Fantasy Baseball Closers to Start Season: NL Edition | Tanner Scott, Justin Martinez, Jordan Romano, Trevor Megill, David Bednar and More

After looking at the closer situation for every American League team, it's time to do the same for National League teams.

Again, we'll use FanGraphs to get us pointed in the right direction, and then I'll add some thoughts on how I see things shaking out in 2025. 

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Dodgers

Tanner Scott was named the Dodgers' closer to begin the regular season. The key word there though is “begin” - I think this could be more of a committee over the course of the season.

Kirby Yates and Blake Treinen are other options to close out games, and there's several other bullpen arms who could also get save opportunities in 2025.

I believe Scott is the best fantasy asset, but he's not the strongest standard league option because he'll lose saves to others. So, I prefer him most in deeper leagues - Yates and Treinen could also be deep-league options if they have low enough ERAs and good strikeout totals.

Phillies

Jordan Romano is the Philly closer to open the season. He was added in free agency this offseason, and could be a pretty strong fantasy asset if he can retain the job all season.

If he gets injured or struggles, Orion Kerkering, Jose Alvarado and Matt Strahm are other closing options. That trio already has deep-league value.

Brewers

Trevor Megill is the go-to closer for Milwaukee. He fared pretty well in the role while filling in for an injured Devin Williams in 2024.

If Megill is ever injured or struggles to replicate his 2024 season, Jared Koenig, Joel Payamps and Bryan Hudson could be options to get saves. I wouldn't write off Abner Uribe either.

Padres

Robert Suarez is the unquestioned closer in San Diego. He was great in 2024, and could be a fantasy draft steal in 2025 if he can replicate his 2024 season.

Jason Adam, Jeremiah Estrada and Adrian Morejon are among the members of a pretty strong bullpen overall who could get save chances if Suarez is ever injured or struggles mightily.

Braves

Raisel Iglesias is the top guy for Atlanta. He's not super flashy as a fantasy asset, but he's consistent and gets the job done, so he has a firm grip on the role.

If he ever got hurt, or regressed in a big way, Pierce Johnson and Aaron Bummer are the next in line, probably, to get saves. Joe Jimenez could be another option when he's back from the injured list.

Mets

Edwin Diaz is the closer for New York. He had his ups and downs in 2024, but was still one of the better fantasy assets in the game. I do think he's a touch overrated to kick off the 2025 fantasy season.

If Diaz would ever struggle and lose the job, or get injured again, A.J. Minter and Jose Butto look like the next two in line for saves. 

Diamondbacks

A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez look to be co-closers in Arizona. With Puk being a lefty and Martinez a righty, the team might play matchups in the final inning all season. If it's a committee, then both will struggle to be more than deep-league fantasy options.

I personally like Martinez more, and think he'll turn in the better fantasy season. Him recently getting a five-year extension might also indicate he's the preferred closer going forward.

If Puk and Martinez can't get the job done, Ryan Thompson could probably be the next in line for saves. Joe Mantiply and Kevin Ginkel could also factor in. 

Cardinals

Ryan Helsley is the unquestioned closer in St. Louis. He had a breakout season in 2024, and is probably due for a little regression in 2025. If he replicates his 2024 season though, he'll be a pretty big draft steal again.

If Helsley is injured, struggling or moved, Ryan Fernandez, JoJo Romero and Phil Maton are some closing options on the team currently. Maybe Zack Thompson could factor in too after returning from his injury.

Cubs

Ryan Pressly is the Chicago closer to kick off 2025. He was traded in January, and he took the job away from Porter Hodge when he joined the team.

If Pressly struggles or goes down with an injury, Hodge should be the next in line for saves. Ryan Brasier could maybe factor in if Hodge doesn't cut it either.

Giants

Ryan Walker is the new closer for San Francisco. He took the job during the 2024 season, and the Giants are sticking with him going into 2025. 

If Walker is the team's closer all season, he could be vie for the top fantasy reliever spot.

If he struggles or gets injured though, Camilo Doval, Tyler Rogers and Erik Miller are options to claim some saves this season. Doval would likely get the first crack at things after serving as the team's closer in the past.

Reds

The Cincinnati bullpen is a mess because of an injury to preferred closer Alexis Diaz. He's expected to be placed on the 15-day injured list because of a hamstring injury.

Cincy is projected to go with a committee until Diaz is healthy. Emilio Pagan, Taylor Rogers, Scott Barlow and Graham Ashcraft could be in the mix for saves in the early going. I don't think it's worth adding any of them in standard leagues, unless Diaz's absence is an extended one.

Pirates

David Bednar is back as the closer for Pittsburgh. He struggled in 2024, and if he struggles again in 2025, the team might be quicker to replace him.

Colin Holderman, Dennis Santana and Caleb Ferguson could be in line to earn saves if Bednar is yanked from the lead role. 

Because of last year's struggles, I prefer Bednar in deeper leagues only - he can be added if he bounces back and is earning enough saves. Holderman would be my guess to replace Bednar.

Nationals

Kyle Finnegan rejoined Washington after testing out free agency. He had a really good fantasy showing in 2024, and is pretty undervalued and overlooked going into 2025. Finnegan could be a standard league option most of, if not all, the season.

If he's ever injured, or struggles mightily, then Jorge Lopez, Jose A. Ferrer or Lucas Sims could be thrust into the closer role. There's a pretty significant dropoff from Finnegan to any of the team's other relievers though.

Marlins

Calvin Faucher appears to be the lead man in Miami. I wouldn't say he's got the position locked up though, and on what should be a pretty bad team, he's probably going to top out as a deep-league fantasy option.

Jesus Tinoco and Anthony Bender would be next in line for saves if Faucher is ever injured or struggles in a big way. On a rebuilding team, Miami might be better off giving the job to a young pitcher, and they might not even be in the big leagues right now.

Rockies

Tyler Kinley appears to be the top closer in Colorado. It's not an ideal spot for a fantasy reliever, not only because the team won't be good, but because he has to pitch his home games in altitude.

Seth Halvorsen is probably next in line for saves, and as a much younger option, I think he eventually takes over the closer role. He's one to stash and hold in deeper setups.

Victor Vodnik is also in the mix, which further lowers the fantasy outlooks for Kinley and Halvorsen. This honestly could be a committee all season, and outside of deep, deep leagues, I want no part of it.