MLB Closer Report: Top Saves and Breakout Performers at the All-Star Break

The All-Star break has arrived, and with it comes an opportunity to assess the current landscape of Major League Baseball’s closers. Leading the pack is Mason Miller of the San Diego Padres, who has cemented his status as the top closer with a remarkable first half. His performance included back-to-back saves against the Blue Jays, bringing his total to 25 saves alongside an impressive 0.91 ERA and 72 strikeouts over 39 2/3 innings. Padres general manager A.J. Preller has made it clear that the organization has no plans to trade Miller, who still has three years of team control left.

Following closely behind is Jhoan Duran of the Philadelphia Phillies, who has also shone in his first full season with 24 saves and a 1.38 ERA. Cade Smith of the Cleveland Guardians has emerged as a leading force as well, boasting an MLB-best 28 saves, showcasing his consistency throughout the first half. Meanwhile, Louis Varland has made a name for himself with the Toronto Blue Jays, taking over the closer role and accumulating 19 saves with a stellar 1.10 ERA.

Despite a tough outing against the Rangers, Josh Hader has had an exceptional start for the Houston Astros, with a 1.17 ERA and 10 saves since making his season debut in June. Bryan Baker of the Tampa Bay Rays has also been a standout, converting 25 saves and holding a 1.73 ERA over 36 1/3 innings.

David Bednar of the New York Yankees has been on a remarkable run, not allowing an earned run in 16 consecutive appearances, which has significantly lowered his ERA to 2.70. Aroldis Chapman has also been strong for the Boston Red Sox, picking up 19 saves while contributing to the team’s resurgence in the playoff race.

As we look at other notable closers, Raisel Iglesias of the Atlanta Braves has added to his tally with 19 saves, while Andrés Muñoz of the Seattle Mariners has gone 10 outings without allowing a run. Jacob Latz has been a revelation for the Texas Rangers, accumulating 18 saves and a 1.61 ERA.

On the flip side, there are some concerns as well. Kenley Jansen of the Detroit Tigers has seen his ERA rise to 4.56 despite achieving 11 saves, and there is speculation around Devin Williams of the New York Mets potentially losing his closer role after a blown save against the Red Sox.

As the second half of the season approaches, teams will be eyeing the trade deadline, and how they handle their closer situations could have significant implications for playoff aspirations. With several teams still in the hunt, the saves landscape is sure to evolve in the coming weeks.

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