Yamamoto’s playoff masterpiece anchors a 5-1 Dodgers win in NLCS Game 2, moving Los Angeles to a 2-0 series lead. He allowed only a leadoff Chourio homer and then cruised, completing the game—the first in the postseason since 2017. Teoscar Hernández and Kiké Hernández produced multi-hit nights, Muncy belted a solo shot, and Ohtani’s RBI single padded the lead as Edman added a contrasting multi-hit effort. Dodgers racked 11 hits and solidified control of the series heading to Dodger Stadium.

The Brewers jumped out front but couldn’t hold the advantage as Milwaukee’s turnaround odds shortened. The series shifts to Los Angeles with the defending champs two wins from the World Series, while the Brewers must conjure a comeback from an 0-2 hole that’s only been overcome a handful of times in the era. Yamamoto’s CG, paired with timely offense, sets a high bar for the rest of the series.

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.