The 2025 fantasy baseball season has seen several closers falter, including Ryan Helsley of the St. Louis Cardinals, who has recently struggled with blown saves, and Raisel Iglesias of the Atlanta Braves, who lost his closer role after poor performances. Amidst this uncertainty, the top-performing closers include Josh Hader from the Houston Astros, who leads the league with 17 saves and boasts an impressive strikeout rate. Other notable names are Andres Munoz of the Seattle Mariners and Robert Suarez from the San Diego Padres, both of whom are expected to maintain strong performances for the remainder of the season.

This analysis also looks forward to predicting the top 10 closers by October. The expectation is that the likes of Hader and Munoz will remain at the forefront. New faces preparing to emerge in the closing ranks include Mason Miller and Luke Weaver, with Miller showing significant promise as a newcomer. With the trade deadline approaching, it will be interesting to see how trades impact closer dynamics in the league.

The Chicago Cubs are focused on improving their bullpen as they compete in the NL Central. Reliever Porter Hodge, who has been injured since May, is making strides towards his return. Rather than risking adverse weather during their series against the Philadelphia Phillies, Hodge is heading to Triple-A Iowa for a live bullpen session, with hopes of rejoining the team soon.

Despite a rough start to the season with a 5.12 ERA and 11 walks over 19.1 innings, Hodge’s potential is seen as a significant asset as the Cubs seek to stabilize their late-game pitching. Veteran closer Ryan Pressly has struggled, holding a 4.30 ERA across 23 innings. The Cubs are counting on Hodge to help make a playoff push, especially with the trade deadline approaching.

As we approach Week 9 of the 2025 season, fantasy baseball managers face crucial decisions on player roster management. Notable names like Ryan Pressly and Brady Singer are under scrutiny, with Pressly's recent demotion from the closer role signaling a potential cut for many owners. His stats, including a troubling 5.40 ERA and minimal strikeouts, make him a candidate for the drop list. Similarly, Singer's inconsistent performances in Cincinnati raise concerns; a 4.88 ERA with ineffective pitches suggests he may only serve as a streaming option in deeper leagues.

Conversely, players like Michael Harris II and Salvador Perez show potential for improvement despite their struggles. Harris has underperformed with a .226 average but possesses promising expected numbers that point to possible resurgence as the season progresses. Perez, too, has been unlucky, with a .294 xBA hinting that better days could lie ahead. Managers are advised to hold onto these players a bit longer, assessing their performance as summer heats up.

Heading into Week 7 of the 2025 fantasy baseball season, a handful of notable players are struggling, prompting fantasy managers to reconsider their roster strategies. Among the pitchers, Brady Singer of the Cincinnati Reds exhibits inconsistency, suffering through back-to-back rough outings. Although he's shown promise in the past, recent stats suggest holding him for now could be wise, as he may bounce back with a better performance soon.

Max Meyer of the Miami Marlins, once viewed as a draft steal, has faced challenges lately, with subpar outings diminishing his value. He may be a drop candidate in shallow leagues. In the position player pool, Kristian Campbell of the Boston Red Sox is in a slump but is still a candidate to hold due to his early season contributions and potential. Cedric Mullins of the Baltimore Orioles has seen a decline after a strong start and may be a sell candidate given his struggles. Finally, Ryan Pressly of the Chicago Cubs has emerged as a drop option due to his poor performance as a reliever, which has raised concerns about his future in the closer role.

The start of the 2025 MLB season has seen notable struggles from several elite closers, with Emmanuel Clase of the Cleveland Guardians and Devin Williams of the New York Yankees among those facing significant challenges. Clase, who had a record-breaking 2024, began the year poorly with a 6.75 ERA, allowing 10 runs over 13.1 innings. His recent performances show signs of improvement, including four saves in his last five games.

Williams, after being traded to the Yankees, has struggled with a 9.24 ERA and command issues that cost him the closer role. Ryan Pressly, now with the Chicago Cubs, faced a historic meltdown, allowing nine runs in a single inning. Meanwhile, Raisel Iglesias from the Atlanta Braves is also under scrutiny after surrendering more home runs this season than last. As the Guardians prepare to face the Philadelphia Phillies, analysis on these pitchers highlights their current state and recovery pathways.