Each week during the season, I take a look at the reliever landscape to aid with waiver wire and trade decisions.

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Fantasy Baseball Saves + Holds League Advice

Saves + Holds Saves Leaders

Here are the top 10 relievers in total saves plus holds through April 15th.

Takeaways

• Robert Suarez and Jason Adam continue to dominate, and their running mate Jeremiah Estrada is not far behind. Over the past week, the Padres trio has combined for 13 strikeouts in 10 innings, giving up one run and recording seven saves plus holds.
• Luke Weaver picked up four saves plus holds in seven days. He didn’t allow a run during the week and struck out four batters in 4.2 innings. He was dominant last year and should continue to receive ample high-leverage opportunities setting up for Devin Williams.
• The Dodgers have so many options in their bullpen, it’s hard to go wrong with any. Tanner Scott and Alex Vesia have been in the top 10 all season in total saves plus holds. Kirby Yates picked up three himself in the past week, while Blake Treinen has five to his credit.
• Kyle Finnegan is a perfect 6-for-6 in save chances. However, he has given up six hits and four walks in those 7.2 innings. He’s only given up one run, but his expected ERA (3.11) is nearly two runs higher than his actual ERA (1.17).
• Tony Santillan has been solid in the backend of the Reds’ bullpen. He has a 0.84 ERA and 0.47 WHIP with six saves plus holds and 10 strikeouts in 10.2 innings. Alexis Diaz has been activated from the injured list (IL), probably siphoning some save chances from the righty. However, he should still be in the mix as a set-up man alongside Emilio Pagan.

Saves + Holds Relief Pitcher Rankings

Here are my top 40 relievers for saves plus holds leagues.

Biggest Risers

Matt Strahm (RP – PHI) | +4

Matt Strahm is similar to Luke Weaver as a reliever who can cover multiple innings and be used in high-leverage situations. He put up 21 saves plus holds last season with elite ratios. He and Jose Alvarado will likely lead the Phillies’ bullpen in saves plus holds.

Hunter Gaddis (RP – CLE) | Unranked

Hunter Gaddis joined Emmanuel Clase and Cade Smith in what was a dominant Guardians bullpen last season. Gaddis and Smith had 33 and 29 saves plus holds, respectively, and both had a sub-2.00 ERA and sub-1.00 WHIP.

Gaddis didn’t show the same strikeout upside last year, but he has raised his strikeout rate from 24% to 36% in the tiny sample size this year. If he can maintain these strikeout gains and continue to build on his five saves plus holds, he’ll continue to move up the rankings.

Biggest Fallers

Trevor Megill (RP – MIL) | -13

Trevor Megill had a slight injury scare with his knee, but an MRI cleared him of any structural damage. Still, he only has one save plus hold, and he got roughed up in one outing, leading to an inflated ERA (5.79) and WHIP (1.71) on the year.

Megill was really good last year and has plenty of time to turn it around, regardless of the troublesome start.

Blake Treinen (RP – LAD) | -13

Blake Treinen had three saves plus holds by April 1st, but only has two in the two weeks since then. He hasn’t been quite as dominant as the other Dodgers relievers, and it shows in his WHIP.

Treinen has allowed eight hits and three walks in his eight innings of work.

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