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.

Francisco Lindor blasted a homer to reach 30-30 for the second time this season, as the Mets built an 8-5 win over the Cubs and stayed within a game of the NL wild-card lead. Brett Baty added a three-run shot to push the cushion to 6-0, while Edwin Díaz closed out the victory for his 28th save. Nolan McLean struggled in a season-high five runs allowed, and the Mets continued to pace the playoff chase.

Chicago’s Seiya Suzuki homered twice and Dansby Swanson went deep, but Shota Imanaga was roughed up for a season-high eight runs in 5 2/3 innings. The Cubs remain two games clear of San Diego for the top wild-card spot, with the Padres looming in the final weeks. Lindor and Juan Soto (43 HR, 36 SB) mark a rare 30-30 duo, echoing the Mets’ 1987 era with Howard Johnson and Darryl Strawberry; Brandon Sproat awaits for New York.

The Mets climbed back into the NL Wild Card hunt with an 8-5 win at Wrigley, riding Lindor and Baty homers, Nimmo’s 3-for-4 day with an RBI and two runs, and a clutch two-run double from Tyrone Taylor to cushion a late push by the Cubs. Seiya Suzuki slugged a pair of homers for Chicago, but McLean’s five earned in 5 1/3 and Diaz’s 28th save kept New York ahead. The win leaves NYM one game behind Cincinnati, while a rookie-award line for McLean could yield an extra draft pick for 2026.