The first few days of any MLB season is critical from a fantasy standpoint. It’s not just to see whether strong springs can be carried over to strong regular seasons. Additionally, it gives fantasy baseball players key intel on how teams plan to handle the ninth inning. And over the first three days of the 2025 MLB and fantasy baseball seasons, several closer options have emerged.

Dodgers

The Dodgers gave Tanner Scott, who earned a massive deal this winter, the first save opportunity on Opening Day in Tokyo. Scott nailed it but hasn’t seen a save situation since. Alex Vesia got the save the next day, and Blake Treinen got one on the Dodgers’ domestic opener on the 27th.

That doesn’t change the outlook on Scott. Rather, it lines up exactly with how I thought it was going to work in 2025. Scott is the team’s best reliever — but that doesn’t mean he’ll get every save situation. Instead, expect the Dodgers to use Scott as the situation dictates.

On the 27th, Scott was brought in the eighth inning to deal with Zach McKinstry and Kerry Carpenter, the latter of whom is Detroit’s best left-handed bat.

Four Dodgers picked up five or more saves last season. It wouldn’t shock if that happened again in 2025.

Marlins

The Marlins are likely the one true toss-up among the teams listed here. Jesus Tinoco, the team’s closer over the final month, got the ninth on March 27 in a tied game. Tinoco posted a scoreless inning and earned a win.

Calvin Faucher, the closer for Miami in August before an injury, got the ninth on March 29 — also in a save situation.

Both Faucher and Tinoco are interesting arms. Tinoco has a good, heavy sinker to pair with a slider that’s not an eye-popper on paper. But, the sinker runs away to the glove side and opposing batters hit .097 off it. Faucher, meanwhile, possesses a high-carry fastball, along with a curve and “slutter.”

Right now, those are the two names to watch.

Rangers

Luke Jackson entered the 2025 season as the likely favorite after he notched a save just days before the 2025 season started in preseason action. Jackson was once again called upon on March 28 to get a save — and did so, getting his first one for the year.

It was a much better performance from Jackson, who got shelled for three runs on March 27. For reference, Jacob Webb came on in the eighth to set up Jackson.

Red Sox

Days before the start of the 2025 season, Alex Cora anointed Aroldis Chapman the team’s closer. Chapman, though, didn’t get Boston’s first save chance. That went to Justin Slaten, Boston’s standout rookie reliever from 2024.

Chapman instead got the 2-3-4 part of Texas’ lineup, facing Corey Seager, Wyatt Langford, and Adolis Garcia. The left-hander struck out one and gave up a hit. Slaten, meanwhile, got the 6-7-8 part of the lineup.

Slaten’s a former Rule 5 Draft pick and an arm that I believed heading into the spring that was undervalued. Chapman’s had his command problems over the years and that won’t go away. Slaten was steady in 2024 and the fact he nailed the save is promising for his long-term prospects.

It doesn’t change the fact Chapman is still the best option for saves in Boston. But, it does illustrate the new age of bullpen management perfectly.

Reds

After Alexis Diaz hit the IL, the Reds’ closer situation opened up. Terry Francona had many options to work with, including Scott Barlow and Taylor Rogers. However, Ian Gibaut, a setup man in 2023 and 2024, got the save opportunity and didn’t finish it, eventually leading to a Giants victory.

Gibaut reportedly pushed for a shot to close. But what Terry Francona said after the game was interesting. Francona said Gibaut was the preferred option but also said Emilio Pagan was “our other thought [to close]” (h/t MLB.com). Pagan pitched the seventh inning on Opening Day.

Two days later, Pagan got the save opportunity and finished it.

Rockies

It was always going to be Seth Halvorsen. Halvorsen was called upon to get four outs on March 29 and did, getting his first save of the 2025 season. The former Tennessee reliever notched two saves last season.

Any pitcher who can A) get whiffs and B) more importantly, generate ground balls and weak contact in Colorado is invaluable to the Rockies. Halvorsen checks both boxes.

Yes, Tyler Kinley has been in the saves conversation for Colorado for a while. Halvorsen, though, is simply a more potent arm.

For those who want to keep up-to-date on all closer situations, we have an ongoing closer chart tracker that’s updated regularly.