Top closers continue to dominate in saves and steals this week, with most of the rankings remaining the same. Emmanuel Klasse remains at the top of the rankings as we pass the midpoint of the season. Craig Kimbrel led the way with four saves this week, moving him into fourth all-time. Clay Holmes had a bit of a dip after a tough week, but Alexis Diaz is back on track with a shutout. In the speed department, Garrett Mitchell is worth a shot, and Noelvi Marte is still available in many leagues.
Hear the latest player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts on the Rotoworld Baseball Show all season long. click here Or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings
Tier 1: Top
Emanuel Klass – Cleveland Guardians
Ryan Helsley – St. Louis Cardinals
Mason Miller – Oakland Athletics
Klaas pitched one inning this week, pitching a shutout win against the White Sox, while Helsley added three saves to move him to the team lead with 31 at the halfway point of the season. Miller didn’t get a save, giving up two runs in a no-save situation against the Angels on Tuesday, but he’s still one of the most skilled relievers in baseball, posting a 2.39 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 66 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings with 14 saves. Miller hasn’t posted the high number of saves you’d expect from Oakland’s top closer, but he’s been a fine contributor, leading all relievers with 66 strikeouts.
Tier 2: Elite
Craig Kimbrel – Baltimore Orioles
Robert Suarez – San Diego Padres
Josh Hader – Houston Astros
Kimbrel recorded four saves and is now tied with Suarez at 21 with a 2.23 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 48 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings. Suarez’s save on Wednesday against the Rangers moved Kimbrel to 21 saves. For Houston, Hader earned his 13th save despite giving up a solo home run against the Blue Jays. He has a 3.82 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 60 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings.
Tier 3: Solid Choices
Evan Phillips – Los Angeles Dodgers
Clay Holmes – New York Yankees
Andres Munoz – Seattle Mariners
Kirby Yates – Texas Rangers
Paul Sewald – Arizona Diamondbacks
Raisel Iglesias – Atlanta Braves
Kenley Jansen – Boston Red Sox
Joan Duran – Minnesota Twins
Kyle Finnegan – Washington Nationals
Trevor Megill – Milwaukee Brewers
Pete Fairbanks – Tampa Bay Rays
Phillips has allowed one run in his last two games, but he did get the win against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday. Holmes has also been in a bit of a slump. He has allowed at least one run in four of his last five games, and his last save was on June 9. Munoz has also been out of a save for a while, with his last save coming on June 18. He has not allowed a run in one game, and is still on an impressive streak with a 1.64 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 43 strikeouts in 33 innings, and 13 saves. Yates also did not get a save this week. He is 11th with a 0.95 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings.
Sewald recorded his 11th save on Saturday against the Athletics and was scoreless in a non-save game on Sunday. He struggled against the Dodgers on Tuesday, giving up two runs and missing a save opportunity to take the loss. Those two runs were his first since his season debut on May 7.
Iglesias appeared in a non-save situation Saturday against the Pirates, allowing no runs and striking out two, then earned his 21st save on Wednesday against the Giants. Iglesias didn’t record double-digit strikeouts in either April or May, but has now struck out 11 in his last six games.
Jansen recorded his 16th save of the season on Saturday against the Padres and is still posting impressive numbers in his 15th season with a 2.22 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 33 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings.
Duran had a good week this week, pitching three shutout innings and earning two saves for his 13th of the season. Finnegan pitched four shutout innings this week and earned his 23rd save on Wednesday against the Mets. He has a 1.98 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP and 39 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings. Behind him, Hunter Harvey has struggled of late, giving up nine runs in his last six starts.
Since assuming the closer role in Milwaukee, Megill recorded two more saves, bringing his total to 18. Devin Williams is scheduled to pitch in a simulated game next week and could be back by the end of the month. For Tampa Bay, Fairbanks recorded his 13th save on Friday against the Nationals.
Tier 4: Here’s the advantage
Camilo Doval – San Francisco Giants
Jose Alvarado/Jeff Hoffman – Philadelphia Phillies
Tanner Scott – Miami Marlins
Carlos Estevez – Los Angeles Angels
Jason Foley – Detroit Tigers
Alexis Diaz – Cincinnati Reds
Aroldis Chapman – Pittsburgh Pirates
Chad Green – Toronto Blue Jays
James MacArthur – Kansas City Royals
Consistency remains an issue for Doval, who gave up one run and missed a save against the Dodgers on Friday before helping himself to a win, then bounced back with his 15th save against the Braves on Tuesday.
Hoffman earned his second straight save this week for the Phillies, posting a 1.24 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 46 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings for seven saves. While Hoffman has been the more effective reliever, Alvarado leads the team in saves with 13 as the leader of the closers committee.
Scott pitched two perfect innings to earn the two saves and finished with 12 saves in 36 innings with a 1.50 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP and 38 strikeouts. Estevez also pitched two scoreless innings to earn his 16th save. Meanwhile, Foley was the losing pitcher on Friday against the Angels, allowing an earned run.
Diaz’s six-game shutout streak was his longest since April. He recorded his 19th save on Wednesday against the Yankees. Chapman also recorded a save this week, his third this season without David Bednar. Bednar is playing catch from 120 feet away as he rehabs from an oblique injury, but there is no definitive timetable for his return.
Green also recorded his third save in Toronto, filling in for injured Jordan Romano and Yimi Garcia. Romano is expected to miss six weeks after arthroscopic elbow surgery. Garcia is expected to pitch in the bullpen and will need a rehab period before returning. For Kansas City, MacArthur recorded his 15th save on Wednesday against the Rays.
Level 5: I can manage
Reid Garrett/Adam Ottavino/Jake Diekman – New York Mets
Hector Neris – Chicago Cubs
Michael Kopech – Chicago White Sox
Tyler Kinley/Jalen Beeks – Colorado Rockies
Garrett recorded a one-out save on Monday against the Nationals, Edwin Diaz’s first since serving his 10-game suspension. Diaz is eligible to return on July 6.
Neris is having one of his best weeks to date, striking out two and recording one win and one save in each of his last three games, while Kopech recorded his first two saves since May 15. Kinley earned the win on Monday, but the Rockies’ relief corps has six failed saves in its last three games, so that tells you everything you need to know about the situation.
I was injured
Devin Williams – Back
Jordan Romano – Elbow
David Bednar – Oblique
Stolen Goods Division
The top stolen bases this week are from the National League Central. Christian Yelich led the way with four stolen bases, and had a big week that included two home runs. The 32-year-old outfielder is having his best season since 2019, batting .333/.408/.519 with nine home runs, 37 runs scored, 37 RBIs and 19 stolen bases in 263 at-bats. Yelich’s teammate, Garrett Mitchell, returned from the disabled list this week after missing the first three months of the season with a broken hand. Available in over 90% of Yahoo leagues, he could be worth acquiring in deeper leagues in hopes of improving his power and speed. During his rehab period, he appeared in 52 at-bats in Triple-A, hitting .318 with four home runs, four stolen bases and 3 steals. In Cincinnati, Stuart Fairchild played center field for the team and stole three bases. His batting average is .233/.306/.362 with four home runs and 11 stolen bases in 181 at-bats, which doesn’t seem like much. But Reds third baseman Noelvi Marte can still play in a shallow format. The 22-year-old Marte hit his first home run of the season on Wednesday against the Yankees and has two stolen bases in his first six games.
