Fantasy bullpen report featuring concerns for closers Devin Williams, Raisel Iglesias

New York Times

05-06-2025

Another week has passed, and volatility remains the theme for high-leverage relievers this season. Luke Weaver was placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained hamstring and could miss four weeks or more. This opens the door for Devin Williams as the preferred save option. Can he make the most of this second opportunity?
Advertisement
Since my last post, David Bednar has recorded his team's past three saves, so the Pirates' leverage pathway has been adjusted accordingly. Cubs manager Craig Counsell has not named a closer and could try easing Ryan Pressly back into save chances, but Daniel Palencia has made his case for an extended look as his bullpen's anchor.
Tanner Scott has had some rough outings as a result of his four-seam fastball placement, which was ill-fated timing with a bevy of leverage relievers on the injured list. Reinforcements could be en route in the form of Michael Kopech and Kirby Yates. Both completed live batting practice and may be active this weekend in St. Louis. Kopech posted a 3.00 WHIP with 10 strikeouts versus 11 walks across nine appearances (6.1 innings) during his rehab assignment.
With this in mind, the leverage pathways have been updated. Here are our high-leverage pathway identifiers. Each team will receive one of the following labels:
Access The Athletic's guide for abbreviations used in fantasy baseball.
Reid Detmers (LAA): He's amid a seven-game scoreless streak, during which he has posted four holds and one save, with a 1.142 WHIP and 10 strikeouts against three walks (25.9 K-BB%) through seven innings.
Devin Williams (NYY): He converted his first save chance with Luke Weaver on the injured list but allowed an earned run on two hits against Cleveland. He has a 2.37 WHIP and a 12.10 ERA in the ninth inning across 11 games, spanning 9.2 innings, compared to a 0.78 WHIP with a 38.3 K-BB percentage through 10 appearances over nine innings in the eighth. Can he translate his recent gains as a set-up reliever to the closer role with the Yankees?
Ronny Henriquez (MIA): He hasn't been scored upon in 11 of his previous 12 appearances with a 0.69 WHIP, recording 20 strikeouts against four walks (32.6 K-BB percentage) through 13 innings since May 7.
Randy Rodríguez (SF): He owns a 14-game streak without allowing a run, during which he has two wins, a save and four holds with a 0.54 WHIP, tallying 23 strikeouts versus three walks (40 K-BB%) and a robust 20.3 swinging strike percentage.
Advertisement
Raisel Iglesias (ATL): Since May 3, he has allowed at least a run in seven of 12 appearances with a 1.63 WHIP across 12.1 innings. He has a 1.37 WHIP through his first 24 games (23.1 IP). His struggles with contact have persisted, even after ditching his slider. His current ERA (5.79) is accompanied by a 2.99 SIERA and a 5.33 xERA. There is time to turn his season around, but the pressure mounts with each sullied appearance. As his rolling graph indicates, this may be as good as it gets:
*Multi-inning or bridge relievers who can vulture wins and help protect ratios.
Statistical Credits (through games played on May 28): Fangraphs.com, Baseball-Reference.com, BaseballSavant.com and BrooksBaseball.net
Check out my work at Reliever Recon and Closer Monkey for daily updates.
(Photo of Devin Williams: Dustin Satloff / Getty Images)