Although there have been limited games over the first two days of the regular season, teams have deployed some interesting usage patterns. It’s easy to overreact, but there have been some shifts in the rankings. Also, our updated rankings will no longer list relievers currently on the injured list.
Relievers on the Rise
- Jordan Romano (LAA): Nailed down his first save chance and has runway until April 6. Kirby Yates can be activated when the team faces Atlanta.
- Erik Sabrowski (CLE): Faced the heart of Seattle’s lineup, retiring the 1-2-3-4 hitters in order, three via strikeout, for his first hold of the season.
- Paul Sewald (ARI): Although Torey Lovullo did not say closer in this video, it’s implied that Sewald will be his preferred option for saves until A.J. Puk returns.
- Gregory Soto (PIT): He’s in the mix for save chances and fired a clean inning during a lopsided loss to the Mets on Opening Day.
Rankings this early in the season should serve as a guide and will be very fluid as roles evolve and usage patterns emerge. It’s tough reading too much into small samples. These will likely be outdated by the end of Friday’s slate. Enjoy.
Top 52 Relievers for Saves
| Rank | Reliever |
| 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 | Daniel Palencia |
| 10 | Ryan Helsley |
| 11 | Jeff Hoffman |
| 12 | Pete Fairbanks |
| 13 | Emilio Pagán |
| 14 | Raisel Iglesias |
| 15 | Ryan Walker |
| 16 | Kenley Jansen |
| 17 | Trevor Megill |
| 18 | Bryan Abreu |
| 19 | Carlos Estévez |
| 20 | Seranthony Domínguez |
| 21 | Robert Garcia |
| 22 | Dennis Santana |
| 23 | Garrett Whitlock |
| 24 | Griffin Jax |
| 25 | Abner Uribe |
| 26 | Jordan Romano |
| 27 | Paul Sewald |
| 28 | Ryne Stanek |
| 29 | JoJo Romero |
| 30 | Riley O’Brien |
| 31 | Robert Suarez |
| 32 | Gregory Soto |
| 33 | Garrett Cleavinger |
| 34 | Jeremiah Estrada |
| 35 | Hogan Harris |
| 36 | Chris Martin |
| 37 | Victor Vodnik |
| 38 | Lucas Erceg |
| 39 | Bryan Baker |
| 40 | Clayton Beeter |
| 41 | Will Vest |
| 42 | Cole Sands |
| 43 | Kyle Finnegan |
| 44 | Cionel Pérez |
| 45 | Drew Pomeranz |
| 46 | Matt Strahm |
| 47 | Justin Sterner |
| 48 | Mark Leiter Jr. |
| 49 | Cole Henry |
| 50 | Tanner Scott |
| 51 | Taylor Rogers |
| 52 | Grant Taylor |
Top 65 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 | Daniel Palencia |
| 12 | Bryan Abreu |
| 13 | Garrett Whitlock |
| 14 | Ryan Helsley |
| 15 | Jeff Hoffman |
| 16 | Robert Suarez |
| 17 | Raisel Iglesias |
| 18 | Alex Vesia |
| 19 | Matt Brash |
| 20 | Will Vest |
| 21 | José Alvarado |
| 22 | Luke Weaver |
| 23 | Phil Maton |
| 24 | Trevor Megill |
| 25 | Ryan Walker |
| 26 | Pete Fairbanks |
| 27 | Emilio Pagán |
| 28 | Brad Keller |
| 29 | Kenley Jansen |
| 30 | Griffin Jax |
| 31 | Lucas Erceg |
| 32 | Tyler Rogers |
| 33 | Grant Taylor |
| 34 | Garrett Cleavinger |
| 35 | Matt Strahm |
| 36 | Camilo Doval |
| 37 | Adrian Morejon |
| 38 | Kyle Finnegan |
| 39 | Tanner Scott |
| 40 | Ángel Zerpa |
| 41 | Erik Sabrowski |
| 42 | Bryan King |
| 43 | Jose A. Ferrer |
| 44 | Robert Garcia |
| 45 | JoJo Romero |
| 46 | Tony Santillan |
| 47 | Louis Varland |
| 48 | Riley O’Brien |
| 49 | Dennis Santana |
| 50 | Jared Koenig |
| 51 | Jason Adam |
| 52 | Dylan Lee |
| 53 | Fernando Cruz |
| 54 | Carlos Estévez |
| 55 | Tyler Holton |
| 56 | Hunter Harvey |
| 57 | Brooks Raley |
| 58 | Gregory Soto |
| 59 | Eduard Bazardo |
| 60 | Shawn Armstrong |
| 61 | Bryan Baker |
| 62 | Seranthony Domínguez |
| 63 | Graham Ashcraft |
| 64 | Grant Wolfram |
| 65 | Erik Miller |
Top 40 Relievers for Holds
| Rank | Reliever |
| 1 | Jeremiah Estrada |
| 2 | Garrett Whitlock |
| 3 | Abner Uribe |
| 4 | Phil Maton |
| 5 | Alex Vesia |
| 6 | Luke Weaver |
| 7 | Matt Brash |
| 8 | Robert Suarez |
| 9 | Camilo Doval |
| 10 | José Alvarado |
| 11 | Will Vest |
| 12 | Brad Keller |
| 13 | Adrian Morejon |
| 14 | Griffin Jax |
| 15 | Lucas Erceg |
| 16 | Matt Strahm |
| 17 | Tony Santillan |
| 18 | Fernando Cruz |
| 19 | Tanner Scott |
| 20 | Louis Varland |
| 21 | Tyler Rogers |
| 22 | Àngel Zerpa |
| 23 | Dylan Lee |
| 24 | Erik Sabrowski |
| 25 | Bryan King |
| 26 | Garrett Cleavinger |
| 27 | Tyler Holton |
| 28 | Eduard Bazardo |
| 29 | Shawn Armstrong |
| 30 | Brooks Raley |
| 31 | Ryne Stanek |
| 32 | JoJo Romero |
| 33 | Jordan Leasure |
| 34 | Caleb Thielbar |
| 35 | Grant Taylor |
| 36 | Greg Weissert |
| 37 | Gabe Speier |
| 38 | Graham Ashcraft |
| 39 | Ryan Zeferjahn |
| 40 | Matt Svanson |
Top 25 Relievers for AL-only
| Rank | Reliever |
| 1 | Cade Smith |
| 2 | Andrés Muñoz |
| 3 | David Bednar |
| 4 | Aroldis Chapman |
| 5 | Ryan Helsley |
| 6 | Jeff Hoffman |
| 7 | Bryan Abreu |
| 8 | Kenley Jansen |
| 9 | Carlos Estévez |
| 10 | Seranthony Domínguez |
| 11 | Jordan Romano |
| 12 | Griffin Jax |
| 13 | Robert Garcia |
| 14 | Bryan Baker |
| 15 | Garrett Whitlock |
| 16 | Chris Martin |
| 17 | Lucas Erceg |
| 18 | Hogan Harris |
| 19 | Garrett Cleavinger |
| 20 | Will Vest |
| 21 | Drew Pomeranz |
| 22 | Kyle Finnegan |
| 23 | Grant Taylor |
| 24 | Matt Strahm |
| 25 | Justin Sterner |
Top 25 Relievers for NL-only
| Rank | Reliever |
| 1 | Mason Miller |
| 2 | Edwin Díaz |
| 3 | Jhoan Duran |
| 4 | Devin Williams |
| 5 | Daniel Palencia |
| 6 | Pete Fairbanks |
| 7 | Emilio Pagán |
| 8 | Raisel Iglesias |
| 9 | Ryan Walker |
| 10 | Trevor Megill |
| 11 | Dennis Santana |
| 12 | Abner Uribe |
| 13 | Robert Suarez |
| 14 | Jeremiah Estrada |
| 15 | Paul Sewald |
| 16 | Riley O’Brien |
| 17 | JoJo Romero |
| 18 | Ryne Stanek |
| 19 | Clayton Beeter |
| 20 | Tanner Scott |
| 21 | Luke Weaver |
| 22 | Victor Vodnik |
| 23 | Cole Henry |
| 24 | Adrian Morejon |
| 25 | Cionel Pérez |
For those interested in our premium option (ad-free content), please use this LINK; it is $30 and covers the season. This will be run via Substack for 2026. Please include your preferred email address, and we will manually add you to our ad-free list. You can also Venmo the $30 to @gjewett9.
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe, and be well.
Statistical Credits: