Yennier Cano, Emmanuel Clase, Fernando Cruz, Alexis Díaz, Colin Holderman, Griffin Jax, Craig Kimbrel, Trevor Megill, Héctor Neris, Joel Payamps, Elvis Peguero, Nick Sandlin, and Robert Suarez all had three SV+HLD’s this past week. This might be the most relievers (13) we’ve had pick up three SV+HLD’s in a single week since I started tracking this so I won’t be tough on everyone. Please be cautious when adding Neris to any of your teams, as he has really looked terrible this season. Neris has the fourth lowest PLV amongst pitchers so far, only above (the ghost of) Tanner Rainey, Tyler Kinley, and Dany Jiménez. I mean just click on Neris’s player page to see how underwhelming he’s been this season. I recommend the same for Payamps who also hasn’t looked great this season despite the 3.72 ERA and 0.62 WHIP. The one positive with Payamps is he won’t walk guys at a high rate, so that should at least boost his floor.
Notes
- Josh Sborz, Elvis Peguero, Garrett Cleavinger, Bryan Hudson, Yency Almonte, Tim Herrin, and Hoby Milner all join the list this week. Sborz is back after a short IL stint and should go right back into a setup role. Cleavinger got off to a slow start and fell off the list initially, but he’s roared back, and as long as he can continue to bring that walk rate down he could continue moving up the list. Sam Hentges is close to returning to the Guardians bullpen but I could see Herrin remaining as their top lefty-handed option, at least in the short term.
- Ryan Brasier, Cade Smith, Chad Green, Caleb Thielbar, Brooks Raley, Tyler Matzek, and Pete Fairbanks all fell off the list this week. Green, Raley, and Fairbanks all wound up on the IL in the past week. Matzek and Thielbar will likely be on and off the list at times throughout the year. Brasier is looking more like the Red Sox Brasier I am all too familiar with (high mistake rate) and Smith has come back down to earth here despite still having great strikeout and CSW rates (PLV is not a big fan).
- It’s always tough trying to figure out where recently outed closers belong on the Hold and SV+HLD ranks, especially with the likes of talented relievers like Adbert Alzolay and Abner Uribe. Both should be higher on this list but with their respective teams losing faith in them, I think it makes some sense to drop them this low and have them work back up the list (which could be rather quickly if they pitch well). Alzolay especially should move up very quickly as he is still the best reliever in that bullpen. Uribe has more work in front of him as he has at least Megill to deal with and possibly Payamps, not to mention Devin Williams returning at some point. José Leclerc on the other hand has a steep uphill climb with three relievers in front of him that all deserve to be there.
- Clay Holmesand Robert Suarez lead the league in SV+HLD’s for the season with nine apiece now. Holmes hasn’t been great this season but he’s done what he’s needed to lock down games so far and hasn’t allowed a run despite a 1.08 WHIP. Suarez has been awesome so far and it’s interesting to see how these two closers have really stabilized their respective teams this season as both the Yankees and Padres are lacking in quality reliever options. As productive as they’ve been so far, I don’t see them as top 10 closers for the rest of the season yet, although Suarez is growing on me.
And if you want more daily reliever updates, please check out our Reliever Ranks series.
| PITCHER | TIER | INJURY. NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| Devin Williams | 1 | Back. On the 60-day IL now. Likely out until after the All-Star break, and maybe longer. |
| Jhoan Duran | 1-2 | Oblique. In the middle of his rehab assignment and could return next week. |
| Pete Fairbanks | 1-2 | Nerve. Still no timetable but tests came back clean so he could be out just the minimum. |
| Paul Sewald | 2-3 | Oblique. Started his rehab assignment and could return as early as this weekend. |
| Matt Brash | 3-4 | Elbow. Starting his rehab assignment shortly, and could be back in a week or two. |
| Julian Merryweather | 3-4 | Rib. Could be a rather lengthy injury with the rib stress fracture. No timetable. Added to 60-day IL. |
| Gregory Santos | 5-6 | Lat. Close to mound work, could return in May. Added to 60-day IL |
| Tommy Kahnle | 5-6 | Shoulder. Close to facing hitters and then a rehab assignment after that |
| Keynan Middleton | 6-7 | Forearm. Had a setback, received a PRP injection, is playing catch from 110 feet. |
| Brusdar Graterol | 6-7 | Shoulder. Added to the 60-day IL, and had another setback. He’s shut down for now. |
| Brooks Raley | 6-7 | Elbow. Should be out just two weeks, similar to last year around this time. |
| Justin Topa | 7-8 | Knee. Started his rehab assignment and could return next week. |
| Ryan Borucki | 7-8 | Tricep. Had a setback but hopes to be able to resume throwing soon. |
| Blake Treinen | 7-8 | Lung. Starting his rehab assignment soon. 1-2 weeks away. |
| Chad Green | 7-8 | Shoulder. Teres major strain will keep him out a while. |