2025 Fantasy Baseball: Bullpen Depth Charts Week 2

Each week, I’ll update the bullpen depth chart on Friday unless I have a schedule change for some reason. This year, I’ll focus more on the closing jobs that are more in flux than a run through all 30 teams. Here’s a link to the 2025 MLB Bullpen Depth Chart (click on yellow text - Google Sheet). I will make changes to this document during the week as well.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Seven games into 2025, A.J. Puk has notched two saves but has also coughed up a solo homer in two outings, alongside one other hit and five strikeouts. Justin Martinez has dazzled in his first 2.2 innings, posting no runs, two hits, no walks, and five strikeouts, inching him closer to the ninth. This bullpen’s save situation feels like a toss-up until someone locks down the role.

Baltimore Orioles

Felix Bautista’s comeback is two games old, and he’s hitting .500 on results. He kicked off with a clean inning, allowing two baserunners but fanning three. His next outing unraveled—two walks, two runs, and two hits in one inning, exposing command woes. Seranthony Dominguez opened 2025 with 2.2 scoreless frames, three baserunners, two strikeouts, and a win, positioning him to poach saves if Bautista can’t reclaim his old dominance.

Boston Red Sox

Aroldis Chapman debuted in the eighth inning but has since converted two saves, tossing 2.2 shutout innings with three baserunners and two strikeouts. Garrett Whitlock has been crisp across three games, surrendering one run, four baserunners, and striking out six over six total innings (two per game). His fastball’s ticking up to 96.4 mph. Justin Slaten snagged a save early but got torched by the Orioles for four runs and four baserunners without an out in a down appearance. Whitlock’s making a case to swipe closing duties.

Chicago Cubs

Ryan Pressly’s armor has cracked twice in five outings. He’s 3-for-3 on saves but has allowed three runs, 10 baserunners, and a homer across five innings, with just two strikeouts. Porter Hodge (no runs, six baserunners, six strikeouts in 4.2 innings) looks ready to snatch the closer gig if Pressly keeps faltering.

Cincinnati Reds

Alexis Diaz begins his climb back to the bigs Friday at High-A, a couple outings shy of rejoining the Reds. Emilio Pagan has been spotless over three innings—no runs, no hits, two strikeouts, and one save locked in. Other ninth-inning options (Tony Santillan, Scott Barlow, Graham Ashcraft) have combined for 7.2 scoreless innings, 10 baserunners, and five strikeouts.

Detroit Tigers

Tommy Kahnle’s emerging as the Tigers’ save favorite after two hitless, scoreless innings with two strikeouts and one save. His last 98 MLB innings boast a 2.39 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 110 strikeouts. Jason Foley’s been lights-out in two AAA appearances—no runs, no hits, and two strikeouts.

Miami Marlins

Three games into 2025, Anthony Bender’s pitched 2.2 hitless, scoreless innings with one strikeout, a win, and a save—the closer role is his to drop. Calvin Faucher imploded in his latest outing, giving up three runs, three hits, and a homer in one inning, blowing a lead. Despite a rough spring (nine runs, seven hits, a homer, and six walks in 3.1 innings), Miami called up Luarbert Arias last week. He threw three perfect innings with one strikeout in his lone appearance. Arias’ six-year minor league line—25-15, 3.12 ERA, 1.116 WHIP, 383 strikeouts in 317.1 innings—includes a 2024 AAA stint (8-6, 3.04 ERA, 1.191 WHIP, 75 strikeouts, four saves in 68 innings). His career walk rate (3.0 per nine) pairs with a strong 10.9 K/9. Bender owners should monitor Arias and consider him a handcuff in deep leagues.

Update 4/4/2025: The Braves drilled Luarbert Arias for five hits, five runs, and one walk over one-third of an inning on Friday night, knocking him down a notch or two in Miami’s bullpen.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates demoted David Bednar to AAA on April 1 after three brutal outings (three runs, six hits, a homer in one inning, one strikeout) and a shaky spring (nine runs, 14 baserunners, one homer in eight innings, 10 strikeouts). As of Friday, he hasn’t pitched in the minors yet. Santana’s seven-year MLB stats (4.76 ERA, 1.319 WHIP, four saves) don’t shout closer, but his 2024 peak (2.44 ERA, 50 strikeouts in 44.1 innings) and spring form (two runs, four baserunners, one homer in 7.2 innings, three strikeouts) put him on the fantasy radar. This year, he’s allowed one run and five baserunners in 3.1 innings, with three strikeouts and one save. His long-term closer fit is murky, but he’s the guy now—a bridge option until someone better steps up. Add him in all formats this week.