We end our third week light on new targets for chasing saves on the wire. For those of you who missed my articles from week one and week two, the recommendations there have mostly held up nicely–the italics there courtesy of Porter Hodge – so check those out.
That being said, there were still plenty of significant bullpen developments this week, including the return of a couple old friends, one key injury, and yet another blowup from a former Best RP in Baseball.
So, I’m switching up the usual format a bit–likely not for the last time–addressing all overly available pitchers for those ever-precious saves, while still going into more detail on new options for holds leagues.
(stats updated through Saturday 4/19)
Saves
50-75%-rostered (Yahoo)
Justin Martinez (ARI) (73%)
I’d written this up regarding the Diamondbacks’ dynamic duo of Martinez and A.J. Puk, but Puk hit the IL on Saturday with elbow inflammation (gulp). So, despite his high rostered percentage, it’s worth highlighting Martinez here given he should now have the full share of Arizona’s saves, at least until Kevin Ginkel returns from his own IL stay to vulture a few.
José Alvarado (PHI) (72%)
As the struggling Jordan Romano has stepped aside, Alvarado has become the Phillies’ clear-cut closer (say that five times fast), with Orion Kerkering Orion Lurkering if he stumbles.
Luke Jackson (TEX) (61%)
I featured Jackson as week one’s top pickup despite a rough opener. Since that initial outing, he’s racked up six saves without allowing an earned run. I expected Jackson’s rostered percentage to climb faster than this, but these things do move slowly sometimes.
<50%-rostered
Emilio Pagán (CIN) (37%)
Pagán got the nod here last week. Alexis Díaz has since returned from the IL, though he’s continued to struggle with his command across three lower-leverage appearances. It’s still Pagán’s job to lose in Cincinnati until proven otherwise.
Luke Weaver (NYY) (28%)
That breeze you just felt was Yankees fans clapping in unison. I’m not sure I’m ready to dethrone Devin Williams, which is borderline blasphemy around these parts. Still, I was forced to upgrade Weaver from honorable mention to featured status following yet another meltdown from Williams on Saturday, blowing a four-run lead in the ninth against Tampa. Maybe manager Aaron Boone makes the move sooner rather than later, I can’t say for sure. But Weaver is indisputably the Yankees’ best reliever, with Mark Leiter Jr. trailing close behind.
Tommy Kahnle (DET) (24%)
I recommended Kahnle in week one, though I described the Tigers’ bullpen situation as “fluid.” Things have solidified since, and Kahnle, who’s been great, has emerged as the man in Detroit. Unless Weaver indeed earns a promotion, Kahnle is the most under-rostered Pitcher on this List (he said the thing!).
Dennis Santana (PIT) (18%)
Santana was arguably sharing his spot with Ryan Borucki, but Borucki blew a pair of save chances and wasn’t much of a roadblock to begin with. The competition stiffens significantly, however, with the return of David Bednar, who dominated in his brief stint in AAA and returned to the bigs on Saturday. Bednar got the ninth in a 3-0 loss to the Guardians, allowing two baserunners but striking out two as well. It remains to be seen what the plan is here if Bednar has rediscovered his form, but the job is still Santana’s for now.
They’ve Got a Path: David Bednar (PIT), Calvin Faucher (MIA), Anthony Bender (MIA), Abner Uribe (MIL), Lucas Erceg (KC)
High-End Vultures: Blake Treinen (LAD), Justin Slaten (BOS), Camilo Doval (SF), Will Vest (DET), Robert Garcia (TEX)
The Watchlist: Liam Hendriks (BOS)
Holds
Brendon Little (TOR) (4%)
Besides an honorable mention in week one, I’m admittedly a “little” late to the party here.
The puns are plentiful, but Brendon Little has simply been lights-out in the back of the Jays’ bullpen as the top lefty in the group. Following a subpar rookie campaign in 2024, Little’s first 12 appearances in 2025 have netted six holds and a whopping 17 strikeouts in 10 innings, good for a 41.5% rate.
So what’s up here? Well, he’s not a rookie anymore for one. Digging a bit deeper into his arsenal, Little features a pair of fastballs, each around 93 MPH, tagged as a sinker and a cutter. But it’s the real breaking pitch, his knuckle curve, that sets him apart. It’s a small sample, but its usage has risen from 32% to 42% year-over-year, a number that should only climb higher as it’s netted 15 of Little’s 17 strikeouts. We may be looking at one of the better put-away pitches in all of baseball. And I’d written most of that before seeing he’d deleted the Mariners on Saturday while throwing that knuckle curve for 12 of his 18 pitches, including all three to strike out Julio Rodríguez.
Given his advantageous context as the best southpaw on a decent team, Little should be a real gem in all holds, points, and K/9 leagues.
Jared Koenig (MIL) (3%)
An SPRP darling, Jared Koenig flew somewhat under the radar in 2024 as a workhorse for the Crew. Putting up 62 innings pitched across the board as an opener, middle reliever, and high-leverage guy, Koenig was a fantasy asset as much as he was a non-fiction one. He compiled nine wins, 10 holds, and a save, all with a 2.47 ERA and 1.24 WHIP.
In 2025, Koenig has skipped the boring stuff and jumped straight into the fire, pitching almost exclusively in tight spots for the Brewers and ditching the opener role. His 11 appearances have netted a win and three holds, once again accompanied by excellent ratios (a 1.74 ERA and 0.68 WHIP this time around). In the Milwaukee bullpen, Koenig ranks only behind closer Trevor Megill and setup man Abner Uribe. The opportunities should continue to stack up.
Pick up Koenig now and plug him into that SP slot, then check back in five months and see what it’s gotten you. You won’t be disappointed.
Tyler Ferguson (ATH) (1%)
This one made me backtrack to be sure I hadn’t mistakenly tagged anyone with “(OAK)” in a previous week.
More of a pure holds play than one who will provide anything approaching elite ratios or strikeouts, Tyler Ferguson shows up here as a particularly low-rostered guy for being his team’s top setup man. As such, he’s benefited mostly due to the fact that the… Sacramento? A’s might actually be… kinda feisty? Yet what they possess in spark (and an actually decent offense), the A’s lack in relief pitching, barring the gentleman on our watchlist below for similar reasons. So there’s not a whole lot of reason to think that Ferguson shouldn’t continue to be the top dog behind closer Mason Miller.
Again, this one is a little more league context-dependent, but I like giving Ferguson a mention here as a holds accumulator who probably won’t hurt you too badly in any other department.
The Watchlist: Jack Dreyer (LAD), Randy Rodríguez (SF), Max Kranick (NYM), Jalen Beeks (ARI), Justin Sterner (OAK), err, (ATH)
IL/NA Stash: Matt Brash (SEA), Kevin Ginkel (ARI) / Dedniel Núñez (NYM), Craig Yoho (MIL)
SPRPs: Louis Varland (MIN), Shawn Armstrong (TEX)
