Bullpen roles can change overnight. Injuries, trades, performance swings, and managerial decisions can turn a seemingly stable closer situation into a committee before fantasy managers have time to react.
That is why RotoProspects continually updates its Fantasy Baseball Closer Chart, helping fantasy managers track not only the current ninth-inning option, but also the relievers most likely to inherit saves next.
This update focuses on the bullpens that have experienced meaningful changes since our previous chart. The complete team-by-team closer hierarchy—including each team’s backup, next option, dark horse, and Closer of the Future—is available to subscribers.
Three situations moved this cycle, and two of them got messier last night.
1. Cubs: Webb Blows One at the Worst Possible Moment
The timing could not have been crueler.
Jacob Webb had been the model of consistency in Daniel Palencia’s absence, riding a lengthy scoreless streak while converting Chicago’s save chances. Webb hadn’t been tagged for a run since June 20, with his scoreless streak reaching 20.2 innings and a 0.87 WHIP, converting all six of his save chances during that span, and he was making a strong case to hang onto the closer role even after Palencia came off the IL.
Then he blew the save last night — just as Palencia returns from the injured list.
Chicago is now operating with both pitchers available, and the front office has shown a willingness to mix and match in save situations all season. That tendency turns a “co-closer” label into a genuine week-to-week guessing game for fantasy managers.
Fantasy takeaway: Palencia moves to the top of our Cubs row with the committee asterisk intact. Webb stays at 1st in line — do not drop him, because Palencia’s workload tolerance coming off an elbow issue is unproven. But the leverage in this arrangement has clearly shifted, and Palencia is the priority add if he is somehow still floating in your league.
2. Angels: Joyce Stumbles, But the Job Is Still His
Ben Joyce had been immaculate since returning from the injured list. He locked down his third straight save by striking out Jose Altuve to open the ninth and retiring the side, and had been scoreless through his first six appearances without allowing a baserunner in his last four.
Last night snapped that run with a blown save.
Here is why we are not overreacting: there is no one behind him. Samy Natera Jr. has been unavailable with back stiffness, which is the same reason the committee designation came off this chart in the first place. One rough ninth from a pitcher throwing 100-plus with six clean outings immediately preceding it does not create a job opening on a roster this thin.
The real limiter in Anaheim was never Joyce’s stuff. It is volume — the Angels rarely hand out leads worth protecting.
Fantasy takeaway: Hold Joyce. He remains the Angels’ closer and a strong ratios play with a modest saves ceiling. If Natera returns healthy and Joyce follows this with a second bad outing, we will revisit the asterisk. Not before.
3. Diamondbacks: We Were Early on Justin Martinez
Honest correction. Our previous chart had Martinez at the top of the Arizona hierarchy on the strength of his return. That was premature.
Martinez’s first outing of 2026 since the IL came with the triple-digit fastball back, but also a walk, a hit batter, a wild pitch and zero whiffs on seven swings. Elite velocity returning from injury is not the same thing as command returning from injury. Arizona’s ninth inning remains a genuine three-man committee with Martinez as the long-term sleeper.
Fantasy takeaway: Brandyn Garcia goes back to the top of our chart with the committee asterisk intact. Martinez slides to dark horse — and he is arguably the highest-upside dark horse in the National League. Dynasty managers should buy now. Redraft managers can afford one more week of patience.
Updated bullpens
Here’s a look at the Fantasy Baseball Closer Chart for the teams listed above (* denotes a committee). For the complete chart, with every team’s Closer of the Future, CLICK HERE and purchase a subscription.
| Team | Current closer | 1st In Line | 2nd In Line | Dark horse | Closer of the Future |
| Angels | Ben Joyce | Samy Natera Jr. | Jose Fermin | Luke Murphy | Nate Snead |
| Cubs | Daniel Palencia* | Jacob Webb* | Ryan Zeferjahn | Ryan Rolison | Jack Neely |
| Diamondbacks | Brandyn Garcia* | Juan Morillo* | Kevin Ginkel* | Justin Martinez | Yordin Chalas |
Also Worth Knowing
Smaller adjustments that did not warrant their own section:
- Mariners: Seranthony Domínguez arrives from the White Sox in the Luis Castillo deal and becomes the most experienced insurance policy behind Andrés Muñoz.
- Twins: Jeff Hoffman moves ahead of Andrew Morris and could work into a share of the ninth inning.
- Athletics: Hogan Harris has been shaky all month. The committee asterisk goes back on, with Elvis Alvarado now first in line.
- Pirates: Mason Montgomery has separated himself enough that his committee marker comes off.
- White Sox: Grant Taylor was charged with his fifth blown save after an inherited runner scored on a game-tying single, keeping Chicago’s south-side committee as murky as ever.
What to Watch Next
Priority adds: Daniel Palencia, Brandyn Garcia. Holds: Ben Joyce, Jacob Webb. Deeper stashes: Justin Martinez, Elvis Alvarado, Seranthony Domínguez.
The Cubs are now the most volatile bullpen in fantasy baseball, with a returning closer, a stumbling incumbent, and a manager who has mixed and matched all year. Arizona and Oakland remain the two situations least likely to reward a single roster spot.