The 2023 MLB Fantasy Closer Chart: All Projected Closers (September Edition 2.0)

Josh Hader of the San Diego Padres

It’s fantasy baseball season, which means yet another year of attempting to figure out which relievers are set to pick up the all-important save in games. Granted, there are those who sit among the top of the food chain. But, there are also teams that do have a lack of clarity, with regards to whom will receive most of the save opportunities. Let’s try to help with that, as we take a look at MLB closer projections for 2023.

Related: The Complete Viewer’s Guide for the 2023 MLB Season – How to find and watch games, cordcutting options, and more

MLB Projected Closers for Fantasy

Let’s start off with the projected closers in the American League:

American League

TeamCloserNext Man Up
Baltimore OriolesYennier CanoShintaro Fujinami
Boston Red SoxKenley JansenChris Martin
Chicago White SoxGregory SantosBryan Shaw
Cleveland GuardiansEmmanuel ClaseEli Morgan
Detroit TigersAlex LangeJason Foley
Houston AstrosRyan PresslyBryan Abreu
Kansas City RoyalsCarlos HernandezTaylor Clarke
Los Angeles AngelsCarlos EstevezJose Soriano
Minnesota TwinsJhoan DuranEmilio Pagan
New York YankeesClay HolmesWandy Peralta
Oakland AthleticsTrevor MayLucas Erceg
Seattle MarinersAndrés MuñozMatt Brash
Tampa Bay RaysPete FairbanksColin Poche
Texas RangersWill SmithAroldis Chapman
Toronto Blue JaysJordan RomanoJordan Hicks

Well, we now know that 2023 AL All-Star Félix Bautista suffered a partial tear of his UCL. However, the flamethrower has not been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season. Owners of Bautista should on to him for now.

National League

Now, a look at the NL closers:

TeamCloserNext Man Up
Arizona DiamondbacksPaul SewaldKevin Ginkel
Atlanta BravesRaisel IglesiasKirby Yates
Chicago CubsMark Leiter Jr.Julian Merryweather
Cincinnati RedsAlexis DíazIan Gibaut
Colorado RockiesTyler KinleyJustin Lawrence
Los Angeles DodgersEvan PhillipsBrusdar Graterol
Miami MarlinsTanner ScottDavid Robertson
Milwaukee BrewersDevin WilliamsJoel Payamps
New York MetsAdam OttavinoBrooks Raley
Philadelphia PhilliesCraig KimbrelJosé Alvarado
Pittsburgh PiratesDavid BednarColin Holderman
San Diego PadresJosh HaderLuis Garcia
San Francisco GiantsCamilo DovalTyler Rogers
St. Louis CardinalsRyan HelsleyGiovanny Gallegos
Washington NationalsKyle FinneganHunter Harvey

Cubs reliever Adbert Alzolay has been electric for Chicago this season, but the righty hit the IL on September 11 with a right forearm strain. Now, the Cubs will need Mark Leiter Jr. and Julian Merryweather to pick up the slack.

Meanwhile in St. Louis, JoJo Romero is on the IL and Ryan Helsley notched a save on September 9. He’s pitched in the ninth in three of the Cardinals’ win in September, and he appears to be back in the closer’s role.

Disclaimer

A couple of things to keep in mind with these lists. While this list does consider the individual most likely to get a save as the “closer, ” managers in recent years have opted to use relievers usually reserved for the closer role a bit differently. Rather than save the team’s top reliever for the ninth inning, there have been many situations in which that individual comes in for either the seventh or eighth inning to face the middle of the lineup and the opposing team’s best hitters.

In this day of age, keep that in mind with pitchers that carry the “closer” role.

We should note that this chart is subject to change, due to injuries, role changes, etc. This chart will be updated throughout the year, to reflect changes.