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Who said it was okay for September to creep up on us like this? While the stretch run doesn't mean as much bullpen action as pre-Trade Deadline fireworks, we're still seeing shifts in the wind. With just under a month to go, it's about time we check in on my top 101 RP Baller Ranks, which are geared towards traditional 5x5 roto leagues with potential 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 previous month of play.
This article comes complete with a Baller Ranks google sheet (click it!) 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.
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Top 101 Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball - Week 22
| Tier | Player | Rank | (+/-) | EV | $ | $PV | Trend | Notes |
| 1 | Raisel Iglesias | 1 | 1 | 4.3 | 15.0 | 14.5 | 0.5 ▲ | Career-best 39.2% K rate, 0 BB in last 8 games |
| 1 | Josh Hader | 2 | 1 | 2.2 | 15.0 | 14.0 | 1.0 ▲ | Only 3 hits allowed in 8.1 IP for August |
| 1 | Liam Hendriks | 3 | -2 | -0.2 | 15.0 | 15.0 | 0.0 ▬ | 4 perfect apps in last 5 since NYY series |
| 2 | Edwin Diaz | 4 | 1 | 2.0 | 13.0 | 12.0 | 1.0 ▲ | |
| 2 | Mark Melancon | 5 | 1 | 1.8 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 2 | Kenley Jansen | 6 | 1 | 3.0 | 12.0 | 10.0 | 2.0 ▲ | Strikeouts up, LAD stays winning |
| 2 | Ryan Pressly | 7 | 1 | 2.7 | 10.0 | 9.5 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 2 | Aroldis Chapman | 8 | N/A | 0.0 | 9.5 | 0.0 | 9.5 ▲ | ER in 2 of 4 gms since return, very iffy control |
| 2 | Jake McGee | 9 | 3 | 2.1 | 8.5 | 7.0 | 1.5 ▲ | |
| 2 | Jordan Romano | 10 | 3 | 2.9 | 7.5 | 6.0 | 1.5 ▲ | |
| 3 | Emmanuel Clase | 11 | 4 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 5.5 | 1.5 ▲ | Elite command paying dividends |
| 3 | Scott Barlow | 12 | 14 | 3.5 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 ▲ | |
| 3 | William Smith | 13 | -3 | -4.4 | 6.0 | 7.5 | -1.5 ▼ | Solo HR allowed in 3 of last 5, job still his |
| 3 | Ian Kennedy | 14 | 4 | -3.6 | 5.5 | 4.5 | 1.0 ▲ | |
| 3 | Alex Colome | 15 | 4 | -0.1 | 5.5 | 4.5 | 1.0 ▲ | |
| 3 | Kyle Finnegan | 16 | 8 | 0.8 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 ▲ | The SVs aren't pretty; 5/5 K/BB in last 12 gms |
| 3 | Gregory Soto | 17 | 3 | -2.8 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 3 | David Bednar | 18 | 11 | 4.8 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 ▲ | |
| 3 | Dylan Floro | 19 | 4 | 0.4 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 4 | Paul Sewald | 20 | 18 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 2.5 ▲ | |
| 4 | Alex Reyes | 21 | -5 | 0.4 | 4.0 | 5.0 | -1.0 ▼ | May be removed from 9th, 3 ER on Sunday |
| 4 | Matt Barnes | 22 | -18 | -2.8 | 4.0 | 12.5 | -8.5 ▼ | ER(s) in 4 of last 8 - how long does reset take? |
| 4 | Craig Kimbrel | 23 | -12 | -1.7 | 3.5 | 7.0 | -3.5 ▼ | Just not the same in non-SV situations |
| 4 | Lou Trivino | 24 | -15 | -1.4 | 3.0 | 8.5 | -5.5 ▼ | Getting temporary breather from Saves |
| 4 | Tyler Clippard | 25 | 0 | -0.4 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 4 | Giovanny Gallegos | 26 | 2 | 1.2 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 5 | Tyler Rogers | 27 | 0 | 4.1 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 5 | Adam Ottavino | 28 | 38 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 ▲ | Some white-knuckle SVs as Barnes resets |
| 5 | Spencer Patton | 29 | 1 | -0.1 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 5 | Michael Lorenzen | 30 | 14 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 5 | Carlos Estevez | 31 | N/A | 3.2 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 ▲ | Bard can't do it, Estevez is next man up |
| 5 | Jonathan Loaisiga | 32 | 1 | 5.8 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 ▬ | Rose w/ Chapman down, ready if needed |
| 5 | Jake Diekman | 33 | 9 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 5 | Blake Treinen | 34 | 0 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 5 | Chad Green | 35 | 1 | 2.9 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 5 | Devin Williams | 36 | 4 | 6.3 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 ▲ | The Airbender we saw in Season 1, hooray |
| 6 | Mychal Givens | 37 | 2 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 6 | Sergio Romo | 38 | N/A | -0.2 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 1.5 ▲ | Favorite for OAK SVs with Trivino chilling |
| 6 | Drew Steckenrider | 39 | 6 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 ▬ | Sharing SEA duties with Sewald |
| 6 | Tyler Wells | 40 | N/A | 0.8 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 1.5 ▲ | |
| 6 | Richard Rodriguez | 41 | -6 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 2.0 | -0.5 ▼ | Ready if Smith keeps on allowing HRs |
| 6 | Daniel Bard | 42 | -28 | -2.0 | 1.5 | 5.5 | -4.0 ▼ | Inconsistent at best, removed from CL role |
| 6 | Anthony Bender | 43 | -11 | -0.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | -0.5 ▼ | |
| 6 | Pete Fairbanks | 44 | N/A | 0.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 1.5 ▲ | |
| 6 | Archie Bradley | 45 | -2 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 6 | Michael Fulmer | 46 | 4 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 6 | Andrew Kittredge | 47 | 8 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 6 | Cole Sulser | 48 | -26 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 4.0 | -2.5 ▼ | |
| 6 | Brad Boxberger | 49 | 0 | 5.1 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 6 | Codi Heuer | 50 | 10 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 ▲ | Looks like the 1A closer, leads are scarce |
| 6 | Trevor May | 51 | 0 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 7 | Brent Suter | 52 | -4 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.5 | -0.5 ▼ | |
| 7 | Wandy Peralta | 53 | 39 | 5.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 ▲ | NYY not afraid to use Peralta in SV opps |
| 7 | Rowan Wick | 54 | -8 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 1.5 | -0.5 ▼ | |
| 7 | Kendall Graveman | 55 | -8 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 1.5 | -0.5 ▼ | |
| 7 | A.J. Puk | 56 | -4 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 7 | Cristian Javier | 57 | -4 | -1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 7 | Yusmeiro Petit | 58 | -2 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 7 | Alex Vesia | 59 | -1 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 7 | Jose Cisnero | 60 | 2 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 7 | Tim Mayza | 61 | N/A | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 ▲ | Picked up Sunday SV, looks like the No. 2 |
| 8 | Andrew Chafin | 62 | 32 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 8 | Luke Jackson | 63 | N/A | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 ▲ | Electric 11 holds over the last month |
| 8 | Chris Martin | 64 | 11 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 8 | Sean Poppen | 65 | 14 | -0.1 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 8 | Zack Littell | 66 | 12 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 8 | Richard Lovelady | 67 | 32 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 8 | Adam Cimber | 68 | 16 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 8 | Manuel Rodriguez | 69 | 21 | -1.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 ▲ | In the CHC saves conversation |
| 9 | Kyle Ryan | 70 | -13 | -1.6 | 0.5 | 1.0 | -0.5 ▼ | |
| 9 | Brett Martin | 71 | N/A | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 9 | Caleb Thielbar | 72 | N/A | 3.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 9 | Jose Alvarado | 73 | 4 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | Zero walks in 2 games off the IL, keep it going |
| 9 | Lucas Sims | 74 | -15 | -0.4 | 0.5 | 1.0 | -0.5 ▼ | |
| 9 | Steve Cishek | 75 | N/A | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 9 | Juan Minaya | 76 | -12 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 1.0 | -0.5 ▼ | |
| 9 | Austin Adams | 77 | -12 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.0 | -0.5 ▼ | |
| 9 | Brusdar Graterol | 78 | -11 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 1.0 | -0.5 ▼ | |
| 10 | Kyle McGowin | 79 | N/A | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 ▲ | Should Finnegan falter, Kyle M. could step in |
| 10 | Seth Lugo | 80 | -9 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 10 | Chris Stratton | 81 | -13 | -2.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | -0.5 ▼ | |
| 10 | Josh Taylor | 82 | -10 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 10 | Hector Neris | 83 | -9 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 10 | Daniel Hudson | 84 | N/A | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 ▲ | He's the backup for Melancon |
| 10 | Garrett Whitlock | 85 | -4 | 5.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 11 | Tyler Matzek | 86 | -3 | 4.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 11 | Aaron Bummer | 87 | -7 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 11 | Emilio Pagan | 88 | -2 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 11 | Garrett Crochet | 89 | -2 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 11 | Joely Rodriguez | 90 | -8 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 11 | Brad Hand | 91 | -37 | -3.3 | 0.5 | 1.0 | -0.5 ▼ | Ineffective would be too kind, behind Mayza |
| 11 | Mike Mayers | 92 | -4 | -0.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 12 | Dillon Tate | 93 | -4 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 12 | Aaron Loup | 94 | -1 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 12 | JT Chargois | 95 | 0 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 12 | Yimi Garcia | 96 | 0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 12 | Anthony Bass | 97 | -12 | -0.7 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 12 | Jarlin Garcia | 98 | -1 | -0.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 12 | Tyler Duffey | 99 | -29 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ | |
| 12 | Hunter Strickland | 100 | N/A | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 ▲ | |
| 12 | Tim Hill | 101 | 0 | -1.7 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 ▬ |
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