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It's now September and in this shortened 2020 season, that means it's time for the Week 7 Relief Pitcher Baller Ranks and our weekly dive into where the top 101 RPs stand moving forward. You can check out my weekly Top 101 Starting Pitcher Baller Ranks as well. I've updated this piece through Sept. 1st.
David Emerick rolled out an introduction to our Baller Ranks here -- I suggest you read for a full explanation of our purpose, but the TL;DR is here we're providing a one-stop-shop for SP, RP, and hitter valuation. We'll explore value produced to-date, their current standing, and provide context with analysis.
And for those who want stats like the usual 5x5 categories, strikeout rates, Called + Swinging Strike rates, xwOBA and more on a decked-out spreadsheet, we've got you covered - you can view the full Week 7 Top 101 RP Baller Ranks core sheet here.
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 7
| Rank | $ | Tier | Player | EV | $ | Trend | Notes |
| 1 | $14.0 | 1 | Liam Hendriks | $6.0 | $14.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 2 | $14.0 | 1 | Kenley Jansen | $3.7 | $14.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 3 | $14.0 | 1 | Josh Hader | $3.0 | $14.0 | 0.0 ▬ | That walk rate induces heartburn, but elite stuff is there. |
| 4 | $12.0 | 2 | Brad Hand | $2.9 | $11.0 | 1.0 ▲ | |
| 5 | $10.5 | 2 | Taylor Rogers | $4.2 | $12.0 | -1.5 ▼ | |
| 6 | $10.5 | 2 | Alex Colome | $3.0 | $10.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 7 | $10.5 | 2 | Raisel Iglesias | $3.0 | $9.5 | 1.0 ▲ | Look at those fantastic K & BB rates, trust in him. |
| 8 | $9.5 | 3 | Rafael Montero | $2.0 | $8.0 | 1.5 ▲ | |
| 9 | $8.5 | 3 | Aroldis Chapman | -$1.5 | $12.0 | -3.5 ▼ | Light usage and iffy results in those appearances. |
| 10 | $7.5 | 3 | Daniel Hudson | -$2.4 | $8.0 | -0.5 ▼ | |
| 11 | $7.0 | 3 | Giovanny Gallegos | $4.5 | $3.5 | 3.5 ▲ | Even if he isnt' the sole closer, he looks amazing. |
| 12 | $6.0 | 3 | Mark Melancon | $0.1 | $6.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 13 | $5.5 | 3 | Ryan Pressly | $4.1 | $4.5 | 1.0 ▲ | |
| 14 | $5.5 | 4 | Trevor Rosenthal | $1.4 | $6.0 | -0.5 ▼ | He and Pomeranz form quite the closer committee. |
| 15 | $4.5 | 4 | Brandon Kintzler | -$0.3 | $4.0 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 16 | $4.0 | 4 | James Karinchak | $7.5 | $5.5 | -1.5 ▼ | |
| 17 | $4.0 | 4 | Devin Williams | $5.1 | $2.5 | 1.5 ▲ | |
| 18 | $3.5 | 4 | Brandon Workman | $1.2 | $2.0 | 1.5 ▲ | Looks to be the man in PHI. |
| 19 | $3.5 | 4 | Drew Pomeranz | $5.3 | $1.0 | 2.5 ▲ | Back in action, but re-injury risk lowers current slot. |
| 20 | $3.0 | 4 | Edwin Diaz | $3.2 | $3.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 21 | $2.5 | 5 | Gregory Soto | $1.7 | $1.0 | 1.5 ▲ | Chair of the DET closer committee; well-deserved. |
| 22 | $2.0 | 5 | Anthony Bass | $3.6 | $1.0 | 1.0 ▲ | With Ken Giles and Jordan Romano out, Bass is their guy. |
| 28 | $2.0 | 5 | Ty Buttrey | $1.2 | $1.5 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 23 | $2.0 | 5 | Richard Rodriguez | $0.4 | $1.5 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 24 | $1.5 | 5 | Sergio Romo | $1.6 | $1.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 25 | $1.5 | 5 | Greg Holland | $2.2 | $0.5 | 1.0 ▲ | Got first save post-Rosenthal trade, he's a Matheny guy. |
| 26 | $1.5 | 5 | Rowan Wick | $2.2 | $1.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 27 | $1.5 | 5 | Josh Staumont | $2.2 | $1.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 29 | $1.5 | 5 | Yoshihisa Hirano | $0.2 | $0.5 | 1.0 ▲ | Suddenly Hirano is Seattle's closer. |
| 30 | $1.5 | 5 | Diego Castillo | -$0.3 | $1.0 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 31 | $1.5 | 5 | Matt Barnes | -$3.1 | $1.5 | 0.0 ▬ | He may get you saves, but it's very risky. |
| 32 | $1.5 | 5 | Tyler Duffey | $1.3 | $1.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 33 | $1.5 | 5 | Chad Green | $1.0 | $1.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 34 | $1.5 | 5 | Daniel Bard | $4.5 | $2.0 | -0.5 ▼ | |
| 35 | $1.5 | 5 | Jonathan Hernandez | $5.7 | $1.0 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 36 | $1.0 | 5 | Jeremy Jeffress | $2.1 | $1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 37 | $1.0 | 5 | Scott Barlow | $3.7 | $0.5 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 38 | $1.0 | 5 | Nick Anderson | $5.5 | $1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | Set for a simulated game on Sept. 2nd. |
| 39 | $1.0 | 6 | Junior Guerra | $0.1 | $0.0 | 1.0 ▲ | |
| 40 | $1.0 | 6 | Craig Kimbrel | -$2.3 | $1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 41 | $1.0 | 6 | Zack Britton | $2.2 | $1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 42 | $1.0 | 6 | Emilio Pagan | -$1.5 | $3.0 | -2.0 ▼ | Quite the brief stint as closer, slides behind Rosey/Pom. |
| 43 | $1.0 | 6 | Hector Neris | $2.0 | $1.5 | -0.5 ▼ | Workman's got the ninth for now, little time left in 2020. |
| 44 | $1.0 | 6 | Joakim Soria | $4.8 | $1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 45 | $1.0 | 6 | Tony Watson | $1.2 | $1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 46 | $1.0 | 6 | Mychal Givens | $2.9 | $1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 47 | $1.0 | 6 | Archie Bradley | $4.0 | $6.5 | -5.5 ▼ | Bradley is now behind Iglesias in CIN. |
| 48 | $1.0 | 6 | Tanner Rainey | $3.6 | $1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 49 | $1.0 | 6 | Freddy Peralta | $6.1 | $1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 50 | $1.0 | 6 | Matt Foster | $3.8 | $1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 51 | $1.0 | 6 | Adam Ottavino | $0.8 | $1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 52 | $1.0 | 7 | Miguel Castro | $1.7 | $0.5 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 53 | $1.0 | 7 | Hunter Harvey | -$0.3 | $0.0 | 1.0 ▲ | Just made his 2020 debut, but BAL bullpen is wide open. |
| 54 | $1.0 | 7 | David Phelps | $2.9 | $1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 55 | $1.0 | 7 | Andrew Miller | $1.3 | $1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 56 | $1.0 | 7 | Trevor May | $0.9 | $1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 57 | $1.0 | 7 | Will Smith | -$2.3 | $1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 58 | $1.0 | 7 | Amir Garrett | $1.7 | $0.5 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 59 | $0.5 | 8 | Carlos Estevez | $2.7 | $1.0 | -0.5 ▼ | |
| 60 | $0.5 | 8 | Ken Giles | -$0.5 | $1.0 | -0.5 ▼ | Working through live batting practice right now. |
| 61 | $0.5 | 8 | Yusmeiro Petit | $0.7 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 62 | $0.5 | 8 | Evan Marshall | $3.9 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 63 | $0.5 | 8 | Nick Wittgren | $1.5 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 64 | $0.5 | 8 | Joely Rodriguez | $3.2 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 65 | $0.5 | 8 | Ross Detwiler | $2.4 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 66 | $0.5 | 8 | Jordan Romano | $3.1 | $4.0 | -3.5 ▼ | |
| 67 | $0.5 | 8 | Peter Fairbanks | $3.8 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | Just another excellent Tampa reliever to help w/ ratios, K's. |
| 68 | $0.5 | 9 | Craig Stammen | -$0.1 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 69 | $0.5 | 9 | Lucas Sims | $2.8 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | Not much in SV+HLD, but still a strong arm. |
| 70 | $0.5 | 9 | John Gant | $2.4 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 71 | $0.5 | 9 | Jake McGee | $2.6 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 72 | $0.5 | 9 | Tyler Clippard | $4.5 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 73 | $0.5 | 9 | Blake Treinen | $2.8 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 74 | $0.5 | 9 | Blake Taylor | $1.6 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 75 | $0.5 | 9 | Yohan Ramirez | -$0.5 | $0.0 | 0.5 ▲ | Walk rate is way too high, but has K's for late innings. |
| 76 | $0.5 | 9 | Tanner Scott | $2.0 | $0.0 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 77 | $0.5 | 9 | Felix Pena | $3.7 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 78 | $0.5 | 9 | Sean Doolittle | -$2.0 | $0.0 | 0.5 ▲ | Two scoreless appearances since return, is he back? |
| 79 | $0.5 | 9 | Ryan Helsley | $1.0 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | Returned to action on Sept. 1. |
| 80 | $0.5 | 9 | Taylor Williams | $1.3 | $1.5 | -1.0 ▼ | |
| 81 | $0.5 | 9 | Yency Almonte | $4.5 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 82 | $0.5 | 9 | Cole Sulser | -$1.5 | $1.5 | -1.0 ▼ | Removed from closer seat, not a team to target committee. |
| 83 | $0.5 | 9 | Tyler Rogers | $2.8 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 84 | $0.5 | 9 | Tim Hill | $0.5 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 85 | $0.5 | 10 | Brad Boxberger | -$0.4 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 86 | $0.5 | 10 | Trevor Gott | -$8.3 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 87 | $0.5 | 10 | Hector Rondon | -$2.3 | $0.0 | 0.5 ▲ | Outside shot his closing experience yields crack at 9th. |
| 88 | $0.5 | 10 | Thomas Hatch | $1.6 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 89 | $0.5 | 10 | Caleb Ferguson | $4.4 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 90 | $0.5 | 10 | Rafael Dolis | $1.5 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 91 | $0.5 | 10 | John Curtiss | $0.9 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 92 | $0.5 | 10 | Ryan Brasier | $1.7 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 93 | $0.5 | 10 | Luke Jackson | $1.4 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 94 | $0.5 | 10 | J.B. Wendelken | $2.1 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 95 | $0.5 | 10 | Alex Reyes | $0.1 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 96 | $0.5 | 10 | Alex Claudio | $0.6 | $0.0 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 97 | $0.5 | 10 | Nik Turley | $1.2 | $0.0 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 98 | $0.5 | 10 | Ryan Borucki | $1.9 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 99 | $0.5 | 10 | Joe Jimenez | -$4.1 | $1.5 | -1.0 ▼ | No longer the closer, unlikely to regain status in 2020. |
| 100 | $0.5 | 10 | Hansel Robles | -$0.9 | $1.0 | -0.5 ▼ | |
| 101 | $0.5 | 10 | Matt Magill | -$1.6 | $0.5 | 0.0 ▬ |
Relief Pitcher Movers of Note
Aroldis Chapman (RP, Yankees): Chapman’s fourth appearance of 2020 made headlines thanks to an errant heater that went right for Michael Brosseau’s head. Benches cleared after the game but when the dust settled, we had Chapman’s first save in the books. His first two appearances were tough, with three earned coming in 1 IP and a 10-day gap between those two games.
That said, he notched the win with a scoreless frame against the Mets on Aug. 29 and Tuesday’s save gives him three appearances in five days. That’s good, but three strikeouts in three innings is un-Chapmanlike. He may be shaking off the rust but he can’t live that high up the chart without delivering.
Giovanny Gallegos (RP, Cardinals): Gallegos has allowed a mere two baserunners over eight scoreless innings so far, logging a win and two saves on the way. He’s been used in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings over the past week, with that flexible usage representing his only barrier from the top tiers.
The 29-year-old enjoyed a breakout 2019 with a 2.31 ERA/0.81 WHIP and 93 K’s in 74 IP, providing STL with a true fireman. With a CSW rate near 40% and a 41.7% strikeout rate against zero walks, it’s safe to say he’s in the groove.
The Luke Voit trade will still leave a mark, but the guy they got, reliever Giovanny Gallegos, has pitched eight innings, allowed two hits, zero runs, zero walks and struck out 10. #STLCards.
— Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) September 1, 2020
Devin Williams (RP, Brewers): With James Karinchak proving mortal over the past few days, Williams continues to push for “best non-closing RP” honors. He scored his third victory of the year on Monday, striking out four over 1 ⅔ IP to further boost his 52.7% strikeout rate. Now with 29 K’s in 14 IP, Williams and his 0.64 ERA/0.71 WHIP sometimes make me question if Josh Hader didn’t split himself in two and bestow a mystical changeup upon his other half.
Devin Williams (@DTrainn_23) owns one of the nastiest changeups in all of baseball, but what makes it so nasty?
Instead of trying to kill spin like the average changeup, Williams embraces his high spin (1048 rpm above average) to help him average 18.1 inches of horz movement pic.twitter.com/ekpQBVSXOQ
— Jeremy Maschino (@JMaschino_56) September 1, 2020
Greg Holland (RP, Royals): It was Holland, and not Josh Staumont or Scott Barlow, who got the first save for Kansas City following the Trevor Rosenthal trade. Holland has pitched in the eighth and ninth innings for KC over the past few days, with Staumont and Barlow working the seventh and eighth.
Holland’s found his grip on the mound after posting walk rates north of 11% in his past four seasons, settling at 7.6% through 19 innings through Sept. 1. That’s helped him keep a tidy 1.16 WHIP, and the career-best 51% groundball rate helps limit damage on long balls. He doesn’t have to be the full-fledged closer for us to benefit.
Yoshihisa Hirano (RP, Mariners): With the Mariners going cuckoo for cocoa puffs at the trade deadline, Hirano has little competition for the ninth in Seattle. The M’s dealt Taylor Williams, Dan Altavilla, and even the injured Austin Adams to San Diego. While Hirano’s only notched four career saves, his career 3.36 ERA/1.22 WHIP underscores his reliability.
Keep expectations modest, as his usual 91-mph fastball is averaging just below 90 mph so far and three walks against three strikeouts isn’t heartwarming. Don’t go in expecting a top-20 closer, but if you’re unhappy chasing committee situations and panhandling for fringe saves then Hirano should an earnest crack at being the primary closer.
Other, more obvious, fallers include:
-Emilio Pagan, who falls behind Trevor Rosenthal and Drew Pomeranz.
-Daniel Bard, who now deals with added competition in Mychal Givens.
-Archie Bradley, who is firmly planted behind Raisel Iglesias in Cincy.
-Jordan Romano, who sadly is on the injured list.
-Cole Sulser, who was removed from the closer’s role for lower-leverage spots.
-Joe Jimenez, ditto Sulser’s note - don’t target displaced committee members on teams that aren’t vacuuming up wins. The season is too short for that anyhow.
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