Reliever Rankings, 2018 Fantasy Baseball

Now to finish out the positional rankings for 2018 with my favorite: the relievers! I may have went a little crazy here, 3000 words on closers and one stat fellas is just bonkers to think about. I could have just used “save potential” and “hard hit percentage in medium leverage situations” about 40 times in my rankings, but I didn’t. Ranking relievers is an ever changing game of robbing Peter to pay Paul scenario. There are always going to be injuries and attrition, which lead to relievers getting changed and making the preseason rankings look stupid in hindsight. Last year there were 40 relievers that garnered 10 saves or more. Now, if you are keeping track, there are still only 30 teams so my previous sentence about replacement value in relievers is very true. That is why handcuffs and secondary bullpen pieces on draft day are important, not only for saves but to help your cranky ratios that creep up from day-to-day. This ranking is just based on relievers with potential for saves and how they will stack up in that department. Holds post will be something separate and should be forthcoming, though you sure as hell aren’t getting 3000 words on Holds because I’d rather blow my brains out. Still love the Holds game as much as, or even more than any other fantasy writer, just gotta temper expectations as not many other sites give you so much bullpen love as we do. So enjoy the rankings of 2018 fantasy relief pitchers. (It says 50 but I went ahead and did a little extra.) Enjoy!

Kenley Jansen – He is in his own tier. (Needs a Paul Heyman type introduction.) The reigning, defending, undisputed relief pitching world champion of the world…Brock…sorry Kenley Jaaaaaaaaaaaaansen! Has finished in top-50 in the player rater on a certain site the last two years. The goods he is, the paper and plastic version of relievers and if you look behind him, the Dodgers better hope he doesn’t go down or they are sunk. 2018 Projections: 65 IP1.60/.80/110/41 Saves
Craig Kimbrel – This tier goes from here until Knebel. It is called “Don’t be first, second, or third, but take the best one left before they are gone” Or in common circles called DBFSTBTBOBTAG. If Kenley is the closer of the future when robots convince us that saves are the only way to raise staple crops, then Kimbrel is the farmer who follows diligently behind. Seven straight seasons with 30-plus saves and 80-plus K’s. 2018 Projections: 70IP 1.95/.95/105/ 40 Saves
Aroldis Chapman – Is there reason for concern after last year where he had injuries and attrition in stats?…absolutely. Posted the lowest SWSTR% in his career, but still managed that illustrious 12+ K/9. If the Yankees don’t homer teams to death, they could have problems eclipsing their 59 save opportunities from a year ago. 2018 Projections: 65 IP 2.80/1.15/110/ 38 Saves
Ken Giles – Beefed up starting staff sure does help a stud closer. Team will score enough runs for the opportunities to be there. Finished last year in the top-7 in RP rankings, so a climb to the top-5 isn’t an atmospheric rise. If I am drafting today, he is the first reliever I am targeting after the big four are off the board. 2018 Projections: 65 IP 2.55/1.15/85/38 Saves
Cody Allen – Consistency is what you are getting. That and now we know that Miller isn’t going to mess with his stuff too much coming into this year. Last three years innings pitched 69, 68, 67. Last three years K’s : 99, 87, 92. I mean, SSS aside that makes me feel warm and cozy like my furry Chewbacca jammies. 2018 Projections: 70 IP 2.95/1.18/94/37 Saves
Roberto Osuna – Mi corazon of closers this year. Last year, preseason it was Edwin Diaz, this year I am keeping it Latino and Osuna is my hombre. My rule of drafting closers is don’t be first, second, or third. Be the fourth guy to draft one this way you wont be at the start of the run and waste a higher pick or won’t have to wait til the end and get stuck with Blake Treinen as your RP1. 2018 Projections: 68 IP 2.00/.95/90/39
Corey Knebel – My favorite moment of his was either the Red River jump or the school bus jump. Milwaukee is trying like heck to make it easier for their bullpen this year, but it won’t matter as they are stout. “Evil” Knebel had a breakout last year and expectations should be tempered as he will be over-drafted if everyone looks at the save and K-rate. Which are stellar, but underlying stats say he may be luckier than good. Still worth a top 7 RP draft pick though, it is a quantity game with saves. 2018 Projections: 68 IP 2.90/1.22/100/36 Saves
Felipe Rivero – A new tier and it goes to Diaz it is called: “Three lefties, a Church and a former lover.” I love me some Felipe. Period. I wish I could start another paragraph on him. If last year was any kind of introduction to what he could be I am anxiously awaiting what he does like Carrie on prom night. 2018 Projections: 65 IP 2.00/1.05/85/33 Saves
Brad Hand – I went over Hand in a separate post.
Sean Doolittle – Grew into the role last year and has Madson as a great wingman. Both of them pitched like top-15 RP the second half of last year and that should continue. Will eclipse 30 saves for the first time in his career this year. If you are looking for a closer that people will look at odd because of just looking at the save total from last year it is him. That means good value for you. 2018 Projections: 58 IP 2.85/1.0/70/34 Saves
Raisel Iglesias – Three straight years of improvement. Just how many saves will he get for a Reds team that averages 68 wins over the last four years. K potential is great and 14% Swgstr% is fantastic. Wins the blue ribbon for best reliever on a god awful team award. Which comes with a 25 dollar gift card to Shoney’s. 2018 Projections: 65 IP 2.75/1.05/95/29 Saves
Edwin Diaz – My former lover gets to continue in my graces, but he can’t see my kids anymore. Unless supervised by Dipoto. The Mariners are going to have a ton of save opportunities again this year they finished in the top 6 last year and that should continue. the bullpen leading up to him got better with the add of Nicasio. 2018 Projections: 69 IP 2.65/1.15/90/ 36 Saves
Wade Davis – New tier goes from Davis to Herrera: “New Guys in new spots or soon to be”. Changes in attitude, changes in altitude and I’ll be at Margaritaville. He is a good closer, now just can the inflated everything in Colorado keep him in the elite category of closers? I am skeptical to be honest. Out of every closer in the top-15 he is the only one that I have avoided to date in mocks. 2018 Projections: 62 IP 3.00/1.05/75/32 Saves
Alex Colome – Raise your hand if you saw him getting 47 saves last year for the Rays? Liar… all two of you and that guy who may be scratching is head too. He won’t be in this job all year I am predicting at least for the Rays. Relievers in-season have tremendous trade value and the Cardinals still need on IMO. Regardless he will get his. I am calling a 15 saves in each league season. 2018 Projections: 64 IP 2.65/1.15/75/ 34 Saves
Brandon Morrow – I am waiting to be fooled by his transition into everyday bullpen piece for the Dodgers last year to closer for a contending club this year. Leery is a word. Sketchy is the other. Carl Jr. is the first non-closer I have drafted in most mocks this year call me a sketchy lyricist I guest. Wait, that’s not right. Too bad, I am running with it. 2018 Projections: 58 IP 3.05/1.1/75/ 29 Saves
Mark Melancon – Return from bad injuries usually dampen one’s return especially with relievers. Melancon is proven to be a great RP when healthy. Just will he e is the problem. The Giants are hoping so, if not they have #50 on this list to take over. 2018 Projections: 50 IP 2.7/1.10/60/28 Saves
Greg Holland – Still clubless, but still has the swagger to be an elite closer depending on team and opportunities given. Paging the Cardinals. I am assuming birds still use beepers or maybe two-ways. 2018 Projections: 60 IP 3.20/1.20/80/30 Saves
Kelvin Herrera – Kansas City is the hardest team to predict right now. They have lost so many pieces but pitching wise they may be okay. They don’t score a ton of runs, but won’t give up that many either. Year in and year out the bullpen is always pretty good so Herrera still retains value mid-table of all closers. Could be traded if what I just said makes no sense to Royals’ management. 2018 Projections: 63 IP 3.25/1.10/80/30 Saves
Andrew Miller – New tier goes from Miller to Vizcaino. Call it: “I am owning one of these guys because I want three closers”. The best handcuff in all of fantasy relief-dom. The relief chances for save swill be minimal but the K’s, wins in relief, and holds will be there. 2018 Projections: 64 IP 1.85/.90/100/ 8 Saves
Blake Treinen – Easily my closer side piece this year. Getting drafted after some guys that I literally hate and has the job with zero competition. 2018 Projections: 62 IP 3.25/1.25/80/25 Saves
Archie Bradley – I hope he doesn’t go all Veronica on the saves job and force us to regret giving him so much helium. He is the perfect closer to draft if you have an excess closer going through the draft. Say two guys ranked ahead of him fall into your lap and the value is too good to be true. 2018 Projections: 60 IP 2.85/1.15/80/ 24 Saves
Shane Greene – Have you ever been to the zoo and watched a Tiger close? It is wonky and the other animals all laugh at him. The animal kingdom is not a forgiving thing for relief pitchers. The Tigers are going to be a 70 win team so temper expectations on accumulation is the basic analogy in biology there. 2018 Projections: 61 IP 3.60/1.15/65/24 Saves
Fernando Rodney – The save compiler leaves turmoil in his wake and a crooked hat on his head. The Reed signing is good for Twins bad for fantasy because now they have that in case of Rodney guy to fill in. He is going to have his typical up and down hated by all season. 2018 Projections: 58 IP 3.50/1.20/60/25 Saves
Hector Neris – Sneaky good the end of last year when they just let him be and do the job. Now comes into spring with the job and could be a sneaky 20-plus closer off the board with decent returns. 2018 Projections: 6 IP 3.25/1.25/70/25 Saves
Blake Parker -This is the last tier, it goes from here until Addison Reed. Labeled: “well might as well or can’t go wrong tier”. I like sneaky value and that is just what Parker did last year. Bounced around in different roles and multiple stints at closing games built around Bud Norris injuries. Unquestionably should be the guy that Scioscia messes with all year and uses ineffectively. 2018 Projections: 57 IP 3.00/1.15/60/22 Saves
Arodys Vizcaino – The youth movement and more talented arms are behind him. relievers with closing ability have a ton of value on the trade market. The Braves may not be the team of 2018 but 2019 look out. 2018 Projections: 60 IP 3.15/1.20/65/20 Saves
Alex Claudio – I am a sucker for guys names that rhyme with a Phil Collins song. Texas to me has a top-5 bullpen of arms collectively. Individually they steal value from each other unfortunately for fantasy though. 2018 Projections: 64 IP 2.95/1.20/70/22 Saves
Brad Brach – I used to love him, now I am not falling for his charms anymore. Goofy delivery and effective results teetered last year on bad down the stretch, but still got the saves done… most of the time. Britton is not back until ASG so cuffing him and a DL stash isn’t an awful idea. 2018 Projections: 58 IP 3.15/1.18/70/24 Saves
Jeurys Familia – Committee’s are never fun for drafting, avoid if possible because guessing wrong usually deflates your pitching. 2018 Projections: 55 IP 3.05/1.25/70/ 20 Saves
Addison Reed – Is the inverse of Fernando, a break-glass closer right now. It is preseason and Molitor already has to reassure us that Rodney is the closer not reassuring at all. Should be drafted as one of the best cuffs and I can see you grabbing him before the other closers are all off the board. 2018 Projections: 70 IP 2.55/ 1.10/75/16 Saves
Chad Green – From Green to the bottom its hunt and peck tier. Closers to be or intriguing middle relief guys. The Yankees pen is going to be electric with high K potential guys. Owning multiple is mixed no holds leagues is probably going to happen anyways. In Holds leagues it gets muddled up and becomes a guessing game of trade K potential for Holds. 2018 Projections: 65 IP 2.25/1.10/80/2 Saves
Brad Peacock – The belle of the dual eligibility ball. Don’t get sucked into the extra exposure of playoff baseball, happens too many times and has lead to over drafting. Postseason showcase means extra wear and tear and now is going to start the year in a new role in bullpen. Still love him as a hide and roster RP/SP guy. 2018 Projections: 70 IP 3.00/1.25/80/2 Saves
A.J. Ramos – The second in the so-called “committee”. I mean who has a committee in December, besides elves and the PTA. 2018 Projections: 60 IP 3.10/1.20/65/12 Saves
Juan Nicasio – Could be the top guy you are looking for in holds leagues, in leagues that you don’t count that glorious stat he is a last round flyer to fill some ration categories. 2018 Projections: 70 IP 2.45/1.05/80/4 Saves
Luke Gregerson – Yuck on whole wheat toast. The Cardinals can’t be serious with this? They have to be slow playing a trade or a free agent because their bullpen with a front man of Luke Gregerson sounds so 2008. 2018 Projections: 54 IP 3.25/1.20/60/15 Saves
Juan Minaya – Potential, yes. Young team that he could develop into something… sure? 2018 Projections: 62 IP 3.20/1.25/65/18 Saves
Brad Ziegler – Scraping the bottom of the saves barrell is the actual definition of Ziegler’s last name. Marlins aren’t committed to anyone who makes money or is over 25 years old. 2018 Projections: 55 IP 3.45/1.20/60/15 Saves
Keone Kela – Between him and Claudio above they could have a potent 1/2 combo to end games. Stealing value from each other is the only problem. 2018 Projections: 62 IP 3.25/1.05/75/ 10 Saves
Kyle Barraclough – It’s funny that the Marlins actually have value in their bullpen, but decided to just tear everything down. I thought the new theory in baseball was to build a good bullpen and fill in the rest. 2018 Projections: 58 IP 3.25/1.20/80/6 Saves
Mike Minor – Texas is stockpiling relievers like they like to hide bicycles in basements. Lots of mouths to feed in the Ranger pen right now. Gotta see how everything sets up before committing. 2018 Projections: 95 IP 2.80/1.2/95/3 Saves
Dellin Betances – Was shaky, shaky towards the end of last year and practically unownable. his WHIP will kill you if roster all year, gotta pick spots with him. Will be overdrafted because everyone has a boner for reliever K’s. 2018 Projections: 60 IP 2.65/1.25/90/4 Saves
Ryan Madson – Last year in the second half the Nationals had two top-15 relievers at their disposal. Nice that they are righty and lefty. The righty may be the better pitcher but just not for saves. 2018 Projections: 68 IP 2.10/1.00/75/6 Saves
Cam Bedrosian – Has there been a more disappointing closer to be than Cam Bedrosian? Shows Brad Lidge potential with Brad Lidge after that Pujols homerun in the playoff type stuff. I am officially done riding his bus, since if I get beat by Cam then I deserve to lose. 2018 Projections: 62 IP 3.45/1.20/80/3 Saves
Josh Hader – What do we love more the arm or the head lettuce that is flopping outside his hat? There is no wrong answer. Love the dude as a multiple inning stud. 2018 Projections: 68 IP 2.50/1.0/90/ 3 Saves
David Robertson – Crowded Yankee pen makes him less important unless Chapman goes down. I would draft him last out of the four Yankee relievers but would be the first to get saves in the event of turmoil. Maybe I am doing this wrong. 2018 Projections: 70 IP 2.85/1.05/80/5 Saves
Carl Edwards Jr. – In case of emergency is the easiest handcuff to draft this year because who can trust a Morrow. 2018 Projections: 70 IP 2.90/1.20/80/8 Saves
Chris Devenski – Good bridge between starters and Giles. Could see a reduced role from last year that saw him have multiple inning affairs which could hurt his value a bit this year. 2018 Projections: 65 IP 3.15/1.05/75/6 Saves
Nate Jones – Sleepy guy returning from injury that could surplant Minaya as closer eventually. 2018 Projections: 55 IP 3.65/1.20/70/10 Saves
Joakim Soria – The wily veteran presence in a room filled with unknowns in Chicago. Not expecting much as the Mexecutioner hasn’t really killed it years. 2018 Projections: 60 IP 3.50/1.25/65/6 Saves
Sam Dyson – If Melancon is still broken we saw that he wasn’t exactly what got him kicked out of Texas. Was decent enough to get 14 saves last year fro a team that had nothing out of the pen for most of the year. If you draft Melancon, waste your last pick on Dyson. 2018 Projections: 60 IP 3.45/1.25/60/9 Saves
Drew Steckenrider – Not gonna let ’em know, not gonna let ’em catch the Drew Steckenrider. Marlins punt option when they realize Ziegler will fetch them a bag of balls. 2018 Projections: 58 IP 3.15/1.25/65/8 Saves
A.J. Minter – Sleepy, sleeperson. Braves go full on youth movement and he is going to be the guy. Crazy K potential and for bad bullpen breath what is better than a Mint? 2018 Projections: 60 IP 2.7/1.05/90/8 Saves
Joe Kelly – Should be the second to last guy utilized in most games for the Red Sox this year. K potential should be higher than what it is he just throws hard with not a ton of movement. 2018 Projections: 55 IP 2.95/1.20/50/3 Saves
Tyler Lyons – A high strikeout guy that has brilliant ratios that you will want every other week on your roster to even your counting stats out. 2018 Projections: 65 IP 2.50/1.00/80/5 Saves
Brad Boxberger – I mean who doesn’t love a good box. Gets a good spot behind an unfamiliar guy in his position in Bradley. I could see some sway in the pirate ship known as Archie and Box is the guy your gonna wanna pound into your lineups. 2018 Projections: 55 IP 3.25/1.28/60/10 Saves
Joe Musgrove – I am hoping the Searage experience is better for him than it has been for me and Daniel Hudson. should be the prime guy behind Rivero who is so sneaky good it hurts, like stubbing your toe on the Clemente bridge. 2018 Projections: 64 Ip 3.00/1.25/70/4 Saves
Dominic Leone – I would like him more if Lyons wasn’t so enticing with K’s and the fact that I think the Cardinals sign or trade for a closer pushing Gregerson, Lyons and himself down the trough. 2018 Projections: 60 IP 3.00/1.15/75/4 Saves
Mychal Givens – To me Givens is the best RP to never even sniff the closer role for a team that may want him to sniff the closer role. 2018 Projections: 65 IP 2.75/1.10/75/5 Saves
Jacob Barnes – Faded severely in the second half last year and now with Hader soaking up some more innings his role should be 7th-8th once in a awhile instead of every other day. Good potential for holds that wee will divulge into in a another post. 2018 Projections: 58 IP 3.25/1.20/70/2 Saves
Anthony Swarzak – Is technically third on the list but first on my list of pitchers in my top 60 with a Z in their name. Behind Familia and Ramos may see the occasional off, off day for either of them. 2018 Projections: 65 Ip 3.05/1.25/75/2 Saves
Pat Neshek – Veteran handcuff for Neris. Eats innings and is just funky enough on hitters that his stats relate to mixed leagues love with just enough K’s and ERA. 2018 Projections: 60 Ip 3.15/1.15/70/3 Saves
Scott Alexander – The only other Dodger reliever ranked in this post. the fall off after the departure of Morrow and after Jansen is legit troublesome. Did swell in KC and now has a better team with more pressure situations. 2018 Projections: 60 IP 2.95/1.2/60/2 Saves
Matt Barnes – The numbah two in Bawhston throws wicked hard. Kimbrel is reliable and durable. Barnes and Joe Kelly are just movie fodder like Jeremy Renner in The Town. 2018 Projections: 58 IP 2.85/1.35/70/2 Saves
Yoshisha Hirano – Japanese import gets the number two chair behind Archie in the desert. Effective and deceptive wind-up will lead to immediate success and than get figured out so numbers will be middle of the road. Great NL only grab for save speculation. 2018 Projections: 55 IP 3.00/1.2/70/4 Saves