Saves+Holds Fantasy Baseball Rankings (SV+HLD) for Relief Pitchers - July Updates (2025)

July 14, 2025

Nick's top 150 saves+holds (SV+HLD) fantasy baseball rankings for July 2025. His tiered rankings for closers, relief pitchers and Saves+Holds leagues (SOLDS).

What's up, midseason crew? With the All-Star break fast approaching and the trade deadline on the horizon, it's high time we update our Top 150 Saves+Holds fantasy baseball rankings for relief pitchers. We'll try to stay zoomed in on recent events, with a focus on the last 30 days (L30), to identify some key trends. We know that closers get the headlines for bullpen content, but we love our fantasy baseball bullpens across all innings around these parts.

While closers will typically see the highest leverage looks, modern ball brings many firemen where the best talent enters before the ninth. Saves+Holds (or Solds, or SV+HLD) leagues help fantasy leagues reward the best arms, even if it isn't a perfect system. Be sure also to check out our constantly updated fantasy baseball closers and saves depth charts for more bullpen insights and running updates on reliever news.

Reminder: A hold is recorded when a relief pitcher enters with a lead of three runs or less or with the tying run on deck, at the plate, or on base and maintains that lead while recording at least one out. Read on, and you'll see where I rank each player and what tier they're in, followed by a team-by-team bullpen overview. Strikeout rates, pristine ratios, job security, and projected saves+holds are the primary factors, with injured arms omitted. Please note this was written before the July 9 games played out, and I'm pretty sick, so don't be surprised by a few tweaks right after publish!

2025 Saves+Holds Rankings: Top 150 Relief Pitchers (July Updates)

These rankings are for roto leagues (5x5 category leagues) -- but instead of Saves, we use Saves+Holds as a pitching category. These are for the top 150 relief pitchers.

Team-by-Team Saves+Holds Rankings Analysis

Arizona: Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk are both done for the season, which already left the D-backs in a horrible spot before Shelby Miller hit the injured list due to a forearm issue. This leaves Kevin Ginkel as the veteran presence with closer experience, but he's yet to inspire great confidence in 2025.

Beyond him, Kyle Backhus has taken hold as the key southpaw with one run allowed on five hits over 8 ⅓ IP in the last month. Jalen Beeks has run into some control woes, and Juan Morillo has an even worse 15.8% walk rate in that span. Ryan Thompson had been the other promising arm, but now he’s on the 15-day injured list with a scapula strain.

Athletics: Mason Miller has largely righted the ship after too much loud contact was surrendered early on. There’s been plenty of shuffling behind him, with Michael Kelly grabbing the setup reins with 11 IP of scoreless action (but a 5.07 xFIP and 5.22 SIERA behind that).

Rising prospect Jack Perkins has provided a pair of long saves out of the bullpen and holds some intrigue, but it’s hard to lean on long RPs for solds volume. This is the same thing that holds J.T. Ginn back.

Atlanta: Raisel Iglesias and Dylan Lee both have one save over the last 30, with Iggy logging two holds and Lee just one in that window. No other RP has multiple holds here, and Aaron Bummer may get stretched out as a long man for bullpen games in the wake of key rotation injuries.

Rafael Montero has pitched well, as has Pierce Johnson, and Daysbel Hernandez has five Ks in 2 ⅔ IP since returning from the IL, making him my only other considered target in ATL.

Baltimore: Felix Bautista continues to find his stride in the summer, posting more saves (6) than total bases allowed (5) in the last month. Seranthony Dominguez has been just as important for Baltimore, but has likely played his way into a trade for a spiraling ballclub.

Both he and Bryan Baker have six holds in the L30, with Andrew Kittredge also getting heavy work of late as the deadline nears following a delayed start to the season. Baker won’t be a free agent until 2029, but Dominguez and Kittredge are likely to move.

Boston: Aroldis Chapman continues to defy age and is highlighted by many as the most likely reliever to be traded. Now, the Red Sox are close in the Wild Card hunt, but they’re still painted as sellers.

Garrett Whitlock has been solid, but he tends to be used earlier in games. Both Justin Wilson and Greg Weissert have more holds/solds than Whitlock over the L30, and the team is hoping for a Jordan Hicks renaissance.

Alas, he’s allowed runs in back-to-back games after fading with the Giants, but he did take the ninth on Sunday with Chapman in the eighth.

Chicago (AL): This blurb realistically starts and ends with the flamethrowing Grant Taylor, who has three saves and four holds in 12 ⅓ IP since getting called up. Steven Wilson has a 0.96 ERA despite a 1.71 WHIP in the L30, which we’re not going to dig for.

White Sox rookie closer Grant Taylor’s peripheral numbers are excellent for a rookie. His ERA doesn’t tell the story of how good he’s been.

(X/9 = per 9 innings)

- 6.6 H/9
- 0.0 HR/9
- 2.2 BB/9
- 10.2 K/9

- 0.973 WHIP
- 1.55 FIP pic.twitter.com/USdYFnepo6

— RLS Hamilton (@RyanLSack) July 8, 2025

Chicago (NL): Daniel Palencia remains a strong candidate for RP Waiver Wire Hero come season’s end, but Brad Keller also has six solds in the L30. The converted starter has been lights out except for longball troubles on July 5. Porter Hodge has allowed one run on two hits over four innings since returning in late June, but has zero solds to show for it. They should come.

Cincinnati: Anyone who bet on Emilio Pagan has already made their profits on the season, so even if a deadline deal knocks him down in the hierarchy, you are ahead of the pack. If he does move, then we’d think these next two would be the circled names.

Graham Ashcraft has made back-to-back scoreless appearances this weekend after missing three weeks with a groin strain. Tony Santillan has picked his strikeout-per-inning form back up and led the deal with six solds in the L30. Guys like Sam Moll, Scott Barlow, and Taylor Rogers are “fine,” but likely not moving any fantasy needles.

I'm excited to have RHP Graham Ashcraft back. I feel he's been a lot better this season than he's generally got credit for, getting soft contact and ground balls, and strikeouts.

He's really exceeded my expectations as a reliever, although has suffered from bad BABIP luck. #Reds pic.twitter.com/UsK8slDXOR

— RedsFanMan (@CinciRedsFanMan) July 4, 2025

Cleveland: The Guardians are spiraling on a 10-game losing streak, with Sunday seeing Emmanuel Clase spike a wild pitch that tied it up with one final strike to get. Trade murmurs are circling Clase and the team, but it’s impossible to imagine him being pushed out of high leverage if dealt for.

Then Cade Smith imploded for six runs (four earned) on five hits (two homers) while logging one out. He hadn’t surrendered any HRs before this and remains in the circle of trust. He’d struck out a pair in his previous two perfect appearances after the back spasm scare that closed his June.

Paul Sewald recently returned from his shoulder injury with a 1-2-3 inning, and Hunter Gaddis recovered from a particularly poor ending to June with three perfect appearances to kick off July. But the team’s appeal has greatly sunk with how poorly the offense has played.

Colorado: Seth Halvorsen has distanced himself from the pack as closer, but still holds an overall 1.44 WHIP and 1.40 WHIP in the L30. Without a substantial K/9 bump, this is a very tough gamble to roster. Though if Jake Bird gets traded, then we’re very interested in where that 28.6% K rate lands.

Detroit: Detroit has settled in with Will Vest as the closer and Tommy Kahnle as the primary setup man. Beyond them, Chase Lee and Tyler Holton are the ones with multiple holds and healthy ratios over the L30.

Houston: You know you have a top reliever in Josh Hader and Bryan Abreu by now. Bennett Sousa has quietly picked up three saves alongside two holds in the last month, racking up 18 Ks with only 10 total bases against. In that time window, Bryan King has five holds and Steven Okert has three, but the latter has more Ks and a 0.65 WHIP to King’s 1.11 mark.

Kansas City: Carlos Estevez isn’t lighting the world on fire with a 3.77 FIP and 4.96 xFIP behind the 2.13 ERA, but the massive drop in swinging-strike rate (12.5% in both 2023 and ‘24, but 7.3% in ‘25) does tighten the margin for error. Selling high could make sense for us.

Otherwise, Lucas Erceg still doesn’t look quite like himself with subpar Ks and an inflated 1.50 WHIP over the L30. Angel Zerpa, Steven Cruz, and John Schreiber all have three or more holds with healthy ratios in the L30 as well.

LA Angels: Kenley Jansen is on a one-year, $10 million deal that should see him moved from a fledgling Halos squad. His peripherals aren’t great, and that 24.3% K rate is easily a career-worst mark, but a veteran stopper with loads of playoff experience will be chased.

Would they move Reid Detmers into the ninth or keep him flexible? Sam Bachman would be interesting with Ryan Zeferjahn allowing runs in four of his last six games. Those are the two names I’m watching closely as July plays out.

Reid Detmers since May 9 (25 appearances):

26 innings
2 runs (1 earned)
0.35 ERA
1.82 FIP
36 strikeouts
13 walks
18 hits

His 0.35 ERA is the lowest among the 298 pitchers with at least 20 innings in that time. pic.twitter.com/AHpawTBt2H

— Brent Maguire (@bmags94) July 8, 2025

LA Dodgers: Tanner Scott’s mechanical tweak looks to have paid off with a solid nine solds with a strikeout per inning over his L30. Kirby Yates has six solds and a win in that same window, with Vesia on another level.

The southpaw has only allowed two hits and two walks since June 5, striking out 15 over those 10 ⅓ IP. Beyond them, Anthony Banda is the only other one I’d roster for solds. But Ben Casparius could rebound in the ‘pen, and Alexis Diaz was just recalled from Triple-A despite poor stats.

Miami: Since June began, Ronny Henriquez has a top-10 K-BB% of 31.6% (out of 203 RPs with min. 10 IP) for a 1.86 SIERA to go with a 3.77 ERA and 4.34 FIP in that span. I buy SIERA over FIP, as Henriquez hasn’t walked a hitter since June 14 en route to more consistent late leverage.

Lake Bachar hovers around a strikeout per inning and holds a 7.7% walk rate since June began, which is roughly half of his bloated BB% from April and May. He only has two solds in the L30, but is trending toward higher leverage.

Anthony Bender had a save and eight holds in the L30, but only seven Ks in 12 IP. You’ll still happily take that volume, though. Calvin Faucher’s WHIP is trending in the wrong direction, but he’s still getting plenty of looks.

Milwaukee: This remains the Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe show. You’re happy with either of them (combined 17 solds in L30), as the others all have cons.

Nick Mears is solid but doesn’t get many holds. Aaron Ashby has looked amazing, but has one save and zero holds as the longer RP. Jared Koenig has six holds in 6 ⅓ IP over the L30, but his ratios got brutalized by a few off days.

Minnesota: The Twins haven’t produced many late leads, but the bullpen’s big three are still in sharp form. Jhoan Duran, while temporarily down from an illness, remains a clutch anchor in the ninth, while Griffin Jax and Louis Varland have been reliable setup men. Danny Coulombe and Brock Stewart are good for Minnesota, but don’t have the solds/ratios/Ks upside for us.

New York (AL): Woof. It’s been a rough go lately, with Devin Williams flipping the script and becoming the reliable closer for a shaky ‘pen. Luke Weaver hasn’t looked like himself since returning on June 20, allowing runs in four of his seven appearances since.

Fernando Cruz and Mark Leiter Jr. are both on the injured list, which leaves Tim Hill, Ian Hamilton, and Jonathan Loaisiga as the necessary next men up. That’s the order we’re targeting them in, but ideally, you’re looking elsewhere.

New York (NL): Edwin Diaz looks amazing with just one run surrendered in his last 25 games. Ryne Stanek has recovered from a poor middle of June with 13 Ks over his last 6 IP of one-run ball (two holds).

I’m very saddened that Dedniel Nunez might need Tommy John surgery after looking outstanding. Perhaps you can gamble with Chris Devenski or see Reed Garrett work with a lead again soon, but Diaz and Stanek cover my current interest.

Philadelphia: Jose Alvarado’s suspension continues to loom large, as none of Orion Kerkering, Jordan Romano, or Matt Strahm has proven themselves consistent. Every Phillies RP with more than five innings since June began has an xFIP above 4.10, but Kerkering has managed a 2.03 ERA (1.28 WHIP) with five solds.

Strahm has four, and Romano has only one and just blew Tuesday night’s game. Tanner Banks has the worst K% upside, but has quietly been the most steady option of late (two holds since June 1).

Pittsburgh: Both David Bednar and Dennis Santana are trade deadline candidates, with Bednar likely to be a major leverage player wherever he lands. Santana’s chances are lower, though still healthy for 4-6 holds per month on a contender.

If one or both of them head out, then I’ll be rallying around Isaac Mattson and Caleb Ferguson for solds. I won’t be surprised if they endure a few speed bumps with a rapid ascension to key innings, but they’re the best remaining. We’ll need Mattson to limit damage against southpaws, but he’s been lights out against righties (.175 OPS over 10 ⅓ IP – not batting average, OPS).

San Diego: Robert Suarez has scuffled of late, but they’re going to stick with him in the meantime. Luckily, the solds format allows us to properly prioritize Adrian Morejon, Jason Adam, and Jeremiah Estrada.

We all know they’re amazing, but Adam is dealing with an uncanny BABIP north of .400 since June began. Estrada has eight walks in 13 ⅔ IP since then as well, which makes Morejon’s sparkling form that much more critical. Barely anyone gets holds outside of that lot.

San Francisco: Camilo Doval has allowed a run in five of his last 10 games, while Ryan Walker has looked sharper since moving away from closing. It seems whoever isn’t closing is destined to find themselves, eh? Randy Rodriguez and Tyler Rogers are as steady as ever alongside that ninth-inning drama.

Seattle: Andres Munoz continues to be an ace closer while Matt Brash doesn’t look like a man who missed all of last year. His whiffs are way down compared to pre-injury Brash (25.6% from 34.7%), but better command and a 60% groundball rate (up from 46%) fuel the 0.47 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over 19 ⅓ IP.

St. Louis: Ryan Helsley has settled down after an iffy beginning to June, and could wind up being a trade candidate if St. Louis falters this month. If they move on from him and Steven Matz, then we could see youngsters like Andre Granillo and Riley O’Brien in key spots. But Phil Maton and JoJo Romero remain the other targets for now.

Tampa Bay: Fairbanks is surviving despite a worse K-BB%, but the quality of contact is so low that his .285 xSLG and one measly barrel allowed on 99 batted-ball events fuels a 2.64 xERA. Edwin Uceta’s massive K% and amazing 2024 stretch run highlight his name on any list, but he’s struggled with consistency. Garrett Cleavinger, Eric Orze, and Kevin Kelly have been steadier, with Cleavinger as the best of the bunch.

Texas: The Rangers have five relievers rocking three or more solds in the L30, but no one has more than five. Luke Jackson has played his back into the closing conversation, while Robert Garcia still leads the way as the key southpaw. Chris Martin, Shawn Armstrong, and Hoby Milner round out the group, with no one standing out but all worthy of the watch list.

Toronto: Yimi Garcia is back on the IL with an ankle sprain, which leaves Yariel Rodriguez, Brendon Little, and Braydon Fisher as the primary setup men for Jeff Hoffman. The closer gives up harder contact than we’d like to see, but the 2.37 SIERA is nearly identical to last year’s 2.39 rate.

Rodriguez has slowed a bit since his red-hot transition to the bullpen, and typically works more than one inning at a time. Little and Fisher have strong Ks, but the latter’s 0.87 WHIP is far nicer than the former’s 1.33 mark.

Washington: Another year of distrust in Kyle Finnegan has left me on the outside looking in on 18 saves and great ratios (2.43 ERA/1.08 WHIP). Of course, the 3.89 SIERA and 4.15 xFIP are closer to my expectations, but a 5.4% HR/FB rate compared to a career 14.2% clip will help!

We assume he’ll be dealt by August, which should leave Brad Lord and Jose A. Ferrer as the late options. They could also work Mason Thompson in more if he proves healthy throughout July, but Lord has a 1.95 ERA (2.87 FIP, 3.44 SIERA), 1.01 WHIP, and 50% groundball rate in his last 20 games. I've had this week-old post bookmarked as a reminder:

Since May 22, Brad Lord ranks (min. 20.0 IP) among MLB pitchers in:

ERA - 1st (0.76)
opp. AVG - 1st (.155)
opp. SLG - 3rd (.214) pic.twitter.com/NAyeKWBPDP

— Nationals Communications (@NationalsComms) June 28, 2025

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