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.
Three teams, three very different kinds of chaos this week.
Henriquez is done for the year in Los Angeles
The Dodgers placed Edgardo Henriquez on the 15-day injured list Monday with low back discomfort — and the timing effectively ends his regular season, since he isn’t eligible to return until September 29. It’s a real loss: Henriquez quietly had a breakout year, posting a 2.85 ERA with 71 strikeouts over 61 appearances, and had climbed to the top of manager Dave Roberts‘ bullpen trust tree in Edwin Díaz‘s absence.
Speaking of which — Díaz still isn’t close. He’s been rehabbing from elbow surgery in Triple-A and turned in a rough outing this past weekend, allowing five runs and three walks in just two-thirds of an inning. Roberts was blunt that it wasn’t enough to justify a call-up.
That leaves Tanner Scott as the clear closer, with Jack Dreyer and Evan Phillips moving up behind him. The Dodgers have left the door open for Henriquez to return in the postseason, but for the stretch run, this is a real subtraction from an already-thin group.
Nationals bench their saves leader
In a move nobody saw coming, the Nationals demoted Clayton Beeter — their leading save-getter this season — to Triple-A Rochester on September 12. There’s no word of an injury; this looks like a straightforward performance-based change. Washington is now expected to run a committee of Erik Tolman, Jack Sinclair, and Will Dion, none of whom had meaningful save-chance profiles before this week. Given that the Nationals are tied for the major-league lead in blown saves this season, don’t expect this to be the last shakeup here.
Cubs still haven’t sorted out the ninth inning
No resolution yet in Chicago. Jacob Webb blew three straight save chances earlier this month, and the fallout keeps widening rather than settling — the latest reporting adds Caleb Thielbar to a mix that already included Daniel Palencia, Ryan Zeferjahn, and Ryan Rolison. That’s a genuine four-or-five-man muddle with no clear leader. If you’re rostering saves out of Chicago right now, check the box score before first pitch, not just this chart.Three teams, three very different kinds of chaos this week.
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 | Ryan Zeferjahn* | Ryan Rolison* | Jacob Webb* | Daniel Palencia* | Jack Neely |
| Dodgers | Tanner Scott | Evan Phillips | Alex Vesia | Jack Dreyer | Edgardo Henriquez |
| Nationals | Erik Tolman* | Jack Sinclair* | Will Dion* | Tom Cosgrove | Miguel Sime |