Ryan Helsley Returns, Cubs Lose Palencia to Injury in Latest Closer Report

The latest Closer Report brings a mix of good and bad news for fantasy baseball enthusiasts. Ryan Helsley is back on the mound for the Baltimore Orioles, returning from a seven-week stint on the injured list due to right elbow inflammation. However, the Chicago Cubs face a setback as Daniel Palencia has been placed on the 15-day injured list with the same ailment, adding to the team’s challenges. In a twist, the San Francisco Giants have finally settled on a closer, naming Caleb Kilian to the role after a series of late-inning maneuvers.

Among the standout performances this week, Mason Miller of the San Diego Padres recorded a clean, four-out save against the Orioles before being placed on bereavement leave. He could return as early as Friday following the team’s off day. Meanwhile, Cade Smith of the Cleveland Guardians has been on a roll, securing back-to-back scoreless saves against the Tigers, which solidifies his status as a top closer with a leading 23 saves this season.

Jhoan Duran of the Philadelphia Phillies added to his impressive resume with his 18th save against the Brewers, showcasing a stellar 1.90 ERA and 0.97 WHIP over 23 2/3 innings. However, the Phillies will need to navigate without setup man Brad Keller, who was placed on the injured list with right forearm tendinitis. Orion Kerkering is expected to step up in the eighth-inning role, positioning him as a potential candidate for saves should Duran require assistance.

Aroldis Chapman of the Boston Red Sox continues to dominate, striking out two in a scoreless inning against the Rangers for his 14th save, maintaining the lowest ERA among closers at 0.44. Raisel Iglesias of the Atlanta Braves also found success this week, converting his 14th save against the Mets despite a hit and a walk in his only appearance.

In Toronto, Louis Varland secured his 14th save with a perfect ninth inning against the Yankees, though he faced some adversity in a subsequent outing. Bryan Baker of the Tampa Bay Rays remains consistent, holding steady at 18 saves and a 1.91 ERA after a scoreless inning against the Angels.

Meanwhile, Josh Hader of the Houston Astros collected three saves this week, including a clean outing against the Tigers, while Tanner Scott of the Los Angeles Dodgers has stepped up significantly, picking up three saves in a week and raising his total to nine since taking over closer duties.

Gregory Soto of the Pittsburgh Pirates rebounded from a rough previous week, converting two saves and showing signs of improvement. Andrés Muñoz of the Seattle Mariners returned to action after a brief exit due to lower back tightness, continuing to build on his season with 11 saves.

Helsley’s return to the Orioles has been highly anticipated, and he made an immediate impact in his first appearance back, despite allowing two solo homers. Paul Sewald of the Arizona Diamondbacks was busy this week, locking down three saves to bring his season total to 18.

In San Francisco, Caleb Kilian has officially been named the closer, stepping into a role that has seen seven different relievers earn saves this season. He leads the team with four saves and boasts an impressive 3.06 ERA.

Finally, the Cubs face a challenging situation with Palencia’s injury following a strong outing against the Rockies. With Palencia sidelined, the Cubs may turn to a committee approach, with Jacob Webb and Caleb Thielbar emerging as potential candidates for save opportunities.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.