Each week during the season, I take a look at the reliever landscape to aid with waiver wire and trade decisions. The past week has given us a bunch of injuries to maneuver around.
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Saves + Holds Leaders
Here are the top 10 relievers in total SV+H through May 21st.
| Player | Team | SV+H |
| Andres Munoz | SEA | 16 |
| Robert Suarez | SDP | 15 |
| Kyle Finnegan | WSH | 15 |
| Carlos Estevez | KCR | 14 |
| Lucas Erceg | KCR | 14 |
| Tanner Scott | LAD | 14 |
| Tony Santillan | CIN | 13 |
| Emilio Pagan | CIN | 13 |
| Abner Uribe | MIL | 13 |
| Griffin Jax | MIN | 13 |
Takeaways
- Andres Munoz still hasn’t allowed an earned run. His last week saw him pitch 2.2 innings, racking up two strikeouts, allowing one hit and walking zero batters. He picked up three saves, one versus the Padres and two against the White Sox.
- Abner Uribe hasn’t allowed a run since April 24th. Since that date, he’s appeared in 13 games, pitching 12 innings, allowing eight hits, five walks, with 21 strikeouts. He ranks sixth in strikeout minus walk rate (K-BB%) among relievers in that period, while an arbitrary starting point, it’s still an impressive run.
- Kyle Finnegan, Tony Santillan, Emilio Pagan and Abner Uribe are all on sub-.500 teams. Expelling the myth of only targeting relievers on top teams. Saves plus holds can come from almost anywhere, excluding Colorado, Miami, or the southside of Chicago. The top two relievers from each of those three teams only combine for 35 total SV+H.
Saves + Holds Reliever Rankings
Here are my updated top 40 relievers for SV+H leagues.
| Rank | Player | Team | Change |
| 1 | Andres Munoz | SEA | – |
| 2 | Josh Hader | HOU | – |
| 3 | Mason Miller | ATH | – |
| 4 | Robert Suarez | SDP | +1 |
| 5 | Tanner Scott | LAD | +1 |
| 6 | Edwin Diaz | NYM | +1 |
| 7 | Emmanuel Clase | CLE | -3 |
| 8 | Cade Smith | CLE | – |
| 9 | Jason Adam | SDP | – |
| 10 | Bryan Abreu | HOU | – |
| 11 | Jhoan Duran | MIN | – |
| 12 | Luke Weaver | NYY | +1 |
| 13 | Lucas Erceg | KCR | -1 |
| 14 | Ryan Helsley | STL | +1 |
| 15 | Devin Williams | NYY | +3 |
| 16 | Griffin Jax | MIN | +7 |
| 17 | Jeff Hoffman | TOR | -3 |
| 18 | Aroldis Chapman | BOS | +2 |
| 19 | Carlos Estevez | KCR | +3 |
| 20 | Abner Uribe | MIL | +8 |
| 21 | Raisel Iglesias | ATL | -4 |
| 22 | Hunter Gaddis | CLE | -1 |
| 23 | Kenley Jansen | LAA | +1 |
| 24 | Kyle Finnegan | WSH | +2 |
| 25 | Jeremiah Estrada | SDP | – |
| 26 | Alex Vesia | LAD | +1 |
| 27 | Camilo Doval | SFG | +2 |
| 28 | Tony Santillan | CIN | +7 |
| 29 | Robert Garcia | TEX | +4 |
| 30 | Ryan Walker | SFG | +1 |
| 31 | Tommy Kahnle | DET | UN |
| 32 | Pete Fairbanks | TBR | +2 |
| 33 | Bryan King | HOU | +5 |
| 34 | Brendon Little | TOR | -2 |
| 35 | Jordan Romano | PHI | UN |
| 36 | Reed Garrett | NYM | – |
| 37 | Felix Bautista | BAL | – |
| 38 | Emilio Pagan | CIN | +2 |
| 39 | Tyler Rogers | SFG | – |
| 40 | Ryan Pressly | CHC | UN |
Injuries/Suspensions
- Jose Alvarado was suspended after testing positive for PEDs. He was having a great season, but Jordan Romano has been excellent over the last month and will be the next man up. He’s racked up six SV+H with 13 strikeouts over 9.2 innings in the past 30 days.
- Chris Martin did go on the injured list (IL) after speculation last week. Luke Jackson is back healthy, but still looks rough with each outing. Robert Garcia will be the best bet for saves plus holds, but as one of the few lefties in their bullpen, he probably won’t take over the closer role.
- Porter Hodge (8 SV+H) was placed on the IL with an oblique injury. Ryan Pressly should take over as the “best” option in the bullpen for the Cubs with Hodge on the shelf, despite his struggles this season. The Cubs should probably visit the trade market for a reliever.
- Kirby Yates (9 SV+H) was placed on the IL with a hamstring injury. Alex Vesia and Ben Casparius could see more chances with all the Dodgers’ bullpen injuries.
- Fernando Cruz (9 SV+H) was placed on the IL with shoulder inflammation. Mark Leiter Jr. should step in for him as the third option in the back of the Yankees’ bullpen. He joins a formidable duo in Luke Weaver and Devin Williams.
Biggest Risers
Griffin Jax (RP – MIN) | +7
Griffin Jax struggled to start the season after a dominant 2024. Since Easter, he has eight SV+H with a 1.32 ERA and 15.1 K/9. He has only allowed a total of two earned runs in 13.2 innings with 23 strikeouts in that span. He’s back.
Tony Santillan (RP – CIN) | +7
Tony Santillan continues to keep the runs off the board. He’s only allowed a total of four earned runs on the year and never more than one run in a single appearance. I am concerned with his significant drop in strikeout rate from last year, but it’s hard to complain with 12 holds and a save with a 1.50 ERA.
Biggest Fallers
Emmanuel Clase (RP – CLE) | -3
Emmanuel Clase has been better of late, as he hasn’t allowed an earned run since the calendar turned to May. However, his velocity was down quite a bit in his last start.
Clase’s cutter was down 1.5 miles per hour (MPH) from his yearly average, and his fastest cutter in his last outing didn’t reach his average. For someone who has uncharacteristically struggled this season, this is concerning.
Raisel Iglesias (RP – ATL) | -4
Raisel Iglesias has been horrible this season. His 5.89 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 25% strikeout rate are by far the worst marks of his career.
Iglesias allowed at least one run in nine of his 19 appearances, racking up only eight total saves plus holds on the year. The Braves don’t have a lot of great options in their bullpen. Still, I may not have him ranked low enough.
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