The trade deadline, trips to the disabled list and suspensions significantly altered bullpens across the league in the last thirty days. Subsequently, fantasy baseballers in holds leagues were likely scrambling to find the “next man in” to continue their quest for the playoffs as each respective domino fell. Still looking to make a late-season surge? Here’s a quick look at my top sixty middle relievers over the past month.
Disclaimer: In developing these rankings I looked for pitchers who appeared in at least six games or more in the last thirty days. Additionally, the relievers appear in tiers and are listed in no particular order within their respective tier.
Alright RG faithful, here they are. Firing Squad: once again please report directly to the comments section below.
Tier One: Double India Pale Ales
Mark Melancon | Pirates
David Robertson | Yankees
Trevor Rosenthal | Cardinals
For me, the Double IPA is the cream of the crop. Melancon is closing for the moment, so I was hesitant to include him on this list, but with Jason Grilli starting to rehab I felt there may be a chance he falls back into his previous role. Robertson has been incredible over the last month. We’re getting a nice glimpse of the future Yankees’ closer during Mariano Rivera’s farewell tour.
Tier Two: India Pale Ales
Rex Brothers | Rockies
Jordan Walden | Braves
J.J. Hoover | Reds
Brandon Kintzler | Brewers
Luis Avilan | Braves
Heath Bell | Diamondbacks
Joel Peralta | Rays
Jared Burton |Twins
Neal Cotts | Rangers
The IPA is elite, but it doesn’t get the job done as consistently or as quickly as the Double does. Like Melancon in the tier above, Rex Brothers is currently holding down the ninth frame with Rafael Betancourt on the shelf. And there could easily be a case for Brothers, Walden and Hoover in the top tier here, but three hurlers in the top tier seemed to be enough.
Tier Three: Saisons
LaTroy Hawkins | Mets
Ryan Cook | Athletics
Tim Collins | Royals
David Hernandez | Diamondbacks
Nate Jones | White Sox
Tyler Clippard | Nationals
Ronald Belisario | Dodgers
Pedro Strop | Cubs
Santiago Casilla | Giants
A.J. Ramos | Marlins
Casey Fien | Twins
Bryan Shaw | Indians
Sam LeCure | Reds
Saisons tend to be refreshing, but pack a little less punch than those listed above. Hawkins is tied for the most holds in the league over the last month and could see some closing opportunities with Bobby Parnell going to the disabled list, but I’d prefer more strikeouts if I can get them. David Hernandez’s name made this tier because as you can see in the spreadsheet below, his last thirty days have been fairly ugly. Lots of upside in this tier, s don’t skip out on the Saison.
Tier Four: Porters
Charlie Furbush | Mariners
Chad Qualls | Marlins
Kelvin Herrera | Royals
Jake McGee | Rays
Paco Rodriguez | Dodgers
Seth Maness | Cardinals
Sean Doolittle | Athletics
Yoervis Medina | Mariners
Darren O’Day | Orioles
Matt Belisle | Rockies
J.J. Putz | Diamondbacks
John Axford | Brewers
Blake Parker | Cubs
Joe Thatcher | Diamondbacks
J.P. Howell | Dodgers
I’m not the biggest Porter fan, but there are some variations that get the job done. And I’ll always grab a Porter before reaching for the yellow fizzy stuff when the pickins’ in the cooler are slim. A few former closers and potential future closers litter this tier, so keep them in mind.
Tier Five: Yellow Fizzy Beers
Junichi Tazawa | Red Sox
Tony Watson | Pirates
Dale Thayer | Padres
Jason Frasor | Rangers
Mike Dunn | Marlins
Scott Rice | Mets
Justin Wilson | Pirates
Alex Torres | Rays
Donnie Veal | White Sox
Cody Allen | Indians
Nick Vincent | Padres
Matt Thornton | Red Sox
David Carpenter | Braves
Luke Hochevar | Royals
Logan Ondrusek | Reds
Troy Patton | Orioles
Drew Smyly | Tigers
Luis Ayala | Braves
Tanner Scheppers | Rangers
Chris Withrow | Dodgers
Desperate times call for desperate measures. If I need a fix, I’d gladly grab the yellow fizzy stuff rather than subjecting myself to the shakes. Feel free to dip into the leftovers to do the same, especially if you need to make a late-season push in the holds category. Streaming guys in the tiers above are always fun when a team’s closer has pitched a few consecutive days.
And again, here are my top 60 relievers over the last thirty days sorted by holds:
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Disclaimer: In developing these rankings I looked for pitchers who appeared in at least six games or more in the last thirty days. Additionally, the relievers appear in tiers and are listed in no particular order within their respective tier.
Alright RG faithful, here they are. Firing Squad: once again please report directly to the comments section below.
Tier One: Double India Pale Ales
Mark Melancon | Pirates
David Robertson | Yankees
Trevor Rosenthal | Cardinals
For me, the Double IPA is the cream of the crop. Melancon is closing for the moment, so I was hesitant to include him on this list, but with Jason Grilli starting to rehab I felt there may be a chance he falls back into his previous role. Robertson has been incredible over the last month. We’re getting a nice glimpse of the future Yankees’ closer during Mariano Rivera’s farewell tour.
Tier Two: India Pale Ales
Rex Brothers | Rockies
Jordan Walden | Braves
J.J. Hoover | Reds
Brandon Kintzler | Brewers
Luis Avilan | Braves
Heath Bell | Diamondbacks
Joel Peralta | Rays
Jared Burton |Twins
Neal Cotts | Rangers
The IPA is elite, but it doesn’t get the job done as consistently or as quickly as the Double does. Like Melancon in the tier above, Rex Brothers is currently holding down the ninth frame with Rafael Betancourt on the shelf. And there could easily be a case for Brothers, Walden and Hoover in the top tier here, but three hurlers in the top tier seemed to be enough.
Tier Three: Saisons
LaTroy Hawkins | Mets
Ryan Cook | Athletics
Tim Collins | Royals
David Hernandez | Diamondbacks
Nate Jones | White Sox
Tyler Clippard | Nationals
Ronald Belisario | Dodgers
Pedro Strop | Cubs
Santiago Casilla | Giants
A.J. Ramos | Marlins
Casey Fien | Twins
Bryan Shaw | Indians
Sam LeCure | Reds
Saisons tend to be refreshing, but pack a little less punch than those listed above. Hawkins is tied for the most holds in the league over the last month and could see some closing opportunities with Bobby Parnell going to the disabled list, but I’d prefer more strikeouts if I can get them. David Hernandez’s name made this tier because as you can see in the spreadsheet below, his last thirty days have been fairly ugly. Lots of upside in this tier, s don’t skip out on the Saison.
Tier Four: Porters
Charlie Furbush | Mariners
Chad Qualls | Marlins
Kelvin Herrera | Royals
Jake McGee | Rays
Paco Rodriguez | Dodgers
Seth Maness | Cardinals
Sean Doolittle | Athletics
Yoervis Medina | Mariners
Darren O’Day | Orioles
Matt Belisle | Rockies
J.J. Putz | Diamondbacks
John Axford | Brewers
Blake Parker | Cubs
Joe Thatcher | Diamondbacks
J.P. Howell | Dodgers
I’m not the biggest Porter fan, but there are some variations that get the job done. And I’ll always grab a Porter before reaching for the yellow fizzy stuff when the pickins’ in the cooler are slim. A few former closers and potential future closers litter this tier, so keep them in mind.
Tier Five: Yellow Fizzy Beers
Junichi Tazawa | Red Sox
Tony Watson | Pirates
Dale Thayer | Padres
Jason Frasor | Rangers
Mike Dunn | Marlins
Scott Rice | Mets
Justin Wilson | Pirates
Alex Torres | Rays
Donnie Veal | White Sox
Cody Allen | Indians
Nick Vincent | Padres
Matt Thornton | Red Sox
David Carpenter | Braves
Luke Hochevar | Royals
Logan Ondrusek | Reds
Troy Patton | Orioles
Drew Smyly | Tigers
Luis Ayala | Braves
Tanner Scheppers | Rangers
Chris Withrow | Dodgers
Desperate times call for desperate measures. If I need a fix, I’d gladly grab the yellow fizzy stuff rather than subjecting myself to the shakes. Feel free to dip into the leftovers to do the same, especially if you need to make a late-season push in the holds category. Streaming guys in the tiers above are always fun when a team’s closer has pitched a few consecutive days.
And again, here are my top 60 relievers over the last thirty days sorted by holds:
| Name | Team | G | W | SV | HLD | ERA | WHIP | K% | WAR | playerid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LaTroy Hawkins | Mets | 12 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 2.45 | 1 | 9.30% | 0.1 | 729 |
| Jordan Walden | Braves | 12 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 31.70% | 0.5 | 3271 |
| Luis Avilan | Braves | 11 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1.11 | 16.20% | 0.2 | 2882 |
| Joel Peralta | Rays | 9 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2.16 | 1.08 | 30.30% | 0.4 | 2332 |
| Tim Collins | Royals | 12 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 1.56 | 27.50% | 0.4 | 3164 |
| Tyler Clippard | Nationals | 12 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1.5 | 0.67 | 32.60% | 0 | 5640 |
| Heath Bell | Diamondbacks | 12 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0.73 | 0.73 | 33.30% | 0.6 | 2080 |
| Trevor Rosenthal | Cardinals | 11 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3.18 | 1.15 | 30.40% | 0.5 | 10745 |
| Ronald Belisario | Dodgers | 15 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1.38 | 1 | 13.50% | -0.1 | 2203 |
| Pedro Strop | Cubs | 13 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3.86 | 1.11 | 34.60% | 0.5 | 4070 |
| Casey Fien | Twins | 13 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0.73 | 0.89 | 34.10% | 0.5 | 3926 |
| Sam LeCure | Reds | 11 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5.4 | 1.4 | 31.00% | 0 | 4664 |
| Charlie Furbush | Mariners | 11 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 1.33 | 30.80% | 0 | 1370 |
| Chad Qualls | Marlins | 11 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0.96 | 1.39 | 31.70% | 0.4 | 2170 |
| David Robertson | Yankees | 11 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0.84 | 30.00% | 0.5 | 8241 |
| Kelvin Herrera | Royals | 10 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2.19 | 0.97 | 32.70% | 0.3 | 6033 |
| J.J. Hoover | Reds | 10 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0.58 | 27.00% | 0.3 | 9037 |
| Seth Maness | Cardinals | 13 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2.31 | 1.29 | 12.50% | 0.1 | 12235 |
| Sean Doolittle | Athletics | 12 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1.59 | 0.53 | 22.50% | 0.2 | 1581 |
| Brandon Kintzler | Brewers | 12 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0.42 | 19.20% | 0.4 | 9939 |
| Yoervis Medina | Mariners | 11 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3.14 | 1.12 | 22.40% | -0.2 | 10498 |
| Darren O’Day | Orioles | 10 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3.6 | 0.9 | 22.20% | 0.3 | 3321 |
| Jake McGee | Rays | 10 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2.79 | 1.03 | 30.80% | 0.2 | 7550 |
| Santiago Casilla | Giants | 10 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1.29 | 12.50% | 0 | 2873 |
| Matt Belisle | Rockies | 9 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1.44 | 30.80% | 0.3 | 1837 |
| J.J. Putz | Diamondbacks | 9 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1.04 | 17.90% | 0.1 | 1795 |
| John Axford | Brewers | 12 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 1.89 | 18.20% | -0.2 | 9059 |
| Blake Parker | Cubs | 12 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2.61 | 1.84 | 24.00% | 0 | 5224 |
| Joe Thatcher | - – - | 12 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1.23 | 1.09 | 27.60% | 0 | 4620 |
| Paco Rodriguez | Dodgers | 12 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.96 | 0.43 | 27.30% | 0.1 | 13398 |
| J.P. Howell | Dodgers | 12 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.84 | 1.03 | 17.10% | 0.1 | 8245 |
| Jared Burton | Twins | 12 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0.56 | 32.40% | 0.4 | 8346 |
| Junichi Tazawa | Red Sox | 11 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2.08 | 1.08 | 23.50% | 0.3 | 4079 |
| Tony Watson | Pirates | 11 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1.93 | 1.07 | 21.10% | 0.2 | 3132 |
| Dale Thayer | Padres | 11 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1.64 | 1.55 | 20.80% | 0 | 5032 |
| Neal Cotts | Rangers | 11 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0.71 | 20.90% | 0.3 | 1797 |
| Jason Frasor | Rangers | 10 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3.27 | 0.82 | 19.50% | 0.2 | 1906 |
| Mike Dunn | Marlins | 10 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 22.90% | 0.1 | 9948 |
| Scott Rice | Mets | 10 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0.39 | 19.20% | 0.2 | 2743 |
| Ryan Cook | Athletics | 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0.62 | 24.40% | 0.5 | 8855 |
| Rex Brothers | Rockies | 9 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 3.12 | 1.04 | 23.50% | 0.2 | 9794 |
| Justin Wilson | Pirates | 8 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3.38 | 1.5 | 19.40% | 0.2 | 4301 |
| Alex Torres | Rays | 8 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2.31 | 0.94 | 31.90% | 0.2 | 7038 |
| Donnie Veal | White Sox | 13 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1.22 | 27.80% | -0.1 | 4741 |
| Cody Allen | Indians | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2.53 | 1.78 | 30.00% | 0.3 | 12183 |
| A.J. Ramos | Marlins | 12 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1.2 | 0.93 | 34.50% | 0.4 | 8350 |
| Nick Vincent | Padres | 11 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3.86 | 1.03 | 27.70% | 0.1 | 7555 |
| Matt Thornton | - – - | 11 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1.93 | 1.5 | 17.10% | 0.2 | 1918 |
| David Carpenter | Braves | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1.56 | 0.81 | 29.70% | 0.5 | 3959 |
| Mark Melancon | Pirates | 11 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0.82 | 0.82 | 15.80% | 0.2 | 4264 |
| David Hernandez | Diamondbacks | 10 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 1.56 | 26.20% | -0.3 | 4259 |
| Nate Jones | White Sox | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.71 | 0.63 | 42.20% | 0.6 | 4696 |
| Luke Hochevar | Royals | 10 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.77 | 21.10% | 0.2 | 6943 |
| Logan Ondrusek | Reds | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3.72 | 1.66 | 23.40% | 0.2 | 3677 |
| Troy Patton | Orioles | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2.08 | 0.81 | 12.10% | 0.1 | 8368 |
| Drew Smyly | Tigers | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.89 | 30.60% | 0.2 | 11760 |
| Luis Ayala | Braves | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1.93 | 1.5 | 15.40% | 0.1 | 1650 |
| Bryan Shaw | Indians | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1.8 | 1 | 33.30% | 0.4 | 8110 |
| Tanner Scheppers | Rangers | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.96 | 1.07 | 16.20% | 0.2 | 10267 |
| Chris Withrow | Dodgers | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.87 | 0.77 | 31.60% | 0.4 | 7161 |
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