30 Days of MLB Rankings: Relief Pitchers 30-16

Check out my previous rankings from this series:

Catchers 30-21 | Catchers 20-11  | Catchers 10-1  | First Base 30-21 | First Basemen 20-11 | First Basemen 10-1 | Second Basemen 30-21 | Second Basemen 20-11 | Second Basemen 10-1 | Third Basemen 30-21 | Third Basemen 20-11 | Third Basemen 10-1 | Shortstop 30-21 | Shortstops 20-11 | Shortstop 10-1  | Left Field 30-21 | Left Field 20-11 | Left Field 10-1  | Center Field 30-21 | Center Field 20-11  | Center Field 10-1  | Right Field 30-21 | Right Field 20-11  | Right Field 10-1 | Designated Hitter 15-1 

It’s worth mentioning that this ranking is the best reliever on each team, and not just an overall top 30 relievers ranking. Also, the pitchers on this list are not necessarily the team’s closer, but their best reliever. Josh Hader is the Brewers’ best reliever, but Corey Knebel will be their closer in 2020. Hader, not Knebel, will be mentioned on the reliever rankings.  

30. Mychal Givens, Baltimore Orioles

2019: 58 games, 63.0 IP, 4.57 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 86 Strikeouts, 11 Saves

In a weak bullpen, Mychal Givens earns the nod for the Orioles by default, despite struggling in 2019. Givens has swing-and-miss stuff, with his slider being his best pitch. However, the long ball has been an issue for him as he allowed 13 home runs in 63 innings last season. 

29. Tony Watson, San Francisco Giants

2019: 60 games, 54.0 IP, 4.17 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 41 Strikeouts, 0 Saves

After Will Smith signed with the Braves, Tony Watson projects to be the Giants’ closer and best relief pitcher in 2020. A left-handed pitcher, Watson only threw fastballs on 17.2% of his pitches in 2019, as he’s primarily a sinker-ball pitcher. Because of this, his strikeout numbers aren’t high, but he forces many ground balls.   

29. Matt Magill, Seattle Mariners

2019: 50 games, 50.2 IP, 4.09 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 64 Strikeouts, 5 Saves

After trading Edwin Diaz after the 2018 season, the Mariners have arguably the worst bullpen in MLB. Matt Magill is nothing special but is better than the other options in the Mariners’ bullpen. Magill does a great job at limiting the long ball, having only allowed three home runs last year. 

27. Buck Farmer, Detroit Tigers

2019: 73 games, 67.2 IP, 3.72 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 73 Strikeouts, 0 Saves

While Joe Jimenez projects to be the Tigers’ closer, Buck Farmer is their best relief pitcher. Farmer doesn’t throw a ton of breaking balls, but his best pitch is his changeup. That pitch allows Farmer to yield a ton of ground balls, lowering his ERA, and making him an effective option.  

26. Jose Leclerc, Texas Rangers

2019: 70 games, 68.2 IP, 4.33 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 100 Strikeouts, 14 Saves

After performing like one of the best relievers in MLB in 2018, Jose Leclerc struggled in a closer role last season. However, he still projects to be the Rangers’ closer for 2020. Leclerc’s fastball hits up to 98, but he doesn’t have a great breaking ball. After struggling with his control last year, Leclerc is hoping to turn it around this season. 

25. Archie Bradley, Arizona Diamondbacks

2019: 66 games, 71.2 IP, 3.52 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 87 Strikeouts, 18 Saves

As the Diamondbacks’ closer in 2019, Archie Bradley struggled with his control as he allowed 36 walks in 71.2 innings. Bradley doesn’t throw a lot of changeup but likes to rely on his curveball. However, he has a below-average fastball, posting a -1.4 wFB last season, per FanGraphs.  

24. Brandon Kintzler, Miami Marlins

2019: 62 games, 57.0 IP, 2.68 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 48 Strikeouts, 1 Save

After a horrendous year in 2018, Brandon Kintzler turned it around as a great setup-man for the Cubs in 2019. After signing a deal with the Marlins in the offseason, Kintzler projects to be their closer in 2020. His best pitch is his sinker as he recorded a weighted sinker runs above the average mark of 12.5 last year, per FanGraphs.  

23. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals

2019: 63 games, 63.1 IP, 3.41 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 73 Strikeouts, 30 Saves

Having been a starter for the first 12 years of his career, Ian Kennedy took on a new role as the Royals closer in 2019. In an otherwise lackluster bullpen, Kennedy is a very solid pitcher. He relies heavily on his fastball, throwing that pitch 67.5% of the time last season, but also has an above-average changeup. 

22. Nick Anderson, Tampa Bay Rays

2019: 68 games, 65.0 IP, 3.32 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 110 Strikeouts, 1 Save

With Nick Anderson, Diego Castillo, Jose Alvardo, and Chaz Roe, the Rays have one of the best bullpens in MLB. After a decent start to the year with the Marlins, Anderson flourished with the Rays after getting traded. With Tampa Bay, he posted an ERA of 2.11, while striking out 41 batters in 21.1 innings. 

21. Michael Lorenzen, Cincinnati Reds

2019: 73 games, 83.1 IP, 2.92 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 85 Strikeouts, 7 Saves

While Raisel Iglesias is the Cincinnati Reds closer, Michael Lorenzen is their best reliever for 2020. Lorenzen posted an ERA+ of 156 in 2019, an elite mark for a reliever. He has a great repertoire, using up to six pitches, with his cutter being his best pitch. He’s also a solid hitter, with five home runs as a pitcher in the last two seasons. 

20. Daniel Hudson, Washington Nationals

2019: 69 games, 73.0 IP, 2.47 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 71 Strikeouts, 8 Saves

While Sean Doolittle projects to be the Nationals’ closer in 2020, righty Daniel Hudson is their best reliever. Hudson was acquired by Washington mid-way through 2019, and he helped them win a championship. With Washington, Hudson posted an ERA of 1.44 in 25 innings, helping him earn an extension in the offseason.  

19. Keone Kela, Pittsburgh Pirates

2019: 32 games, 29.2 IP, 2.12 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 33 Strikeouts, 1 Save

Despite missing nearly two months of the season, Keone Kela still had a great year for the Pirates. Felipe Vazquez is going to prison for a long time, and Kela will likely take his job as the Pirates’ closer in 2020. Kela only throws two pitches: a fastball and curveball, but that’s all he needs to get hitters out.  

18. Edwin Diaz, New York Mets

2019: 66 games, 58.0 IP, 5.59 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 99 Strikeouts, 26 Saves

Edwin Diaz was an extremely tough player to rank on this list. In 2018, he led MLB with 57 saves for the Mariners, while posting an ERA of 1.96. However, he struggled mightily with New York last season, as he allowed 15 home runs. It will be interesting to see if he can come back to life in 2020. 

17. Craig Kimbrel, Chicago Cubs

2019: 23 games, 20.2 IP, 6.53 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 30 Strikeouts, 13 Saves

Like Edwin Diaz, Craig Kimbrel is a great relief pitcher, who sucked on every level in 2019. Kimbrel was hurt by having a late start to the year after he signed with the Cubs in May. His fastball works like a riser due to his arm-slot, making it extremely tough to hit. Hopefully, he can return to his elite form in 2020.  

16. Hector Neris, Philadelphia Phillies

2019: 68 games, 67.2 IP, 2.93 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 89 Strikeouts, 28 Saves

After a horrendous season in 2018, Neris was able to turn it around last year, as he was the one bright spot in an otherwise poor Phillies’ bullpen. Neris’ success is due to one main reason: his splitter. Neris threw his splitter on 65.4% of his pitches last year, which is smart since it’s one of the best splitters in MLB at an 11.2 wSF mark per FanGraphs. 

Come back tomorrow for the second part of my relief pitcher ranking!

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