Week 22 fantasy closer updates center on clear saves and opportunistic pickups. Dennis Santana locksthe Pirates’ ninth inning, turning in two saves and shrugging off a midseason stumble as his job looks safe for fantasy purposes. Jose A. Ferrer stepped in for Washington with three saves in four appearances, signaling a likely closer-by-committee trend at the Nationals down the stretch. Randy Rodriguez still carries upside in San Francisco, showing the ceiling for saves when the Giants can run his arc. Victor Vodnik has grabbed two saves in Colorado, offering a viable late-inning option in the Rockies bullpen.

Deeper-league intrigue runs through Reid Detmers in Los Angeles, JoJo Romero in St. Louis (alongside Riley O’Brien sharing ninth-inning duties), and Calvin Faucher in Miami as Anthony Bender’s season-ending tibia injury clears room for late-inning opportunities. Raisel Iglesias posted five saves on the week, a reminder that the closer role can swing fast. Hunter Gaddis and Tanner Scott emerge as hot-handed back-end options, while bullpen dynamics in Texas and Arizona intensify as teams chase late wins and playoff positioning.

Kenley Jansen pitched through rib discomfort in the Angels’ 6-4 loss to Cincinnati, a bold, costly display of leadership that underscored the tension between grit and health. He refused to come out, ultimately costing him innings and the game, and leaving the club navigating a painful reminder that a pitcher’s pain can become a team setback.

At 38 and in his 16th big-league season, Jansen remains the heartbeat of Anaheim’s clubhouse—a proven winner carrying the pride of a Dodgers postseason history wherever he goes. His postgame stance—"I care about my teammates" and "I’m going to fight that"—frames a veteran’s balance between duty and durability, a dynamic that could shape closing roles as this season unfolds.

The result adds weight to an Angels season already short on certainty, hinting at bullpen volatility if Jansen’s rib issue flares. Fantasy managers should monitor injury updates closely, as saves and late-inning leverage could shift to other relievers if time off becomes necessary.

Beyond the mound, the piece touches on Zach Neto’s injury scare, Jo Adell’s impactful night, and Mike Trout’s ongoing brilliance, all set against the backdrop of the Dodgers’ past success that colors Jansen’s narrative. Cincinnati’s win also serves as a reminder of the risk-reward calculus in wagering on closers who battle through pain in real-time.

Two Tuesday-night MLB bets anchor Wednesday’s slate: St. Louis at Miami and Cincinnati at Los Angeles. In the NL tilt, the Marlins host Pallante and aim to back Alcantara in a game with a roughly 9-run total. Miami’s offense has shown solid plate discipline and power against right-handers at home since the break, while Pallante has scuffled, elevating the Marlins’ chances to take the first five. A prebuilt Alcantara strikeout threshold and a Marlins winner wager add an appealing SGP angle for live bettors and fantasy players alike.

On the interleague side, Reds at Angels features Nick Martinez opposite Yusei Kikuchi. Kikuchi’s home form is solid (2.40 ERA in 75 innings), and Cincinnati’s lineup struggles more against lefties on the road post-break. Martinez has been steady, with multiple quality starts and Ks upside, creating a plausible quiet five-inning window and a favorable Ks floor. These matchups offer a blend of strikeout potential and run prevention that fantasy managers can lean into for Wednesday’s night action.