Top 150 Relief Pitchers - Saves+Holds Fantasy Baseball Rankings (SV+HLD) for 2025

March 20, 2025

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

Welcome to our Top 150 Saves+Holds fantasy baseball rankings for relief pitchers and the 2025 season. We already looked at the Top 750 Saves+Holds Rankings, incorporating all positions to see where the relievers fit in -- but today we're focusing just on the RPs, along with some analysis. Traditional fantasy baseball bullpen content usually orbits around "saves", as many drafters simply want to know who gets that precious final frame. Saves+Holds reliever ranks can be an afterthought, but not here! We're crazy about fantasy baseball bullpens, my last name is even Mariano, for crying out loud.

The closer's role remains tops for getting the highest leverage looks, but some bullpens still keep their most talented arm in a flexible fireman role that can be deployed as needed. Saves+Holds (or Solds, or SV+HLD) leagues help fantasy leagues reward the best arms, though it still favors closers in a vacuum. Be sure to also check out our constantly updated fantasy baseball closers and saves depth charts to get 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 largely omitted due to variance. Table is updated as of March 17.

2025 Saves+Holds Rankings: Top 150 Relief Pitchers

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. You can also see the overall Top 750 Saves+Holds Rankings, to see where relief pitchers rank amongst the full player pool.

Team-by-Team Saves+Holds Rankings Analysis

Arizona: Justin Martinez is the right-handed fireballer who had eight saves down the stretch after Paul Sewald’s demotion. He’s already pumping nearly 104 mph before the calendar turned to March and should offer a strikeout rate flirting with 30 percent. Being a groundball pitcher with big whiffs, he can wiggle out of trouble caused by a double-digit walk rate.

But it’s A.J. Puk who gets the biggest boost here. After settling back into the bullpen after a failed rotation trial run for Miami, Puk posted a 42.5 percent K rate with a 0.82 ERA (1.28 FIP) and just eight total walks in his final 44 IP. That’s superstar business.

Otherwise, look for Kevin Ginkel to top 20 solds while Ryan Thompson and Joe Mantiply project for over 10 each.

Athletics: Mason Miller has found a home in the bullpen after injuries kept nipping his attempts at starting. This allows the triple-digit thunder to play up as he led all qualified relievers with a 41.8 percent strikeout rate. He’s a top-five arm whether you play saves or solds.

Behind him, Jose Leclerc looks to re-establish himself after an ugly 4.32 ERA illustrated his losing the closer job in Texas. But the 3.48 FIP and 3.26 SIERA underscore how he’s still a talented arm. After early command woes, he had a 62:14 K:BB in 45 ⅔ IP (3.55 ERA, 2.93 FIP). That’s who we want to see!

The A’s won’t win often, but Tyler Ferguson and Michel Otanez project for hefty strikeouts as well in the middle innings. T.J. McFarland had 19 holds last season but only 39 Ks in 56 ⅔ IP with good-not-great ratios won’t cut it for us.

Atlanta: The Braves appear confident in their depth after only bringing back Aaron Bummer in free agency. He’ll be the high-leverage southpaw in A.J. Minter’s vacated role setting up Raisel Iglesias alongside right-hander Pierce Johnson.

Daysbel Hernandez is the next key name of interest after logging 26 Ks in 18 IP last year, but a walk rate of around 13 percent limits the heights. Iglesias remains an easy target here and the team may sign a late FA arm as spring progresses.

Baltimore: Felix Bautista returns to the bump after missing all of 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgery. They’ll ease him in by avoiding back-to-back work days or pitching more than an inning, with Gregory Soto, Seranthony Dominguez, and Yennier Cano stepping up as needed.

Brandon Hyde said Félix Bautista's first-half usage likely won't include back-to-back days or multi-inning appearances as they keep a close eye on his health.

"I'm going to be as careful as I possibly can," Hyde said

— Andy Kostka (@afkostka) March 3, 2025

Cionel Perez had 24 solds last year but the 4.53 ERA/1.40 WHIP and sub-8.0 K/9 takes him off of most radars. Andrew Kittredge is the best arm beyond Bautista but has mileage concerns after 70 ⅔ IP last year following roughly 30 IP between 2022-23 due to injuries. He is currently without a timeline to return this spring due to left knee soreness/inflammation.

Boston: Liam Hendriks is already hitting 96 mph this spring and should supply the best WHIP amongst the Boston late-inning arms. Aroldis Chapman won’t help that, but a massive strikeout rate flirting with 40 percent helps limit trouble. Even at 37, the southpaw is a late-inning factor with over 56 frames in three of his last four seasons.

Justin Slaten and Garrett Whitlock are your other picks. Slaten went 6-2 with a 2.93 ERA (2.76 SIERA) with a wicked 25.9 percent strikeout rate and a measly four percent walk rate as a rookie. Whitlock has struggled to stay healthy but a regular bullpen role should help. He owns a career 2.65 ERA, a 28.1 percent strikeout rate, and a .222 batting average as a reliever.

Chicago (AL): Realistically, you’re avoiding this entirely. Justin Anderson, Fraser Ellard, and Gus Varland are not enticing. Prelander Berroa has the high-strikeout upside but is done for the year due to Tommy John surgery.

James Karinchak has a career 36.3 percent K rate but inconsistency has him as a non-roster invite for the ChiSox. Mike Clevinger could quietly emerge as the No. 1 reliever after falling off as a starter, but he also needs to dodge recent durability woes.

Chicago (NL): This format maintains Porter Hodge’s advantage over Ryan Pressly no matter how the Cubbies deploy them. Hodge popped with a 1.88 ERA/0.88 WHIP but please note the .189 BABIP, while Pressly’s inflated 2024 1.34 WHIP came from a .333 BABIP (career .294).

Their ratios should tighten up, but Pressly’s strikeout rate has been 27.6 and 23.8 percent in the last two respective seasons after five straight above 30 percent (Hodge’s was 31.7 percent last year). Tyson Miller and Ryan Brasier are likely the next two, but Nate Pearson and Julian Merryweather have also flashed upside when healthy.

Cincinnati: Alexis Diaz works around 12-13 percent walk rates with strong whiffs. But the K rate went from sitting above 30 percent in his first two seasons to 22.7 percent last year. His whiff rate on the slider fell by nine percentage points while the four-seamer dipped by seven. He’ll need to regain our confidence, though competition in CIN isn’t high.

We expect Taylor Rogers and Emilio Pagan to be his primary setup men, with the hopes that Tony Santillan gets enough late work for at least 20 solds to go with a fastball-slider combo where both pitches had a whiff rate of 30 percent or higher (46 Ks in 30 IP last year).

Cleveland: Emmanuel Clase leads one of the premier MLB bullpens after his fourth straight year with over 70 games pitched. No one expects a replication of the sub-1.00 ERA, especially with a .195 BABIP and 85 percent strand rate that exceeded career norms, but that’s still plenty of room for him to be the No. 1 RP again.

Then Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis, Paul Sewald, Tim Herrin are all in play, in that order. Clase, Gaddis, Herrin, and Smith all clocked 74 or more games in ‘24, representing four of the 11 most active RPs. Even Erik Sabrowski and Andrew Walters should supply plus ratios, with Sabrowski sneaking in 19 Ks over 12 ⅔ IP late last year.

Colorado: Those desperate for solds volume can check out Seth Halvorsen, Victor Vodnik, and Tyler Kinley. Halvorsen had a great stretch run, logging two saves and two holds while holding opponents to two runs with a 13:2 K:BB over 12 ⅓ IP. But his minor-league track record wasn’t remarkable, so tread carefully. Kinley had 26 solds and a 3.93 SIERA but the 6.19 ERA is what can sabotage anyone investing in Coors.

A friendly reminder that the Rockies have THIS in the bullpen now.

101 mph heater with 15 inches of break. Bring the hype Seth Halvorsen🔥 pic.twitter.com/epNvO3SObt

— DNVR Rockies (@DNVR_Rockies) February 27, 2025

Detroit: This bullpen leans on depth rather than having a key anchor in the ninth. Jason Foley paced the team with 28 saves (eight holds), but the 46:20 K:BB over 60 IP didn’t win any awards. He’s still the best bet for high-leverage innings here.

Then Tommy Kahnle, Tyler Holton, Beau Brieske, Will Vest, and Andrew Chafin could all round out the sold candidates. Kahnle’s devastating changeup offers the best “stuff” and whiffs, but Holton has familiarity after a 0.76 WHIP, a 7-1 record, eight saves, and 14 holds last year.

Houston: The Astros’ pen is thin behind star Josh Hader and Bryan Abreu after dealing Ryan Pressly to the Cubs. Houston also doesn’t want to tax those two as hard this year, which means Tayler Scott, Bryan King, and Kaleb Ort could ascend. Old friend Rafael Montero will hope to regain his pre-injury form and former top prospect Forrest Whitley could become a force.

Kansas City: Even if newcomer Carlos Estevez and Lucas Erceg mix-and-match the late frames, solds drafters will be happy. Erceg should post better Ks and ratios. Hunter Harvey was an incredible bullpen arm for Washington before last season’s back injury affected his delivery and could be a sneaky asset in ‘25. John Schreiber is the other righty to eye while Angel Zerpa looks like the high-leverage southpaw.

LA Angels: Kenley Jansen owns the ninth while Ben Joyce should take the eighth/fireman role. The 37-year-old closer has dealt with minor health issues but has largely avoided missing major time throughout his career.

Brock Burke and Jose Quijada are the key lefties. Ryan Zeferjahn’s small sample made him one of six pitchers with at least 35 batted-ball events and zero barrels allowed. The 18 strikeouts in 17 contact-suppressed innings were welcome and could yield a stellar ‘25 campaign.

LA Dodgers: Evan Phillips entered last year as their closer and now is their fifth- or sixth-best reliever. Adding Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates, bringing back Blake Treinen, and reaping the rewards of their late-2024 trade for Michael Kopech has stacked this superpen. Alex Vesia deserves a mention as well.

Dodger wins will be bountiful. Perhaps the biggest threat will be the team leading by too much. Their bullpen depth should be flexed as they try to keep their six-man rotation healthy for the inevitable postseason push. Scott and Yates will be highly sought after arms in solds leagues.

(Phillips and Kopech will open the year on the IL so I've omitted them from the table. They typically plummet in drafts from what I've seen so everyone can set their own risk tolerance for a piece of LAD's bullpen.)

Dave Roberts was watching Evan Phillips’ bullpen session today and came away impressed. He will be facing hitters in Arizona while the Dodgers are in Tokyo.

Roberts said Phillips could be active as soon as the first or second week of April.

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) March 5, 2025

Miami: The Marlins didn’t add anyone and enter the year with Calvin Faucher, Jesus Tinoco, Anthony Bender, and Andrew Nardi as the key RPs. It sounds like Faucher, who had a 148 Stuff+, will get early saves but that 1.40 WHIP could prove too erratic.

All four of them supplied over a strikeout per inning with only Tinoco’s 0.96 WHIP sitting below 1.25 of the lot (he also had the smallest sample size). His 2.59 SIERA sat over a run lower than Faucher’s 3.61 mark, with Nardi’s 2.77 SIERA well below the 5.07 ERA. Bender also had strong peripherals (3.22 SIERA, 2.92 FIP). Let’s see if those metrics shine early in Miami.

Milwaukee: This is Trevor Megill’s squad after Devin Williams was dealt to the Yankees this offseason. Joel Payamps and Bryan Hudson should be the top setup men, with Nick Mears and Elvis Peguero working the middle innings with better stuff but lesser control.

Perhaps Abner Uribe rights the ship and creeps up the usage ladder, but for now Megill, Payamps, and Hudson are our men. Put the energy out that Craig Yoho also gets a chance after a sub-1.00 ERA and WHIP with 101 Ks in 57 ⅔ IP on the farm.

Craig Yoho was absolutely dominant last year in the minors across three levels (A+/AA/AAA)

57.2 IP, 0.94 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 9.7% BB, 42.4% K, 16.8% SwStr

Elite changeup and a solid curveball, but fastball typically sits 92-93.pic.twitter.com/RMNBAQRC31

— Eric Cross (@EricCrossMLB) February 24, 2025

Minnesota: Jhoan Duran’s velocity is already picking up this spring, which we love to see after the first half of his 2024 was waylaid by an oblique strain. He missed most of April and had a 24 percent strikeout rate in the first half, which turned into a 34.6 percent clip after the All-Star break.

There were rumors that Griffin Jax would stretch out as a starter, but no, we get our elite setup man back! We’re also projecting double-digit holds for Brock Stewart, Cole Sands, Jorge Alcala, and Danny Coulombe.

New York (AL): Devin Williams and Luke Weaver are a lockdown duo that can go toe-to-toe with anyone. We project Williams for 36 saves while Weaver could see more multi-inning stints that lessen his holds tally against his workload. Otherwise, Ian Hamilton, Fernando Cruz, and Mark Leiter Jr. are projected for over a strikeout per frame and 15 solds.

New York (NL): Edwin Diaz looked like himself again after early turbulence saw him demoted from the closer’s role. One can’t forget he tore his Achilles at the World Baseball Classic and missed the 2023 season. But from early June on, “Sugar” held a 2.41 ERA (2.07 FIP) with a 54:13 K:BB in just 33 ⅔ IP. That’s our guy!

The Mets also scooped A.J. Minter from the division rival Braves to be their late lefty. Reed Garrett brings the fire from the right-handed side, with Dedniel Nunez, Ryne Stanek, and Danny Young also projected for over 10 solds on a winning team.

Philadelphia: The Phillies may again "mix and match" the late innings to begin 2025 according to NBC's Corey Seidman. Jordan Romano has the experience but Jose Alvarado has lost weight and regained velocity. Matt Strahm has been as reliable as anyone in the last few years and Orion Kerkering continues to grow with a slider that stacks Ks. Take any and smile.

Fastest pitches today (tracked games)

1. José Alvarado (Phillies): 101.3mph
2. José Alvarado: 101
3. José Alvarado: 100.8
4. Shane Baz (Rays): 100.6
5. José Alvarado: 100.2

Today, José avg’d 2.2-2.7 mph faster on his sinker/cutter from ‘24. #RingTheBellpic.twitter.com/k2PmoQ1SQN

— StatsBrad (@StatsBrad) March 2, 2025

Pittsburgh: David Bednar’s command woes can at least be tied to a distinct lat injury, which makes sense after three years of stellar form. A healthy offseason should help him reset (he looks good through three spring frames), and Aroldis Chapman moving on helps keep the heat off of his back. Colin Holderman and Dennis Santana could top 20 solds but are not dominant arms.

San Diego: Robert Suarez posted 36 saves (and a hold) with six blown in ‘24, reeling his bloated ratios from ‘23 back towards his usual peripherals. In all three of his MLB seasons, Suarez has an xERA between 3.05 and 3.27 with an expected batting average below .220.

Enthusiasm around him appears tepid this spring with Jason Adam and Jeremiah Estrada behind him. Suarez gets the most opportunities but fewest Ks, while Adam should nearly match Suarez’s solds tally with closer to a 10.0 K/9. Estrada can post monstrous Ks but he and Adrian Morejon are likelier to see 15-20 solds instead.

San Francisco: The Ryan Walker takeover was glorious. The overall 99:18 K:BB in 90 innings came with 31 solds and 10 wins came thanks to a trimmed walk rate. The latter surely won additional favor in the face of Camilo Doval’s own BB rate rising from 9.3 percent in ‘23 to 14.4 percent.

He caught a lot of heat but one must point out his .187 xBA was actually the best mark of his career. His 3.44 xERA was rosier beneath the 4.88 ERA, providing hope for the 27-year-old hurler. It’s Walker’s show but a Doval bounceback is not a multi-step process. Tyler Rogers and Erik Miller are the other names of note.

Seattle: Andres Munoz has yet to deploy his mysterious kick-change in game action but he’s plenty good regardless. A back issue robbed midseason momentum though he still logged 59 ⅓ IP, rocking a 2.12 ERA/0.96 WHIP (2.94 SIERA) with 22 saves and six holds. Durability remains a nagging concern that keeps him from the top tier, but when he’s on there are few more fearsome.

Gregory Santos is the next big name, at least until Matt Brash gets healthy. Then Collin Snider and Trent Thornton could have usable stints in the middle action with helpful ratios.

St. Louis: Ryan Helsley just led MLB with 49 saves thanks to 147 Stuff+ that he commands well. JoJo Romero had 31 solds last year and should help with ratios, but not Ks. Ryan Fernandez, John King, and Riley O’Brien could become interesting. Matthew Liberatore is being stretched out this spring and performing well, but the rotation is crowded while the ‘pen is thin. Fernandez is worth circling.

A year ago, Ryan Fernandez was a Rule 5 pick who had to stay on the #STLCards for a year or be returned to the #RedSox.

Now he's pushing to be their "bridge" reliever who gets the ball to Ryan Helsley. Fernandez just worked another scoreless inning.https://t.co/PI3b1AKaxu

— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) March 8, 2025

Tampa Bay: Injuries limited Pete Fairbanks to 45 ⅓ IP for a second straight season, but this time his ERA jumped nearly a full run (his FIP and SIERA too). His strikeout rate fell off to a career-worst 23.8 percent with a .256 xBA after four straight years below .200 on that. Is he ready to rock and back to form?

Edwin Uceta is one of the most exciting non-closers after finding a home in Tampa, where 2024 saw him post the third-lowest ERA (min. 40 IP) behind Clase and Yates. An improved fastball-changeup combo carried the mail as he introduced a cutter and sweeper.

Mason Montgomery is the next young arm (a lefty) who could break out here. Don’t lose sight of Hunter Bigge either, even though he’s projected to open the season in the minors.

Texas: We’ll keep this lighter as Texas may still bring someone in, such as David Robertson, to oust Chris Martin from the inside track on the ninth. For now, the 38-year-old with a career 3.38 ERA/1.13 WHIP who regularly supplies over a strikeout per frame and just posted a career-low 1.7 percent walk rate is the Rangers closer.

Robert Garcia looks like the late-action lefty after a stellar 2024 campaign with a 2.38 FIP and 2.71 SIERA behind the 4.22 ERA. He held a tight 6.4 percent walk rate and isn’t a split specialist either, holding lefties to a .592 OPS and righties to a .624 OPS. Oh, and he finished the year with a pristine 18:0 K:BB over his final 17 contests.

Toronto: Jeff Hoffman is out to punish all teams and fantasy managers who side-eye his physicals and pass on his services.

New Blue Jays reliever Jeff Hoffman wants the ball against the Orioles. 👀

"I like the smoke." pic.twitter.com/afkEAJksTb

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) March 3, 2025

Chad Green and Yimi Garcia both filled in admirably as closers when needed last year, with Garcia’s form looking sharper. Nick Sandlin is in the next tier down while Brendon Little is the only southpaw currently slated for Opening Day. Erik Swanson is due for an MRI for elbow discomfort so he's off the list.

Washington: Kyle Finnegan had a season of two halves last year, earning an All-Star nod with a spectacular first before a late-summer meltdown. If the order had flipped then perhaps Hunter Harvey would’ve indeed taken over, though he struggled too and was dealt to the Royals.

Finnegan was non-tendered and would re-sign, likely to slide back into the closer’s role for now. Jorge Lopez and Jose A. Ferrer will be the other late-frame stalwarts, with Ferrer entering wherever is most critical for a southpaw.

More Fantasy Baseball Analysis