SAGNOF Bullpen Report Week 16: Halftime

Okie dokie, folks. Changing things up this week. Reckon since we’re at the halfway mark of the season, I’ll do a lil reflection on the first half. I’m just gonna go team by team, in alphabetical order (AL first, NL second), and give my thoughts on who stands out, for better or worse. Maybe do a lil speculatin’ here and there since the trade deadline ain’t far away.

Athletics

It’s been a fluctuating mess here. Which, to give myself some credit here, I warned you about. In my preseason rankings, I said avoid this situation if you can. Just about everybody in this pen has a save to their name, and the team leader, Hogan Harris, has only six. SIX! Mark Leiter Jr. has 4, Elvis Alvarado and Mason Barnett have 2, then pretty much everyone else has at least 1 except for Luis Medina (5 HLD). Harris, as team leader with 6 SV, also has 10 HLD to his name, but his ratios are terrible. He’s only viable in the very deepest of category leagues. Don’t expect the A’s to be buying at the deadline, soooo the rest-of-season save battle should remain messy. My advice stays the same: avoid if you can. If you made me hang my hat on someone, I’d go with Alvarado because of the 32.1 K%. If you’re in a deep holds league and Justin Sterner is still on your wire, he leads the team with 12 and also has the lowest BB% of everyone back there right now (6.2%).

Baltimore Orioles

Last week I told y’all to go get you some Tyler Wells thanks to back-to-back saves and strong numbers so far this season. Wouldn’t you just believe it was Andrew Kittredge storming ahead of the pack with his own back-to-back save performance this past week. Yippity doo, what fun it is to cover bullpens this day and age. So my best guess is that this is a partnership at best right now. Reckon I like both well enough for SVHD purposes. Rico Garcia still leads the team with 12 HLD, for whatever that’s worth. I do fear Ryan Helsley is practically a wash at this point in his career. Maybe he’ll prove me wrong and come back stronger than ever!

Boston Red Sox

Folks who drafted Aroldis Chapman gotta be happy enough with 19 SV, a 2.20 ERA, and 29.8 K%. Trade chatter around Chapman picked up when Boston was losing a ton, though their recent little streak has them in the Wild Card conversation. The coming weeks will likely determine if he remains in Boston or gets dealt. It was looking like Tyron Guerrero was full-on breaking out and had bumped Justin Slaten to lesser leverage, but Slaten stormed back with 3 HLD this week. Guerrero had a win and a hold, so he definitely helped you out, too. Garrett Whitlock remains firmly entrenched as the #1 setup option (1 SV, 3 HLD this week), and one of the better ones in the game, at that. Though, he could be a trade chip as well if things go south for the Red Sox. Keep your eyeballs on Slaten/Guerrero as they sit on your waiver wire in SV-only formats.

Chicago White Sox

At times, Grant Taylor has been almost perfect. Other times, he’s perfectly middle of the pack. The talent is undeniable; he just can’t always put it all together. Seranthony Dominguez leads the ChiSox with 12 SV and 15 SVHD. Was a shoo-in to be traded to someone, anyone else, if not for the fact that the White Sox boast a 50-45 record, good enough for first place in the AL Central. Who’da ever thunk that in 2026? I was gonna call a 50-win season a success. So, who knows what they do. Dominguez and Taylor (and kinda Sean Newcomb) are sharing the ninth for now.

Cleveland Guardians

Said in preseason that Cade Smith should be your #1 priority in saves leagues. Told you he was gonna be Mason Miller for a fraction of the price. And here we are, halfway through it all, and Smith already has 28 SV. That’s good for best in baseball, mind you. In the past, his ratios and strikeouts have been almost lockstep with Miller. Not quite the case this year, but that’s no matter. He’s still the #3 RP in the league according to the Player Rater. Not the elite WHIP he’s shown the past two years, but the ERA is still plenty good enough, and he’s just a hair under 35% strikeout rate thus far in 2026. Per the usual in Cleveland, holds have been bountiful. Just go to the bullpen chart, and you can see all those cute lil yellow boxes next to CLE names. Erik Sabrowski was unreal before injury, but now it’s Hunter Gaddis‘s turn to reclaim Setup Sheriff badge. Colin Holderman has been sneakily great, as well: 1.78 ERA, 1 SV, 8 HLD. His high-leverage usage has ticked up lately.

Detroit Tigers

Kenley Jansen has done enough to hang onto the closer role in Detroit, but it sho ain’t been pretty. Nasty 13.1 BB% so far, and his ERA is at 4.56. Only 11 SV for a “true” closer, to boot. Woof. Maybe buying low (really low) ain’t the worst idea. If you’ve got him, you can’t just drop him; just gotta hope and pray. Kyle Finnegan has been about what I expected, except I’ll admit I didn’t figure his ERA would be in as good a shape as it is right now (2.13). Absolutely no one else in this pen holds any weight for me.

Houston Astros

Josh Hader missed a big chunk of the first half and is still walking into the break with 10 SV. Guy has been just his regular ol’ elite self from the get-go. Who has not been what I expected is Bryan Abreu. Boyyyyy howdy what a nightmare season. His first, like, three or four weeks were putrid. Y’all know I’ve been an Abreu truther for years. It hurts to see him relegated to middle relief. My guy has an 18.3 BB%. Bryan King is the man now: 6 SV, 12 HLD, 2.93 ERA, 1.27 WHIP.

Kansas City Royals

Another mess best avoided for SV-only purposes. Carlos Estevez is probably just straight up cooked and fried. Alex Lange can’t be trusted at all. Lucas Erceg is just…so meh. Matt Strahm was another preseason whiff whose last two appearances have been losses. Just so messy. Gross. Stay away. Unless you’re in a deeper SVHD format and can snag Daniel Lynch IV. He’s ight.

Los Angeles Angels

Lordy mercy, I really don’t know what to make of this bullpen. Team leader in saves is Kirby Yates with three. Then Ryan Zeferjahn has two. Sam Bachman is an okay play for holds. That’s really about all I have to say about the Angels. Just keep scrolling past any non-Bachman Angels RP you see on the wire. Suppose I should add that Ben Joyce is rehabbing and could be a thing in the second half. I’ve never been impressed by the guy, all in all. Strikes me as a Quad-A type, ya dig? Has a 14.3 career K/9 in the minors (55.1 IP) but only 8.1 in the majors (49 IP). And anyway, you know he’s just gonna end up on the IL again at some point.

Minnesota Twins

Two bullpen breakouts happening in Minnesota wasn’t on my 2026 bingo card. Yoendrys Gomez and Andrew Morris have been godsends in recent weeks. I’ve got a team with both. I whiffed on Taylor Rogers being any kind of useful for fantasy.

New York Yankees

Always makes it interesting with each outing, but David Bednar heads into the ASB with 18 SV and a 2.70 ERA. Also a clean 20 K-BB%. Fernando Cruz has predictably taken over as Setup Sheriff in town, leading the way with 16 HLD (and 1 SV). Brent Headrick has also been very, very good. Holds have been too few and far between, but overall his real-life value has been pretty stellar.

Seattle Mariners

Andres Munoz has had a really up and down first half. All in all, 16 SV ain’t awful. Feels like he’s supposed to be the caliber of closer that would have an easy 20+ by now. Maybe the second half is kinder to his fantasy owners. Since Matt Brash is back to his IL ways, Eduard Bazardo has busted out with 18 HLD. He’s a quality arm and figures to remain a great fantasy asset ROS.

Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays had a closer in Fairbanks, and I assumed Griffin Jax would take that helm, but after Jax flopped, who could have guessed Bryan Baker would turn into one of the best true closers in the game? The man has 25 SV already. Fairbanks had 27 all of last year. And the Rays weren’t even supposed to be all that good this year. All I can say is I’m very, very glad I grabbed him after it was clear Jax didn’t have it. Garrett Cleavinger and Kevin Kelly are both cruisin’. Kelly has 23 SVHD already. Wild.

Texas Rangers

Jacob Latz enters the break with 18 SV, 2 HLD, a 1.61 ERA, and a 0.64 WHIP. League winning stuff right there. A steady holds option has not emerged in Texas, however. Somehow, some way they lead the AL West with a 49-47 record. I reckon they’ll be looking to shore up that pen to get some steadier setup guys in front of Latz.

Toronto Blue Jays

Louis Varland is also having a league winning season: 19 SV, 5 HLD, 1.10 ERA, and 0.98 WHIP. Looks like he’ll easily eclipse the 100 K mark. Simply one of the very best. His 2025 postseason was no fluke. Tyler Rogers has done what he’s always done: collect gobs of holds (19), post good ratios, and barely strike out a soul. Jeff Hoffman lost the closer gig thanks to one of the most inflated BABIPS in recorded history. His metrics have been incredibly strong all season.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Paul Sewald has almost been his peak Mariners self. Getting the saves, but the ratios aren’t sparkly. Given the news of Puk’s setback a while ago, Sewald should pretty much be cleared for true closer duties the rest of the way. There have been lots of holds in Arizona, they’ve just annoyingly gone to lots of different folks. Juan Morillo was incredible for a while, then they just stopped using him in high leverage? Kevin Ginkel and Jonathan Loaisiga have been effective — each has 8 SVHD. Rookie Brandyn Garcia is also doing great work (1 SV, 10 HLD, 1.90 ERA, 0.76 WHIP). Might see him take a step forward in the second half.

Atlanta Braves

Another season of Raisel Iglesias being a great MLB closer. Always drafted like he’s mid even though he always ends up with high-end SV totals and great ratios. Dylan Lee is finally getting the kind of usage I’ve been yearning for. Up to 19 HLD on the year. Has a 34 K% and 4.5 BB%. Guy is every bit of the word elite.

Chicago Cubs

Got another co-closer situation on our hands for the other Chicago team: both Jacob Webb and Trent Thornton snagged 2 SV this week. Webb also had 2 HLD, giving him 12 SVHD on the year. Also kinda telling that on the same day Thornton got a hold with just 3 pitches thrown, Webb threw 23 pitches for a hold but still got the save opp the next day. I reckon Webb is the guy to snag for now, with the caveat that his leash should be short from a fantasy perspective. Not the first time I’ve suggested the guy over my career, and he never seems to hold onto the ninth for too long. Both are viable enough for SVHD right now. Don’t know that Caleb Thielbar does anything for me at this point.

Cincinnati Reds

Emilio Pagan caught everyone by surprise last year, and this year been almost the exact opposite. Pretty terrible all-around. The Reds bullpen sucks for fantasy now that Pagan is doo doo and Tony Santillan is hurt. Fun to see Tejay Antone back out there pitching well, even if he only has 4 SVHD. Didn’t think he’d ever make it back for any extended amount of time.

Colorado Rockies

Another terrible bullpen for fantasy purposes. When Jordan Romano is back collecting saves for you, you know you’re down bad. Avoid everyone.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Even when healthy, Edwin Diaz didn’t have a good first half. Maybe swoops in and turns the tide in a few fantasy playoff matchups. For now, Tanner Scott leads the way. Having a truly wonderful season. Looks like the guy they paid all that money for after all. Top-tier 34.7 K% paired with 3.5 BB%. Really doesn’t get any better than that. Alex Vesia (3 SV, 15 HLD) is the only other name that holds fantasy value. All the arms are good IRL.

Miami Marlins

Pete Fairbanks and his 6.83 ERA might not be closing too many more games for Miami. Don’t know how much trade value he’s got, either. Remains to be seen, I guess. Michael Petersen has been getting love from me for a few weeks now. Leads the Marlins with 17 SVHD (1 SV, 16 HLD) thus far. Metrics are lookin’ pretty good aside from a below-average BB% and getting hit way too hard, way too often. That combination doesn’t normally hold up over the course of a season.

Milwaukee Brewers

Expectedly, Trevor Megill (21 SVHD) and Abner Uribe (19 SVHD) have led the charge in the Brew Crew pen. It was annoying to watch Pat Murphy flip flop who was the closer there for a while. Finally did the sensible thing and settled on Megill closing and Uribe setting up. Aaron Ashby is on pace for like 25 or 30 wins somehow. No one else stood out.

New York Mets

It was very “2026 Devin Williams” of Devin Williams to blow a save the day before the break. He’s frankly been awful but somehow has managed 13 SV. Meanwhile, Luke Weaver has a 1.85 ERA and 0.82 WHIP with 13 SVHD. Would be kinda hilarious if Airbender lost the closing gig in back-to-back seasons with each New York team. Brooks Raley‘s holds have dried up lately, but overall he’s still having a strong season (12 HLD, 2.04 ERA).

Philadelphia Phillies

When watching Jhoan Duran in the past, I’ve always wondered how he doesn’t even elite strikeout stuff. Fast forward to 2026 and that K% is sitting at 39.7. That’s nuts, y’all. Anything over 35% is tip top tier. All those strikeouts with just a 1.7 BB/9 and 24 SV is why he’s a Top 5 RP. Would be higher on the Player Rater if he weren’t injured for a bit. A name to watch that’s snuck up on me is Jonathan Bowlan. Had 3 HLD this week. Pretty good strikeout stuff (30.4%) and good control (5.6%) on the year. But be that as it may, Brad Keller is back from injury and should be the main Setup Sheriff ROS.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Gregory Soto was invincible there for a bit. He’s cooled down considerably, and his ratios are looking more like what he’s always done. Still, 19 SVHD is nothing to wag your finger at. Mason Montgomery has made some noise, bringing that K% up to 34.8 at the break. That’s pretty much elite status as far as I’m concerned. Definitely one to keep an eye on in the second half. Dennis Santana has been a bona fide bust.

San Diego Padres

Don’t need to say much about Mason Miller‘s season. Simply the best. Everyone ranked him #1 in preseason, it’s what you paid for on draft day, and it’s what you’ve gotten. I’ve seen Miller’s name pop up in trade chatter, if’n you can believe it. Makes sense when you think about it. Padres aren’t looking too good, and the dude’s value is at an all-time high. Preller has shown us before that no one is untouchable. The Dads’ playoff hopes aren’t over yet, though Preller has hinted at the possibility of being sellers. Injuries to Jason Adam and Jeremiah Estrada have paved the way for Adrian Morejon to become Setup Sheriff in San Diego. FanGraphs has a really cool “shutdowns” and “meltdowns” tracker based on leverage upon entering. Morejon has 24 shutdowns and 10 meltdowns. He’s one of a handful of RP with 20+ shutdowns, and he’s also one of a handful of RP with 10+ meltdowns. So, lots of good, quite a bit of bad, but the good vastly outweighs the bad in my book. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed rostering him after I lost Estrada.

San Francisco Giants

Woof. Terrible situation for saves. Caleb Kilian leads the Giants with 8, but he’s just not inspiring. Despite stretches of dominance, I’m not hangin’ my Stetson on a guy with an H/9 over 8 and a BB/9 over 4. Pass. Erik Miller was my dark horse for SVHD magic in 2026. He’s been okay. Nice strikeout stuff, but the walks are too much (16.5%). Deep leagues, I’d go Miller. I’d ignore everyone else if possible.

St. Louis Cardinals

Riley O’Brien has 24 SV at the break. Not too ding dang shabby. Really had me worried there for a spell when he was walking everyone and blowing saves. Oli Marmol kept the faith and things have turned around. Same goes for JoJo Romero and his 21 HLD. Marmol has kept the faith despite some really bad results from time to time. I’ve always said his stuff is boring that his ratios are always going to be middle of the pack. Damn it if he doesn’t get those holds still, even with that Statcast page that’s entirely blue. Don’t know that my Cards will be buying at the deadline, but I sure as hell hope we do something about this bullpen. Romero is shaky enough…I don’t trust anyone else after.

Washington Nationals

Pegged Clayton Beeter as one of my biggest value picks heading into 2026. Sure, a 3.62 ERA and 12 SVHD in an injury-riddled first half ain’t all that bad. Still feels like a bust to me. The 9:7 shutdown to meltdown ratio doesn’t make me feel any better either. The BB% was my main concern, and it’s at 15.3% right now. Strikeout stuff isn’t high enough to move the needle. Another pen best avoided.