Saves+Holds Rankings for Fantasy Baseball - Closers and Relief Pitchers (June Update)

June 3, 2023

Updated fantasy baseball saves+holds (SV+HLD) rankings for closers and relief pitchers. Nick's rest-of-season top 130 tiered rankings and analysis for June 2023.

The beginning of June means it is high time to make a call to the bullpen for an updated top-130 Saves+Holds (Solds) ranking exercise. We here at RotoBaller are here for y'all who play in and enjoy formats with SV+HLD/Solds or leagues where Saves and Holds are separate categories. Or maybe you're just a fantasy baseball bullpen monster like myself and must consume relief pitcher content!

While the closer's role is important, an increasing number of managers are moving their best arm into a flexible role while shuffling who gets the ninth. This season has been no exception as we see some more focus on Saves+Holds (or Solds, or SV+HLD) leagues, which allow for fantasy leagues to reward the best arms regardless of the inning, though it still favors closers in a vacuum. Be sure to also check out our constantly updated fantasy baseball closers and saves depth charts.

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. While I look for pitchers used in high-leverage situations, this is also about how good the arm is and how efficient their K/9 output stands. I present you with my top 130 RP ranks, with tiers, and their rough rank within the bullpen on their team. Most injured players are left off for this edition.

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Updated Saves+Holds Rankings - Mixed Leagues

Rankings updated on June 1st

Saves+Holds Analysis Notes

-Yennier Cano is the best reliever to emerge from 2023 thanks to a power sinker and devastating changeup with more strikeouts (22) than batted-ball events (20). Cano went 17 straight games with just four hits allowed and zero runs to open the year but has now let a run cross the plate in three of his last six outings.

Opponents have also tallied 12 hits in that six-game window, but only on two barrels. Now we must ask whether he’ll win the adjustment war against major-league hitters. The 30/1 K/BB ratio remains beautiful even if the BABIP gods slip a little dagger in there.

-Evan Phillips is the LAD bullpen leader with 12 Saves/Holds, a 1.66 ERA, and 26/5 K/BB in 21 ⅔ IP. Folks in regular 5x5 leagues are sweating only seven saves with the five holds but that’s why we love our Solds!

Brusdar Graterol and Caleb Ferguson have nine apiece with ERAs also under 2.00, with Ferguson rocking the strikeout edge. Phillips is still the 1A, but I will point out that his Statcast hard-hit rate is 42.9% after a fantastic 31.2% mark in ‘22.

-Giovanny Gallegos has regained his closer foothold amidst Ryan Helsley’s deteriorating control. They’re both in a committee but Gallegos can certainly be described as the hotter hand entering June even with a run allowed in two of his last three games.

His 4.5% walk rate would be a career-best mark and he’s kept some of the 2022 whiff gains. The strong control comes as Helsley’s first-strike rate has fallen nearly 10 percentage points compared to last year. Gallegos and that zippy slider are helping many a fantasy team out!

Giovanny Gallegos slider just keeps getting better, career best 54.5% whiff% pic.twitter.com/pkHUZKwJEE

— Stew (@StewStilez) May 30, 2023

-Jason Adam isn’t as dominant as his 2022 self but he remains Tampa Bay’s best option (and is still plenty good). He’s given up more home runs and loud contact this year, yet the 2.93 SIERA remains encouraging.

His four-seamer has already yielded five extra-base hits going into June, including two homers, on just 112 pitches thrown. Compare that to last year’s 302 heaters surrendering just one homer and three total XBH. Hopefully, he can get that under wraps.

Still, the 31-year-old already has 13 Saves/Holds after racking up 29 in ‘22 and the injuries to Pete Fairbanks only solidify his standing. The ratios may not be as glamorous but the results are well above average.

-Aroldis Chapman resembles much of his old self in ‘23 after the command wheels came off in recent years. The southpaw has allowed only one barrel thus far, but he’s still rocking a 15.9% walk rate so don’t think command equates to control. After his swinging-strike rate fell to 12.7% in ‘22, Chapman has popped that up to 16.1% in ‘23.

-Colin Holderman didn’t get to the bigs until last year at 26 years old but has really hit another gear now in his first full season. His electric 2.18 ERA has a 2.12 FIP behind it despite the high .340 BABIP, which is mitigated by a healthy K-BB rate near 25%. He ranks 22nd on that leaderboard among 187 qualified relievers. Holderman would also be the next in line should David Bednar (who ranks second on said leaderboard) get flipped at the trade deadline.

Colin Holderman got 4 big outs tonight for the Bucs, continuing a nice run for him! -RI pic.twitter.com/3XJQxKdACF

— AT&T SportsNet™ PIT (@ATTSportsNetPIT) May 31, 2023

-Adbert Alzolay has a Statcast profile painted in red and just posted a strong two-inning save to put his name on the map. He primarily beats up on right-handed hitters with his slider and sinker while neutralizing lefties with his four-seamer and cutter.

-Miguel Castro is crushing it for Arizona, sitting in the top 5% of the league in hard-hit rate allowed (21.2%) and weighted on-base average (.228 wOBA) with his cushy 2.22 ERA. It’s no wonder he’s risen to be the right hand of Arizona’s one-two punch closer tandem with Andrew Chafin.

-Austin Adams has a career 34.2% strikeout rate and the Padres have needs ahead of Josh Hader in the bullpen. The 32-year-old has rarely enjoyed good health but has already collected two holds with a 4/1 K/BB across four appearances in 2023. This comes after a 20/6 K/BB ratio with four earned in 12 ⅔ IP (2.84 ERA).

Key Injured Arms

Jose Alvarado: Tier 2. He should start throwing soon and hopes to return by the end of June.

Andres Munoz: Tier 2. He’s on a rehab assignment and should return in a couple of weeks.

A.J. Puk: Tier 3. The southpaw should return in early June from his elbow nerve issue.

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