlin (0.6%)
COLORADO ROCKIES
Closer-by-committee: Justin Lawrence (2.2%)
Closer-by-committee: Jake Bird (0.1%)
Closer-by-committee: Nick Mears (0.1%)
Closer-by-committee: Tyler Kinley (0.4%)
DETROIT TIGERS
Closer: Jason Foley (56.6%)
Primary setup: Andrew Chafin (0.5%)
Secondary setup: Alex Lange (35.2%)
Sleeper: Shelby Miller (2.8%)
HOUSTON ASTROS
Closer: Josh Hader (86.9%)
Primary setup: Ryan Pressly (13.3%)
Secondary setup: Rafael Montero (0.2%)
Sleeper: Bryan Abreu (9.7%)
KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Closer: James McArthur (16.2%)
Primary setup: John Schreiber (0.7%)
Secondary setup: Chris Stratton (0.1%)
Middle relief: Will Smith (3.8%)
LOS ANGELES ANGELS
Closer: Carlos Estevez (34.1%)
Primary setup: Matt Moore (0.5%)
Secondary setup: Luis Garcia (0.1%)
Middle relief: Adam Cimber (0.1%)
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Closer: Evan Phillips (85.9%)
Primary setup: Daniel Hudson (9.2%)
Secondary setup: Joe Kelly (1.3%)
Sleeper: Ryan Brasier (0.4%)
MIAMI MARLINS
Closer: Tanner Scott (55.7%)
Primary setup: Calvin Faucher (0.0%)
Secondary setup: Andrew Nardi (0.5%)
Sleeper: Anthony Bender (0.1%)
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Closer: Joel Payamps (12.1%)
Primary setup: Abner Uribe (10.2%)
Sleeper: Trevor Megill (0.7%)
Injured: Devin Williams (39.1%)
MINNESOTA TWINS
Closer: Griffin Jax (7.1%)
Primary setup: Brock Stewart (1.6%)
Secondary setup: Steven Okert (0.1%)
Injured: Jhoan Duran (80.4%)
NEW YORK METS
Closer: Edwin Diaz (96.3%)
Primary setup: Adam Ottavino (1.3%)
Secondary setup: Drew Smith (0.3%)
Sleeper: Reed Garrett (9.5%)
NEW YORK YANKEES
Closer: Clay Holmes (92.9%)
Primary setup: Ian Hamilton (3.8%)
Secondary setup: Dennis Santana (0.0%)
Middle relief: Victor Gonzalez (0.1%)
OAKLAND ATHLETICS
Closer: Mason Miller (42.7%)
Primary setup: Lucas Erceg (0.4%)
Secondary setup: Austin Adams (0.6%)
Middle relief: Dany Jimenez (0.3%)
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Co-closer: Jose Alvarado (50.5%)
Co-closer: Jeff Hoffman (1.7%)
Primary setup: Gregory Soto (1.5%)
Secondary setup: Seranthony Dominguez (0.4%)
PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Closer: David Bednar (70.9%)
Primary setup: Aroldis Chapman (13.6%)
Secondary setup: Colin Holderman (0.4%)
Sleeper: Hunter Stratton (0.1%)
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Closer: Ryan Helsley (85.2%)
Primary setup: JoJo Romero (8.2%)
Secondary setup: Giovanny Gallegos (2.4%)
Sleeper: Andrew Kittredge (6.5%)
SAN DIEGO PADRES
Closer: Robert Suarez (73.2%)
Primary setup: Wandy Peralta (0.4%)
Secondary setup: Yuki Matsui (15.1%)
Middle relief: Enyel De Los Santos (0.3%)
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Closer: Camilo Doval (91.1%)
Primary setup: Tyler Rogers (2.8%)
Secondary setup: Ryan Walker (0.5%)
Sleeper: Taylor Rogers (0.5%)
SEATTLE MARINERS
Co-closer: Andres Munoz (76.8%)
Co-closer: Ryne Stanek (1.3%)
Primary setup: Gabe Speier (0.5%)
Secondary setup: Trent Thornton (0.1%)
TAMPA BAY RAYS
Closer-by-committee: Jason Adam (16.3%)
Closer-by-committee: Colin Poche (1.0%)
Closer-by-committee: Garrett Cleavinger (0.9%)
Injured: Pete Fairbanks (56.2%)
TEXAS RANGERS
Closer: Kirby Yates (29.8%)
Primary setup: David Robertson (15.9%)
Secondary setup: Jose Leclerc (31.8%)
Middle relief: Jake Latz (0.1%)
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Closer: Jordan Romano (82.4%)
Primary setup: Yimi Garcia (8.8%)
Secondary setup: Trevor Richards (0.2%)
Sleeper: Erik Swanson (3.1%)
WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Closer: Kyle Finnegan (33.3%)
Primary setup: Hunter Harvey (12.3%)
Secondary setup: Jordan Weems (0.1%)
Middle relief: Tanner Rainey (0.0%)
KEY: "Closer" is either that team's officially designated closer, or the pitcher most likely to get the team's next save chance. Teams can be listed with "Co-closers" or "Closer-by-committee." "Primary setup" is the pitcher next-most likely to take over if something happens to the closer, the top holds-getter and the one who might get any save chances on the closer's nights off. "Secondary setup" is the pitcher third-in-line to close and a good candidate for holds. "Middle relief" covers any other pertinent relievers from that team's bullpen. "Sleeper" is another reliever who could provide a decent number of holds or eventually graduate into the closer role.