Each week during the season, I take a look at the reliever landscape to aid with waiver wire decisions. For most fantasy leagues, the playoffs start next week or have already begun. I’ve done all the work for you when it comes to saves plus holds (SV+H) leagues.
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Saves + Holds Leaders
Here are the top 16 healthy relievers in total saves plus holds through August 27th.
| Player | Team | SV+H |
| Abner Uribe | MIL | 38 |
| Robert Suarez | SDP | 35 |
| Carlos Estevez | KCR | 35 |
| Tony Santillan | CIN | 31 |
| Andres Munoz | SEA | 31 |
| Hunter Gaddis | CLE | 30 |
| Jeremiah Estrada | SDP | 30 |
| Aroldis Chapman | BOS | 30 |
| Jason Adam | SDP | 29 |
| Jeff Hoffman | TOR | 29 |
| Bryan Abreu | HOU | 28 |
| Tanner Scott | LAD | 28 |
| Cade Smith | CLE | 27 |
| Emilio Pagan | CIN | 27 |
| Devin Williams | NYY | 27 |
| Brendon Little | TOR | 27 |
Takeaways
- Trevor Megill and Alex Vesia were both in the top 15 of healthy relievers last week, but found themselves on the injured list (IL) this week. Megill thinks that his elbow injury is mild and is hopeful he will only miss the minimum time. However, elbow injuries can be particularly scary, and players tend to downplay their injuries. Vesia has an oblique strain and less optimism. Luckily for the Dodgers, they had two relievers activated from the IL in the past week.
- Robert Suarez has silenced the questions of whether or not Mason Miller would take the closer’s role. Since the trade deadline, he has a 1.54 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 9.2 K/9 and five saves. The Padres have three pitchers in the top 16: Robert Suarez, Jeremiah Estrada and Jason Adam. Mason Miller is not far behind with 26 saves plus holds.
- Abner Uribe, Carlos Estevez, Hunter Gaddis, Aroldis Chapman and Brendon Little lead the league with three saves plus holds each in the last seven days. They all pitched at least three innings (four for Uribe and Little) and didn’t allow an earned run.
Saves + Holds Reliever Rankings
Here are my updated top 40 healthy relievers for saves plus holds leagues.
| Rank | Player | Team | Change |
| 1 | Robert Suarez | SDP | – |
| 2 | Andres Munoz | SEA | – |
| 3 | Abner Uribe | MIL | – |
| 4 | Bryan Abreu | HOU | +1 |
| 5 | Aroldis Chapman | BOS | +3 |
| 6 | Edwin Diaz | NYM | -2 |
| 7 | Daniel Palencia | CHC | +3 |
| 8 | Mason Miller | SDP | -1 |
| 9 | Tanner Scott | LAD | IL |
| 10 | Cade Smith | CLE | -4 |
| 11 | Jhoan Duran | PHI | -4 |
| 12 | Carlos Estevez | KCR | +1 |
| 13 | Jeff Hoffman | TOR | -1 |
| 14 | Jeremiah Estrada | SDP | +12 |
| 15 | Emilio Pagan | CIN | +1 |
| 16 | Luke Weaver | NYY | +1 |
| 17 | Jason Adam | SDP | -3 |
| 18 | Kyle Finnegan | DET | – |
| 19 | Hunter Gaddis | CLE | +4 |
| 20 | Tony Santillan | CIN | +2 |
| 21 | Griffin Jax | TBR | -6 |
| 22 | David Bednar | NYY | -1 |
| 23 | Bryan King | HOU | +1 |
| 24 | Matt Brash | SEA | +4 |
| 25 | Will Vest | DET | +4 |
| 26 | Phil Maton | TEX | -1 |
| 27 | Tyler Rogers | NYM | +5 |
| 28 | Matt Strahm | PHI | +3 |
| 29 | Raisel Iglesias | ATL | +8 |
| 30 | Ryan Walker | SFG | UN |
| 31 | Lucas Erceg | KCR | -4 |
| 32 | JoJo Romero | STL | -2 |
| 33 | Kirby Yates | LAD | IL |
| 34 | Dennis Santana | PIT | +4 |
| 35 | Devin Williams | NYY | +3 |
| 36 | Brendon Little | TOR | +3 |
| 37 | Robert Garcia | TEX | -2 |
| 38 | Camilo Doval | NYY | -5 |
| 39 | Brad Keller | CHC | UN |
| 40 | Ronny Henriquez | MIA | – |
Biggest Risers
Tanner Scott (RP – LAD) | Injured List
Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates were activated from the IL as Alex Vesia‘s oblique injury forced him onto it. Before Scott’s injury, he was ranked ninth on this list and had fluctuated between fifth and 11th this season. Despite how disappointing the Dodgers’ play can be at times, they remain the best bet for a win on any given day.
Scott steps back into the closer’s role he’s held all season. He’s already pitched two scoreless innings while picking up one save in two appearances since returning.
Ryan Walker (RP – SD) | Unranked
Ryan Walker resumes the role he came into the season with. Randy Rodriguez was placed on the IL, and with Camilo Doval shipped out at the deadline, Walker is the last man standing. He has looked really good for most of the season after struggling and being removed from the closer role early on.
Since July, Walker has a 1.80 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 10.3 K/9, three wins and three saves plus holds in 20 innings. He has a 2.22 FIP and 2.26 xFIP in those two months.
Biggest Fallers
Griffin Jax (RP – TB) | -6
Griffin Jax has not been the same pitcher since joining the Rays. In his new jersey, he has a 7.56 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, a still-impressive 13 K/9 and four holds in 8.1 innings. He’s allowed three home runs already after only giving up four in his 46 innings with the Twins. That’s bound to happen when you move from the 23rd-ranked home park for home runs to the third-ranked park.
Camilo Doval (RP – NYY) | -5
Camilo Doval has picked up only one hold since August 15th and only has three saves plus holds total since July 13th. His strikeout rate has improved with the Yankees, but he’s giving up more homers and walks, and his batting average on balls in play (BABIP) is 84 points higher than it was in San Francisco.
Like Jax, Doval moved from a pitcher-friendly park to a hitter’s park. Oracle Park is ranked 28th in home runs compared to the seventh-ranked Yankee Stadium, where he currently plays home games. David Bednar, Luke Weaver and Devin Williams are getting the bulk of the high-leverage opportunities.
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