The All-Star break is no time to slack off, but it presents the opportunity to reflect on what’s transpired so far. Each week during the fantasy baseball season, I take a look at the relief pitcher landscape to aid in waiver wire and trade decisions. This week’s article will be a little different as I highlight some reliever superlatives from the first half.
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Fantasy Baseball Saves + Holds League Advice: Week 16
Saves + Holds Leaders
There are 13 relievers with 20+ saves plus holds:
| Player | Team | SV+H |
| Cade Smith | CLE | 28 |
| Bryan Baker | TBR | 27 |
| Mason Miller | SDP | 25 |
| Riley O’Brien | STL | 25 |
| Louis Varland | TOR | 24 |
| Jhoan Duran | PHI | 24 |
| Kevin Kelly | TBR | 23 |
| Paul Sewald | ARI | 22 |
| Trevor Megill | MIL | 21 |
| Tyler Rogers | TOR | 21 |
| Erik Sabrowski | CLE | 20 |
| Jacob Latz | TEX | 20 |
| JoJo Romero | STL | 20 |
Saves + Holds Reliever Rankings
Here are my top 40 relievers for save-plus-holds leagues:
| Rank | Player | Team |
| 1 | Mason Miller | SDP |
| 2 | Cade Smith | CLE |
| 3 | Jhoan Duran | PHI |
| 4 | Bryan Baker | TBR |
| 5 | Josh Hader | HOU |
| 6 | Riley O’Brien | STL |
| 7 | Raisel Iglesias | ATL |
| 8 | Aroldis Chapman | BOS |
| 9 | Louis Varland | TOR |
| 10 | Andres Munoz | SEA |
| 11 | Trevor Megill | MIL |
| 12 | Paul Sewald | ARI |
| 13 | Tanner Scott | LAD |
| 14 | Kevin Kelly | TBR |
| 15 | Jacob Latz | TEX |
| 16 | Abner Uribe | MIL |
| 17 | JoJo Romero | STL |
| 18 | Tyler Rogers | TOR |
| 19 | Dylan Lee | ATL |
| 20 | David Bednar | NYY |
| 21 | Eduard Bazardo | SEA |
| 22 | Hunter Gaddis | CLE |
| 23 | Brad Keller | PHI |
| 24 | Kenley Jansen | DET |
| 25 | Luke Weaver | NYM |
| 26 | Adrian Morejon | SDP |
| 27 | Alex Vesia | LAD |
| 28 | Tyler Wells | BAL |
| 29 | Fernando Cruz | NYY |
| 30 | Bryan King | HOU |
| 31 | Daniel Lynch IV | KCR |
| 32 | Andrew Morris | MIN |
| 33 | Garrett Cleavinger | TBR |
| 34 | Hogan Harris | ATH |
| 35 | Will Klein | LAD |
| 36 | Yennier Cano | BAL |
| 37 | Emilio Pagan | CIN |
| 38 | Devin Williams | NYM |
| 39 | Yoendrys Gomez | MIN |
| 40 | Tyler Wells | BAL |
Strikeout Leader
Mason Miller (RP – SDP) | 39.2 IP, 0.91 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 25 SV, 72 SO
Mason Miller is having yet another unbelievable season. He’s striking out 16.3 batters per nine innings and 48% of the hitters who step in the box against him. While he’s first in strikeouts, Miller is only 69th in innings pitched among qualified relievers. That’s some impressive efficiency.
Saves Leader
Cade Smith (RP – CLE) | 44.1 IP, 2.84 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 28 SV, 63 SO
Cade Smith has Cleveland’s bullpen back on top of the saves world. From 2022 to 2024, Emmanuel Clase led the Majors with 133 total saves. He was first in 2022 and 2023 and second behind Ryan Helsley in 2024.
Last season was understandably a transition period, as Smith was forced to take over as closer midseason. He came into this season with a clearly defined role and has flourished. Smith is fifth among relievers in strikeout-minus-walk rate (K-BB%), after ranking sixth and third in that stat each of his first two seasons.
Holds Leader
JoJo Romero (RP – STL) | 43 IP, 3.35 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 21 HD, 43 SO
JoJo Romero has already recorded his third straight season with 20+ holds, and we’re only just at the break. It hasn’t exactly been pretty, though. Romero has a 4.81 xERA and 4.01 FIP, while inducing a career-low groundball rate.
Each of Romero’s three main pitches (sinker, sweeper, change-up) has an expected batting average (xBA) of .240 or better. Last season, only his sinker allowed an xBA above .200.
Wins Leader
Aaron Ashby (RP – MIL) | 53.1 IP, 3.38 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 12 W, 7 HD, 1 GS
Aaron Ashby leads not only all relievers but all of baseball with 12 wins. He’s fourth in bullpen innings and tied for sixth in total appearances with 44.
Ashby’s ERA estimators suggest he’s earned a low-3.00s ERA, but his WHIP is troublesome. There’s not much fantasy appeal with Ashby since he gets no saves and few holds; however, the win total is noteworthy.
Best Value
Here are three pitchers who have gained the most value in saves plus holds leagues for the first half.
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Bryan Baker (RP – TBR) | 38 G, 36.1 IP, 1.73 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 10.2 K/9, 27 SV+H
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Louis Varland (RP – TOR) | 44 G, 49 IP, 1.10 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 12.3 K/9, 24 SV+H
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Jacob Latz (RP – TEX) | 35 G, 44.2 IP, 1.61 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 9.3 K/9, 20 SV+H
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