Each week during the season, I take a look at the reliever landscape to aid with waiver wire and trade decisions. A couple of injuries, promotions and bad performances from top guys made for an interesting week.

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Fantasy Baseball Saves + Holds League Advice

Saves + Holds Saves Leaders

Here are the leaders in total saves plus holds through April 22nd.

Takeaways

• The Dodgers and Padres still dominate with the most saves plus holds, but the Rangers are creeping towards the top, having three guys with seven each.
• Reed Garrett has three saves plus holds in the past week for the Mets. He has not allowed a run this season, and his strikeout rate is still solid, despite being down from last year.
• Despite Emmanuel Clase‘s struggles, Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis have been lights out for Cleveland. They’ve combined to give up only two earned runs with 31 strikeouts in 22.2 innings with 17 saves plus holds.
• Robert Suarez, Luke Weaver, Andres Munoz and Yimi Garcia have pitched at least 10 innings without giving up a run. Garcia is at the bottom of this list in total saves plus holds with only five in 10.1 innings.

Saves + Holds Relief Pitcher Rankings

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

Injuries

• A.J. Puk was placed on the injured list (IL) with an elbow injury and is getting multiple opinions. He was having a good season with a 3.38 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 12 strikeouts in eight innings and six saves plus holds. Justin Martinez will benefit the most, however, he’s dealing with shoulder fatigue.
• Blake Treinen was placed on the IL with a forearm sprain. Kirby Yates will take over for him with Alex Vesia and Evan Phillips in the mix as well. The Dodgers are gluttonous with the number of high-quality arms they have.

Biggest Fallers

Emmanuel Clase (RP – CLE) | -3

Emmanuel Clase has given up more earned runs already this season than he gave up all of last season. For an elite closer, he’s never been an elite strikeout pitcher, but his strikeout rate has plummeted this year.

Clase is usually around the league average in strikeout rate, however, he’s sitting in the 22nd percentile currently. On a positive note, his walk rate is solid, and he’s still getting plenty of swings and misses. I would expect it to turn around sooner rather than later with Clase’s track record.

Ryan Helsley (RP – STL) | -6

This isn’t so much what Ryan Helsley has done poorly as much as there haven’t been many opportunities in St. Louis. His fastball is down one mile per hour (MPH), but that’s not enough to be alarmed this early.

Helsley’s walk rate, however, is problematic. He’s allowed eight walks in his eight innings and is fortunate it’s only turned into two runs allowed. He is easily the best option in the Cardinals’ bullpen and should be better than this going forward, though.

Biggest Risers

Lucas Erceg (RP – KC) | +2

Lucas Erceg is thriving as the Royals’ set-up man. He has a 1.08 ERA and a minuscule 0.48 WHIP with seven saves plus holds. His strikeout rate is way down with only five in 8.1 innings. However, his walk rate is way down as well, and his hard-hit rate is impeccable. I expect his strikeouts to pick up as the season goes along and he finishes around his career 10.4 K/9.

Abner Uribe (RP – MIL) | Unranked

Abner Uribe is enjoying an impressive start to the season with a 0.93 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. He’s added a win and 11 strikeouts in 9.2 innings, plus six saves plus holds. The young righty induces ideal contact from opposing batters — weak groundballs. His ground ball rate (73.9%) ranks fourth among all pitchers, and his pulled fly ball rate is much more manageable.

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