<![CDATA[Closer Monkey’s Substack]]>https://closermonkey.substack.comhttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!5Lde!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8eef938a-d8c9-45a0-be62-dba3160d96af_884x884.pngCloser Monkey’s Substackhttps://closermonkey.substack.comSubstackTue, 09 Jun 2026 23:47:46 GMT<![CDATA[Closer Monkey's Leverage Ledger | 6.9.2026]]>https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-692026https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-692026Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:15:25 GMTOutlasting the A’s in a slugfest that featured 29 runs, Chad Patrick secured his third save with a scoreless bottom of the 12th. Trevor Megill did not pitch, and his manager was vague regarding why, including in today’s post.

Because of the eight-game slate and a bevy of leverage events of interest, the takeaways are included in each team’s recap, including:

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AL: ATH | CLE | HOU | LAA | NYY | SEA | TB

NL: PHI | SD | SF | WSH

There are three quick hits, too.

Please use this LINK for today’s Leverage Ledger.

Thanks for being part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.

Thanks for reading Closer Monkey’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

]]><![CDATA[Updated RP Rankings | 6.8.2026]]>https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/updated-rp-rankings-682026https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/updated-rp-rankings-682026Mon, 08 Jun 2026 21:47:34 GMTIt’s Monday, which usually means some chaotic leverage events and Closer Monkey’s updated rankings.

Also included are saves, SOLDS, and holds leaderboards for 2026 and the last 14 days (game played through June 7).

Please use this LINK for our updated rankings in the following formats:

  • Saves

  • SOLDS

  • Holds

  • AL-only saves

  • NL-only saves

Thanks for being part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.

]]><![CDATA[Closer Monkey's Leverage Ledger | 6.8.2026]]>https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-682026https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-682026Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:33:13 GMTBlown save number five for Andrés Muñoz causes frustration for his fantasy managers, but Dan Wilson remained supportive of his struggling closer. A dive into his struggles and can his four-seam rebound?

Today’s takeaways feature:

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  • Will Vest won a walk-off, but Kenley’s returning soon

  • It was Lucas Erceg, and are there set roles in the Royals’ bullpen?

  • Didier Fuentes recorded his first career save; why not Robert Suarez in the ninth?

Game recaps include:

AL: NYY | TOR

NL: CHC | CIN | MIA | SF | STL

Plus, quick hits for both leagues.

Please use this LINK for today’s Leverage Ledger.

Thanks for being part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.

Thanks for reading Closer Monkey’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

]]><![CDATA[Closer Monkey's Leverage Ledger | 6.7.2026]]>https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-672026https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-672026Sun, 07 Jun 2026 10:17:38 GMTAfter going five games between his last save, Grant Taylor flashed his upside while recording his second of the season, striking out the side in Philadelphia. Fantasy players trust in his talent, not how Will Venable deploys him.

Today’s takeaways feature:

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  • Another three-walk outing for Pete Fairbanks

  • Alex Lange secured his third save in four days

  • Ryan Rolison collected his second win in three days

Game recaps feature:

AL: MIN | TOR

NL: ATL | CIN | SD | SF | STL | WSH

Quick hits for both leagues, too.

Please use this LINK for today’s Leverage Ledger.

Thanks for being part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.

Thanks for reading Closer Monkey’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

]]><![CDATA[Closer Monkey's Leverage Ledger | 6.6.2026]]>https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-662026https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-662026Sat, 06 Jun 2026 12:45:23 GMTAlthough struggling relievers usually take the lead, today’s goes to Jhoan Duran, who is thriving in Philadelphia.

Today’s takeaways feature:

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  • Cincinnati

  • Colorado

  • Detroit

Game recaps cover:

AL: BOS | CHW | HOU | LAA | MIN | TEX

NL: ATL | LAD | MIL | SD

Plus, quick hits for both leagues.

Please use this LINK for today’s Leverage Ledger.

Thanks for being part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.

Thanks for reading Closer Monkey’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

]]><![CDATA[Closer Monkey's Weekend Planner | 6.5.2026]]>https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-weekend-planner-652026https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-weekend-planner-652026Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:41:01 GMTOur weekend planner has team trends, how to measure a closer, leaderboards for 2026, and the last 14 days in saves and SOLDS. Plus, updated RP rankings at the end.

Plus, What to Watch For (W2W4) for each team this weekend.

Please use this LINK for our Weekend Planner.

]]><![CDATA[Closer Monkey's Leverage Ledger | 6.5.2026]]>https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-652026https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-652026Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:02:56 GMTFor a second straight night, Alex Lange recorded a save for the Royals. A look into his recent outings shows he’s benefiting from a tweaked pitch mix.

Game recaps from Thursday’s slate include:

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AL: ATH | MIN | NYY | TOR

NL: ARI | LAD | PIT | SF

Quick hits for both leagues as well.

Please use this LINK for today’s Leverage Ledger.

Check back later for the Weekend Planner with some waiver wire insights, updated rankings, and what to watch for (W2W4).

Thanks for being part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.

Thanks for reading Closer Monkey’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

]]><![CDATA[Closer Monkey's Leverage Ledger | 6.4.2026]]>https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-642026https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-642026Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:37:35 GMTThough it’s tough to trust Tony Vitello, Keaton Winn converted his first save this season, preserving a 1-0 win in Milwaukee.

Today’s takeaways feature:

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  • The amorphous A’s

  • Soto struggles in Houston

  • The Reds keep trusting Santillan, but was this the final straw?

Game recaps cover:

AL: BOS | CLE | HOU | KC

NL: CHC | MIA | PHI | STL | WSH

Plus quick hits for both leagues.

Please use this LINK for today’s Leverage Ledger.

Thanks for reading Closer Monkey’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

]]><![CDATA[Closer Monkey's Leverage Ledger | 6.3.2026]]>https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-632026https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-632026Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:03:32 GMTAnother night of chaos, or just Tuesday, in the high-leverage streets. Lucas Erceg suffered his MLB-leading sixth blown save, and Riley O’Brien allowed at least a run in his fourth straight contest, resulting in a loss. They are on the proverbial hot seats for fantasy managers.

Plus, game recaps for the following teams:

Thanks for reading Closer Monkey’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

AL: ATH | BAL | DET | MIN | TEX

NL: ATL | CIN | LAD | MIL | PHI | PIT

Quick hits for both leagues, too.

Please use this LINK for today’s Leverage Ledger.

Thanks for being part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.

Thanks for reading Closer Monkey’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

]]><![CDATA[Closer Monkey's Leverage Ledger | 6.2.2026]]>https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-622026https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-622026Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:35:59 GMTMonday’s nine-game slate yielded some leverage events of interest, including the first save by Detroit with Kenley Jansen on the injured list. Will Vest navigated around traffic for his first of the season.

Also covered in today’s post:

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AL: LAA | SEA | TEX

NL: ARI | COL | MIA | NYM

Plus, quick hits for each league.

Please use this LINK for today’s Leverage Ledger.

Thanks for being part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.

Thanks for reading Closer Monkey’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

]]><![CDATA[Updated RP Rankings | 6.1.2026]]>https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/updated-rp-rankings-612026https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/updated-rp-rankings-612026Mon, 01 Jun 2026 21:46:23 GMTOur latest rankings are ready for your perusal, though there will be movement in them throughout the week before Friday’s update in the Weekend Planner.

As a bonus today, there are leaderboards for saves, SOLDS, and holds, from the last 14 days, May, and March/April.

Please use this LINK for Closer Monkey’s Updated Reliever Rankings.

Thanks for being part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.

]]><![CDATA[Closer Monkey's Leverage Ledger | 6.1.2026]]>https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-612026https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-612026Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:16:16 GMTIn a season that has been frustrating for the saves chasers, Bryan Baker remains a beacon of hope. He closed out his 16th save on Sunday, and even with some pending regression, he’s turning in a career year.

Our game recaps cover the following teams, featuring monthly splits for some closers of interest:

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AL: BOS | CHW | NYY | SEA | TEX

NL: ARI | CIN | MIL | NYM | STL

Quick hits for three teams in each league are also included.

Please use this LINK for today’s Leverage Ledger.

Thanks for being part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.

Thanks for reading Closer Monkey’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

]]><![CDATA[Closer Monkey's Leverage Ledger | 5.31.2026]]>https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-5312026https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-5312026Sun, 31 May 2026 13:15:54 GMTIt was another ratio-torching appearance by Lucas Erceg, resulting in his fifth blown save during a walk-off loss in Texas. His team remains behind their reliever, but can fantasy managers tolerate having him active?

Three Takeaways feature:

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  • Toronto’s walk-off loss after leading by four

  • Scott’s scoreless streak snapped at 12

  • Another non-save outing for Palencia

Game recaps cover:

AL: ATH | CHW | TEX

NL: ATL | PHI | PIT | WSH

Plus, quick hits for both leagues.

Please use this LINK for today’s Leverage Ledger.

Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.

Thanks for reading Closer Monkey’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

]]><![CDATA[Closer Monkey's Leverage Ledger | 5.30.2026]]>https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-5302026https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-5302026Sat, 30 May 2026 13:40:18 GMTMason Miller secured his 17th save, but it required 30 pitches while he issued two walks across 1.1 innings. His walk rate has risen appreciably in May.

Today’s takeaways feature:

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  • Desperate times for Detroit

  • Another non-scoreless outing in Seattle

  • An epic meltdown in Coors

Game recaps cover:

AL: CHW | CLE | HOU | MIN | TB | TOR

NL: ATL | COL | LAD | MIA | MIL | NYM | PIT | STL

Also, quick hits for each league.

Please use this LINK for today’s Leverage Ledger.

Thanks for being part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe and be well.

Thanks for reading Closer Monkey’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

]]><![CDATA[Closer Monkey's Weekend Planner | 5.29.2026]]>https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-weekend-planner-5292026https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-weekend-planner-5292026Fri, 29 May 2026 20:48:24 GMTContinuing our debut of this column from last week, there are

  • Team save trends by league

  • An exploration of how to define a closer

  • What to watch for this weekend for every franchise

  • Saves and SOLDS leaderboards for the season and the last 14 days

  • Updated rankings for saves and SOLDS formats

Please use this LINK for the Weekend Planner.

Thanks for being part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.

Thanks for reading Closer Monkey’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

]]><![CDATA[Closer Monkey's Leverage Ledger | 5.28.2026]]>https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-5282026https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-5282026Thu, 28 May 2026 14:05:02 GMTAnother wacky Wednesday slate yielded a bevy of leverage events of interest, beginning with Trevor Megill getting the save chance, not Abner Uribe.

Today’s takeaways feature:

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  • Lineup lanes for Toronto

  • Tanner Scott could not finish a combined no-hitter in the eighth

  • Houston plays the matchups game

Game recaps cover:

AL: CLE | DET

NL: ARI | MIA | PHI | WSH

Plus quick hits for eight teams, four in each league.

Please use this LINK for today’s Leverage Ledger.

Thanks for being part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.

Thanks for reading Closer Monkey’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

]]><![CDATA[Rapid Reaction | Kenley Jansen]]>https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/rapid-reaction-kenley-jansenhttps://closermonkey.substack.com/p/rapid-reaction-kenley-jansenThu, 28 May 2026 02:25:11 GMTThere is nothing official, but Kenley Jansen left his outing with the training staff. Our projected hierarchy is an answer no one loves to hear when a closer is injured.

Please use this LINK for the Rapid Reaction.

Thanks for being part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.

]]><![CDATA[Closer Monkey's Leverage Ledger | 5.27.2026]]>https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-5272026https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-5272026Wed, 27 May 2026 15:18:15 GMTIt was a slippery slate on Tuesday, yielding two three-inning save and Raisel Iglesias had his 28.1 inning scoreless streak snapped in Boston, but held on for his ninth save of the season.

Today’s takeaways feature:

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  • Andrés Muñoz gave up another HR on a slider

  • Detroit’s struggling bullpen

  • Patience with Palencia

Game recaps cover:

AL: LAA | MIN | TEX

NL: ARI | CIN | PHI

Plus, quick hits for three teams in each league.

Please use this LINK for today’s Leverage Ledger.

Thanks for being part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.

Thanks for reading Closer Monkey’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

]]><![CDATA[Closer Monkey's Leverage Ledger | 5.26.2026]]>https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-5262026https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/closer-monkeys-leverage-ledger-5262026Tue, 26 May 2026 14:27:58 GMTTaking the lead, Jhoan Duran shut the door on a combined shutout and his 100th career save in San Diego yesterday.

Takeaways will be included in the team’s recaps, featuring:

Thanks for reading Closer Monkey’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

AL: BAL | CHW | HOU | KC | NYY | TB

NL: COL | LAD | PIT

Plus quick hits for both leagues. Erceg has been placed in the hot seat, but there are not many viable options in the Royals’ bullpen.

Please use this LINK for today’s Leverage Ledger.

Thanks for reading Closer Monkey’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

]]><![CDATA[Updated RP Rankings | 5.25.2026]]>https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/updated-rp-rankings-5252026https://closermonkey.substack.com/p/updated-rp-rankings-5252026Mon, 25 May 2026 16:15:18 GMTOur latest rankings have been posted with some risers in saves and SOLDS formats, plus a sleeper for those in AL and NL only leagues.

Please use this LINK for all of the RP Rankings.

Thanks for being part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.

Thanks for reading Closer Monkey’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

]]>