Fantasy Baseball Saves Plus Holds Rankings & Advice (2026)

Fantasy baseball leagues that record saves + holds are becoming more popular. These kinds of leagues expand the relief pitcher pool and change strategy completely. Each week during the season, I’ll take a look at the relief pitcher landscape to aid with waiver wire and trade decisions.

Fantasy Baseball Saves + Holds League Advice

Saves + Holds Leaders

After the first week of the season, there are 30 pitchers with multiple saves + holds. Here are the 19 pitchers with multiple saves + holds who have yet to allow an earned run:

Player Team SV+H
Erik Sabrowski CLE 3
Braydon Fisher TOR 2
Hogan Harris ATH 2
Tyler Alexander TEX 2
David Bednar NYY 2
JoJo Romero STL 2
Ryan Helsley BAL 2
Jordan Romano LAA 2
Matt Strahm KCR 2
Chase Silseth LAA 2
Kevin Kelly TBR 2
Tim Hill NYY 2
Riley O’Brien STL 2
Jakob Junis TEX 2
Paul Sewald ARI 2
Pete Fairbanks MIA 2
Jalen Beeks TEX 2
Lucas Erceg KCR 2
Tony Santillan CIN 2

Takeaways

  • Pete Fairbanks made the move to Miami this offseason and locked down their first two save chances of the season. He’s been sharp and efficient to start the season.
  • Carlos Estevez made one appearance before landing on the injured list (IL). Lucas Erceg has experience in this role for the Royals and is the best right-handed option. Matt Strahm is also in the same bullpen, but as a lefty, he likely won’t be used in the same way.
  • Paul Sewald is the de facto closer for the Diamondbacks. Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk both had Tommy John surgery last year and are still recovering, leaving Sewald as the most experienced healthy closer option.
  • The Cardinals were using Ryne Stanek quite a bit in the first week in their closer role, but that seems to have worked itself out. JoJo Romero and Riley O’Brien have both been much better and should have the most opportunities moving forward.

Saves + Holds Reliever Rankings

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

Rank Player Team
1 Mason Miller SDP
2 Edwin Diaz LAD
3 Andres Munoz SEA
4 Cade Smith CLE
5 Jhoan Duran PHI
6 Aroldis Chapman BOS
7 Abner Uribe MIL
8 Bryan Abreu HOU
9 Jeff Hoffman TOR
10 David Bednar NYY
11 Ryan Helsley BAL
12 Kenley Jansen DET
13 Devin Williams NYM
14 Ryan Walker SFG
15 Daniel Palencia CHC
16 Raisel Iglesias ATL
17 Lucas Erceg KCR
18 Emilio Pagan CIN
19 Pete Fairbanks MIA
20 Trevor Megill MIL
21 Robert Suarez ATL
22 Luke Weaver NYM
23 Tanner Scott LAD
24 Bryan Baker TBR
25 Matt Strahm KCR
26 Camilo Doval NYY
27 Riley O’Brien STL
28 Bryan King HOU
29 Jordan Romano LAA
30 Dennis Santana PIT
31 Griffin Jax TBR
32 JoJo Romero STL
33 Matt Brash SEA
34 Jeremiah Estrada SDP
35 Will Vest DET
36 Alex Vesia LAD
37 Robert Garcia TEX
38 Shawn Armstrong CLE
39 Paul Sewald ARI
40 Seranthony Dominguez CWS

    Rankings Notes

    • Edwin Diaz is my RP1 in a typical saves-only league. The Dodgers give him an advantage with the win total they should end up with. However, in a saves + holds league, I prioritize Mason Miller with his strikeout rate. You really can’t go wrong with either.
    • Unlike traditional leagues, in a saves + holds league, a team that is expected to win a lot of games can support multiple relievers. Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe both have value despite only one of them being in the closer’s role.
    • There are a few relievers left off this list due to injury. Josh Hader, Carlos Estevez, Kirby Yates, Edwin Uceta, Jason Adam and Hunter Gaddis are all currently on the IL but expected to have big roles for their teams.
    • Ten of my top 40 relievers have not picked up a save or hold. It’s not concerning this early in the season.
    • Aroldis Chapman is someone I was skeptical of this offseason because of his age. I’m still watching him with a side eye, but I can’t argue with the results. His sinker is sitting at 99 miles per hour (MPH), and he hasn’t walked anyone in the small sample size.


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