With the second half starting and the trade deadline just over two weeks away, the rankings will undergo many adjustments based on role changes and performance. Because so many teams remain on the periphery of the last Wild Card spot in both leagues, outside of the Mets, it may be a slow-moving trade market.
At the end of the first half, some unsettled situations will be worth monitoring this weekend:
- Baltimore Orioles: Tyler Wells received the first save chance after Ryan Helsley was placed on the 15-day injured list, but has also pitched in the eighth against the Cubs’ top of the lineup, leaving the save for Andrew Kittredge. Both have two in the interim and should share them moving forward.
- Chicago White Sox: Grant Taylor was emerging as the preferred save option. Does this continue? How do Sean Newcomb and Jordan Hicks fit in the high-leverage triumvirate?
- Chicago Cubs: While Daniel Palencia remains on the 15-day injured list, Jacob Webb has been the primary save option but will work in the eighth inning when needed, leaving Trent Thornton in the mix for ancillary saves.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: During a doubleheader sweep against the Cubs, Gregory Soto recorded the save in Game 1 and Mason Montgomery notched his first of the season in Game 2.
- San Francisco Giants: After suffering his third blown save on July 10 (last Friday), Caleb Kilian was not used in a save situation on Saturday or Sunday. He converted four of six save opportunities in his last seven appearances. However, he has posted a 2.99 WHIP (14 hits and three walks across 5.2 innings) while allowing nine earned runs in these games.
When assessing the rankings, understand that they remain fluid as sample sizes grow. They are a mix of in-season results and rest-of-season potential. Rankings should be part of a fantasy player’s toolkit, not the sole source of evaluation. This week may look different. I have continued to use updated SGPs (standard gains points) for the season and the last two weeks, with an eye on rest-of-season potential.
Updated RP Rankings for Saves
| Rank | Reliever |
| 1 | Jhoan Duran |
| 2 | Mason Miller |
| 3 | Cade Smith |
| 4 | Josh Hader |
| 5 | Bryan Baker |
| 6 | Louis Varland |
| 7 | Jacob Latz |
| 8 | Andrés Muñoz |
| 9 | Trevor Megill |
| 10 | David Bednar |
| 11 | Tanner Scott |
| 12 | Raisel Iglesias |
| 13 | Riley O’Brien |
| 14 | Paul Sewald |
| 15 | Aroldis Chapman |
| 16 | Devin Williams |
| 17 | Emilio Pagán |
| 18 | Yoendrys Gómez |
| 19 | Pete Fairbanks |
| 20 | Kenley Jansen |
| 21 | Kirby Yates |
| 22 | Jacob Webb |
| 23 | Tyler Wells |
| 24 | Grant Taylor |
| 25 | Andrew Kittredge |
| 26 | Alex Lange |
| 27 | Jordan Romano |
| 28 | Erik Miller |
| 29 | Dylan Smith |
| 30 | Trent Thornton |
| 31 | Mason Montgomery |
| 32 | Gregory Soto |
| 33 | Luke Weaver |
| 34 | Garrett Whitlock |
| 35 | Carmen Mlodzinski |
| 36 | Abner Uribe |
| 37 | Andrew Morris |
| 38 | Sean Newcomb |
| 39 | Clayton Beeter |
| 40 | Aaron Ashby |
| 41 | Kevin Kelly |
| 42 | Bryan King |
| 43 | PJ Poulin |
| 44 | Chad Patrick |
| 45 | Hogan Harris |
| 46 | Mark Leiter Jr. |
| 47 | Didier Fuentes |
| 48 | Adrian Morejon |
| 49 | Paul Blackburn |
| 50 | Cole Winn |
| 51 | Jeff Hoffman |
| 52 | Dylan Lee |
| 53 | Brandyn Garcia |
| 54 | Evan Phillips |
| 55 | Orion Kerkering |
| 56 | Keider Montero |
| 57 | Tyler Alexander |
| 58 | Michael Petersen |
| 59 | Jordan Hicks |
| 60 | Brennan Bernardino |
Updated RP Rankings for SOLDS
| Rank | Reliever |
| 1 | Jhoan Duran |
| 2 | Mason Miller |
| 3 | Dylan Lee |
| 4 | Josh Hader |
| 5 | Bryan Baker |
| 6 | Jacob Latz |
| 7 | Cade Smith |
| 8 | Louis Varland |
| 9 | Andrés Muñoz |
| 10 | Trevor Megill |
| 11 | Luke Weaver |
| 12 | Adrian Morejon |
| 13 | Tanner Scott |
| 14 | David Bednar |
| 15 | Kevin Kelly |
| 16 | Eduard Bazardo |
| 17 | Raisel Iglesias |
| 18 | Riley O’Brien |
| 19 | Aroldis Chapman |
| 20 | Garrett Whitlock |
| 21 | Hunter Gaddis |
| 22 | Michael Petersen |
| 23 | Grant Taylor |
| 24 | Abner Uribe |
| 25 | JoJo Romero |
| 26 | Paul Sewald |
| 27 | Tyler Wells |
| 28 | Bryan King |
| 29 | Fernando Cruz |
| 30 | Yoendrys Gómez |
| 31 | Devin Williams |
| 32 | Jacob Webb |
| 33 | Alex Vesia |
| 34 | Emilio Pagán |
| 35 | Tyler Rogers |
| 36 | Kenley Jansen |
| 37 | Brandyn Garcia |
| 38 | Andrew Morris |
| 39 | Aaron Ashby |
| 40 | Orion Kerkering |
| 41 | Brooks Raley |
| 42 | Steve Okert |
| 43 | Sean Newcomb |
| 44 | Gabe Speier |
| 45 | Mason Montgomery |
| 46 | Daniel Lynch IV |
| 47 | Andrew Kittredge |
| 48 | Garrett Cleavinger |
| 49 | Didier Fuentes |
| 50 | Pete Fairbanks |
| 51 | Trent Thornton |
| 52 | Kevin Ginkel |
| 53 | Tyron Guerrero |
| 54 | Yennier Cano |
| 55 | Brock Burke |
| 56 | Erik Miller |
| 57 | Dylan Smith |
| 58 | Tejay Antone |
| 59 | Jeff Hoffman |
| 60 | Edgardo Henriquez |
| 61 | Justin Slaten |
| 62 | Taylor Rogers |
| 63 | Jonathan Loáisiga |
| 64 | Jordan Hicks |
| 65 | Hogan Harris |
| 66 | Ryan Zeferjahn |
| 67 | Jonathan Bowlan |
| 68 | Brennan Bernardino |
| 69 | Gregory Soto |
| 70 | Chad Patrick |
| 71 | Clayton Beeter |
| 72 | George Soriano |
| 73 | Evan Phillips |
| 74 | Erik Sabrowski |
| 75 | Dylan Dodd |
Updated RP Rankings for Holds
| Rank | Reliever |
| 1 | Dylan Lee |
| 2 | Luke Weaver |
| 3 | Garrett Whitlock |
| 4 | Adrian Morejon |
| 5 | Eduard Bazardo |
| 6 | Hunter Gaddis |
| 7 | Bryan King |
| 8 | Abner Uribe |
| 9 | Michael Petersen |
| 10 | Kevin Kelly |
| 11 | JoJo Romero |
| 12 | Fernando Cruz |
| 13 | Mason Montgomery |
| 14 | Andrew Morris |
| 15 | Orion Kerkering |
| 16 | Brandyn Garcia |
| 17 | Steven Okert |
| 18 | Tyler Rogers |
| 19 | Tyron Guerrero |
| 20 | Andrew Kittredge |
| 21 | Gabe Speier |
| 22 | Brooks Raley |
| 23 | Alex Vesia |
| 24 | Garrett Cleavinger |
| 25 | Brent Headrick |
| 26 | Erik Miller |
| 27 | Brock Burke |
| 28 | Tejay Antone |
| 29 | Daniel Lynch IV |
| 30 | Aaron Ashby |
| 31 | Jordan Hicks |
| 32 | Edgardo Henriquez |
| 33 | Jonathan Loáisiga |
| 34 | Didier Fuentes |
| 35 | Erik Sabrowski |
| 36 | Trent Thornton |
| 37 | Tyler Kinley |
| 38 | Bradegly Rodriguez |
| 39 | Jonathan Bowlan |
| 40 | Huascar Brazobán |
Updated RP Rankings for American League Only Saves
| Rank | Reliever |
| 1 | Cade Smith |
| 2 | Josh Hader |
| 3 | Bryan Baker |
| 4 | Louis Varland |
| 5 | Jacob Latz |
| 6 | Andrés Muñoz |
| 7 | David Bednar |
| 8 | Aroldis Chapman |
| 9 | Yoendrys Gómez |
| 10 | Kenley Jansen |
| 11 | Kirby Yates |
| 12 | Tyler Wells |
| 13 | Grant Taylor |
| 14 | Andrew Kittredge |
| 15 | Alex Lange |
| 16 | Garrett Whitlock |
| 17 | Andrew Morris |
| 18 | Sean Newcomb |
| 19 | Kevin Kelly |
| 20 | Bryan King |
| 21 | Hogan Harris |
| 22 | Mark Leiter Jr. |
| 23 | Paul Blackburn |
| 24 | Cole Winn |
| 25 | Jeff Hoffman |
Updated RP Rankings for National League Only Saves
| Rank | Reliever |
| 1 | Jhoan Duran |
| 2 | Mason Miller |
| 3 | Trevor Megill |
| 4 | Tanner Scott |
| 5 | Raisel Iglesias |
| 6 | Riley O’Brien |
| 7 | Paul Sewald |
| 8 | Devin Williams |
| 9 | Emilio Pagán |
| 10 | Pete Fairbanks |
| 11 | Jacob Webb |
| 12 | Jordan Romano |
| 13 | Erik Miller |
| 14 | Dylan Smith |
| 15 | Trent Thornton |
| 16 | Mason Montgomery |
| 17 | Gregory Soto |
| 18 | Luke Weaver |
| 19 | Carmen Mlodzinski |
| 20 | Abner Uribe |
| 21 | Clayton Beeter |
| 22 | Aaron Ashby |
| 23 | PJ Poulin |
| 24 | Chad Patrick |
| 25 | Didier Fuentes |
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe and be well.
Statistical Credits: