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Fantasy baseball closer rankings

The closer position is the most volatile in baseball, so use our fantasy baseball closer rankings to keep up to date.

The closer position is the most volatile in baseball, and fantasy baseball owners are often left high and dry when their closer loses his job in the ninth. Here at SI.com, we'll be keeping tabs of who's in and who's out in our fantasy baseball closer rankings. These will be updated on an as-needed basis, so keep up all season.

1

Aroldis Chapman

CIN

The game's best closer already has seven strikeouts in five innings.

2

Craig Kimbrel

SD

Changing time zones hasn't had an adverse effect on Kimbrel. He's 2-for-2 in save opportunities.

3

Greg Holland

KC

 

4

David Robertson

NYY

The White Sox haven't given Robertson many save chances, but he has been lights out when called upon.

5

Huston Street

LAA

The next batter to reach base against Street will be the first of the year.

6

Andrew Miller

NYY

Joe Girardi's actions are speaking louder than his words. It looks like Miller will be the Yankees' closer all season.

7

Cody Allen

CLE

 

8

Hector Rondon

CHC

 

9

Glen Perkins

MIN

Perkins has two saves in 3 2/3 innings pitched so far this year. He's not going to get many save opportunities on a team as bad as MIN.

10

Koji Uehara

BOS

Uehara is back from a hamstring injury and should hold down the ninth for Boston.

11

Fernando Rodney

SEA

 

12

Francisco Rodriguez

MIL

 

13

Jonathan Papelbon

PHI

Papelbon and the Phillies may not be in the happiest marriage, but he continues to get the job done.

14

Trevor Rosenthal

STL

Rosenthal is off to a great start this season, and likely put to rest any lingering questions about his job security.

15

Zach Britton

BAL

 

16

Jason Grilli

ATL

Grilli became the Atlanta closer when the team shipped Craig Kimbrel to SD, and he has converted all four of his save chances.

17

Drew Storen

WAS

 

18

Steve Cishek

MIA

Storen struggled in his second outing of the year, and could eventually be pushed by Casey Janssen at some point.

19

Kenley Jansen

LAD

Jansen (foot) is expected back in mid-May. This feels like a fair ranking for now, but he's a top-five closer when healthy.

20

Mark Melancon

PIT

Melancon's velocity is down early this year, which has already led to trouble. Owners may want to grab Tony Watson while they can, just in case.

21

Santiago Casilla

SF

Gregerson has done enough in the first 10 days of the season to earn some leash from A.J. Hinch. Keep Pat Neshek on your radar.

22

Joakim Soria

DET

Joe Nathan's out a month with an elbow injury. The bet here is Soria pitches his way into being Detroit's full-time closer in the interim.

23

Luke Gregerson

HOU

 

24

Tyler Clippard

OAK

Clippard would be higher in these rankings if Sean Doolittle didn't loom as Oakland's preferred closer when healthy.

25

Neftali Feliz

TEX

 

26

Dellin Betances

NYY

Betances has not been sharp in the early going, and will likely settle back into a setup role with Andrew Miller closing for the Yankees.

27

Jeurys Familia

NYM

Familia has a chance to grab a stranglehold of the closer's job for the Mets. If he struggles, however, the team will llkely give Bobby Parnell a shot when he returns from the DL.

28

Addison Reed

ARI

 

29

Brad Boxberger

TB

Don't assume Jake McGee will automatically get the closer role back when he returns from the DL. Boxberger already has three saves this season.

30

Miguel Castro

TOR

Castro is in the lead for save opportunities in Toronto for now, but this is a fluid situation.

31

Adam Ottavino

COL

Colorado could go with a matchup approach in the ninth, but consider Ottavino the leader for now, with Rafael Betancourt in second.

32

Rafael Betancourt

COL

See above

33

Joel Peralta

LAD

Peralta will have strong fantasy value for about another month, but he's going to lose the job when Kenley Jansen returns.

34

Wade Davis

KC

 

35

Joe Nathan

DET

Nathan's owners should hold onto him for now, especially since they can stash him on the DL, but don't be surprised if he returns as a setup man.

36

Jake McGee

TB

McGee (elbow) is set for an appearance in an extended spring training after throwing live BP earlier this week. He should be back sometime in early May.

37

Ken Giles

PHI

 

38

Edward Mujica

BOS

With Koji Uehara back from the DL, Mujica returns to being one of the league's better setup men.

39

Sean Doolittle

OAK

Doolittle (shoulder) will begin throwing off a mound next week, and is expected to return in mid-to-late May.

40

Pat Neshek

HOU

 

41

Joaquin Benoit

SD

 

42

Brett Cecil

TOR

Cecil is still in the mix for saves in Toronto, but this is one of the more frustrating situations for fantasy owners to deal with on a nightly basis.

43

Bobby Parnell

NYM

Parnell (elbow) is set to begin a rehab assignment soon. If all goes well, he'll rejoin the Mets in mid-May, and could quickly take over the closer's role.

44

Brad Ziegler

ARI

 

45

A.J. Ramos

MIA

 

46

Roberto Osuna

TOR

 

47

Sergio Romo

SF

 

48

Tony Watson

PIT

 

49

Tanner Scheppers

TEX

Scheppers (ankle) was just activated from the DL. If Neftali Feliz struggles, he would be first in line to get some save opportunities.

50

Joe Smith

LAA