Fantasy baseball bullpen report featuring rising relievers Ryan Zeferjahn and Kyle Leahy

Arizona Diamondbacks

During spring training, manager Torey Lovullo intimated three relievers were vying for the closer role: A.J. Puk, Justin Martinez and Kevin Ginkel. Puk currently resides on the injured list with a left elbow flexor strain and has no firm timeline for a return. Martinez has allowed at least a run in three consecutive appearances, and the last two displayed a precipitous drop in his velocity (image below courtesy of Statcast):

Torey Lovullo said that both an MRI and an injured list stint are possibilities for Justin Martinez, whose velocity was down about 5 mph tonight compared to its usual levels, the third consecutive outing his stuff has been significantly diminished.

— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) May 1, 2025

This leaves Shelby Miller and Ginkel as potential candidates for upcoming save chances. However, Ginkel made his 2025 debut Wednesday night against the Mets after missing time with right shoulder inflammation. Once Martinez’s MRI results and outlook are shared, it will provide fantasy managers with more insight. In the next few games, Miller and Ginkel may be deployed in save situations. Drey Jameson was sent to Triple-A to learn how to handle consecutive days of work and could become a leverage factor soon.

Cleveland Guardians

It’s been a whirlwind of a week for the Cleveland bullpen. Emmanuel Clase worked in lower-leverage situations but has resumed his closer role, hanging on for his fifth save during his last appearance. Cade Smith filled in admirably, converting all three save chances between April 21-26, but has pitched in a set-up capacity in his past two contests. While his closer role remains assured, fantasy managers should closely monitor Clase’s results this month.

Hope for a rebound lies in Clase’s 17.2 K-BB percentage (14 strikeouts versus three walks) and 15.7 swinging strike percentage (2.1% higher than last year), while improving his current .489 batting average on balls in play toward his .280 career rate.

New York Yankees

Another day, another closer working in non-save appearances. For the Yankees, Luke Weaver will be the closer until Devin Williams can regain the role with the franchise. In three games between April 9-25, Williams allowed three earned runs in each, and at the time of his demotion from closing games, he had recorded a 2.38 WHIP with 10 earned runs, eight strikeouts, seven walks and two losses in 10 games, spanning eight innings. He’s posted consecutive scoreless outings, but manager Aaron Boone provided no timeline for when he will receive his next save chance. It’s a precarious situation for the fantasy community, though the team has made it clear it prefers him to be the closer, which provides hope for a rebound soon.

San Francisco Giants

Ryan Walker was named the closer by Bob Melvin, which carries weight in considering roles going forward since there has been no comment refuting his role. However, Walker recently turned in two rough outings, allowing a combined six earned runs while only recording two outs. He hasn’t been scored upon in his two appearances since, but there are some concerns about his reduced swinging strike percentage combined with giving up more contact:

• Walker 2025: 12 games, 10.2 innings, 5.91 ERA, 2.82 SIERA, 3.76 xERA, 1.31 WHIP, 12:2 K:BB (20.2 K-BB percentage), 7.2 swinging strike percentage (down 5.2% versus 2024), 81.3% contact allowed (up almost 9% versus 2024).

Could this be attributed to lingering back issues? It’s possible. Camilo Doval has also recorded five saves this season:

• Doval 2025: 14 games, 13 innings, 2.08 ERA, 3.94 SIERA, 2.45 xERA, 0.85 WHIP, 10:5 K:BB (9.8 K-BB percentage), 12.7 swinging strike percentage (down 1.8% versus 2024), 72.9% contact allowed (up 6.3% versus 2024).

Entering the weekend, plan on Walker receiving save chances, but the usage patterns in the next two weeks, along with the performances in them, likely determine the relievers’ roles throughout the season.

With this in mind, it’s time to reset our leverage pathways. Recognizing how a manager prefers handling high-leverage innings can create a competitive advantage. Here are our high-leverage pathway identifiers. Each team will receive one of the following labels:

Mostly linear: This is a more traditional approach, with a manager preferring one reliever in the seventh inning, another in the eighth, and a closer (when rested) in the ninth. There are shades of gray, but it’s usually a predictable leverage pathway.

Primary save share: The team prefers one reliever as the primary option for saves. However, he may also be used in matchup-based situations, whether dictated by batter-handedness or batting order pockets in the late innings. This provides multiple relievers with save chances each series or week throughout the season.

Matchup-based: Usually, two relievers split save opportunities, sometimes, based on handedness, rest or recent usage patterns to keep them fresh. While these situations typically rely on a primary and ancillary option, others can also become involved. Some teams also prefer a matchup-based option, assigning pitchers a hitter pocket for a series, which creates fluid save opportunities.

In-flux: The manager has not confirmed the projected closer based on past struggles or rough spring appearances.

American League Leverage Pathways

Relievers on the Rise

Ryan Zeferjahn (LAA): His results flew below the radar since his team has struggled recently, but he’s posted a robust 19% swinging strike rate with 18 strikeouts against three walks (41.7 K-BB percentage) across 8.2 innings. Combined with a 60% contact rate allowed, expect more high-leverage events going forward. He secured his first career save earlier this year and should be considered next in line for the Angels with Ben Joyce sidelined.

Fernando Cruz (NYY): More for those in deeper leagues or ones that use SOLDS, Cruz has recorded two saves with a 0.84 WHIP and 27 strikeouts in 16.2 innings. His 33.3 K-BB percentage and 19.9 swinging strike rate make him a stream-worthy reliever for those seeking strikeouts with vulture and save potential.

Closer Concern

Luke Jackson (TEX): Understanding manager Bruce Bochy remains far more patient than the fantasy community, Jackson has converted eight of nine save opportunities, but he’s also suffered three losses, though sometimes fluky by nature. Of more significant concern is his 1.58 WHIP with nine strikeouts versus five walks (8 K-BB percentage) and only an 8.8 swinging strike percentage. He allows contact at a 79.7% clip, and in the strike zone, this number jumps to 88%. He’s already allowed four barrels (11.1%), and his 3.50 xERA and 4.32 SIERA set a baseline of expectations for his results moving forward. Robert Garcia and Chris Martin may soon share save situations based on matchups.

National League Leverage Pathways

Relievers on the Rise

Kyle Leahy (STL): A converted starter, he’s already recorded six holds and owns a five-game scoreless streak. Through 18.1 innings, he has a 0.55 WHIP with 16 strikeouts versus five walks (K-BB percentage). His xERA (3.12) and SIERA (3.05) hint at some regression, but he’s rising in the Cardinals’ leverage ladder.

Zach Agnos (COL): Projected as a potential closer of the future, he secured his first save on April 30, preserving a one-run win over Atlanta. It’s very early in his career, and any pitcher in Coors will experience growing pains. Those in keeper formats should monitor his upcoming usage patterns closely, but any reliever with a 22.6 K-BB percentage in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in his age-24 season warrants consideration.

Closer Concern

Ryan Helsley (STL): Last year, he was hands down the best reliever in baseball and set a team record with 23 clean saves (no baserunners). This season, he has turned in one clean appearance out of 10, in a non-save outing. He’s recorded a win and converted four of five saves, but his 3.60 ERA has a 4.19 xERA and a 4.94 SIERA. His 1.60 WHIP with 10 strikeouts against eight walks (4.5 K-BB percentage) demands caution. He’s allowing more contact (74.4% — 7.4% higher than 2024) and producing fewer whiffs (12.6 swinging strike percentage — 4.7 percent below last year). It’s a small sample size, but one would prefer seeing his velocity rebound, as it’s slightly down from last season.

Working with reduced velocity has affected his four-seam fastball, resulting in a .423 weighted on-base average while producing four strikeouts against seven walks with the pitch, yielding a -13 K-BB percentage. This may be a blip, but track this over the coming weeks.

► Updated Tiered Rankings for Saves and SOLDS

2025 leaderboards

Save Stashes

• Shelby Miller/Kevin Ginkel (ARI)
• Chris Martin/Robert Garcia (TEX)
• Zach Agnos (COL)
• Abner Uribe (MIL)
• Steven Wilson (CHW)

Ancillary Save Options

• Kirby Yates (LAD)
• Reed Garrett (NYM)
• Yennier Cano (BAL)
• Jordan Romano (PHI)
• Justin Slaten (BOS)

Ratio Relievers

*Multi-inning or bridge relievers who can vulture wins and help protect ratios.

• Hayden Birdsong (SF)
• Louis Varland (MIN)
• Brant Hurter (DET)
• Ryne Nelson (ARI)

Statistical Credits (through games played on April 30): Fangraphs.com; Baseball-Reference.com; BaseballSavant.com; BrooksBaseball.net

Check out my work at Reliever Recon and Closer Monkey for daily updates.

(Photo of Kyle Leahy: Jeff Le / Getty Images)