Bullpen Shakeup: Scott & Chapman Fantasy Impact Revealed
Fantasy Baseball Closer & Reliever Weekly Update: August 2026
Important: This article breaks down the latest bullpen news, team strategies, and player recommendations for fantasy baseball managers. Everything is explained in simple terms—no advanced stats knowledge required!
What Happened This Week? (Key News & Injuries)
It’s only been a week, but the bullpen landscape has shifted fast. Here are the biggest headlines:
-
Edwin Díaz (LAD) returned from elbow surgery but struggled in Colorado (3 earned runs, fastball only 93 mph). He’s back on the Injured List (IL) — the list for players too hurt to play. His MRI was clean, but his return date and role are unknown.
→ In the meantime, Tanner Scott takes over saves. He’s been elite: 18/20 saves, 0.92 WHIP, 26.4% K-BB% (strikeout minus walk rate). -
Daniel Palencia (CHC) comes off the IL Friday with no defined role. The Cubs trust Jacob Webb more for high-leverage spots, so Palencia’s save chances aren’t guaranteed.
-
Félix Bautista (BAL) starts a rehab assignment soon (practice games in the minors to prove health).
- Justin Martinez (ARI) activated, threw a scoreless inning in Boston. Could get save chances if he throws strikes and stays healthy.
Understanding Leverage Pathways (How Teams Use Their Bullpens)
Important: "Leverage" = how important a game situation is (e.g., 9th inning, 1-run lead = high leverage). Every team manages its relievers differently. The author sorts all 30 teams into four clear categories so you know who gets saves.
The 4 Types of Bullpen Management
| Label | What It Means (ELI5) |
|---|---|
| Mostly Linear | Traditional setup: Guy A pitches the 7th, Guy B the 8th, Closer the 9th. Predictable. |
| Primary Save Share | One main closer, but he’s also used for tough matchups (e.g., vs. lefties). Other relievers steal some saves each week. |
| Shared Saves | Two (or more) relievers split saves — often by lefty/righty matchups or who’s rested. Fluid but patterned. |
| Fluid | No named closer. Usage is a mystery — avoid for saves unless desperate. |
American League: Team-by-Team Bullpen Roles
Note: The source table did not include team names in the first column. Team affiliations are inferred from player references in the article text (e.g., "Ben Joyce (LAA)"). Rows are listed in the order provided.
| Team (Inferred) | Leverage Pathway | Closer (Primary) | Stopper / High-Leverage Reliever | Stealth / Ancillary Option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis Cardinals | Primary Save Share | Andrew Kittredge | Yennier Cano | Cam Sanders |
| Boston Red Sox | Mostly Linear | Aroldis Chapman | Tyron Guerrero | Erik Miller |
| Chicago White Sox | Shared Saves | Grant Taylor | Bryan Hudson | Jordan Hicks |
| Cleveland Guardians | Mostly Linear | Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Colin Holderman |
| Washington Nationals | Mostly Linear | Kenley Jansen | Kyle Finnegan | Drew Sommers |
| Houston Astros | Mostly Linear | Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Steven Okert |
| Kansas City Royals | Primary Save Share | Steven Cruz | Nate Pearson | John Schreiber |
| Los Angeles Angels | Primary Save Share | Ben Joyce | Samy Natera Jr. | José Fermin |
| New York Yankees | Mostly Linear | Yoendrys Gómez | Andrew Morris | Jeff Hoffman |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | Mostly Linear | David Bednar | Paul Blackburn | Brent Headrick |
| Seattle Mariners | Mostly Linear | Andrés Muñoz | Eduard Bazardo | Gabe Speier |
| Tampa Bay Rays | Mostly Linear | Bryan Baker | Kevin Kelly | Garrett Cleavinger |
| Texas Rangers | Mostly Linear | Jacob Latz | Jakob Junis | Tyler Alexander |
| Oakland Athletics | Primary Save Share | Hogan Harris | Luis Medina | Elvis Alvarado |
| Minnesota Twins | Mostly Linear | Louis Varland | Tyler Rogers | Braydon Fisher |
National League: Team-by-Team Bullpen Roles
| Team (Inferred) | Leverage Pathway | Closer (Primary) | Stopper / High-Leverage Reliever | Stealth / Ancillary Option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Diamondbacks | Shared Saves | Jonathan Loáisiga | Brandyn Garcia | Justin Martinez |
| Atlanta Braves | Mostly Linear | Raisel Iglesias | Dylan Lee | Didier Fuentes |
| Chicago Cubs | Primary Save Share | Jacob Webb | Daniel Palencia | Ryan Zeferjahn |
| Cincinnati Reds | Mostly Linear | Emilio Pagán | Brock Burke | Luis Mey |
| Boston Red Sox | Mostly Linear | Jordan Romano | Brennan Bernardino | Jaden Hill |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | Primary Save Share | Tanner Scott | Edgardo Henriquez | Jack Dreyer |
| Tampa Bay Rays | Mostly Linear | Pete Fairbanks | Michael Petersen | Calvin Faucher |
| Milwaukee Brewers | Mostly Linear | Trevor Megill | Aaron Ashby | Chad Patrick |
| New York Mets | Primary Save Share | Kodai Senga | Daniel Duarte | Nate Lavender |
| Minnesota Twins | Mostly Linear | Jhoan Duran | Jonathan Bowlan | Brooks Raley |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | Shared Saves | Mason Montgomery | Luke Weaver | Gregory Soto |
| Miami Marlins | Mostly Linear | Riley O’Brien | George Soriano | Ryne Stanek |
| San Diego Padres | Mostly Linear | Mason Miller | Adrian Morejon | Jeremiah Estrada |
| Detroit Tigers | Primary Save Share | Dylan Smith | Keaton Winn | Jason Foley |
| Washington Nationals | Shared Saves | Clayton Beeter | Orlando Ribalta | Yovanny Cruz |
Players to Target: "Stock Up" Candidates
These relievers are trending up — grab them if available.
American League
- Ben Joyce (LAA) — 0 runs in 6 appearances, no baserunners in last 4, 3 straight saves. Electric stuff.
- Grant Taylor (CHW) — 0.00 ERA in August, 0.97 WHIP, 10 K / 3 BB in 11.1 IP. Leads White Sox with 3 saves in 2nd half despite messy role.
- Brayan Bello (BOS) — Not a closer, but as a reliever/bulk guy: 3 wins + 1 save, 13 K / 3 BB, 0.85 WHIP in 17.2 IP over 5 games. Great for ratios & vulture wins.
National League
- Mason Montgomery (PIT) — 9-game scoreless streak: 3 saves, 2 wins, 0.63 WHIP, 17 K / 2 BB (46.9% K-BB%) in 7 IP.
- Tanner Scott (LAD) — Back as closer: 18/20 saves, 0 runs in 7 of 8 August games.
- Daniel Duarte (NYM) — 8-game scoreless streak: 2 saves, 1 win, 4 holds, 0.46 WHIP, 7 K / 3 BB in 8.2 IP. Deep-league gold.
- Luis Mey (CIN) — Since Aug 7 call-up: 6 scoreless outings, 3 multi-inning, 0.72 WHIP, 16 K / 2 BB (40% K-BB%) in 9.2 IP.
Players to Monitor: "Closer Concerns"
These closers show red flags — don’t panic, but have a backup plan.
| Player | Team | Concern (Simple Terms) |
|---|---|---|
| Aroldis Chapman | BOS | No save since Aug 1. 5 of 17 batters reached base. 13% walk rate, only 51% strikes thrown. Skills fading. |
| Steven Cruz | KC | 5 saves in 2nd half, good WHIP/K-BB%. But 85.7% contact rate & 8.1% SwStr% — hitters put ball in play too much; luck may run out. |
| Emilio Pagán | CIN | Hamstring + hand issues. 9/9 saves in 2nd half, but 97.6% strand rate (runners left on base) is unsustainable. If Reds fall out of race, he may be shut down. |
| Clayton Beeter | WSH | Used in highest-leverage spots, not always 9th inning. Last save Aug 7. 2nd half: 4.73 SIERA, 4.8% K-BB%. Fantasy value questionable if no saves. |
Quick Pick Lists: Save Streamers & Stashes
Definitions:
- Save Streamers = Relievers who might get a save here/there (shared roles, matchups). Pick up for a few days, then drop.
- Save Stashes = Relievers not closing now but could soon (injury replacement, role change). Stash on bench.
American League
| Type | Players |
|---|---|
| Streamers | Steven Cruz (KC), Bryan Hudson & Jordan Hicks (CHW) |
| Stashes | Cam Sanders & Félix Bautista (BAL), Carlos Duran (KC) |
National League
| Type | Players |
|---|---|
| Streamers | Mason Montgomery & Luke Weaver (PIT), Daniel Duarte (NYM), Aaron Ashby (MIL) |
| Stashes | Justin Martinez (ARI), Luis Mey (CIN), Yovanny Cruz (WSH) |
Leaderboards: Who’s Racking Up Stats?
All stats for 2026 season through mid-August.
Saves Leaders
| Rank | Player | Team | Season Saves | Last 14 Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bryan Baker | TB | 36 | 4 |
| 2 | Riley O’Brien | MIA | 32 | 5 |
| 3 | Mason Miller | SD | 31 | 3 |
| 3 | Cade Smith | CLE | 31 | — |
| 5 | David Bednar | PIT | 29 | 4 |
| 6 | Louis Varland | MIN | 28 | 4 |
| 6 | Jhoan Duran | MIN | 28 | 3 |
| 8 | Aroldis Chapman | BOS | 27 | — |
| 9 | Raisel Iglesias | ATL | 25 | — |
| 10 | Jacob Latz | TEX | 24 | 3 |
| 10 | Paul Sewald | — | 24 | — |
| 12 | Andrés Muñoz | SEA | 23 | 3 |
| 13 | Trevor Megill | MIL | 22 | — |
| 14 | Yoendrys Gómez | NYY | 20 | 6 |
| 15 | Josh Hader | HOU | 18 | 3 |
| 15 | Tanner Scott | LAD | 18 | — |
| 15 | Pete Fairbanks | TB | 18 | — |
Holds Leaders
| Rank | Player | Team | Season Holds | Last 14 Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dylan Lee | ATL | 28 | 4 |
| 2 | Tyler Rogers | SF | 26 | — |
| 3 | Kevin Kelly | TB | 25 | — |
| 4 | Hunter Gaddis | CLE | 24 | — |
| 4 | Ryne Stanek | MIA | 24 | 4 |
| 4 | Eduard Bazardo | SEA | 24 | — |
| 7 | Garrett Whitlock | BOS | 21 | — |
| 7 | Garrett Cleavinger | TB | 21 | — |
| 7 | Michael Petersen | TB | 21 | — |
| 7 | Erik Sabrowski | — | 21 | — |
| 11 | JoJo Romero | — | 21 | — |
SOLDS Leaders (Saves + Holds = Total High-Leverage Success)
| Rank | Player | Team | Season SOLDS | Last 14 Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bryan Baker | TB | 38 | 4 |
| 2 | Riley O’Brien | MIA | 33 | 5 |
| 2 | Louie Varland | MIN | 33 | 4 |
| 4 | Mason Miller | SD | 31 | — |
| 4 | Cade Smith | CLE | 31 | — |
| 6 | Tanner Scott | LAD | 30 | 7 |
| 7 | Tyler Rogers | SF | 30 | 4 |
| 8 | David Bednar | PIT | 29 | 4 |
| 9 | Trevor Megill | MIL | 29 | — |
| 9 | Kevin Kelly | TB | 29 | — |
| 11 | Jhoan Duran | MIN | 28 | — |
| 12 | Dylan Lee | ATL | 28 | 4 |
| 13 | Aroldis Chapman | BOS | 27 | — |
| 14 | Jacob Latz | TEX | 26 | — |
| 14 | Yoendrys Gómez | NYY | 26 | 6 |
| 16 | Raisel Iglesias | ATL | 25 | — |
| 16 | Hunter Gaddis | CLE | 25 | — |
| 16 | Ryne Stanek | MIA | 25 | 4 |
| 19 | Paul Sewald | — | 24 | — |
| 19 | Abner Uribe | — | 24 | — |
| 19 | Eduard Bazardo | SEA | 24 | — |
Ratio Relievers: Hidden Helpers for ERA & WHIP
What are "Ratio Relievers"? Middle relievers who pitch multiple innings, don’t get saves/holds often, but lower your team’s ERA & WHIP and can steal wins ("vulture wins"). Great for categories leagues.
- Steven Okert (HOU) — Lefty, great vs. lefties, low ERA/WHIP.
- Brayan Bello (BOS) — Already noted: 0.85 WHIP, 13 K / 3 BB in 17.2 IP as reliever.
- Bradgley Rodriguez (SD) — Emerging multi-inning weapon.
- Daniel Duarte (NYM) — 0.46 WHIP in 8.2 IP, also gets ancillary saves.
Summary
- Díaz (LAD) back on IL → Tanner Scott is the clear closer (grab him everywhere).
- Palencia (CHC) activated but no role → Webb stays primary.
- Bautista (BAL) & Martinez (ARI) nearing returns — stash in deep leagues.
- Leverage Pathways tell you how each team gets saves: Linear = predictable, Shared/Primary Share = committee, Fluid = avoid.
- Stock Up: Joyce, Taylor, Bello (AL); Montgomery, Scott, Duarte, Mey (NL).
- Concerns: Chapman (walks), Cruz (contact), Pagán (health/strand rate), Beeter (usage).
- Streamers/Stashes listed by league — use for spot starts or bench depth.
- Leaderboards show Baker, O’Brien, Varland dominating saves+holds.
- Ratio Relievers (Okert, Bello, Rodriguez, Duarte) boost ERA/WHIP quietly.
Pro Tip: Blend in-season performance with rest-of-season expectations. If you believe in a player, roster him — but know the pathway.
FAQ
Q: What does "K-BB%" mean?
A: Strikeout percentage minus Walk percentage. Higher = better control + swing-and-miss. 20%+ is elite.
Q: What’s a "vulture win"?
A: A reliever enters in a tie game or loses the lead, but his team scores next inning and wins — he gets the W instead of the starter.
Q: Why does strand rate matter?
A: Strand rate = % of baserunners a pitcher leaves on base (doesn’t let score). Over 90% is usually lucky; it drops over time, raising ERA.
Q: What’s the difference between a "Stopper" and a "Closer"?
A: Closer = pitches the 9th inning with a lead. Stopper/HLR = best reliever used in the toughest spot (e.g., 8th inning, bases loaded, 1-run lead), regardless of inning.
Q: Should I drop Aroldis Chapman?
A: In shallow leagues, yes — walk rate is scary. In deep leagues, hold for now; he still gets saves when Red Sox lead late, but have a backup ready.
Statistical Credits: FanGraphs, Baseball-Reference.com, Baseball Savant, BrooksBaseball.net.
For daily updates, visit Reliever Recon & Closer Monkey.