With the first half of the season completed, it’s time to reassess the state of saves from a fantasy perspective. Volume has not been a problem in 2026. However, securing saves on a team’s ledger has been more challenging, with fewer relievers accruing at least ten or fifteen saves than in the two previous seasons at the All-Star break. For the visual crowd:
While the 195 different pitchers with a save back up the volume, the drop in relievers with at least 15 saves is stark. Beginning with team breakdowns, here are the number of pitchers who have recorded a save this season for each:
- 11 – Cincinnati, Minnesota
- 10 – Chicago Cubs, Colorado, Washington
- 9 – Miami and San Francisco
- 8 – Chicago White Sox and The Athletics
- 7 – Atlanta, Baltimore, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee, Tampa Bay
- 6 – Detroit, Houston, Pittsburgh, Toronto
- 5 – Cleveland, Kansas City, Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees, Seattle, St. Louis
- 4 – Arizona, New York Mets, Philadelphia, San Diego, Texas
- 3 – Boston
Only two teams do not have a reliever with at least five saves (for the team) this season:
- Colorado Rockies: Jordan Romano has six saves, but four were with, ironically, the Angels. This has been an unsettled situation for fantasy players all season and should be avoided if possible.
- Los Angeles Angels: Kirby Yates has two of the last three saves for his team, but could be a trade chip as the deadline draws nearer. The biggest question remains: when will Ben Joyce make his debut this season?
Six more teams do not have a reliever with at least ten saves this season:
- Baltimore Orioles: Ryan Helsley is on his second injured-list stint this season and could return in August. Tyler Wells has assumed the preferred save share, but will face an opponent’s toughest lineup pocket before the ninth inning if necessary, putting Andrew Kittredge on the radar for ancillary saves for those streaming for them in deeper or daily formats.
- Chicago Cubs: It’s been a lost season for Daniel Palencia after his strong showing during the World Baseball Classic. He’s also on the injured list for a second time. Jacob Webb and Trent Thornton have been sharing save responsibilities in the interim, and this will continue as the second half commences.
- Cincinnati Reds: Losing Emilio Pagán to a hamstring injury sent this leverage ladder into a downward spiral. He’s back and returning to past form, but the Reds may be sellers at the deadline. The good news is that he will be the closer moving forward, stabilizing a previously chaotic closer situation.
- San Francisco Giants: A lack of late-inning talent set Tony Vitello up for failure. He’s trying to mix and match. After Caleb Kilian was designated as his closer, he was passed over for two save opportunities in the last two days of the first half, suggesting this may be a matchups-based bullpen once again.
- The Athletics: What’s worse than a fluid bullpen for saves? A team that has produced one over the last 30 days.
- Washington Nationals: Update, a bullpen that allowed ten earned runs in a three-game set against the Yankees in the eighth inning or later, may be worse off. Trusting matchups can work, but like the Giants, the Nationals’ leverage ladder is bereft of reliable options.
ADP versus Never Pay for Saves for Me
According to Fantasy Pros’ average draft position entering 2026, eight relievers were taken in the first 100 picks in fantasy leagues. Here they are, along with statistics for the first half:
As a group, they have averaged 18.4 saves this season. This gets skewed a bit by Edwin Díaz having loose bodies removed from his elbow in April. However, if we remove him from the equation, the seven relievers listed above average 20.4 saves. That’s pretty good.
There have been waiver wire hits this season, and these relievers had an ADP over 300 or were undrafted in many 10 or 12-team leagues:
There are relievers in this group who put ratios at risk (Jordan Romano and Alex Lange), but they have averaged 15.3 saves this season. Given the circumstances this season has presented, that’s a solid number of saves found by fantasy managers who pulled the trigger on them.
Change has been a recurring theme this season, and the following relievers have been placed on the injured list in 2026:
- Raisel Iglesias (ATL)
- Ryan Helsley (BAL)
- Daniel Palencia (CHC)
- Emilio Pagán (CIN)
- Kenley Jansen (DET)
- Josh Hader (HOU)
- Carlos Estévez (KC)
- Kirby Yates (LAA)
- Edwin Díaz (LAD)
- Pete Fairbanks (MIA)
- Jhoan Duran (PHI)
- Clayton Beeter (WSH)
These relievers were drafted or added by fantasy players as the closer or primary save share, and lost their role at some point or permanently this year:
- Seranthony Domínguez (CHW)
- Bryan Abreu (HOU)
- Lucas Erceg (KC)
- Dennis Santana (PIT)
- Ryan Walker (SF)
- Griffin Jax (TB)
- Jeff Hoffman (TOR)
Leaderboards
I ran these results on July 13. Here are the results for 2026, the last 14 days, and the last statistical year (365 days) for saves, SOLDS, and holds.
Saves
SOLDS
Holds
With the trade deadline in a holding pattern because so many teams remain in striking distance, more changes will occur in the next three weeks, and after the August third deadline passes.
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe and be well.
Statistical Credits: