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.
Two stories dominate this update — one team getting its closer back, and another team about to lose theirs.
Fairbanks returns as the Marlins’ closer
Pete Fairbanks was activated off the injured list on September 9 after the recurring nerve issue that cost him the better part of a month. He’s presumed to slide right back into the closer role, though it hasn’t actually been tested with a save chance yet — Calvin Faucher and Michael Petersen, who’d been splitting the job in his absence, drop back into setup roles behind him. Treat this as the likely outcome rather than a lock until he actually closes one out.
Webb’s grip on the ninth inning is slipping fast
This is the one to watch. Jacob Webb blew his third consecutive save chance on September 8, and the fallout has been immediate — reporting the next day indicated the Cubs may abandon a single-closer approach entirely in favor of matchup-based usage, with Daniel Palencia, Ryan Zeferjahn, and Ryan Rolison all candidates to pick up saves depending on the situation. Nothing’s official yet, but three blown saves in a row is the kind of stretch that ends jobs in September. Worth checking the box score before you set your lineup, not just this chart.
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 |
| Cubs | Jacob Webb* | Ryan Zeferjahn* | Ryan Rolison* | Daniel Palencia* | Jack Neely |
| Marlins | Pete Fairbanks | Calvin Faucher | Michael Petersen | Josh Ekness | Josh White |