June is heating up and with it, the craziness that is bullpen management. Stay vigilant with your budget and note other people's remaining funds. By now, you should be able to ascertain the market price for new closers and how your league is trending. As always, let me help guide the way! My top 101 RP Baller Ranks are 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 with the EV column (and others in the sheet to follow) pertaining to the past month. April is so yesterday.
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 for the past month. Please note that those stats are exported from Fangraphs.
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers received five total writing awards and 13 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, tops in the industry! Congrats to all the award winners and nominees including Best MLB Series, NFL Series, NBA Writer, PGA Writer and Player Notes writer of the year. Be sure to follow their analysis, rankings and advice all year long, and win big with RotoBaller! Read More!
Top 101 Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball - Week 11
Tier | Player | Rank | (+/-) | EV | $ | $PV | Trend | Notes |
1 | Josh Hader | 1 | 0 | 5.9 | 15.0 | 15.0 | 0.0 ▬ | Chris Sale in closer form cruising |
1 | Aroldis Chapman | 2 | 0 | 1.4 | 14.0 | 15.0 | -1.0 ▼ | Insane Ks have chilled, BBs up |
1 | Liam Hendriks | 3 | 0 | 6.9 | 14.0 | 13.5 | 0.5 ▲ | Remember that early panic? Ha |
1 | Craig Kimbrel | 4 | 0 | 7.4 | 13.5 | 13.0 | 0.5 ▲ | Big whiffs, low walks, 40+ CSW%! |
2 | Matt Barnes | 5 | 0 | 3.5 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
2 | Raisel Iglesias | 6 | 0 | 3.2 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 0.0 ▬ | Early BABIP wonkiness is gone, enjoy |
2 | Edwin Diaz | 7 | 0 | 5.3 | 11.5 | 11.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
2 | Kenley Jansen | 8 | 0 | 3.8 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
2 | Ryan Pressly | 9 | 0 | 2.4 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
2 | Mark Melancon | 10 | 0 | -2.2 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 0.0 ▬ | Recent rise in BBs getting dangerous |
2 | Richard Rodriguez | 11 | 0 | 4.6 | 7.5 | 8.0 | -0.5 ▼ | |
3 | William Smith | 12 | 0 | 0.2 | 5.0 | 5.5 | -0.5 ▼ | Runs in 3 of his last 5, only 1 blown SV tho |
3 | Hector Neris | 13 | 0 | 2.3 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
3 | Brad Hand | 14 | 0 | -2.1 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 0.0 ▬ | Still turbulence but he's the 9th |
3 | Alex Reyes | 15 | 0 | -1.1 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
3 | Emmanuel Clase | 16 | 1 | 1.2 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 0.0 ▬ | Tightrope; 5 hits/4 walks in last 5 IP |
3 | Jordan Romano | 17 | 1 | 3.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 0.0 ▬ | Light dry spell for SV opps, he's fine |
3 | Daniel Bard | 18 | 2 | 7.1 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 0.5 ▲ | Nearly lost it, been red-hot for last month |
4 | James Karinchak | 19 | 0 | -1.7 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 ▬ | Rebounded from pair of 2 ER outings |
4 | Yimi Garcia | 20 | 1 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 ▬ | Ugly BS on June 2 followed by 2 clean IP |
4 | Jake McGee | 21 | 1 | 0.8 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 0.0 ▬ | Looks better than Rogers of late |
4 | Lucas Sims | 22 | 1 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 0.5 ▲ | Rattles off 3 SVs June 3-6; then used in 6th |
4 | Lou Trivino | 23 | 2 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.0 ▲ | It's been Trivino's time lately, can yo-yo |
4 | Jake Diekman | 24 | 0 | -2.1 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 ▬ | OAK will ride the southpaw again |
4 | Tyler Rogers | 25 | 1 | -0.1 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 ▲ | The blown SVs burn but it's 50/50 w/ McGee |
4 | Diego Castillo | 26 | 5 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 ▲ | 2 SVs on June 5 and 8, TB still loves him |
4 | Tejay Antone | 27 | 0 | 7.1 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 0.5 ▲ | Not available Thursday, update coming; hmm |
5 | Hansel Robles | 28 | 0 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 0.5 ▲ | Higher BBs pushing WHIP up but SVs coming |
5 | Taylor Rogers | 29 | 0 | 3.1 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
5 | Giovanny Gallegos | 30 | 2 | 4.3 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 ▲ | |
5 | Joakim Soria | 31 | 4 | -0.8 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 ▲ | |
5 | J.P. Feyereisen | 32 | -2 | -4.4 | 1.5 | 2.0 | -0.5 ▼ | No SVs in June, 1B to Castillo |
5 | Jesus Luzardo | 33 | 5 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 ▬ | Dinged by HR at Coors, 9/1 K/BB out of 'pen |
5 | Paul Fry | 34 | 12 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 ▲ | 1A over Sulser for 9th as of now |
6 | Austin Adams | 35 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
6 | Daniel Hudson | 36 | 4 | 5.7 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 ▲ | |
6 | Cristian Javier | 37 | N/A | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 1.5 ▲ | Scooped a 4 IP SV on Wednesday |
6 | Cole Sulser | 38 | -2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | -0.5 ▼ | Got 1st SV after Valdez demotion |
6 | Gregory Soto | 39 | -5 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.5 | -0.5 ▼ | |
6 | Chad Green | 40 | 1 | -0.8 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
6 | Jonathan Loaisiga | 41 | 1 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
6 | Jose Cisnero | 42 | N/A | 5.6 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 ▲ | 2 SVs last week, stepping up w/ Fulmer out |
6 | Josh Staumont | 43 | N/A | -0.6 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 ▲ | Healthy again, back to committee? |
6 | Demarcus Evans | 44 | N/A | 0.1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 ▲ | High hopes, but runs in 2 of last 4 |
6 | Blake Treinen | 45 | -1 | -2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
6 | Rafael Montero | 46 | -7 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | Graveman should be back soon |
6 | Josh Sborz | 47 | 28 | -0.6 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 ▲ | 8 K in last 4.1 IP is closer-y; 3 ER in last 3 gms |
6 | Ryan Tepera | 48 | 29 | 8.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 ▲ | Elite form, many HLDs ahead of Kimbrel |
6 | Scott Barlow | 49 | 19 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 ▲ | Notched SV in Staumont's absence |
6 | Yusmeiro Petit | 50 | -5 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
7 | Greg Holland | 51 | -8 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | 1 SV w/ Staumont out, desperate territory |
7 | Rafael Dolis | 52 | -5 | -0.4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
7 | Chris Martin | 53 | -5 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
7 | Joely Rodriguez | 54 | -5 | -1.1 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | Part of committee but runs in 3 of last 4 |
7 | Victor Gonzalez | 55 | -5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
7 | Anthony Bass | 56 | -2 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
7 | Aaron Bummer | 57 | -6 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
7 | Garrett Whitlock | 58 | -6 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
7 | Pete Fairbanks | 59 | -6 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
8 | Trevor May | 60 | -5 | -2.4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
8 | Cesar Valdez | 61 | -5 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | Fallen to 3rd at best in pecking order |
8 | Andrew Kittredge | 62 | -3 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
8 | Seth Lugo | 63 | 25 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 ▲ | |
8 | Stefan Crichton | 64 | -4 | -0.3 | 0.5 | 1.0 | -0.5 ▼ | |
9 | Emilio Pagan | 65 | -2 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 1.0 | -0.5 ▼ | |
9 | Mike Mayers | 66 | -5 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 1.0 | -0.5 ▼ | |
9 | Tanner Scott | 67 | -3 | 3.7 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
9 | Dylan Floro | 68 | -3 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
9 | Jorge Alcala | 69 | 2 | -1.1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | 4 IP, 5 K, 1 baserunner in last 2 weeks |
9 | Taylor Clarke | 70 | -4 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
9 | Devin Williams | 71 | -2 | 3.7 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | Ks on upswing but gaudy WHIP |
10 | Carlos Estevez | 72 | -2 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
10 | A.J. Minter | 73 | -1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
10 | Kyle Zimmer | 74 | -1 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
10 | Mychal Givens | 75 | -13 | -0.2 | 0.5 | 1.0 | -0.5 ▼ | |
10 | Tyler Matzek | 76 | 0 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
10 | Andrew Chafin | 77 | 3 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
10 | Brad Boxberger | 78 | 3 | -0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | Scoreless 9.2 IP since May 19 |
10 | Garrett Crochet | 79 | 20 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
10 | Brent Suter | 80 | -1 | -1.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | Nice spree of Ws in high-leverage spots |
10 | Sean Doolittle | 81 | -14 | -1.1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
11 | Keynan Middleton | 82 | -25 | -0.1 | 0.5 | 1.0 | -0.5 ▼ | |
11 | Craig Stammen | 83 | -9 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
11 | Jose Alvarado | 84 | -26 | -4.1 | 0.5 | 1.0 | -0.5 ▼ | Massive control woes limit upside |
11 | Jacob Barnes | 85 | -3 | -0.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
11 | Sam Howard | 86 | -3 | -0.1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
11 | Tanner Rainey | 87 | N/A | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 ▲ | |
11 | Rex Brothers | 88 | -3 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
11 | Conner Menez | 89 | N/A | 3.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 ▲ | 10/0 K/BB over 8 scoreless, long RP man |
11 | Jarlin Garcia | 90 | -3 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
11 | Steve Cishek | 91 | -2 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
12 | Ranger Suarez | 92 | N/A | 3.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 ▲ | Wins on June 5 & 9 w/ 3 perfect IP in each |
12 | Daniel Ponce de Leon | 93 | 0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
12 | Miguel Diaz | 94 | 0 | -0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
12 | Tyler Duffey | 95 | N/A | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 ▲ | 4 perfect innings past 2 weeks, resetting? |
12 | Nick Wittgren | 96 | -6 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
12 | Jeffrey Springs | 97 | -2 | -1.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
12 | Robert Gsellman | 98 | -1 | -0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
12 | Wander Suero | 99 | -3 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
12 | Tyler Chatwood | 100 | -22 | -1.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
12 | Codi Heuer | 101 | 0 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ |