The start of the season has helped to clarify a few things, though much remains up in the air
By Scott White Mar 31, 2026 at 7:16 am ET • 5 min read 
So, do you have a grasp on who's closing where yet?
Didn't think so. That's what happens when a third of the league enters the season without a clear front-runner for saves.
But we know more now than we did a week ago, enough that I should probably commit to breaking down every bullpen as it stands now. It helps to establish a baseline for all future Bullpen Reports. It also gives you a heads-up for possible holds standouts, in leagues where those are a thing.
Not every team's closer pecking order is worth commenting on, but all are at least shown here.
Arizona DiamondbacksPecking order
Paul Sewald ARI RP 
Jonathan Loaisiga ARI RP 
Kevin Ginkel ARI RP 
Ryan Thompson ARI RP Confidence in top guy: low Chances of committee: medium Who's rosterable? Paul Sewald Manager Torey Lovullo said at the end of spring training that Sewald would get the first save chance, and he did. He also showed the velocity that had been missing since he last succeeded in the role in 2023.
AthleticsPecking order
Scott Barlow ATH RP 
Michael Kelly ATH RP 
Justin Sterner ATH RP 
Hogan Harris ATH RP 
Elvis Alvarado ATH RP 
Mark Leiter ATH RP Confidence in top guy: low Chances of committee: high Who's rosterable? nobody The pecking order is looser here than for any other team, and it's hard to take much of a rooting interest in any of these guys.
Atlanta BravesPecking order
Raisel Iglesias ATL RP 
Robert Suarez ATL RP 
Dylan Lee ATL RP 
Tyler Kinley ATL RP Confidence in top guy: medium Chances of committee: low Who's rosterable? Raisel Iglesias, Robert Suarez Suarez was targeted like a closer-in-waiting in drafts, given that we've so recently seen him succeed in the role, but Iglesias has a near spotless track record as well and is firmly entrenched for now.
Baltimore OriolesPecking order
Ryan Helsley BAL RP 
Andrew Kittredge BAL RP 
Yennier Cano BAL RP 
Tyler Wells BAL SP Confidence in top guy: high Chances of committee: low Who's rosterable? Ryan Helsley
Boston Red SoxPecking order
Aroldis Chapman BOS RP 
Garrett Whitlock BOS RP 
Justin Slaten BOS RP 
Greg Weissert BOS RP Confidence in top guy: high Chances of committee: low Who's rosterable? Aroldis Chapman
Chicago CubsPecking order
Daniel Palencia CHC RP 
Phil Maton CHC RP 
Hunter Harvey CHC RP 
Caleb Thielbar CHC RP Confidence in top guy: high Chances of committee: low Who's rosterable? Daniel Palencia
Chicago White SoxPecking order
Seranthony Dominguez CHW RP 
Grant Taylor CHW RP 
Jordan Leasure CHW P Confidence in top guy: medium Chances of committee: medium Who's rosterable? Seranthony Dominguez
Cincinnati RedsPecking order
Emilio Pagan CIN RP 
Tony Santillan CIN RP 
Connor Phillips CIN SP 
Pierce Johnson CIN RP Confidence in top guy: medium Chances of committee: low Who's rosterable? Emilio Pagan
Cleveland GuardiansPecking order
Cade Smith CLE P 
Shawn Armstrong CLE RP 
Erik Sabrowski CLE P Confidence in top guy: high Chances of committee: low Who's rosterable? Cade Smith
Colorado RockiesPecking order
Victor Vodnik COL RP 
Zach Agnos COL P 
Jimmy Herget COL RP 
Juan Mejia COL RP Confidence in top guy: low Chances of committee: high Who's rosterable? Victor Vodnik Part of me wonders if Vodnik is even rosterable because the outlook for this team -- and everyone in the bullpen, for that matter -- is so poor.
Detroit TigersPecking order
Kenley Jansen DET RP 
Kyle Finnegan DET RP 
Will Vest DET RP 
Tyler Holton DET RP Confidence in top guy: medium Chances of committee: medium Who's rosterable? Kenley Jansen You might think a closer of Jansen's stature would never fall victim to a committee, but I just don't trust manager A.J. Hinch, who has been playing ninth-inning games since arriving in Detroit (and some before then as well).
Houston AstrosPecking order
Josh Hader HOU RP 
Bryan Abreu HOU RP 
Bryan King HOU P Confidence in top guy: low Chances of committee: low Who's rosterable? Josh Hader, Bryan Abreu Abreu was widely drafted just in case Hader's bout with biceps tendinitis turns out to be a long-term issue, but he's still on track to return before the end of April.
Kansas City RoyalsPecking order
Lucas Erceg KC RP 
Carlos Estevez KC RP 
Matt Strahm KC RP 
John Schreiber KC RP Confidence in top guy: low Chances of committee: high Who's rosterable? Lucas Erceg, Carlos Estevez, Matt Strahm Estevez's plummeting velocity already appears to have cost him his job, leading to Erceg notching the team's first save Sunday. John Schreiber's save Monday was presumably just because the three ahead of him here were unavailable.
Los Angeles AngelsPecking order
Jordan Romano LAA RP 
Kirby Yates LAA RP 
Drew Pomeranz LAA RP 
Sam Bachman LAA RP Confidence in top guy: low Chances of committee: high Who's rosterable? Jordan Romano, Kirby Yates While Yates' bout with knee inflammation likely won't keep him out much longer, he was only a mild favorite to close before then, and Romano himself has enough experience in the role that he could run with this opportunity.
Los Angeles DodgersPecking order
Edwin Diaz LAD RP 
Tanner Scott LAD RP 
Will Klein LAD RP 
Alex Vesia LAD RP 
Blake Treinen LAD RP Confidence in top guy: high Chances of committee: low Who's rosterable? Edwin Diaz
Miami MarlinsPecking order
Pete Fairbanks MIA RP 
Calvin Faucher MIA RP 
Anthony Bender MIA RP 
Andrew Nardi MIA RP Confidence in top guy: medium Chances of committee: low Who's rosterable? Pete Fairbanks
Milwaukee BrewersPecking order
Trevor Megill MIL RP 
Abner Uribe MIL RP 
DL Hall MIL RP Confidence in top guy: medium Chances of committee: medium Who's rosterable? Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe Megill's first two appearances have come in the ninth, more or less confirming that he's the closer over Uribe, but he's walking a tightrope and already stumbled once by blowing a tie Monday.
Minnesota TwinsPecking order
Cole Sands MIN RP 
Taylor Rogers MIN RP 
Justin Topa MIN RP Confidence in top guy: low Chances of committee: high Who's rosterable? Cole Sands Sands is probably the Twins' best reliever, and if early usage is any indication, new manager Derek Shelton is more attuned to that than his predecessor. Still, it's not like the right-hander is can't-miss in the role.
New York MetsPecking order
Devin Williams NYM RP 
Luke Weaver NYM SP 
Brooks Raley NYM RP Confidence in top guy: high Chances of committee: low Who's rosterable? Devin Williams
New York YankeesPecking order
David Bednar NYY RP 
Camilo Doval NYY RP 
Fernando Cruz NYY RP 
Tim Hill NYY RP Confidence in top guy: high Chances of committee: low Who's rosterable? David Bednar
Philadelphia PhilliesPecking order
Jhoan Duran PHI RP 
Brad Keller PHI SP 
Jose Alvarado PHI RP Confidence in top guy: high Chances of committee: low Who's rosterable? Jhoan Duran
Pittsburgh PiratesPecking order
Dennis Santana PIT RP 
Gregory Soto PIT RP 
Justin Lawrence PIT RP 
Isaac Mattson PIT RP Confidence in top guy: medium Chances of committee: medium Who's rosterable? Dennis Santana Manager Don Kelly revealed late in spring training that he might occasionally deploy Santana prior to the ninth inning when the situation called for it, specifically citing left-hander Gregory Soto as a ninth-inning alternative.
San Diego PadresPecking order
Mason Miller SD SP 
Jeremiah Estrada SD RP 
Adrian Morejon SD RP 
Jason Adam SD RP Confidence in top guy: high Chances of committee: low Who's rosterable? Mason Miller
San Francisco GiantsPecking order
Ryan Walker SF RP 
Keaton Winn SF SP 
Erik Miller SF RP Confidence in top guy: medium Chances of committee: medium Who's rosterable? Ryan Walker
Seattle MarinersPecking order
Andres Munoz SEA RP 
Matt Brash SEA RP 
Jose Ferrer SEA RP 
Eduard Bazardo SEA RP 
Gabe Speier SEA RP Confidence in top guy: high Chances of committee: low Who's rosterable? Andres Munoz
St. Louis CardinalsPecking order
Riley O'Brien STL RP 
Matt Svanson STL P 
JoJo Romero STL RP 
Ryne Stanek STL RP Confidence in top guy: low Chances of committee: high Who's rosterable? Riley O'Brien This situation started out messy and has only gotten messier with Ryne Stanek and Matt Svanson already faltering in the ninth inning. O'Brien and JoJo Romero shared the closer role down the stretch last year and may wind up doing so again.
Tampa Bay RaysPecking order
Griffin Jax TB RP 
Edwin Uceta TB RP 
Bryan Baker TB RP 
Garrett Cleavinger TB RP Confidence in top guy: low Chances of committee: high Who's rosterable? Griffin Jax, Edwin Uceta, Bryan Baker None of Jax's first three appearances has come in the ninth or even the eighth inning, which doesn't necessarily remove him from the top of the pecking order but does confirm that this closer situation is the truest of committees.
Texas RangersPecking order
Robert Garcia TEX RP 
Chris Martin TEX RP 
Tyler Alexander TEX RP Confidence in top guy: low Chances of committee: high Who's rosterable? Robert Garcia, Chris Martin While each of the Rangers' first two saves has gone to Tyler Alexander, both were in unusual enough circumstances for me to suspect this is still a two-headed closing tandem.
Toronto Blue JaysPecking order
Jeff Hoffman TOR RP 
Tyler Rogers TOR RP 
Louie Varland TOR SP 
Brendon Little TOR RP Confidence in top guy: medium Chances of committee: low Who's rosterable? Jeff Hoffman
Washington NationalsPecking order
Clayton Beeter WAS RP 
Cole Henry WAS RP 
Brad Lord WAS P Confidence in top guy: low Chances of committee: high Who's rosterable? Clayton Beeter
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