2018 Fantasy Baseball Rankings

If you are going to draft a closer early, of course it ought to be Jansen. He has been the best closer in baseball for years running. With that said, why not wait 100 picks and grab 85% of the production from Archie Bradley or Sean Doolittle?

After a disappointing 2016, Kimbrel bounced right back to being among the best relievers in the sport. His 126 Ks a 0.681 WHIP are virtually video game numbers. He is a top 3 closer in baseball again this year.

While it's true that Aroldis is officially a human, that doesn't mean we should expect his disappointing season to repeat in 2018. Rather, he looks like a safe bet for 30+ saves and 100+ Ks on top of solid ratios.

Osuna's ERA ended at 3.38 last year which is not ideal, but he is among the best closers in baseball and still just 23 years old. You can count on him for a stellar WHIP , 35+ saves and 80 Ks.

It is rare for a reliever to have such a dominant season (1.78 ERA, 126 Ks in 76 IP) and fall apart the next year outside of an injury. Expect more of the same from the Brewers' star closer in 2018.

Giles had a rough 2016, but bounced rigt back to being one of the top 5 closers in baseball last year. His WHIP likely won't be under 1.00, but you can bet on 80+ Ks and 30+ saves.

Don't expect the Pirates to offer Rivero 40+ save opportunities this season, but Rivero is a safe investment if you want 25 saves and killer ratios from a mid-round closer.

As is true with most closers, Diaz has gone through some rough spells, but overall, the 23-year-old has been spectacular and may only get better from here.

Allen has been the same pitcher now for five straight seasons so we have a pretty strong idea of what to expect: 30+ saves, 2.70 ERA and 90+ Ks. That's a clear-cut top-10 closer.

Iglesias took another big step forward last season, seeing his K/9 jump 1.4 and both of his fantasy ratios improve. While he may not get many save opportunities, Iglesias is safe this season as a fantasy asset.

Hand has been lights out in back to back seasons, posting stellar WHIPs with over 100+ Ks in each season. This year, he should have the closer job full-time too so he has top-5 reliever upside and a fairly safe floor.

Davis has been a top 3 closer in baseball over the past four seasons. With that said, moving to Colorado should bump his ERA north of 3.00 and WHIP up above 1.2 so he is only a fringe top-10 fantasy closer this year.

Doolittle's problem has never been effectiveness, but rather just injuries. And although last year was ultimately a successful season, Doolittle was limited to just 51 1/3 innings, and has pitched just 104 innings total over the previous three seasons. Still, he is truly an elite pitcher when healthy, and excelled as the Nationals closer last season. His ability to limit walks and hard hit fly balls (his HR/FB rate almost always ranks among the league leaders), as well as his excellent strikeout rate, makes him the perfect option in the ninth inning. On a team that will provide him with plenty of save opportunities, Doolittle makes one of the best fantasy options at relief pitcher.

Colome led the AL with 47 saves last year, but the ratios were mediocre and he doesn't strike many batters out. Seeing that the Rays are forfeiting their season, 40+ saves seems unlikely in 2018.

Morrow's turn from mediocre starter to elite reliever became complete last year, as he turned in a dominant season for the Dodgers. He became an integral part of the team's success, and even pitched in all seven games in the World Series. He parlayed his season into a three-year deal with the Cubs to be their closer, which instantly made him one of the most coveted relief pitchers in all of fantasy. Assuming the Cubs don't swoop in and sign Greg Holland, Morrow should be a strong source of ratios, strikeouts, and saves, as there's little reason to doubt his ability to pitch well when healthy. But tread lightly - he has not pitched more than 57 innings in any season since 2012, and his checkered injury history suggests more caution is warranted than most relievers.

Outside of Kenley Jansen, there has been no better reliever in all of baseball over the past few seasons. He is a near-lock to strikeout 90+ with unbelievable ratios, but don't expect more than 5 saves.

While it seems clear that Neris is the best reliever in the Phillies bullpen, his role as the closer may not be a lock. He is worth owning regardless, but make sure to keep tabs on the news coming out of camp, as it would effect his draft stock nearly 100 slots.

Herrera used to be among the best relievers in baseball, but last season he was merely mediocre. He may be the lock at closer, but the Royals might not even provide 30 save opportunities this season.

Familia missed most of last season after developing a blood clot in his throwing shoulder, but he returned at the end of the season and looked strong. It's fair to write off his overall poor numbers last year due to the injury, but Familia had taken a pretty big step back from 2015 to 2016 anyway. Heading into this season and with AJ Ramos on board, the Mets had talked about a closer-by-committee approach, but there were quickly rumblings that Familia would get the bulk of the chances. Unfortunately, he's already dealt with a "tight" shoulder this spring, so his outlook is murky, at best. For now, draft Familia assuming he leads the Mets in saves, but don't bank on much more than 20 or so. Anything more than that would be gravy.

Vizcaino found his control last season, and turned in a fine year, holding down the closer's role with ease in the latter part of the season. His control, which had been downright awful in 2016, was much improved, as he cut his walk rate from 6.05/9 to a passable 3.30/9. Combined with an above-average strikeout rate, Vizcaino has plenty of tools to be a successful closer. But it is worth noting that in light of his inflated hard contact rate and his luck in strand rate, Vizcaino's FIP (3.72) and xFIP (4.21) were much higher than his ERA (2.83) last season. If his luck regresses, he could lose his grip on the role, especially with A.J. Minter waiting in the wings.

It was a tale of two seasons for Treinen, as he flopped when given the closer's role for the Nationals, but then excelled in the role after his trade to the Athletics. Treinen didn't pitch all that well with the Nationals, but he was incredibly unlucky given his BABIP when combined with his 60.5% ground ball rate. His numbers with Oakland (2.13 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, strikeout rate above 20%) are more indicative of what owners can expect. The A's are mediocre, of course, but that shouldn't stop Treinen from being a fine relief option late in drafts.

For four consecutive seasons, Melancon was a dynamite closer. After signing the huge contract with San Francisco, however, he had a terrible season. He's got dibs at the save opportunities, but the ratios aren't a guarantee to bounce back.

Brach was a fine waiver-wire pickup last year, filling in for Zach Britton and totaling 18 saves. Unfortunately, the rest of his numbers weren't quite up to his usual standards, especially in the second half when his control left him. Still, he did enough to show he could handle the closer's role, and he'll be thrust right back into the job in 2018 given Britton's Achilles injury. The exact timetable for Britton is unclear, but even if he's back by late-May or early-June, that is plenty of time for Brach to provide fantasy owners with value. Draft him expecting 15 saves or so as the floor, and there's upside for more if Britton has any setbacks in his recovery.

After struggling in the rotation through 34 career starts, Arizona made the decision to move Bradley to the bullpen where he was lights out last season. He posted stellar ratios and struck out nearly 10 hitters per 9 innings. If the Diamondbacks do name him the closer, we would be looking at a top 10 reliever in baseball.

Price struggled at times last year, but he nearly matched his career ERA, WHIP and K/9 so don't be so quick to assume he is done. We may again see the top 10 pitcher he once was.

The Angels seem to be going with the inferior Bedrosian as their closer to begin the season, but if he slips up one bit, you can bet on Parker taking over again. If and when he is the closer, he is a top 15 reliever in baseball.

The Twins are planning on using Rodney as their closer and saves are saves so go ahead and draft him late if you need to fill the category. That doesn't mean his role will last long, however, as Rodney is one of the worst closers entering the season.

Betances likely won't be saving more than a handful of games, but even in last year's down season, he still managed 100 Ks and solid ratios. You can bet on the safety late in drafts if you need help in those three categories.

 

We don't know where Holland will sign yet, but we can count on him being the closer wherever he ends up. He should see a major improvement in his ratios pitching away from Coors this season.

To begin Spring Training, Mike Matheny said Gregerson would be the Cardinals closer, but as it stands now, Dominic Leone is looking more and more like the guy. Don't give up on Gregerson altogether, but at this point he isn't worth drafting in standard leagues.

Robertson is the number three reliever for the Yanks so saves aren't in the cards, but he has been so good for quite a while that you can still rely on him to provide loads of strikeouts and both a terrific WHIP and ERA.

It seems as though the Astros will be forced to leave Peacock out of the starting rotation to open the season, but even with that being the case, he was so dominant out of the pen last year that he ought to be drafted. He also provides that rare SP eligibility for a relief pitcher than essentially gives you free quality innings.

Clevinger is officially in the rotation to start the season and may just be the steal of fantasy drafts this year. He was a top 15 pitcher when he was on the mound for 21 starts last season and might strikeout 220 this year if he has the chance from Cleveland.

 

 

The Angels have been grooming Bedrosian to be the closer from some time and he has shown considerable potential, but is not nearly as polished as Blake Parker who seems to be the best reliever in their bullpen. Apparently, Bedrosian is the favorite for the job though. Don't draft him as though it is locked into place, nor that if he has the job, he is bound to hang onto it for too long with Parker breathing down his neck.

 

 

Ziegler has had a great run in this league and still has plenty to offer big league teams, but he doesn't provide loads of strikeouts and may have trouble holding off Kyle Barraclough should he improve his command this season.

The Rangers have not given a conclusive answer as to who their closer will be, but it is seeming more and more likely that Kela, the best man for the job, will be handed the role. If it happens, he would immediately become a top 15 reliever in baseball with even larger upside.

Apologies to Kenley Jansen, but Green was the best reliever in baseball during the second half after a rather dominant first half. Batters hit just .147 off him over the entire season and struck out in 45% of their at-bats. That is not a typo! The Yankees finally got wise and decided to put him in the rotation for 2018. There is, of course, some risk here, but he is going undrafted in most leagues. Buy yourself a lottery ticket and maybe just maybe you will end up with this year's breakout starter of the year.

The former shutdown closer is expected back in the first few months of the season but even when he comes back, he will need to be eased back into the closer role. Just know that if you draft him, you better be willing to keep a non-closer on your bench for muiltiple months and he might not even be the same pitcher after surgery.

Soria is slated to start the year as the White Sox closer, and while he was solid last year, Zack Burdi will be breathing down his neck in no time. Plus, Chicago shouldn't offer much in the way of save opportunities so his upside is limited.

Barraclough needs to work on his command so that he can bring the ratios down to a more favorable level for fantasy teams, but he is a good bet to rack up 75+ strikeouts and happens to be second behind one of the shakiest closers in baseball.

 

Oh, you actually believed the rumor that Luke Gregerson (4.57 ERA, 13 HR allowed) was going to be the Cardinals closer over Leone? It is only a matter of time before the entire fantasy baseball community catches wind of the fact that Leone is far and away the best reliever in St. Louis. Over the second half, he morphed into a force of nature for the Blue Jays, posting a 2.05 ERA with 11.5 K/9 and a .205 batting average against. This is the cheapest closer you can find right now, and he may just end up top 10 at the position this year.

Hader is a former top prospect for the Brewers who was stuck in the bullpen last year. Now, that may happen again, but even if it does and he doesn't find a way to steal the closer job from Corey Knebel, Hader is dominant enough to be owned in even standard leagues. Over the second half of the season, he was better than Craig Kimbrel, Edwin Diaz and a host of other top closers. This season, you can expect him to strike out near 100 hitters with a great ERA and WHIP. Don't sleep on the idea that he ends up as the Brewers closer if Knebel stumbles, or better yet, gets his crack in the rotation where he just may be a future ace.

 

The Mets are expected to give Familia the job back, but if he isn't quite his old self, don't be surprised if they hand the keys over to Ramos who would then become a top 25 relief pitcher. In deeper leagues he is worth owning just for the strikeout and ratio help.

Brandon Morrow has more of a locked down closers job than many others, but if he were to falter, Edwards might just be a top 5 closer from that point on. He has elite strikeout stuff and will be a tremendous help with both ERA and WHIP regardless of whether or not he sees save opportunities.

 

 

Sean Doolittle should have no trouble hanging on to the coveted Nationals' closer job which should yield 40+ save opportunities. With that said, Madson is next in line and well worth owning even without the saves considering how absolutley dominant he was in the second-half last year.

The Braves and many around the industry seem to think Minter may be the next Craig Kimbrel. We haven't seen enough yet to warrant owning a project reliever, but he is worth keeping an eye on even if he isn't notching saves for another year. He might be able to be a big help in three categories.

 

Glasnow may have been the worst pitcher in the big leagues last year because he struggled with his command. He also happened to be the best pitcher in the minors last year too with video game numbers. Expect a major bounceback, and while he may may not be an ace right away, he does offer that type of upside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We saw Garrett jump out to a hot start to begin his career, but then it all came tumbling down. He finished the season with terrible numbers, but it turns out he was pitching at less than 100% most of the season. Garrett is healthy now, however and his velo has spiked 4 MPH, so don't be shocked if he breaks out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephenson had a terrible start to the season, but closed the year with a strong second-half. He's got some potential so monitor him so you can pick him up before any kind of breakout takes place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kahnle would need a total Yankees disaster to get save opportunities as he is either fourth or fifth in line for New York. Still, his stuff is good enough that we should be looking at one of the top non-closers in baseball again this season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Padres have not committed to putting Strahm in their rotation yet or he would be worthy of a draft pick even in shallow leagues. Either way, he is well worth watching because once the plug him into the rotation he should be owned everywhere. The young lefty has incredible stuff and should be fantasy relevant for years to come.