Recognizing that ranking relievers can become outdated within hours, Closer Monkey’s updated rankings incorporate in-season results with rest-of-season potential, yielding a number often worth debating. Each week, we are providing saves, SOLDS, and holds rankings.
Relievers on the Rise
- Randy Rodríguez (SF): He’s amid a 16-game scoreless streak, during which he has a minuscule 0.539 WHIP with 27 strikeouts versus three walks (42.1 K-BB%) across 16.2 innings.
- Michael Kopech (LAD): Made his season debut with a clean bottom of the ninth, preserving a four-run win over St. Louis while facing the 1-2-3 lineup pocket. There are no guarantees he will be accruing saves immediately, but this usage pattern paves the way for him to be the right-handed leverage complement to Tanner Scott.
- Grant Taylor (CHW): He may be eased into leverage situations, but he was dominating as a reliever at Double-A. In his last nine appearances as one, he posted a 0.43 WHIP with 18 strikeouts against one walk (53.2 K-BB percentage) while recording a 27.3 swinging strike percentage. He’s been on the stash list for over two weeks. Updated White Hierarchy
What to Watch For (W2W4)
- Atlanta Braves: Will Brian Snitker keep Raisel Iglesias out of save chances or can the veteran work his way back into the trust tree? Who gets the next save chance? Dylan Lee? The “General Lee”? Me?
- Chicago White Sox: How long will it take for Grant Taylor to receive a save chance?
Updated Top 40 (adjusted 6.14)
| Rank | Relievers |
| 1 | Josh Hader |
| 2 | Robert Suarez |
| 3 | Emmanuel Clase |
| 4 | Edwin Díaz |
| 5 | Andrés Muñoz |
| 6 | Jhoan Durán |
| 7 | Carlos Estévez |
| 8 | Aroldis Chapman |
| 9 | Emilio Pagán |
| 10 | David Bednar |
| 11 | Devin Williams |
| 12 | Will Vest |
| 13 | Félix Bautista |
| 14 | Trevor Megill |
| 15 | Ryan Helsley |
| 16 | Pete Fairbanks |
| 17 | Kenley Jansen |
| 18 | Tanner Scott |
| 19 | Camilo Doval |
| 20 | Jeff Hoffman |
| 21 | Mason Miller |
| 22 | Daniel Palencia |
| 23 | Robert Garcia |
| 24 | Kyle Finnegan |
| 25 | Jordan Romano |
| 26 | Shelby Miller |
| 27 | Calvin Faucher |
| 28 | Tommy Kahnle |
| 29 | Randy Rodríguez |
| 30 | Reid Detmers |
| 31 | Dylan Lee |
| 32 | Cade Smith |
| 33 | Raisel Iglesias |
| 34 | Kirby Yates |
| 35 | Alex Vesia |
| 36 | Michael Kopech |
| 37 | Yariel Rodríguez |
| 38 | Bryan Baker |
| 39 | Reed Garrett |
| 40 | Seth Halvorsen |
Saves Stashes
- Grant Taylor (CHW)
- A.J. Puk (ARI)
- Abner Uribe (MIL)
Updated Top 75 for SOLDS
| Rank | Reliever |
| 1 | Josh Hader |
| 2 | Robert Suarez |
| 3 | Emmanuel Clase |
| 4 | Edwin Díaz |
| 5 | Andrés Muñoz |
| 6 | Cade Smith |
| 7 | Randy Rodríguez |
| 8 | Bryan Abreu |
| 9 | Jhoan Durán |
| 10 | Carlos Estévez |
| 11 | Will Vest |
| 12 | Griffin Jax |
| 13 | Abner Uribe |
| 14 | Jason Adam |
| 15 | Tanner Scott |
| 16 | Bryan King |
| 17 | Mason Miller |
| 18 | Trevor Megill |
| 19 | Ryan Helsley |
| 20 | Daniel Palencia |
| 21 | Emilio Pagán |
| 22 | Camilo Doval |
| 23 | Devin Williams |
| 24 | Jeremiah Estrada |
| 25 | Aroldis Chapman |
| 26 | Pete Fairbanks |
| 27 | Jeff Hoffman |
| 28 | Tyler Rogers |
| 29 | Tommy Kahnle |
| 30 | Robert Garcia |
| 31 | Louis Varland |
| 32 | Reed Garrett |
| 33 | Kenley Jansen |
| 34 | Jordan Romano |
| 35 | Justin Martinez |
| 36 | David Bednar |
| 37 | Félix Bautista |
| 38 | Edwin Uceta |
| 39 | Tony Santillan |
| 40 | Shelby Miller |
| 41 | Brendon Little |
| 42 | Yariel Rodríguez |
| 43 | Dylan Lee |
| 44 | Phil Maton |
| 45 | Alex Vesia |
| 46 | Kyle Finnegan |
| 47 | Michael Kopech |
| 48 | Hunter Gaddis |
| 49 | Matt Brash |
| 50 | Reid Detmers |
| 51 | Serathony Domínguez |
| 52 | Kirby Yates |
| 53 | Huascar Brazobán |
| 54 | Brock Stewart |
| 55 | Greg Weissert |
| 56 | Mason Montgomery |
| 57 | Mark Leiter Jr. |
| 58 | Dennis Santana |
| 59 | Brad Keller |
| 60 | Garrett Cleavinger |
| 61 | Orion Kerkering |
| 62 | Matt Strahm |
| 63 | Drew Pomeranz |
| 64 | Jared Koenig |
| 65 | Tim Herrin |
| 66 | John Schreiber |
| 67 | Tyler Holton |
| 68 | Gregory Soto |
| 69 | Bryan Baker |
| 70 | JoJo Romero |
| 71 | Justin Wilson |
| 72 | Chris Martin |
| 73 | Yennier Cano |
| 74 | Gabe Speier |
| 75 | Shawn Armstrong |
Relievers on the Rise
- Reid Detmers (LAA): He’s been scoreless in his last nine appearances, securing six holds with a 1.11 WHIP and 14 strikeouts versus four walks (28.5 K-BB%).
- Steven Cruz (KC): It’s wishful thinking, but he deserves a larger leverage share. He has allowed one earned run in his last five games, posting 12 strikeouts against zero walks (50 K-BB%) across 6.2 innings. However, he only has one hold in this sample, along with a win.
Updated Top for 50 Holds
| Rank | Reliever |
| 1 | Jason Adam |
| 2 | Cade Smith |
| 3 | Randy Rodríguez |
| 4 | Tyler Rogers |
| 5 | Abner Uribe |
| 6 | Bryan Abreu |
| 7 | Bryan King |
| 8 | Griffin Jax |
| 9 | Louis Varland |
| 10 | Reed Garrett |
| 11 | Hunter Gaddis |
| 12 | Tommy Kahnle |
| 13 | Jeremiah Estrada |
| 14 | John Schreiber |
| 15 | Phil Maton |
| 16 | Tony Santillan |
| 17 | Michael Kopech |
| 18 | Alex Vesia |
| 19 | Kirby Yates |
| 20 | Mark Leiter Jr. |
| 21 | Drew Pomeranz |
| 22 | Brad Keller |
| 23 | Edwin Uceta |
| 24 | Seranthony Domínguez |
| 25 | Jared Koenig |
| 26 | Dennis Santana |
| 27 | Shelby Miller |
| 28 | Chris Martin |
| 29 | Orion Kerkering |
| 30 | Dylan Lee |
| 31 | Greg Weissert |
| 32 | Garrett Cleavinger |
| 33 | Matt Brash |
| 34 | Brendon Little |
| 35 | Matt Strahm |
| 36 | Mason Montgomery |
| 37 | Gabe Speier |
| 38 | Tim Herrin |
| 39 | Yariel Rodríguez |
| 40 | Justin Wilson |
| 41 | Ryan Walker |
| 42 | Bryan Baker |
| 43 | Fernando Cruz |
| 44 | Jose A. Ferrer |
| 45 | Hoby Milner |
| 46 | Chad Green |
| 47 | Adrian Morejon |
| 48 | Anthony Bender |
| 49 | Danny Coulombe |
| 50 | Victor Vodnik |
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Statistical Credits: