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The Baller Ranks: Weekly Top 101 Relief Pitcher Rankings

Nick Mariano's Baller Ranks is a weekly fantasy baseball rankings list for the top 101 relief pitchers and closers. He ranks and analyzes updated pitcher values for Week 7.

We're cruising through May and yet there are still so many uncertain, fluid bullpens to peruse in my 2021 Relief Pitcher Baller Ranks, which provides a weekly peek at my top 101 relievers moving forward. It's finally time to ramp it up to true 101 Dalmatians form. This is geared towards traditional 5x5 roto leagues with some mentions for hold candidates and ratio anchors.

I decided to leave off most injured players because throwing darts at potential return dates and roles is usually a poor use of time. Each name below comes with the weekly rank, their movement compared to last week, their current value with my salary-cap lens, Earned Value per Fangraphs, and then many have some notes with brief thoughts.

This article comes complete with a Baller Ranks google sheet where you'll find the usual 5x5 categories, saves, holds, strikeout rates, Called + Swinging Strike rates, and so on. Please note that those stats are exported from Fangraphs.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Top 101 Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball

Rank (+/-) $ Tier Player EV PV Trend Notes
1 0 $15.0 1 Josh Hader $6.4 $15.0 0.0 ▬
2 0 $15.0 1 Aroldis Chapman $7.8 $15.0 0.0 ▬
3 0 $13.5 2 Liam Hendriks $0.4 $13.5 0.0 ▬ Still fantastic control, but a clear step behind JH & AC
4 0 $13.0 2 Craig Kimbrel $3.9 $13.0 0.0 ▬ Cruising towards a top-5 RP year, perhaps even top 3
5 3 $12.0 2 Matt Barnes $8.8 $10.0 2.0 ▲ Can't deny his elite whiffs and walk rate, clear closer role
6 -1 $12.0 2 Raisel Iglesias -$0.5 $11.5 0.5 ▲ 2.70 SIERA; .364 BABIP (career .282); 25% HR/FB (13.2%); hold
7 -1 $11.5 2 Edwin Diaz $4.0 $11.0 0.5 ▲ His back looks fine, pair of SVs & 3 scoreless appearances
8 -1 $10.0 2 Kenley Jansen -$1.1 $10.0 0.0 ▬
9 0 $9.0 2 Ryan Pressly $4.1 $8.5 0.5 ▲ Had yielded a run in 2 straight to open May, 2 clean since
10 1 $8.0 2 Mark Melancon $6.1 $8.0 0.0 ▬ Just keeps getting it done, who needs 100 mph anyway?
11 1 $7.5 2 Richard Rodriguez $4.3 $7.5 0.0 ▬ Only 2 Ks in last 4.2 IP, still dominant though
12 -2 $6.5 3 Brad Hand $0.8 $8.0 -1.5 ▼ 0.00 ERA in April, now yielded runs in 3 straight; troubling
13 0 $5.5 3 William Smith $4.0 $6.0 -0.5 ▼ Martin back, Shane Greene signed; how long is 9th 100% Smith's?
14 0 $5.0 3 Hector Neris $0.0 $5.0 0.0 ▬ Had a clean save on May 12, encouraging to see
15 0 $4.5 3 Emmanuel Clase $3.8 $4.5 0.0 ▬
16 0 $4.5 3 Cesar Valdez $5.8 $4.5 0.0 ▬ BABIP'd by the Mets on May 11, still the guy for BAL
17 0 $4.5 3 Ian Kennedy $3.0 $4.5 0.0 ▬ Late-round RP gem, 10 saves is already ProfitLand
18 0 $4.5 3 Jake McGee $1.4 $4.0 0.5 ▲ He still looks like "the guy" contrary to Rogers talk
19 2 $4.0 3 Alex Reyes $2.3 $3.5 0.5 ▲ His May: 6.2 IP, 1 H/ER, 6 BB, 10 K; hard to hit, hard to control
20 -1 $4.0 3 Yimi Garcia -$0.7 $4.0 0.0 ▬
21 1 $3.5 4 James Karinchak $6.5 $3.5 0.0 ▬ Still looks to be Cleveland's 1B, but incredible Ks & ratios
22 1 $3.5 4 Kendall Graveman $5.5 $3.0 0.5 ▲ Great form hasn't stopped in May, looking great
23 -3 $3.5 4 Taylor Rogers $2.3 $3.5 0.0 ▬ Ugly first 2 outings as MIN closer; no SV opps since May 3
24 1 $2.5 4 Lucas Sims -$0.8 $2.0 0.5 ▲ Has 2 wins in his last 2 games, 3 IP, 5 Ks, looking sharper
25 1 $2.5 4 Gregory Soto $0.8 $2.0 0.5 ▲ His bloated WHIP is frightful, grounders help erase walks
26 1 $2.5 4 Jake Diekman $4.9 $2.0 0.5 ▲ The lefty has seen more SV opps of late, it can flip quickly
27 5 $2.5 4 Stefan Crichton $2.3 $1.5 1.0 ▲ It may not be pretty but he's the best ARZ's got right now
28 -4 $2.0 5 Lou Trivino $0.0 $2.5 -0.5 ▼
29 23 $2.0 5 Jordan Romano $1.1 $1.0 1.0 ▲ Notched his first save of 2021 on May 11, long time coming
30 -1 $2.0 5 Josh Staumont $2.2 $2.0 0.0 ▬ Nice to see 1 IP, 3 K after brief stumbles; KC has lost 10 straight
31 -1 $2.0 5 Giovanny Gallegos $3.8 $2.0 0.0 ▬ Tagged for 2 ER on May 8, 0 Ks in last 3.1 IP; shrug it off
32 1 $1.5 5 Daniel Bard -$0.8 $1.5 0.0 ▬ Bard blew his 3rd save, Givens looks better; when's the flip
33 1 $1.5 5 Tejay Antone $0.8 $1.5 0.0 ▬ They're not overworking him, still worth 5x5 deployment
34 4 $1.0 6 Michael Kopech $7.4 $1.0 0.0 ▬ May start one of Friday's doubleheader games
35 20 $1.0 6 Daniel Hudson -$0.5 $1.0 0.0 ▬ With Hand hitting a wall, keep Hudson near
36 9 $1.0 6 Mychal Givens -$1.3 $1.0 0.0 ▬ COL saves aren't enticing, but I think Bard needs a break
37 -1 $1.0 6 Drew Pomeranz $1.7 $1.5 -0.5 ▼
38 -3 $1.0 6 Rafael Montero $0.2 $1.5 -0.5 ▼ 1B for SEA; ER(s) in 2 straight; relegated to SVHLD territory
39 -11 $1.0 6 Pete Fairbanks $0.9 $2.0 -1.0 ▼ 2 shutout frames, 4 Ks since returning; will he see some 9th?
40 0 $1.0 6 Chad Green $3.1 $1.0 0.0 ▬
41 2 $1.0 6 Tyler Rogers $1.6 $1.0 0.0 ▬ Racking up holds, no shots at SVs though; 1 K in 5 IP thru May
44 4 $1.0 6 Jose Alvarado $2.1 $1.0 0.0 ▬ Control can disappear but electric arm in late frames
43 1 $1.0 6 J.P. Feyereisen $2.8 $1.0 0.0 ▬
42 -5 $1.0 6 Devin Williams -$1.8 $1.0 0.0 ▬ Pitched in 4 of last 5 after a week off; good not great
45 N/A $1.0 6 Jeffrey Springs $2.5 $0.0 1.0 ▲ 2 W, 1 L, 1 SV, 1 HLD across 6 May appearances, doing it all
46 -5 $1.0 7 Garrett Whitlock $2.4 $1.0 0.0 ▬
47 -8 $1.0 7 Mike Mayers -$0.4 $1.0 0.0 ▬ Recovered with 2 clean holds after a couple rough outings
48 -6 $1.0 7 Austin Adams $2.0 $1.0 0.0 ▬
49 0 $1.0 7 Joely Rodriguez $2.7 $1.0 0.0 ▬
50 0 $1.0 7 Trevor May $3.9 $1.0 0.0 ▬ Still a premier insurance policy, but Edwin looks fine now
51 2 $1.0 7 Andrew Kittredge $1.6 $0.5 0.5 ▲ Notched the save on May 9, in the TB mix
52 2 $1.0 7 Jonathan Loaisiga $2.4 $1.0 0.0 ▬
53 N/A $1.0 7 Aaron Bummer $2.3 $0.0 1.0 ▲ Started slow but 7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 K since April 24
54 -3 $1.0 7 Dylan Floro $4.4 $1.0 0.0 ▬
55 -9 $1.0 8 Sean Doolittle $1.8 $1.0 0.0 ▬
56 2 $1.0 8 Tanner Scott $0.0 $1.0 0.0 ▬
57 5 $1.0 8 Yusmeiro Petit $4.5 $0.5 0.5 ▲
58 N/A $1.0 8 Blake Treinen $4.2 $0.0 1.0 ▲
59 N/A $1.0 8 Chris Martin $0.1 $0.0 1.0 ▲ He's back, now will he mix back into save opps as RHP?
60 -1 $0.5 8 Jorge Alcala -$0.5 $0.5 0.0 ▬
61 2 $0.5 8 Sam Coonrod $2.2 $0.5 0.0 ▬
62 2 $0.5 9 Emilio Pagan -$0.3 $0.5 0.0 ▬
63 2 $0.5 9 A.J. Minter $4.2 $0.5 0.0 ▬
64 2 $0.5 9 Hansel Robles -$0.6 $0.5 0.0 ▬
65 4 $0.5 9 Paul Fry $5.5 $0.5 0.0 ▬ Lefty's last 3 K-BB%: 10.2% in '19, 20.4% in '20, now 26.3%
66 -19 $0.5 9 Greg Holland -$2.6 $1.0 -0.5 ▼
67 0 $0.5 9 Chris Rodriguez $1.6 $0.5 0.0 ▬
68 -12 $0.5 9 Victor Gonzalez $1.6 $1.0 -0.5 ▼
69 N/A $0.5 9 Alex Colome -$2.2 $0.0 0.5 ▲ 3 straight scoreless appearances over 4 IP, can he regain 9th?
70 N/A $0.5 9 Scott Barlow $5.5 $0.0 0.5 ▲ For the Redditor that wants to see Barlow here
71 N/A $0.5 10 Tyler Chatwood $3.4 $0.0 0.5 ▲
72 -4 $0.5 10 Craig Stammen $1.3 $0.5 0.0 ▬
73 N/A $0.5 10 Aaron Loup $2.7 $0.0 0.5 ▲
74 N/A $0.5 10 Tanner Rainey -$2.8 $0.0 0.5 ▲ Been scuffling but Hand being shaky raises speculation
75 N/A $0.5 10 Michael Fulmer $3.9 $0.0 0.5 ▲
76 N/A $0.5 10 Ryan Helsley $2.0 $0.0 0.5 ▲ Casually chucking triple-digit gas, command must improve
77 -7 $0.5 10 Darwinzon Hernandez -$0.1 $0.5 0.0 ▬
78 -21 $0.5 10 Tyler Duffey -$1.4 $1.0 -0.5 ▼ Don't think MIN would turn to him even if Rogers imploded
79 N/A $0.5 10 Ryan Weathers $3.7 $0.0 0.5 ▲ In the 'pen for now, providing solid multi-inning outings
80 N/A $0.5 10 Josh Sborz $2.9 $0.0 0.5 ▲ Snuck in a May 6 save, healthy Ks
81 N/A $0.5 10 Tyler Matzek $1.2 $0.0 0.5 ▲ Matzek coming alive, 5 IP, 0 ER, 8 K in May
82 N/A $0.5 10 Rex Brothers $1.8 $0.0 0.5 ▲
83 N/A $0.5 11 David Phelps $2.8 $0.0 0.5 ▲
84 -23 $0.5 11 J.B. Bukauskas $0.2 $0.5 0.0 ▬ There were high hopes at first but he's got a ways to go
85 -25 $0.5 11 Jeurys Familia $1.7 $0.5 0.0 ▬
86 N/A $0.5 11 Duane Underwood Jr. $3.0 $0.0 0.5 ▲
87 N/A $0.5 11 Adam Plutko $4.3 $0.0 0.5 ▲
88 N/A $0.5 11 Ryne Stanek $1.8 $0.0 0.5 ▲
89 N/A $0.5 11 Nick Wittgren -$0.8 $0.0 0.5 ▲
90 N/A $0.5 11 Joakim Soria -$1.1 $0.0 0.5 ▲ Yielded 2 ER in 2 of his last 3, not reclaiming 9th with that
91 N/A $0.5 12 Heath Hembree $2.2 $0.0 0.5 ▲
92 N/A $0.5 12 Miguel Castro $2.2 $0.0 0.5 ▲
93 N/A $0.5 12 Andrew Chafin $2.0 $0.0 0.5 ▲
94 N/A $0.5 12 Wander Suero $0.7 $0.0 0.5 ▲ Activated off IL May 12, had been reliable arm
95 N/A $0.5 12 Anthony Castro $2.7 $0.0 0.5 ▲
96 N/A $0.5 12 John King $2.0 $0.0 0.5 ▲
97 N/A $0.5 12 Adam Cimber $2.3 $0.0 0.5 ▲
98 N/A $0.5 12 Cole Sulser $2.0 $0.0 0.5 ▲
99 N/A $0.5 12 Jimmy Nelson $2.5 $0.0 0.5 ▲
100 N/A $0.5 12 Hunter Strickland $1.5 $0.0 0.5 ▲
101 N/A $0.5 12 Garrett Crochet $1.1 $0.0 0.5 ▲ Off the IL, let's see if the early wave of whiffs returns



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