Closers in 2025 remained the most volatile fantasy category, with half of the top 20 ADP options failing to hit draft value. Emmanuel Clase led the way in durability but was limited by a late-season suspension. A mix of elite performers (Muñoz, Díaz, Duran) and value pickups (Chapman, Pagán) underscored the strategy: grab saves early or hunt for late-round opportunities in the right spots.

The 2026 landscape centers on big-name free agents and uncertain roles, headlined by Devin Williams and a group of veterans and under-the-radar relievers who already showed upside. Rising arms like Braydon Fisher and Ronny Henriquez offer path-to-closer potential, while teams with blank closers loom as clear targets for speculative adds in drafts and on waivers.

For fantasy managers, the piece maps stable closers (Muñoz, Díaz, Hader, Jansen), potential job switches (Bednar to Yankees), and the year-to-year volatility that can yield value in late rounds. The key is identifying the right situations early and monitoring winter moves that could shuffle saves into or out of DJ-friendly bullpens.

Relief-pitcher values in 12-team NFBC lean on locked-in closers with elite strikeout upside and manageable walks. Chapman wins Boston’s closer role, posting a 1.17 ERA and 0.70 WHIP with a 37% K rate. Estevez led MLB with 42 saves but rising walks and slightly lower velocity hint at regression in 2026. Bednar’s late-season rebound after a Pirates-to-Yankees move underscores both upside and risk in bullpen targets.

Pagan delivered 32 saves for Cincinnati with a sturdy 2.88 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. Morejon logged 13 wins as a full-time reliever for San Diego, offering upside if stretched toward a rotation. The piece also flags depth options and late pivots—Cade Smith, Will Vest, Ronny Henriquez, Dylan Cease, Michael King, Robert Suárez, Mason Miller and Jason Adam—that could reshape bullpen hierarchies next season.

Snell dominated NLCS Game 1: eight shutout innings with 10 strikeouts as the Dodgers edged Milwaukee 2-1. Freeman homered, Betts drew a bases-loaded walk in the ninth to spark the decisive rally, and LA’s bullpen closed it out.

Game 2 in Milwaukee features Yamamoto vs Peralta, with odds and projections from NBC Sports. The preview highlights key matchups, Ohtani vs Peralta trends, and bullpen leverage as the series shifts to Milwaukee and the betting angles sharpen for fantasy and bets.