We’re about a month into the season, and it’s been a tumultuous one for major league bullpens. If you missed last week’s detailed breakdown of the RP waiver landscape, consider starting there to catch up.
As a guy who makes markets for a living, I’m not sure how this has become the job I’m having a harder time keeping up with – no tariffs required. Much like in the markets, though, with chaos comes opportunity. This week’s top choices for saves are setup men who came into the season behind some of the best closers in baseball. And, of course, we’ve got a few new options for holds leagues as well.
You know the drill.
(stats updated through Saturday 4/26)
Saves
Luke Weaver (NYY) (40%-rostered Yahoo)
With the downfall of Devin Williams comes the ascension of Luke Weaver.
It feels like a waste of time to describe exactly how good Weaver has been out of the Yankee bullpen since last season, so let’s skip all of that. As far as Williams goes, I’m writing this mere moments after a second-straight meltdown, this time recording zero outs against Toronto while allowing three earned runs to blow yet another save. He’s broken, and he’s taken my heart along with him.
This one is pretty straightforward, and it would be relatively shocking at this point to see the Yankees’ next save chance not go Weaver’s way. When this does finally happen, Weaver becomes arguably a top-five closer in all of fantasy baseball.
Cade Smith (CLE) (37%)
Another guy in the argument for Best Setup Man in Baseball, Cade Smith vaults into the fantasy prime time of the closer conversation. I probably don’t need to tell you who we’d be dethroning here; in fact, when replacing last year’s fantasy MVR Emmanuel Clase, it’s less of a dethroning and more an outright coup.
Prior to this weekend, the cherry on top of Clase’s unfortunate-looking cupcake of a season was last Sunday against Pittsburgh, when he allowed five baserunners and three earned runs in a particularly ugly blown save. In game one of yesterday’s doubleheader, Clase pitched for the first time since that blowup – in the eighth inning. Other than that, he was looking like his old self, striking out two in a clean half. It was Smith then getting the ninth, allowing a couple baserunners but eventually locking down his third save of the year.
Clase will undoubtedly be back in the ninth inning before long if he regains his form, but at least for now, Smith needs to be universally rostered.
Camilo Doval (SF) (36%)
Lest we forget the volatility of the position for even a moment, Camilo Doval has a chance to complete the full circle of being a closer himself, to losing it, to replacing the guy who replaced him. All in the span of a couple seasons.
The current closer in question is Ryan Walker. Following a brilliant 2024, Walker had been off to a decent start in 2025 until a pair of calamitous outings this past week. That’s more than enough to send fantasy players spiraling, I know, but there’s no major change here in my opinion. Walker remains the primary closer and Doval a better-than-average secondary option with a high usage rate. As is, the two are tied with five saves apiece, and Doval carries plenty of value in most league formats.
I would call this week’s hiccup from Walker an extra point of upside in Doval’s favor and not react too much more strongly than that. He’s a distant third on this list.
Will Vest (DET) (14%)
After touting Tommy Kahnle in this space since week one, this feels like a bit of a betrayal.
There’s no ignoring the run that Will Vest is on: 11 straight scoreless appearances culminating in a run of three consecutive saves. Vest being the only Tiger with a save this past week is partly a situational oddity, to be sure. It’s safe to say, though, that he’s earned a spot alongside Kahnle in a much-dreaded timeshare of the ninth inning.
Both are roster-worthy in various formats, but I give Kahnle a slight edge for saves, and Vest an edge in ratios and strikeouts.
The Watchlist: David Bednar (PIT), Lucas Erceg (KC), Jesús Tinoco (MIA)
It’s the 7th Inning but Your Team Hasn’t Recorded a Save Yet a Month into the Season and it’s Getting Desperate: Brandon Eisert (CWS)
Holds
Tim Herrin (CLE) (3%)
Setting aside their current ninth-inning turmoil, Tim Herrin provides the Guardians with yet another top-notch high-leverage arm. He’s off to a tremendous start this year across his first 12 appearances, accumulating five holds and three wins with a 1.80 ERA and 14 strikeouts over 10 innings pitched. What you may not realize is that Herrin was solid in 2024 as well; the numbers weren’t exactly eye-popping, but 75 appearances in a bullpen with plenty of options while putting up a 1.92 ERA is nothing to sneeze at. His .236 wOBA allowed ranked him among the best in baseball.
It should be noted that Herrin has been the beneficiary of good luck in 2025’s small sample, with a 100% strand rate and .158 BABIP. Still, he’s been relatively unheralded despite a very high-quality season and change, and it’s time to get him on some radars. He may be fourth in the stacked Guardian bullpen, but he’s in prime position to be one of baseball’s most consistent bridges to the late innings.
Julian Merryweather (CHC) (1%)
Proud owner of the most British name for a non-British person since Wesley Snipes, Julian Merryweather is off to a good start following an injury-plagued ’24. His six holds lead the Cubs and come alongside a 1.74 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.
The main benefit here is the situation: closer Ryan Pressly hasn’t pitched in a week since having his knee drained; setup man Porter Hodge has been shaky at best… and that’s really it for the Cub bullpen. This leaves Merryweather as one of the only options on the First Month of the Season Run Differential Champion Chicago Cubs (hang the damn banner).
I don’t see a compelling reason why Merryweather shouldn’t be ranked in the top 40-ish pitchers for holds the rest of the season, and his rostered percentage demands an uptick to match.
Craig Yoho (MIL) (4%)
OK – he’s probably not actually one of the best RPs on the wire. In fact, I’m not sure he’s even a high-leverage reliever at all. Not yet, at least.
I have an obligation to include Craig Yoho here following this week’s callup after including him as an NA stash in last week’s article. One of the best relief pitching prospects in baseball, Yoho put up what would be video game numbers in the low-mid minors if anyone actually made a video game about minor league baseball. There’s at least a chance that things click here and Yoho finds himself quickly settling into a late-inning role while racking up the strikeouts and all that good stuff.
If I seem like I’m waffling on this one, it’s because I am. To be clear, grabbing Yoho is more for the upside and the fun factor than anything else. But we’re all just doing GM roleplay here after all; the fun should count for something.
The Watchlist: Randy Rodríguez (SF), Kyle Leahy (STL), Shelby Miller (ARI), Garrett Cleavinger (TB), Brock Stewart (MIN)
IL Stash: Matt Brash (SEA), Kevin Ginkel (ARI)
SPRPs (new): Joey Cantillo (CLE), Jackson Rutledge (WSH), Cole Henry (WSH)
