Waiver Relief: Week 3

In Waiver Relief’s previous issue, I highlighted a few rapidly-rising closers and a couple of setup men looking to be among the best in baseball. This week I’m switching up the format, covering the latest in closer news and providing rankings for saves, holds, and SPRPs. It’s a big win for the “shut up and give me the picks” guys, albeit a tough blow to all three of you here for eloquent prose first and fantasy advice second.

(stats updated through Thursday, 4/9)

 

Closer News (by team)

 

ARI

 

While Paul Sewald should have a fairly tight grip on the closer role, keep an eye on Juan Morillo. Morillo is in just his second season but possesses closer-like stuff, with a 99-mph heater and an improved slider that’s running a 75% whiff rate in 2026’s (very) small sample. He’s the clear next in line for Arizona if Sewald falters. For now, put Morillo on your watchlist in 12-team leagues and deeper.

 

HOU

 

Bryan Abreu is officially in a tailspin, entering the eighth inning on Wednesday with the Astros trailing 8-1 against the Rockies. Abreu once again scuffled, giving up a run following a pair of walks and a single. I could say to take a shot at Bryan King for a few save chances, but with Josh Hader returning in a matter of weeks, there’s not much to do here. Abreu is, incredibly enough, droppable in most standard leagues, and I won’t bother ranking an Astros closer below.

 

PIT

 

Presumptive closer Dennis Santana has yet to record a save in 2026. Gregory Soto, highlighted here last week, may be taking over as closer in Pittsburgh. Soto struck out a whopping 13 batters in his first 7.1 innings and has been a ninth-inning regular, notching his first save of the season last Friday. Soto should be rostered universally, even over Santana in standard leagues at this point. Expect at least some sharing of save chances between the two, though.

 

SF

 

Who really knows what to make of the Giants’ bullpen right now? “Closer” Ryan Walker continues to get thrown into the middle innings, and while there are some risers with real potential here in Keaton Winn and Caleb Kilian, Winn had a rough week, and Kilian is only starting to see high-leverage spots. I can’t strongly recommend rostering anyone but Walker just yet, but it’s reasonable to speculate on Winn and Kilian, in that order, in deeper leagues.

 

STL

 

Last week, I posited that Riley O’Brien would be separating from the pack as the closer in St. Louis, relegating the likes of Ryne Stanek and JoJo Romero to the mid-late innings. This seems to have happened more quickly than expected, as O’Brien has picked up the last three Cardinal saves and has yet to allow an earned run. O’Brien has been one of the most valuable relievers in fantasy baseball thus far, and I would expect his roster rate to make him ineligible for this column as soon as next week.

 

TB

 

With Garrett Cleavinger hitting the injured list and Griffin Jax doing Griffin Jax things, Bryan Baker has begun to solidify a ninth-inning role in Tampa Bay. I’ve already featured Baker here twice as a potential saves target, so I’ll keep this brief; this week, he makes for one of the better pickups among all available relievers.

 

TEX

 

In week one, I took a shot with Chris Martin, feeling as though he was under-rostered given the save opportunities he’d see in a fairly open bullpen. It turns out that having opportunities and taking advantage of opportunities are two very different things (annoying). Martin indeed saw his share of chances but blew each of them, pitching to a 7.20 ERA and 1.80 WHIP thus far. Enter… Jakob Junis? Really? Okay, sure, play the music, I guess. Junis picked up the Rangers’ first two saves this week in back-to-back games on Monday and Tuesday. Cole Winn gets a nod as well, as he picked up the save in Wednesday’s game with Junis unavailable. While Winn has more long-term upside, Junis has the edge for saves right now. He’s worth rostering in most standard leagues.

 

Saves – Top 10 (<=60%-rostered Yahoo)

 

Rising names among closers this week include Bryan Baker, Gregory Soto, and Jakob Junis.

1. Riley O’Brien – STL (43%)
2. Lucas Erceg – KC (51%)
3. Paul Sewald – ARI (50%)
4. Jordan Romano – LAA (58%)
5. Bryan Baker – TB (7%)
6. Gregory Soto – PIT (26%)
7. Jakob Junis – TEX (15%)
8. Clayton Beeter – WSH (12%)
9. Victor Vodnik – COL (6%)
10. Cole Sands – MIN (13%)

The Watchlist: Justin Sterner (ATH), Keaton Winn (SF), Cole Winn (TEX), Eric Orze (MIN), Juan Morillo (ARI)

 

Holds – Top 10 (<=5%)

 

Rising names among setup men this week include Brent Headrick, Rico Garcia, and Grant Anderson.

1. Dylan Lee – ATL (4%)
2. Louis Varland – TOR (4%)
3. Brooks Raley – NYM (2%)
4. Graham Ashcraft – CIN (5%)
5. Caleb Thielbar – CHC (2%)
6. Brent Headrick – NYY (<1%)
7. Andrew Nardi – MIA (<1%)
8. Rico Garcia – BAL (1%)
9. Braydon Fisher – TOR (2%)
10. Grant Anderson – MIL (1%)

IL Stash: Hunter Gaddis (CLE), Edwin Uceta (TB), Jason Adam (SD), Bennett Sousa (HOU)

 

SPRPs – Top 10 (Yahoo-eligible)

 

Rising names among SPRPs this week include Jacob Latz, Kai-Wei Teng, and Blade Tidwell.

1. Tyler Holton – DET (10%)
2. Tyler Wells – BAL (1%)
3. Jack Dreyer – LAD (4%)
4. Drew Pomeranz – LAA (4%)
5. Tobias Myers – NYM (2%)
6. Jacob Latz – TEX (1%)
7. Tyler Alexander – TEX (12%)
8. Kai-Wei Teng – HOU (1%)
9. Blade Tidwell – SF (<1%)
10. Cole Sands – MIN (13%)

Honorable Mention: Ian Seymour (TB), Cooper Criswell (SEA), Ryan Yarbrough (NYY), Osvaldo Bido (ATL), Antonio Senzatela (COL)