Dennis Santana

After a career year in 2025 that showcased his elite stuff with a 2.18 ERA and 0.87 WHIP while accumulating 16 saves, Santana has struggled to maintain that form early in 2026, posting a 4.72 ERA and 1.43 WHIP across limited innings. The 30-year-old's transition to a potential closer role has become muddled, as evidenced by just 2 saves despite accumulating 30 strikeouts over 34.1 innings, suggesting ongoing uncertainty in his usage and role definition within Pittsburgh's bullpen. For fantasy managers, Santana presents a high-risk, potentially high-reward option whose value hinges entirely on whether the Pirates commit him to a consistent save situation; his strikeout ability remains intact, but the elevated ERA and WHIP indicate he's lost the dominant command that made him a 2025 fantasy asset. Monitor his role closely over the next few weeks, as clarification on whether he'll return to saves could dramatically impact his fantasy relevance for the remainder of the season.