2025 MLB NL Bullpen Updates
Atlanta Braves
Raisel Iglesias: Iglesias cruised through spring training, posting no runs and four baserunners in six innings with six strikeouts. His fastball (95.7 mph) matches his recent norms, with no tweaks to his pitch mix.
Héctor Neris: Signed in early March, Neris secured a bullpen spot on the Braves with three shutout innings, allowing three baserunners and one strikeout. His fastball has dipped over one mph from his peak over the last two seasons.
Miami Marlins
Calvin Faucher: Faucher’s spring was lackluster (six runs, 13 baserunners, two home runs in 7.2 innings, with six strikeouts). His fastball (93.8 mph) dropped about 2 mph, and he leaned heavily on his sinker and changeup, cutting back on curveballs. Even if he lands the closer role, his long-term hold on it feels shaky.
Anthony Bender: Bender allowed five runs, 10 baserunners, and two home runs in 8.2 innings across eight spring outings, striking out 10. His slider (87.1 mph) gained velocity in March but lacked effectiveness.
New York Mets
Edwin Díaz, Closer: Spring hitters tagged Díaz for two runs, five hits, and five walks in 3.1 innings, with five strikeouts, prompting some fantasy drafters to pivot to other elite closers. His fastball (95.9 mph) and slider each lost about 1.5-2 mph from 2024.
A.J. Minter: Post-hip surgery, Minter’s injury tag is gone. He allowed three runs, five baserunners, and two home runs in 4.2 spring innings, with six strikeouts. His cutter dominated over 50% of his pitches, while his four-seam fastball (94.0 mph) dropped 2 mph from 2023.
Philadelphia Phillies
Jordan Romano, Closer: Romano’s pristine spring (no runs, six baserunners, eight strikeouts in 8.2 innings) boosted his fantasy stock late in March. However, his fastball (95.9 mph) and slider (85.3 mph) hit career-low velocities, a trend to watch in the regular season.
Orion Kerkering: With no MLB saves as a rookie, Kerkering’s spring success (one run, five hits, one walk, one home run in 8.1 innings, 10 strikeouts) edges him closer to the ninth. He was a top closer-in-waiting pick for me this draft season.
José Alvarado: Alvarado dominated spring training, tossing nine scoreless innings with three hits, three walks, and 20 strikeouts. He’s notched 23 saves as a part-time closer for Philly over the past two years.
Washington Nationals
Kyle Finnegan, Closer: Re-signed in late February, Finnegan’s experience should secure him a long leash for saves in 2025. He allowed three runs, five hits, and one home run in four spring innings, with no walks and three strikeouts. His fastball (96.1 mph) dipped one mph, and he swapped his slider for more split-finger fastballs.
Jorge López: López’s late-2024 surge with the Cubs had him pegged as an early save favorite, but his spring faltered (three runs, eight baserunners in 3.2 innings, four strikeouts). All his pitches lost about one mph in March.
Chicago Cubs
Ryan Pressly, Closer: Pressly owns the Cubs’ ninth to start 2025, despite a lackluster spring (three runs, eight baserunners in 5.2 innings, five strikeouts). His fastball (93.4 mph) lacks its former zip, with increased slider use and minimal changeups in March.
Porter Hodge: Hodge shined as a rookie despite command woes. He allowed four runs, six hits, and five walks in seven spring innings, with 10 strikeouts. His cutter (95.3 mph) pops, and he’s honing his slider (51% usage) in spring training for 2025.
Cincinnati Reds
Scott Barlow: With Alexis Díaz sidelined by a hamstring injury, Barlow’s spring (four runs, 10 baserunners, seven strikeouts in eight innings) and 53 saves from 2021-2023 make him the likely Week 1 closer. His fastball (93.8 mph) rebounded after losing 1.5 mph last year.
Taylor Rogers: Rogers, with 97 saves over five years with the Twins and Padres, has just five since mid-2022. His spring (five runs, 15 baserunners, 10 strikeouts in seven innings) dims his save prospects for Cincinnati.
Milwaukee Brewers
Trevor Megill, Closer: Megill allowed three runs, eight hits, one home run, and three walks in 6.1 spring innings across seven outings, with six strikeouts. His four-seam fastball/slider combo regressed about 1.5 mph in March.
Abner Uribe: Uribe converted Milwaukee’s first three saves in 2024 before an early May demotion and right-arm surgery ended his year a couple of weeks later. His spring was rough (seven runs, six hits, six walks in 5.2 innings, eight strikeouts), far from ninth-inning ready.
Pittsburgh Pirates
David Bednar, Closer: Bednar’s dismal 2024 and spring struggles (nine runs, 14 baserunners, one home run in eight innings, 10 strikeouts) gave fantasy drafters pause. A late-March surge (two scoreless innings, no walks, three strikeouts) might lure some back. His fastball (96.7 mph) tracks with his career norm.
Dennis Santana: Santana’s seven-year MLB stats (4.76 ERA, 1.319 WHIP, four saves) don’t scream closer, but a career-best 2024 (2.44 ERA, 50 strikeouts in 44.1 innings) and spring (two runs, four baserunners, one home run in 7.2 innings, three strikeouts) could thrust him into save chances if Bednar falters.
St. Louis Cardinals
Ryan Helsley: Helsley’s 49 saves and 62 games finished led the NL in 2024, though his strikeout rate dipped from 13.0 (2022-23) to 10.7. He allowed two runs and six baserunners in eight spring innings, with no walks and six strikeouts. His fastball (97.6 mph) dropped 2 mph, and he added a cutter and threw fewer sliders.
Phil Maton: Signed mid-March, Maton’s arm has improved (3.50 ERA, 207 strikeouts in 195.2 innings over three years) despite just five career saves in eight seasons. His lone spring outing was a scoreless inning with two hits and one strikeout.
Arizona Diamondbacks
A.J. Puk: Puk’s stellar 2024 finish carried into spring (one run, eight baserunners, one home run in eight innings, 12 strikeouts), tying him with Justin Martinez for closer duties. His fastball and slider ticked up in March, making him a must-add in shallow leagues.
Justin Martinez: Martinez’s spring (six runs, 10 baserunners, 13 strikeouts in 8.2 innings) slots him behind Puk. His fastball (101.2 mph) gained velocity, and more split-finger pitches in March hint at strikeout potential once his command improves.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Tanner Scott: Scott nailed the Dodgers’ first spring save chance (one clean inning, one strikeout), but he was sharp in spring training (three runs, nine baserunners, one home run in seven innings, nine strikeouts). His fastball (97.1 mph) dipped slightly, paired with his slider.
Kirby Yates: Yates tossed a shutout inning with one hit and two strikeouts in his debut but allowed two runs and 12 baserunners in 5.2 spring innings, with nine strikeouts.
Colorado Rockies
Victor Vodnik: Vodnik’s nine saves in 2024 and spring (four runs, 10 baserunners, one home run in 7.1 innings, eight strikeouts) position him as an early closer candidate despite past command and injury hiccups. His fastball (98.5 mph) shines, with a new cutter added.
Seth Halvorsen: Halvorsen’s spring (seven runs, 14 baserunners, one home run in 9.1 innings, eight strikeouts) rules him out as an initial closer. His 99.8 mph fastball impresses, and he’s refining his slider while tossing fewer changeups.
Tyler Kinley: Kinley’s 12 saves in 2024 came with a 6.19 ERA and 1.469 WHIP, but his spring (no runs, three baserunners, 10 strikeouts in 6.2 innings) suggests he’ll get the first save shot at the ninth inning for the Rockies.
San Diego Padres
Robert Suárez: Suárez’s 36 saves in 2024 are his lone remaining bright spot for 2025. Spring was brutal (eight runs, 11 hits, four walks in 4.2 innings, six strikeouts), with all pitches down two mph. His fastball (97.2 mph) holds value, and he added a low-volume curveball.
Jason Adam: Adam’s spring (six runs, nine baserunners, one home run in nine innings, eight strikeouts) was subpar, with his fastball and changeup down two mph, hinting at a conservative spring approach for San Diego’s top arms.
Jeremiah Estrada: Estrada’s 2024 flashes carried into spring (four runs, seven baserunners in six innings, nine strikeouts). His fastball (97.1 mph) and a split-finger pitch from last year signal future ninth-inning potential.
San Francisco Giants
Ryan Walker: Walker’s 2024 breakout boosted his draft stock as a closer option. He allowed four runs and 12 baserunners in 8.2 spring innings, with 12 strikeouts. His fastball (94.6 mph) dipped one mph from last year’s peak (95.9 mph).
Camilo Doval: After losing his closer gig in 2024, Doval sharpened up in spring (two runs, nine hits, two walks in nine innings, 12 strikeouts). His fastball (down two mph from 96.9 mph) makes him a strong handcuff if his command holds.