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Welcome to the first version of my 2021 Relief Pitcher Baller Ranks, where we take a weekly peek at my top 70 SPs moving forward. This is geared towards traditional 5x5 roto leagues, with the understanding that RPs are as volatile as it gets.
Since this is the first version of the year, it won't be "full" because much of the punch hinges on movement from the prior week and a reliable set of stats. For now, enjoy my early Top 70 RPs with notes on many of these arms. Do note that I leave off most injured players.
Beginning next week, we'll also have enough stats to go off of for a proper Baller Ranks spreadsheet with the usual 5x5 categories, strikeout rates, Called + Swinging Strike rates, xwOBA and more. Many of those stats are simply too noisy/small-sampleish this early, it'll just weigh us down.
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Top 70 Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball - Week 3
| Rank | $ | Tier | Player | Notes |
| 1 | $14.0 | 1 | Josh Hader |
Few opportunities early but looks elite, DWill fading pads security
|
| 2 | $14.0 | 1 | Liam Hendriks | Not worried one bit, happy to lean into someone who is |
| 3 | $13.5 | 1 | Aroldis Chapman | 11-of-12 outs via K, a top-tier closer once again |
| 4 | $12.0 | 2 | Raisel Iglesias | A few hiccups but it'll take far more to unseat him |
| 5 | $11.5 | 2 | Edwin Diaz | It's only been ~1 week for NYM, relax; 1 bad day in '21 so far |
| 6 | $11.5 | 2 | Brad Hand | Looks solid out of the gate, health appears OK |
| 7 | $11.0 | 2 | Craig Kimbrel | Congrats to all who bought low; elite Craig is rising up |
| 8 | $8.5 | 3 | Ryan Pressly | Has done all he could, HOU hasn't generated SV opps |
| 9 | $8.0 | 3 | William Smith | The 9th is his; Chris Martin dealing with finger numbness |
| 10 | $8.0 | 3 | Kenley Jansen |
LAD won't overwork him but he looks A-OK; Knebel just security
|
| 11 | $7.0 | 3 | Amir Garrett | Multiple baserunners in all 3 appearances, tighten it up |
| 12 | $6.5 | 3 | Jake McGee | Looks incredible with MLB-leading five saves early |
| 13 | $6.5 | 3 | Hector Neris | Absorbed L on Tuesday but clean 5 IP prior to that |
| 14 | $6.0 | 3 | Matt Barnes | 12 K's, 1 baserunner over 6 IP -- he's the guy in Beantown |
| 15 | $6.0 | 3 | Diego Castillo | No Fairbanks just tightens Diego's grip on the gig |
| 16 | $6.0 | 3 | Alex Reyes | Trio of early saves, can he stay healthy? Stave off Hicks? |
| 17 | $5.0 | 3 | Mark Melancon | 1 measly baserunner so far - yer a wizard |
| 18 | $4.0 | 4 | Greg Holland | A couple of tightrope appearances, still favorite for 9th |
| 19 | $4.0 | 4 | Yimi Garcia | Simply looks better than Bass, guard has changed |
| 20 | $3.5 | 4 | Rafael Montero |
4 scoreless appearances, no one in COL is threatening anyway
|
| 21 | $3.5 | 4 | Daniel Bard | Has yielded a run in 3-of-6 games, seat getting hot? |
| 22 | $3.0 | 4 | Ian Kennedy | Vet stopgap doing fine as TEX stopper; trade candidate |
| 28 | $2.5 | 5 | Giovanny Gallegos | One of the best non-closing RPs out there |
| 23 | $2.5 | 5 | Drew Pomeranz | Ditto |
| 24 | $2.0 | 5 | Jake Diekman | Still the primary stopper but matchups will dictate use |
| 25 | $2.0 | 5 | Lou Trivino | Cutter velo up, should be viewed as 40/60 in committee |
| 26 | $2.0 | 5 | Richard Rodriguez | Strong out of the gate, PIT just won't win often |
| 27 | $2.0 | 5 | Jordan Romano | Doesn't look sharp but Merryweather's hip may elevate him |
| 29 | $2.0 | 5 | Alex Colome | Lower K's and deep 'pen lower range of outcomes |
| 30 | $2.0 | 5 | Emmanuel Clase | Triple-digit cutters leading to 1A seat in CLE committee |
| 31 | $2.0 | 5 | Cesar Valdez | Favorite for SVs in BAL above Scott, lacks big K's |
| 32 | $1.5 | 5 | Julian Merryweather | Hopefully the hip injury isn't serious; medical history scary |
| 33 | $1.5 | 6 | Lucas Sims | Scooped a one-out save on Monday, we'll take it |
| 34 | $1.5 | 6 | Stefan Crichton | Prefer to avoid ARZ situation altogether |
| 35 | $1.5 | 6 | Devin Williams | Being eased off until he settles in, 4 BB's over 2 2/3 IP |
| 36 | $1.0 | 6 | Trevor May | If you don't believe in Diaz then May is a great stash |
| 37 | $1.0 | 6 | Corey Knebel | Nice to see Knebel healthy and "on," but Jansen still closer |
| 38 | $1.0 | 6 | Gregory Soto | Best upside for DET, save speculators should be on this |
| 39 | $1.0 | 6 | James Karinchak | Notched Tuesday save, Clase had pitched B2B though |
| 40 | $1.0 | 6 | Kevin Ginkel | Surrendered runs in his last 2, ARZ 9th is shaky as ever |
| 41 | $1.0 | 6 | Jordan Hicks | |
| 42 | $1.0 | 6 | Tanner Scott | |
| 43 | $1.0 | 6 | Nick Wittgren | |
| 44 | $1.0 | 6 | Mike Mayers | Would be top-15 RP if he got a crack at the 9th |
| 45 | $1.0 | 6 | Chad Green | |
| 46 | $1.0 | 6 | Kendall Graveman | Worth a speculative add given Montero's vulernability |
| 47 | $1.0 | 6 | Adam Ottavino | |
| 48 | $1.0 | 7 | Garrett Crochet | |
| 49 | $1.0 | 7 | Michael Kopech | Stellar multi-inning arm out of 'pen; 6.1 scoreless IP, 11 K's |
| 50 | $1.0 | 7 | Taylor Rogers | |
| 51 | $1.0 | 7 | Jose Cisnero | |
| 52 | $1.0 | 7 | Daniel Hudson | |
| 53 | $1.0 | 7 | Jose Alvarado | Throwing gas as PHI's late lefty, but Girardi likes set roles |
| 54 | $1.0 | 7 | Dylan Floro | |
| 55 | $1.0 | 7 | David Bednar | |
| 56 | $1.0 | 7 | Emilio Pagan | |
| 57 | $1.0 | 7 | Tyler Rogers | |
| 58 | $1.0 | 7 | Austin Adams | Monitor form coming off injury, could be top-5 K/9 guy |
| 59 | $1.0 | 7 | Hansel Robles | |
| 60 | $1.0 | 7 | Kyle Zimmer |
Has 1 save already, could earn more if Holland falters
|
| 61 | $0.5 | 8 | Ryan Weathers | |
| 62 | $0.5 | 8 | Keynan Middleton | |
| 63 | $0.5 | 8 | Anthony Bass | |
| 64 | $0.5 | 8 | Sean Newcomb | |
| 65 | $0.5 | 8 | Chris Devenski | On restricted list for personal reasons, eye him w/ ARZ in flux |
| 66 | $0.5 | 8 | Chris Rodriguez | |
| 67 | $0.5 | 8 | Kyle Cody | |
| 68 | $0.5 | 8 | Jonathan Loaisiga | Not quite Kopech level but 6 shutout frames w/ 8 K's |
| 69 | $0.5 | 8 | Hirokazu Sawamura | |
| 70 | $0.5 | 8 | Ryan Thompson |
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