Hi Everyone. With all sports being postponed due to COVID-19, you still have more time to draft your fantasy baseball team! Throughout this ranking series, I will give my top 10 C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, OF, SP, and RP. Today’s countdown is all about the relief pitchers. Although relievers are in the game for the least amount of time, relievers are as important as any other position in fantasy baseball. The main statistics I will be using for pitchers are W, K, SV, ERA, WHIP because these are the five categories for pitchers in fantasy baseball. Without further ado, here are my top 10 fantasy baseball relief pitchers.

10. Raisel Iglesias, Cincinnati Reds

Kicking off my top ten fantasy baseball relief pitchers is Cincinnati’s Raisel Iglesias. Iglesias had an okay 2019 season. In 68 games, Iglesias recorded 34 saves. In those 68 games, Iglesias posted an ERA of 4.16, a WHIP of 1.22, and struck out 12 batters per nine innings. Although Iglesias’ ERA and WHIP are high, here are some stats that make me think he will have a bounce-back 2020.

Last season, Iglesias led the NL in games finished with 55. The Reds trust Iglesias, which is why he was out there in the ninth inning so often. Additionally, Iglesias has proven that he can keep his ERA and WHIP down. In 2017 and 2018, Iglesias kept his ERA below a 2.50 and his WHIP at a 1.10 or lower, while pitching more innings than he did in 2019. With the Reds adding key players to the offense, Iglesias should get more save opportunities this season. I think Raisel Iglesias will have a solid bounce-back season, so keep a lookout for this guy.

9. Ken Giles, Toronto Blue Jays

Coming in at my number nine fantasy baseball relief pitcher is Ken Giles. When Giles got the opportunity to close out a game in 2019, he didn’t disappoint. In 53 games, Giles recorded 23 saves, with an ERA of 1.87, a WHIP of 1.00, and struck out 14.1 batters per nine innings. Giles posted great numbers in 2019, however, his saves were down. Toronto only won 67 games last season, which is never a good sign for a closer. Toronto has promising young hitters, and they added Hyun-Jin Ryu this offseason, but I don’t see Toronto having a successful season. Ken Giles is a filthy closer, who looks to record more SVs this season.

8. Liam Hendricks, Oakland Athletics

Ranking at number eight on my top ten fantasy baseball relief pitchers is Oakland’s Liam Hendricks. Oakland’s closer was lights out in 2019. In 75 appearances, Hendricks registered 25 saves, with an ERA of 1.80, a WHIP of 0.96, and a rung up 13.1 batters per nine innings. Hendricks and Giles have very similar stats, but the reason I ranked Hendricks at eight was due to the team he’s on. Oakland won 97 games last season compared to Toronto’s 67. Although both closers had 25 saves last season, Hendricks pitched a lot more than Giles. To be fair, Giles was a bit banged up last season, but Hendricks will be getting more opportunities to close out wins. Liam Hendricks seems unhittable at times, and if he can record more saves this season, he could be a top-five closer in the MLB.

7. Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers

My number seven fantasy baseball relief pitcher is Kenley Jansen. In most years, Jansen is a lot higher on this list, but 2019 was a bit of a rough patch for Jansen. In 62 games, Jansen recorded 33 saves. Jansen’s ERA in 2019 was a career-high 3.71, and his WHIP was a 1.06. Compared to Jansen’s past season, these numbers are very disappointing. Although Jansen had an off-year in 2019, I think he will have a solid 2020 season. The Dodgers are one of the best teams in the league, which will give Jansen a great amount of save opportunities. Don’t let Kenley Jansen’s 2019 scare you away because he is destined for a solid 2020 season.

6. Brad Hand, Cleveland Indians

Coming in at my number six fantasy baseball relief pitcher is Cleveland’s Brad Hand. The 30-year-old also had a bit of an off season, but still posted very respectable numbers. In 60 appearances, Hand saved 34 games, with an ERA of 3.30, a WHIP of 1.23, and had a strikeout per nine of 13.2. Hand’s ERA and WHIP were on the high side in 2019, but the 34 saves gave Hand solid fantasy value. I think the Indians will win 90-plus games this season, which means Hand will get his fair share of save opportunities. Once again, don’t let Brad Hand’s high ERA and WHIP in 2019 scare you away because he is a great closer to have on your fantasy baseball team.

5. Taylor Rodgers, Minnesota Twins

The first player to crack the top five on my top 10 fantasy baseball relief pitchers is Taylor Rodgers. The 28-year-old left-handed pitcher finally got his chance to be the closer in 2019. In 60 games, Rodgers posted 30 saves, an ERA of 2.61, a WHIP of 1.00, and struck out 11.7 batters per nine innings. All of Rodgers’ stats from 2019 are solid, which is what fantasy owners are looking for in their players. Minnesota has a great offense, which should lead them to lots of wins, and hopefully for Rodgers, lots of saves. Taylor Rodgers is emerging as one of the best closers in baseball, and fantasy owners should highly value him.

4. Roberto Osuna, Houston Astros

Coming in at my number four fantasy baseball relief pitcher is Roberto Osuna. Houston’s closer had a spectacular 2019 season. In 66 appearances, Osuna recorded 38 saves, which led the AL, with an ERA of 2.63, a WHIP of 0.87, and punched out 10.1 batters per nine innings. Along with these great numbers, Osuna led the majors in games finished with 56. Osuna was a key part of the Astros bullpen in 2019, and I think he will get as many chances in 2020. It’s hard to tell how the Astros will react to the whole cheating scandal, but the Astros still should win enough games to gives Osuna 30-plus saves. Roberto Osuna had a great 2019 season, and I think 2020 will be no different.

3. Aroldis Chapman, New York Yankees

Making my top three fantasy baseball relievers is the Cuban Missile, Aroldis Chapman. 2019 was another great season for Chapman, as he saved 37 games in 60 appearances with an ERA of 2.21, a WHIP of 1.10, and his strikeout per nine innings was 13.4. When most people hear the name Aroldis Chapman, they usually think of 101 MPH fastballs. While this is still true, Chapman has mixed in filthy off-speed stuff to his repertoire. If a hitter is sitting on a 101 MPH fastball, but Chapman throws a 90 MPH slider, it’s going to freeze the hitter. Being on the Yankees, Chapman gets a high amount of opportunities to close out games. Aroldis Chapman has been one of the most exciting and dominant closers to watch, and 2020 should be no different.

2. Josh Hader, Milwaukee Brewers

Ranking as my number two fantasy baseball relief pitcher is Josh Hader. Milwaukee’s closer has become one of the best strikeout pitchers in the league. In 61 games, Hader posted 37 saves, an ERA of 2.62, a WHIP of 0.80, and rung up 16.4 batters per nine innings. It seems whenever Hader takes the hill, he strikes out two batters and gets one to pop up. If Christian Yelich can stay healthy this season, Hader can reach 40 saves. Josh Hader will provide your team with lots of savse and strikeouts, which gives him great fantasy value.

1. Kirby Yates, San Diego Padres

My number one fantasy baseball relief pitcher is San Diego’s, Kirby Yates! To say that Yates was unhittable in 2019 may be an understatement. In 60 appearances, Yates recorded 41 saves, which led the MLB, an ERA of 1.19, a WHIP of 0.89, and struck out 15 batters per nine innings. I think these numbers speak for themselves. This is as good as it gets when it comes to relief pitchers stats. The Padres should have a solid year, which means Yates could have an encore 2020 season. Expect a slight increase in Yates’s ERA because 1.19 almost seems too good to be true. If you can draft Kirby Yates, I can assure you, he will not disappoint.

That’s it for my top ten fantasy baseball players at each position. I hope you all enjoyed!

My top 10 fantasy baseball C, 1B, 2B, SS ,3B, OF, and SP are out! Be sure to check them out!

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