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Closing Time 9/24: Ranking the Top 30 Closers Every Tuesday

Ranking baseball's closers for the 2024 season.

This years biggest surprise as far as closer go, Kirby Yates gets to end the season in style with the third easiest schedule remaining as the Rangers end with the Angels and Athletics. Yates was the clear cut top waiver pick up for saves this year, as he went undrafted pretty much everywhere and wound up with at least 31 saves.

Ryan Helsley is likely to finish the season as the league leader in saves and he has 6 games remaining against the Rockies and Giants to earn 3 more saves and become the first reliever since Edwin Díaz in 2018 to reach the 50 save mark. The Rockies series is in Colorado, but I’m still willing to roll the dice as Helsley chases 50 saves.

 

Notes

 

  • Josh Hader has put together another great season but with just five games remaining, and both series against potential playoff teams in the Guardians and Mariners, he’s not the best option this week.

 

  • Luke Weaver seems to have taken full control of the Yankees closer role despite what Aaron Boone might say, and he gets the finish the season at home against the Pirates this weekend.

 

  • Jason Foley remains option 1A in the Tigers committee, but he’s been fantastic lately and the team gets to end the season with the Rays and White Sox as they get ready for their first postseason appearance since 2014.

 

  • A.J. Puk appears to have taken over the Diamondbacks closer role as they get ready for postseason play. Puk has been the best reliever in baseball since mid-June so it’s a long overdue promotion.

 

  • Jesús Tinoco continues to operate as the Marlins closer, and he gets a favorable schedule this week with series against a floundering Twins team and the Blue Jays.

 

  • Seranthony Domínguez is still hanging on to the Orioles closer role by default as they really don’t have any other options. They get the Twins this week, but also the Yankees.

 

  • Robert Suarez and the Padres get the Dodgers and Diamondbacks this week, the second toughest remaining schedule behind only the Pirates. Not only that, but theres a legitimate chance Tanner Scott continues seeing more save chances as Suarez has struggled over his past 19.1 IP (5.59 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 17.4% K and 22.8% CSW rates)

 

  • The Red Sox and Rockies lost their closers the past week, and are expected to go with a committee the rest of the way. The Rockies are mostly avoidable although I do like Seth Halvorsen’s longterm upside. The Red Sox will probably give Chris Martin save chances but Justin Slaten could also factor in.

 

 

And if you want more daily reliever updates, please check out our Reliever Ranks series

 

Watch List

 

 

Rank Pitcher Change
1Devin WilliamsT1+1
2Kirby Yates+4
3Ryan Helsley+7
4Emmanuel Clase-3
5Edwin Díaz-2
6Jhoan Duran+1
7Andrés Muñoz+1
8Raisel Iglesias-3
9Josh Hader-5
10Ryan Walker-1
11Luke Weaver
T2
+11
12Jason Foley+11
13Lucas Erceg-
14Michael Kopech+3
15Mason Miller+1
16A.J. Puk+UR
17Carlos Estévez-2
18Edwin Uceta-
19Porter Hodge-
20Chad Green-
21Jesús Tinoco+5
22Seranthony Domínguez-8
23Robert Suarez-11
24Kyle Finnegan+3
25Alexis Díaz+3
26Aroldis Chapman-1
27José Quijada-3
28Chris Martin+UR
29Seth Halvorsen+UR
30Fraser Ellard-

Rick Graham

Rick resides in the Boston area and has experience as a player and coach at the collegiate level. He has been covering relievers for Pitcher List since 2017.

One response to “Closing Time 9/24: Ranking the Top 30 Closers Every Tuesday”

  1. Stephen Lidbetter says:

    I don’t get Clase’s demotion on this list. Other than Williams right now, Clase is the only unquestioned closer that is clearly the most dominant pitcher in his position. Don’t think too hard, when any other closer goes to the mound to save a game there is a little trepidation if it’s going to work out. Whenever Clase is in a save situation, I am supremely confident he will do it. That makes him #1 overall for me (as Williams track record isn’t as long this season).

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