Fantasy Baseball Saves Plus Holds Rankings & Advice: Week 20 (2026)

Each week during the fantasy baseball season, I take a look at the relief pitcher landscape to aid in waiver wire decisions. We’re past the trade deadline in most leagues, so the waiver wire will have to do through the home stretch of the season.

Fantasy Baseball Saves + Holds League Advice: Week 20

There are 14 pitchers with 25+ saves plus holds:

Player	Team	SV+H
Bryan Baker	TBR	36
Riley O’Brien	STL	31
Louis Varland	TOR	30
Cade Smith	CLE	30
Mason Miller	SDP	30
Kevin Kelly	TBR	28
Tyler Rogers	TOR	28
Trevor Megill	MIL	28
David Bednar	NYY	27
Aroldis Chapman	BOS	27
Dylan Lee	ATL	27
Tanner Scott	LAD	26
Jacob Latz	TEX	25
Jhoan Duran	PHI	25

Takeaways

Cade Smith lost his lead in the category while everyone else has caught up. He’s gone four straight appearances without picking up a hold or save, walking six batters in 4.1 innings. To make matters worse, the Guardians have lost 13 of their last 16 contests and have fallen to fourth in the division.
Riley O’Brien has been on a bit of a heater. Over his last eight scoreless outings, he’s picked up five saves while allowing just one hit with eight strikeouts. He’s tied with Cade Smith and Mason Miller for second in the league in saves.
Tanner Scott hasn’t picked up a save since Edwin Diaz returned from injury, but it hasn’t slowed his value much. Since Diaz’s return, Scott has three holds over five innings, allowing just one run. His control is starting to wane a bit, but he has some regression to give and still has a career-best walk rate.

Saves + Holds Reliever Rankings

Here are my top 40 relievers for save-plus-holds leagues:

Rank	Player	Team	Change
1	Mason Miller	SDP	–
2	Bryan Baker	TBR	+1
3	Cade Smith	CLE	-1
4	Josh Hader	HOU	–
5	Louis Varland	TOR	+2
6	Trevor Megill	MIL	+2
7	Jhoan Duran	PHI	-2
8	Riley O’Brien	STL	+2
9	Aroldis Chapman	BOS	-3
10	Raisel Iglesias	ATL	-1
11	David Bednar	NYY	+1
12	Andres Munoz	SEA	-1
13	Jacob Latz	TEX	+1
14	Kevin Kelly	TBR	+1
15	Tanner Scott	LAD	+2
16	Dylan Lee	ATL	+2
17	Abner Uribe	MIL	–
18	Tyler Rogers	TOR	-2
19	Edwin Diaz	LAD	–
20	Luke Weaver	PIT	–
21	Adrian Morejon	SDP	–
22	Garrett Whitlock	BOS	+7
23	Garrett Cleavinger	TBR	+9
24	Grant Taylor	CWS	+6
25	Kenley Jansen	DET	-3
26	Hunter Gaddis	CLE	-3
27	Eduard Bazardo	SEA	-1
28	Brandyn Garcia	ARI	UN
29	Emilio Pagan	CIN	+2
30	Alex Vesia	LAD	-2
31	Yoendrys Gomez	MIN	+9
32	Jacob Webb	CHC	UN
33	Jeremiah Estrada	SDP	+1
34	Rico Garcia	BAL	+2
35	Jeff Hoffman	MIN	-10
36	Mason Montgomery	PIT	UN
37	Hogan Harris	ATH	–
38	Fernando Cruz	NYY	-5
39	Steven Cruz	KCR	UN
40	Ryne Stanek	STL	UN

Biggest Risers

Garrett Whitlock (RP – BOS) | Previous: 29; Current: 22

Garrett Whitlock has been solid all season for the Red Sox. In 44 innings, he has a 2.05 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 23 saves plus holds and a 10.0 K.9. Since the beginning of July, he’s allowed a run in only two of his 17 appearances. He’s struck out 17 batters compared to just one walk and suppressed contact to the tune of a 90-mile-per-hour (MPH) average exit velocity.

The righty’s ERA estimators back up everything he’s done so far. Whitlock’s FIP (2.22), xERA (2.52) and SIERA (2.59) are all elite.

Jacob Webb (SP – CHC) | Previous: Unranked; Current: 32

The Cubs have needed someone to step up in the bullpen with Daniel Palencia hurt, and Jacob Webb seems to be gaining control. He has three of the team’s last six saves, but two of the others were unconventional.

Webb has pitched 53 innings in four straight seasons and is well on his way to his third straight sub-3.10 ERA year. The Cubs have a chance to catch the Brewers in the division and will need Webb to maintain his success if they’re going to do so.

Biggest Fallers

Daniel Lynch (RP – KCR) | Previous: 24; Current: Unranked

Daniel Lynch has been the Royals’ best reliever all season, but they have refused to use him as their exclusive closer. Despite the team struggling to find some consistency in the back of the bullpen, they’ve made the decision to use Lynch in the rotation.

Lynch hadn’t made any meaningful starts since 2023, and will undoubtedly need to be built up to a starter’s workload. He should be off fantasy radars in saves plus holds leagues while making starts.

Jeff Hoffman (RP – MIN) | Previous: 25; Current: 35

Jeff Hoffman jumped up the rankings with his trade to Minnesota with the thought that he would assume the closer’s role. That hasn’t been the case, as the Twins have stuck with Yoendrys Gomez in save situations and Andrew Morris as the set-up man. Hoffman still has the most strikeout upside of the trio and should get plenty of hold chances.