After much consternation and running numbers, our last rankings update ahead of the last weekend without regular-season baseball. These rankings are a fusion of SGP based on ATC projections with my own saves, holds, and SOLDS mixed in. If you like a reliever more than the ranking, by all means, target him. It’s your team.
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If you are a numbers person, I will leave a link at the end for my projections. Now, the rankings.
Top 50 Relievers for Saves
| 1 | Mason Miller |
| 2 | Edwin Díaz |
| 3 | Cade Smith |
| 4 | Jhoan Duran |
| 5 | Devin Williams |
| 6 | Andrés Muñoz |
| 7 | David Bednar |
| 8 | Aroldis Chapman |
| 9 | Ryan Helsley |
| 10 | Jeff Hoffman |
| 11 | Daniel Palencia |
| 12 | Pete Fairbanks |
| 13 | Emilio Pagán |
| 14 | Raisel Iglesias |
| 15 | Ryan Walker |
| 16 | Kenley Jansen |
| 17 | Josh Hader (on IL) |
| 18 | Trevor Megill |
| 19 | Dennis Santana |
| 20 | Carlos Estévez (velocity) |
| 21 | Seranthony Domínguez |
| 22 | Bryan Abreu |
| 23 | Robert Garcia |
| 24 | Griffin Jax |
| 25 | Abner Uribe |
| 26 | Robert Suarez |
| 27 | Garrett Cleavinger |
| 28 | Garrett Whitlock |
| 29 | Grant Taylor |
| 30 | Jeremiah Estrada |
| 31 | Kirby Yates |
| 32 | Clayton Beeter |
| 33 | JoJo Romero |
| 34 | Tanner Scott |
| 35 | Riley O’Brien |
| 36 | Paul Sewald |
| 37 | Hogan Harris |
| 38 | Chris Martin |
| 39 | Lucas Erceg |
| 40 | Bryan Baker |
| 41 | Kyle Finnegan |
| 42 | Matt Svanson |
| 43 | Luke Weaver |
| 44 | Will Vest |
| 45 | Matt Strahm |
| 46 | Justin Sterner |
| 47 | Mark Leiter Jr. |
| 48 | Tyler Wells |
| 49 | Zach Agnos |
| 50 | Cole Henry |
Top 60 Relievers for SOLDS
| Rank | Reliever |
| 1 | Cade Smith |
| 2 | Mason Miller |
| 3 | Edwin Díaz |
| 4 | Jhoan Duran |
| 5 | Abner Uribe |
| 6 | Devin Williams |
| 7 | Aroldis Chapman |
| 8 | Jeremiah Estrada |
| 9 | David Bednar |
| 10 | Andrés Muñoz |
| 11 | Bryan Abreu |
| 12 | Garrett Whitlock |
| 13 | Ryan Helsley |
| 14 | Jeff Hoffman |
| 15 | Griffin Jax |
| 16 | Robert Suarez |
| 17 | Raisel Iglesias |
| 18 | Jose A. Ferrer |
| 19 | Alex Vesia |
| 20 | Matt Brash |
| 21 | Will Vest |
| 22 | José Alvarado |
| 23 | Luke Weaver |
| 24 | Phil Maton |
| 25 | Josh Hader |
| 26 | Trevor Megill |
| 27 | Garrett Cleavinger |
| 28 | Ryan Walker |
| 29 | Tanner Scott |
| 30 | Shawn Armstrong |
| 31 | Daniel Palencia |
| 32 | Brad Keller |
| 33 | Bryan King |
| 34 | Emilio Pagán |
| 35 | Kenley Jansen |
| 36 | Grant Taylor |
| 37 | Lucas Erceg |
| 38 | Pete Fairbanks |
| 39 | Matt Strahm |
| 40 | Keegan Akin |
| 41 | Camilo Doval |
| 42 | Adrian Morejon |
| 43 | Kyle Finnegan |
| 44 | Orion Kerkering |
| 45 | Robert Garcia |
| 46 | JoJo Romero |
| 47 | Tony Santillan |
| 48 | Edwin Uceta |
| 49 | Louis Varland |
| 50 | Tyler Rogers |
| 51 | Dennis Santana |
| 52 | Jared Koenig |
| 53 | Jason Adam |
| 54 | Dylan Lee |
| 55 | Fernando Cruz |
| 56 | Hunter Gaddis |
| 57 | Matt Svanson |
| 58 | Andrew Kittredge |
| 59 | Carlos Estévez |
| 60 | Tyler Holton |
Top 40 Relievers for Holds
| Rank | Reliever |
| 1 | Jeremiah Estrada |
| 2 | Garrett Whitlock |
| 3 | Abner Uribe |
| 4 | Alex Vesia |
| 5 | José Alvarado |
| 6 | Phil Maton |
| 7 | Luke Weaver |
| 8 | Bryan Abreu |
| 9 | Bryan King |
| 10 | Matt Brash |
| 11 | Jose A. Ferrer |
| 12 | Will Vest |
| 13 | Griffin Jax |
| 14 | Camilo Doval |
| 15 | Brad Keller |
| 16 | Adrian Morejon |
| 17 | Tanner Scott |
| 18 | Orion Kerkering |
| 19 | Shawn Armstrong |
| 20 | Keegan Akin |
| 21 | Jared Koenig |
| 22 | Tyler Rogers |
| 23 | Jason Adam |
| 24 | Gabe Speier |
| 25 | Dylan Lee |
| 26 | Garrett Cleavinger |
| 27 | Louis Varland |
| 28 | Matt Strahm |
| 29 | Eduard Bazardo |
| 30 | Fernando Cruz |
| 31 | Tyler Holton |
| 32 | Robert Suarez |
| 33 | Caleb Thielbar |
| 34 | Grant Taylor |
| 35 | Tony Santillan |
| 36 | Edwin Uceta |
| 37 | Graham Ashcraft |
| 38 | Lucas Erceg |
| 39 | Brooks Raley |
| 40 | Kyle Finnegan |
Top 40 Relievers for Saves American League Only
| Rank | Reliever |
| 1 | Cade Smith |
| 2 | David Bednar |
| 3 | Andrés Muñoz |
| 4 | Jeff Hoffman |
| 5 | Aroldis Chapman |
| 6 | Ryan Helsley |
| 7 | Josh Hader (on IL) |
| 8 | Kenley Jansen |
| 9 | Bryan Abreu |
| 10 | Seranthony Domínguez |
| 11 | Griffin Jax |
| 12 | Grant Taylor |
| 13 | Carlos Estévez |
| 14 | Robert Garcia |
| 15 | Garrett Cleavinger |
| 16 | Kirby Yates |
| 17 | Garrett Whitlock |
| 18 | Chris Martin |
| 19 | Edwin Uceta (on IL) |
| 20 | Lucas Erceg |
| 21 | Will Vest |
| 22 | Matt Strahm |
| 23 | Kyle Finnegan |
| 24 | Cole Sands |
| 25 | Taylor Rogers |
| 26 | Bryan Baker |
| 27 | Matt Brash |
| 28 | Fernando Cruz |
| 29 | Tyler Wells |
| 30 | Camilo Doval |
| 31 | Justin Sterner |
| 32 | Jordan Leasure |
| 33 | Mark Leiter Jr. |
| 34 | Gabe Speier |
| 35 | Bryan King |
| 36 | Jose A. Ferrer |
| 37 | Louis Varland |
| 38 | Tyler Holton |
| 39 | Drew Anderson |
| 40 | Eduard Bazardo |
Sleepers for Saves (AL)
- Lucas Erceg (KC) – If Estévez loses the job or needs a stint on the injured list searching for his lost velocity, Erceg could emerge as the primary save option.
- Jack Perkins (ATH) – His role has not been defined, but if he becomes a leverage reliever, he may thrive.
- Grant Taylor/Jordan Leasure (CHW) – If Seranthony Domínguez’s struggles against left-handed hitters persist, a change may be required in the ninth inning.
- Hunter Bigge (TB) – It may take until the second half, but he has the velocity and arsenal to succeed during high-leverage events.
- Carlos Lagrange (NYY) – He’s been compared to Dellin Betances because of size and velocity upside. If the Yankees’ bullpen struggles or injuries accumulate, he may be a force in the late-innings.
- Luinder Avila (KC) – Has a plus-plus change-up and good velocity with his fastball. If Erceg struggles, Avila may be an option for saves after the trade deadline.
Top 40 Relievers for Saves National League Only
| Rank | Reliever |
| 1 | Mason Miller |
| 2 | Edwin Díaz |
| 3 | Jhoan Duran |
| 4 | Devin Williams |
| 5 | Trevor Megill |
| 6 | Daniel Palencia |
| 7 | Raisel Iglesias |
| 8 | Emilio Pagán |
| 9 | Ryan Walker |
| 10 | Pete Fairbanks |
| 11 | Dennis Santana |
| 12 | Abner Uribe |
| 13 | Clayton Beeter |
| 14 | Riley O’Brien |
| 15 | Paul Sewald |
| 16 | Robert Suarez |
| 17 | Matt Svanson |
| 18 | JoJo Romero |
| 19 | Jeremiah Estrada |
| 20 | Alex Vesia |
| 21 | Tanner Scott |
| 22 | José Alvarado |
| 23 | Adrian Morejon |
| 24 | Aaron Ashby |
| 25 | Orion Kerkering |
| 26 | Luke Weaver |
| 27 | Jared Koenig |
| 28 | Dylan Lee |
| 29 | Hunter Harvey |
| 30 | Phil Maton |
| 31 | Carmen Mlodzinski |
| 32 | Zach Agnos |
| 33 | Juan Mejia |
| 34 | Brad Keller |
| 35 | Andrew Nardi |
| 36 | Jason Adam |
| 37 | Ryne Stanek |
| 38 | Erik Miller |
| 39 | Gregory Soto |
| 40 | Caleb Thielbar |
Sleepers for Saves
- Zach Agnos/Juan Mejia (COL) – Rockies’ relievers represent risk to ratios, but one of these two may emerge as the preferred late-inning option this season. Vodnik and Halvorsen have inflated WHIPs this spring.
- Justin Lawrence/Mason Montgomery (PIT) – Whether it’s performance or trades, these two could earn larger leverage roles as the season progresses.
- Matt Svanson (STL) – It may start out as a four-reliever matchup meritocracy, but Svanson could become the preferred option by June.
- Jarlin Susana (WSH) – More for keeper formats, but if he gets transitioned into a relief role, he’s already the best closer in this organization.
Closer Monkey’s Saves, SOLDS, and Holds Projections
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.
Statistical Credits:
ATC projections courtesy of Ariel Cohen