Although fantasy players expect volatility in the high-leverage ecosystem, 2025 has arrived like a hurricane. There have been tumultuous outings, pathway adjustments, closers demoted and varied results by last year’s top relievers.

With this in mind, my latest bullpen report will highlight interesting results and updated tiered rankings, which will fluctuate as sample sizes expand. Try not to overreact, but waiting too long can hurt a team’s ratios, causing frustration for the save chasers.

Recognizing how a manager prefers handling high-leverage innings can create a competitive advantage. Here are high-leverage pathway identifiers. Each team will receive one of the following labels:

Mostly linear: This is a more traditional approach, with a manager preferring one reliever in the seventh inning, another in the eighth, and a closer (when rested) in the ninth. There are shades of gray, but it’s usually a predictable leverage pathway.

Primary save share: The team prefers one reliever as the primary option for saves. However, he may also be used in match-up-based situations, whether dictated by batter-handedness or batting order pockets in the late innings. This provides multiple relievers with save chances each series or week throughout the season.

Match-up-based: Usually, two relievers split save opportunities, so    metimes based on handedness, rest, or recent usage patterns to keep them fresh. While these situations usually rely on a primary and ancillary option, others can get into the mix. Some teams also prefer a match-up-based option, assigning pitchers a hitter pocket for a series, causing fluid save opportunities.

In-flux: The manager has not confirmed the projected closer based on past struggles or rough spring appearances.

Access The Athletic’s guide for abbreviations used in fantasy baseball. 

American League leverage pathways

Notes and observations

Baltimore Orioles: It’s a limited sample, but Yennier Canó has been terrific. He’s posted six strikeouts (46.2 K/BB%) in his first four appearances with a 19% swinging strike rate and a minuscule 0.25 WHIP.

Chicago White Sox: Mike Clevinger has not received a save chance, and his negative 27.8 K/BB% through his first three appearances and a strike percentage below 50 have removed him from the leverage ladder.

Cleveland Guardians: Emmanuel Clase allowed three hits and an earned run while securing his first save of the season. He has been affected by some early batting average on balls in play regression, illustrated by his 1.40 WHIP across his first five innings this year.

Detroit Tigers: Through the Tigers’ first 11 games, Brant Hurter leads with two saves, with Tommy Kahnle recording one. This remains a match-up-based approach, but fantasy managers would benefit from seeing the leverage plan over a larger sample.

Houston Astros: Josh Hader recorded more than three outs in seven of his 71 outings last year. During the preseason, his manager intimated he would prefer Hader not being used in this manner in 2025. However, Hader has already logged two two-inning appearances in the team’s first 12 games. A more significant issue could be Bryan Abreu. He has started slowly, posting a 2.25 WHIP with seven strikeouts versus six walks across 5.1 innings.

Kansas City Royals: As his velocity chart illustrates, Carlos Estévez has been a slow starter in terms of his velocity and has converted three of four save opportunities this year. But his 4.5 K/BB% and 5.6 SwStr% sit well below past results:

National League leverage pathways

Notes and observations

Arizona Diamondbacks: Although fantasy managers prefer clarity, Tory Lovullo’s match-up-based approach has been effective since the season’s onset. Justin Martinez has converted both save chances and a hold with a 0.64 WHIP and a 38.9 K/BB%. A.J. Puk has two saves and two holds with a 28.6 K/BB% and 1.20 WHIP through his first five outings, spanning five innings.

Atlanta Braves: As noted in the leverage pathway, the team has changed its bridge relievers ahead of Raisel Iglesias, which remains fluid based on performance.

Chicago Cubs: On the one hand, Ryan Pressly has converted all three save chances. However, his underlying statistics provide fantasy players a cautionary tale. Through his first seven games, he has a 5.98 SIERA, 2.43 WHIP, and negative 11.9 K/BB% (six walks versus two strikeouts). His contact rate of 85.5% is almost 10 percentage points higher than last year, and he’s only produced a 6.1 SwStr%. Can he stave off Porter Hodge for save chances without improved results? Time will tell.

Cincinnati Reds: There will be good days for this leverage ladder and bad ones, as the series in San Francisco illustrated. Tony Santillan secured his first save in a shutout win, and Emilio Pagán notched one in a one-run win. But in the series finale, Santillan suffered a blown save, allowing a game-tying home run, and Pagán was tagged with a loss, giving up a walk-off home run. Meanwhile, Alexis Díaz had his minor league rehab assignment extended, but he has a 4:4 K:BB with a 2.333 WHIP through three innings at Triple-A.

Colorado Rockies: It feels like Seth Halvorsen will emerge as the closer, but this leverage ladder lacks stability despite its improved velocity. Tread lightly, mining saves from the Rockies.

New York Mets: Assessing small samples remains challenging, and Edwin Díaz fits this perfectly. He has converted both save chances this season but struggled in a recent non-save appearance working with reduced velocity (he averaged 94.7 miles per hour on April 9), resulting in three earned runs. This may be a blip, but he has a 1.50 WHIP with six strikeouts versus two walks (18.2 K/BB%) in 4.2 innings. Here are his four-seam velocity results since 2019:

Philadelphia Phillies: Jordan Romano represents another reliever struggling with velocity this year. He has recorded a save, a hold and a blown save with an inflated 2.50 WHIP and a 9.1 K/BB%. Of more concern is his recent dip in velocity:

Pittsburgh Pirates: Just when it seemed like Dennis Santana would emerge as the preferred save share, he has only received one save chance since David Bednar’s demotion. Manager Derek Shelton has not named a closer this year, and this feels like a fluid leverage ladder until clearer roles emerge.

San Diego Padres: Robert Suarez has quelled any fears about his second-half struggles last season by converting an MLB-leading six saves with a 0.33 WHIP with seven strikeouts against two walks (25 K/BB%) over six shutout innings.

San Francisco Giants: Camilo Doval has struggled in recent appearances after a strong start, which could be tied to an increased workload. Still, he could be replaced if challenges continue. Keep tabs on Randy Rodríguez in this bullpen.

Relievers on the rise and leaderboards

Updated Tiered Rankings for Saves and SOLDS

Save stashes

• Graham Ashcraft (CIN)
• Mason Montgomery (TB)
• Abner Uribe (MIL)
• Ryne Stanek (NYM)

Ancillary save options

• Blake Treinen (LAD)
• Yennier Canó (BAL)
• Orion Kerkering (PHI)
• Justin Slaten (BOS)
• Will Vest (DET)

Ratio Relievers

*Multi-inning or bridge relievers who can vulture wins and help protect ratios.

• Garrett Whitlock (BOS)
• Ben Casparius (LAD)

Statistical Credits (through games played on April 9): Fangraphs.com, Baseball-Reference.com, BaseballSavant.com, BrooksBaseball.net

Check out my work at Reliever Recon and Closer Monkey for daily updates.

(Photo of Yennier Canó: Patrick Smith / Getty Images)