Fantasy baseball managers should target these emerging closers

Scouring the waiver wire late in the fantasy baseball season can feel like a desperate hunt for lost treasure, but no category is more chaotic, or more lucrative, than saves. 

As rosters churn and managers handle high-leverage arms unpredictably, sharp fantasy managers know a crucial truth: Teams do not need to be playoff contenders to offer elite ninth-inning value. You simply need teams that remain competitive on a night-to-night basis paired with fluid, open bullpen situations.

Securing even a small handful of saves each week can be the precise difference-maker you need to steal a tight head-to-head matchup or leapfrog a rival in rotisserie standings. 

Your first stop on the wire should be the Athletics. Though Hogan Harris leads the team in saves and is finally healthy again, Elvis Alvarado seems to be the current favorite for high-leverage duty. Alvarado started the second half on a rough note, allowing three earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning, but his turnaround has been nothing short of spectacular.

Since that bump in the road, he has conceded just two runs over his past 16 frames while striking out 18 batters. Having recorded a save in each of his past three outings, Alvarado holds the hot hand in Oakland and is primed to deliver immediate value. 

A look at Oakland’s rest-of-season schedule makes Alvarado an even more enticing target. The Athletics spend significant time matching up against division rivals such as Texas and Seattle, alongside series against retooling opponents where lower-scoring, tightly contested games are frequent. Because the Athletics play in so many close, single-run contests rather than offensive blowouts, the late-inning lead situations will be there for Alvarado to convert down the stretch. 

Next, turn your attention to Miami, where closer Pete Fairbanks recently landed on the IL, opening up ninth-inning duties. Both Calvin Faucher and Michael Petersen are firmly in the mix and represent the top two candidates for the job.

Elvis Alvarado of the Athletics reacts after striking out Luke Keaschall of the Minnesota Twins to end the game in the top of the ninth inning at Sutter Health Park on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Sacramento, California. Getty Images

Faucher boasts built-in trust, having recorded the team’s most recent save on Saturday and leading the Marlins with 15 saves last season. That prior experience in high-leverage spots gives him a solid floor. 

Nevertheless, Petersen has outpitched him on pure efficiency this season, sporting a crisp 3.46 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP across 54 ²/₃ innings. The Marlins front office and coaching staff easily could lean toward Petersen if they choose to simply reward the more effective arm going forward. 

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Miami’s remaining schedule features heavy slates against division opponents like the Nationals along with series against middle-of-the-pack offenses. These matchups yield exactly the type of grind-it-out game scripts that produce save opportunities rather than wide scoring margins. 

Ultimately, both Miami relievers are likely to receive save opportunities based on matchups and daily availability. With every single save carrying immense weight down the stretch, taking a chance on either Faucher or Petersen, backed by favorable remaining team schedules, could be the exact boost your fantasy roster needs to finish on top. 

Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy, catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Ch. 87) weekdays from 6-8 p.m. and dominate your leagues with the latest baseball news and advice from Fantasy Alarm.