Kansas City Royals right-hander Lucas Erceg has established himself as his team's closer so far this season, recording a 3.31 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with 14 strikeouts and 10 saves across 16 1/3 innings (17 games). Erceg has gotten hot in recent weeks, as he's gone eight straight appearances without allowing an earned run. On the other hand, Erceg's underlying numbers offer some cause for alarm. The 31-year-old currently owns a 17.9% walk rate and is benefitting from a .268 opponent batting average on balls in play that sits well below his career mark of .307. Erceg does not generate whiffs like a typical closer either, as he's recorded 20.9% strikeout rate so far this season and struck out just 19.3% of the batters he faced in 2025. Erceg appears to be secure in the ninth-inning role in Kansas City for now, which makes him roster-worthy across all fantasy formats. Still, fantasy managers should proceed with caution, as Erceg's profile does not point to sustained dominance.

Across 14 2/3 innings (18 games) so far this season, Chicago White Sox closer Seranthony Dominguez has recorded a 3.68 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 19 strikeouts, and eight saves. The 31-year-old has been particularly locked in of late, allowing just one earned run while logging 11 strikeouts and five saves over his last nine appearances. Control continues to be an issue for Dominguez, as he currently owns a 14.3% walk rate after posting a 13.8% walk rate in 2025. However, his strikeout rate is also north of 30% for the second straight season, which helps mitigate the damage of his free passes. Dominguez appears to have a firm hold on the ninth-inning role for the White Sox and should be rostered across all fantasy formats.

San Francisco Giants right-hander Ryan Walker has been optioned to Triple-A Sacramento, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. Walker opened 2026 as San Francisco's primary closer, but he's struggled mightily so far this season. Across 15 1/3 innings (16 games), Walker has pitched to a 6.46 ERA and 1.89 WHIP with 14 strikeouts. He was just three for six on save chances and had allowed seven earned runs over his last four outings before being sent down. Walker's struggles to open 2026 were a continuation of his down year in 2025, when he pitched to a 4.11 ERA. San Francisco will now give the 30-year-old a chance to work through his struggles in a lower-pressure environment in the minor leagues. Right-hander Caleb Killian saw the most recent save opportunity for San Francisco and could be taking over the team's ninth-inning role.

Across 25 innings (five starts) so far this season, Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Noah Schultz has recorded a 2-2 record with a 4.68 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 23 strikeouts. Schultz has struggled mightily with command, as he currently owns a 15.1% walk rate. Still, the 22-year-old's overall line is weighed down by a rough outing his last time out when he allowed seven earned runs across 3 2/3 innings against the Los Angeles Angels. Prior to that start, Schultz had given up just three earned runs in his last 17 innings pitched. The young right-hander is considered to be one of the top young arms in the White Sox system and posted a 40.4% strikeout rate across three starts at Triple-A before being called up by Chicago for his MLB debut in mid-April. In deeper fantasy leagues, Schultz could be worth targeting off the waiver wire ahead of his next scheduled start at home against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.