SPORT FANATICS FANTASY BASEBALL

 

Fantasy Baseball

FB Home   Player Rankings/Cheat Sheets   Projections   Depth Charts   Probable Pitchers   Injuries   Sleepers/Busts   Prospects  

Articles/Columnists/Blogs   Forums   Podcasts   Mock Drafts   Average Draft Position   Academia   Books & Pay Sites   Leagues

 

Major League Baseball

MLB Home   Headline News   Teams   Scores   Schedules   Standings   Statistics   Players   Transactions   Rumors

Video Highlights   Salaries   Calendar   Ballparks   Attendance   MLB Draft   Hot Stove   Betting Odds

History of MLB   World Series   Hall of Fame   All-Star Game   Awards   Historical Statistics

  

Minor League Baseball

MiLB Home   News/Blogs   TV/Audio   Teams/Rosters   Scores   Schedules   Standings   Statistics   Awards   History

 

 

SPORT FANATICS FANTASY BASEBALL PLAYER RANKINGS : RELIEF PITCHERS

 

The rankings are based on projected statistics for the 2010 season. The player rankings were determined for a typical 5 X 5 rotisserie league by using wins, saves, ERA, WHIP and strikeouts for pitchers.

 

RANKINGS:    C     1B     2B     SS     3B     OF     OF2     DH     SP     SP2     RP     RP2

 

POS RANK TIER RANK PLAYER MLB LINK LG TEAM POS AGE FP 2010 W 2010 S 2010 K 2010 ERA 2010 WHIP COMMENTS
1 3 Jonathan Papelbon MLB AL BOS RP 29.4 92.62 3 42 65 2.66 1.05 A top fantasy closer, definitely one of the elite closers who provides consistency in all relief pitching categories.
2 3 Mariano Rivera MLB AL NYY RP 40.4 91.94 4 40 60 2.75 1.04 Will now be over 40 when the season begins, but still is a top closer. Pick him as one of your top three relief pitchers and let someone else worry about where they are getting 40 saves.
3 3 Jonathan Broxton MLB NL LAD RP 25.8 91.16 4 37 84 2.85 1.11 Top strikeout closer in the game puts him in the top tier of closers. 
4 3 Joakim Soria MLB AL KC RP 25.9 88.98 4 37 68 2.62 1.06 Excellent closer with great stuff, is the top of the class in the second tier of very good closers.
5 4 Francisco Rodriguez MLB NL NYM RP 28.2 81.52 3 41 71 3.60 1.34 Not as dominating as past years, but he keeps racking up those saves by being a good pitcher, not just a hard thrower.
6 4 Heath Bell MLB NL SD RP 32.5 80.65 4 33 71 3.20 1.19 First year as a closer was outstanding with SD. If he stays in SD (lots of trade rumors), he is a top 7 closer playing in a very friendly pitcher's park.
7 4 Andrew Bailey MLB AL OAK RP 25.9 78.95 4 32 67 3.15 1.17 Won rookie of the year honors last season, looks to improve on a stellar rookie campaign.
8 4 Jose Valverde MLB AL DET RP 30.7 78.64 4 34 71 3.51 1.23 Missed time with leg injuries in 2009, looks fine for the 2010 season.
9 4 Carlos Marmol MLB NL CHC RP 27.5 77.04 3 34 81 3.42 1.31 Has electric stuff, but must battle control problems to be a top 12 fantasy closer. 
10 4 Billy Wagner MLB NL ATL RP 38.7 75.62 3 30 75 3.02 1.08 Back to being a closer, after a few years away from that role. He was very good prior to injuries and now seems healthy again and is thus deserving of a top 12 closer ranking.
11 4 Rafael Soriano MLB AL TB RP 30.3 75.48 4 33 61 3.44 1.13 Appears willing and able to take over the TB closer job. Will have plenty of bullpen help to be successful, the problem is if he falters, the TB is deep and talented.
12 4 Chad Qualls MLB NL ARI RP 31.6 75.18 3 35 55 3.51 1.20 Suffered a dislocated kneecap and torn ligament in August 2009. Looks to be ready for the start of season.
13 4 Brian Wilson MLB NL SF RP 28.1 73.92 3 36 63 3.52 1.29  
14 4 Francisco Cordero MLB NL CIN RP 34.9 73.87 3 35 65 3.46 1.31  
15 5 Bobby Jenks MLB AL CHW RP 29.1 71.95 4 33 50 3.42 1.21 Had a calf injury towards the end of the year, which opened the door for Thornton. Is the opening day closer, but he won't have much room for error. 
16 5 David Aardsma MLB AL SEA RP 28.3 71.37 4 35 67 3.96 1.36  
17 5 Trevor Hoffman MLB NL MIL RP 42.5 69.82 3 35 41 3.53 1.16 Back for another year as the MIL closer.
18 5 Matt Capps MLB NL WAS RP 26.6 67.50 4 28 53 3.73 1.19  
19 5 Frank Francisco MLB AL TEX RP 30.6 67.24 3 30 63 3.56 1.21 Was on and off the disabled list a few times in 2009 with minor shoulder injuries and pneumonia. With Wilson moving to the starting rotation, Francisco will have the closer job all to himself.
20 5 Brian Fuentes MLB AL ANA RP 34.7 66.74 3 34 54 3.87 1.33  
21 5 Jason Frasor MLB AL TOR RP 32.7 66.66 4 28 60 3.64 1.22 Beat out Gregg and Downs and will start the season as the TOR closer. 
22 5 Ryan Franklin MLB NL STL RP 37.1 66.36 4 33 40 3.74 1.35  
23 5 Octavio Dotel MLB NL PIT RP 36.4 66.34 3 28 74 3.71 1.29  
24 5 Mike Gonzalez MLB AL BAL RP 31.9 65.67 3 30 60 3.68 1.29  
25 5 Jon Rauch MLB AL MIN RP 31.5 64.83 5 28 48 3.95 1.25 With the injury to Joe Nathan, Rauch has been given the first opportunity to be the MIN closer in 2010. 
26 6 Leo Nunez MLB NL FLA RP 26.6 62.73 4 27 52 3.81 1.28 Not a real strong hold on the closer job, but for now he looks to enter the season as the closer.
27 6 Huston Street MLB NL COL RP 26.7 62.39 3 26 51 3.31 1.11 Even though he pitches in a hitter's park, he keeps the ball down, rarely walks people and thus is one of the top 10 fantasy closers when healthy. Will begin the season on the DL with shoulder problems, not expected to miss more than 3-4 weeks.
28 6 Brad Lidge MLB NL PHI RP 33.3 57.84 3 30 57 4.21 1.41 In November had surgery on his hip which was causing him problems throughout 2009. Is expected to miss the first few weeks of the season with knee and elbow issues.
29 6 Matt Lindstrom MLB NL HOU RP 30.2 57.45 3 27 53 3.90 1.35 Will begin the 2010 season as HOU closer. Lyon is a capable replacement, so Lindstrom has to do well in the closer role to keep the job.
30 7 Kerry Wood MLB AL CLE RP 32.8 53.82 3 23 58 3.87 1.30 Still has a very good K ratio, but ERA is not that good for a closer. Has shoulder strain and is expected to miss the first 4-6 weeks of the season.
31 8 Chris Perez MLB AL CLE RP 24.8 45.10 3 12 70 3.87 1.27 With injury to K.Wood, Perez will be the closer for the first 4-6 weeks of the season.  If he pitches well then he may maintain the closer role.
32 8 Matt Thornton MLB AL CHW RP 33.6 43.21 5 5 68 3.27 1.18  
33 8 Ryan Madson MLB NL PHI RP 29.6 42.90 4 8 59 3.35 1.23 Will begin season as the PHI closer as Lidge is on the DL. 
34 8 Kevin Gregg MLB AL TOR RP 31.8 42.04 5 8 69 3.96 1.29  
35 8 J.P. Howell MLB AL TB RP 27.0 40.37 5 7 63 3.59 1.27  
36 8 Kris Medlen MLB NL ATL RP 24.5 39.92 5 0 83 3.75 1.28  
37 8 Matt Guerrier MLB AL MIN RP 31.7 37.48 4 8 44 3.88 1.26  
38 8 Brandon Lyon MLB NL HOU RP 30.7 37.42 4 9 50 3.67 1.30 Had cyst drained from his shoulder in late January, looks like he will begin the season as HOU setup man.
39 8 Michael Wuertz MLB AL OAK RP 31.3 37.29 4 3 70 3.43 1.21  
40 8 Sergio Romo MLB NL SF RP 27.1 37.18 5 1 61 3.26 1.13  
41 8 Brandon League MLB AL SEA RP 27.1 36.98 5 2 60 3.41 1.25  
42 8 George Sherrill MLB NL LAD RP 33.0 35.63 3 3 62 3.31 1.23  
43 8 Luke Gregerson MLB NL SD RP 25.9 34.57 4 1 68 3.37 1.24  
44 8 Takashi Saito MLB NL ATL RP 40.2 34.01 3 5 59 3.31 1.28  
45 8 Alfredo Aceves MLB AL NYY RP 27.3 33.95 5 0 54 3.91 1.20  
46 8 Daniel Bard MLB AL BOS RP 24.8 33.23 4 3 66 3.29 1.30 If Papelbon is traded or injured, this hard thrower has the stuff and makeup to be a good closer.
47 8 Mike Adams MLB NL SD RP 31.7 33.12 3 1 58 3.18 1.17  
48 9 Rafael Betancourt MLB NL COL RP 34.9 32.90 4 2 60 3.62 1.24  
49 9 Joel Hanrahan MLB NL PIT RP 28.5 32.27 3 8 66 4.27 1.43  
50 9 Neftali Feliz MLB AL TEX RP 21.9 31.94 4 3 68 3.98 1.34 Elite prospect that finished the 2009 season in TEX bullpen. Has ace starting pitcher potential, but will be a reliever in 2010. 
51 9 Koji Uehara MLB AL BAL RP 35.0 31.41 4 4 50 4.07 1.26  
52 9 Jason Motte MLB NL STL RP 27.8 31.38 4 3 68 3.95 1.34 Has the stuff to be a closer, watch how Franklin performs in 2010.
53 9 Brad Ziegler MLB AL OAK RP 30.5 30.99 4 2 45 3.24 1.30  
54 9 Peter Moylan MLB NL ATL RP 31.3 30.93 5 1 52 3.46 1.31  
55 9 Scott Downs MLB AL TOR RP 34.1 30.87 3 3 54 3.44 1.30  
56 9 Fernando Rodney MLB AL ANA RP 33.1 30.86 3 10 57 4.34 1.45  
57 9 Franklin Morales MLB NL COL RP 24.2 30.21 4 10 57 4.57 1.51 Will be the closer while Street is on DL for the first 3-4 weeks of the season.
58 10 Kyle McClellan MLB NL STL RP 25.8 29.06 4 2 52 3.86 1.34  
59 10 Tyler Clippard MLB NL WAS RP 25.1 28.92 4 1 67 4.24 1.36  
60 10 Pat Neshek MLB AL MIN RP 29.6 28.84 4 0 51 3.46 1.18 Returning from Tommy John elbow surgery in late 2008, missed a lot of the past two seasons. Was electric prior to arm problems, should be ready by start of the season.
61 10 Shawn Kelley MLB AL SEA RP 25.9 28.78 5 0 53 3.96 1.26  
62 10 Hideki Okajima MLB AL BOS RP 34.3 28.35 4 1 50 3.66 1.26  
63 10 LaTroy Hawkins MLB NL MIL RP 37.3 28.18 3 3 40 3.61 1.25  
64 10 Scott Elbert MLB NL LAD RP 24.6 28.08 4 0 75 4.13 1.37  
65 10 Dan Wheeler MLB AL TB RP 32.3 27.77 4 1 46 3.96 1.21  
66 10 Manny Corpas MLB NL COL RP 27.3 27.45 4 2 45 3.75 1.30  
67 10 David Robertson MLB AL NYY RP 25.0 27.42 3 1 63 3.68 1.30  
68 10 Phil Coke MLB AL DET RP 27.7 27.27 4 0 64 4.33 1.34  
69 10 Hong-Chih Kuo MLB NL LAD RP 28.7 27.22 3 0 50 3.08 1.17  
70 10 Darren O'Day MLB AL TEX RP 27.5 27.14 4 0 49 3.67 1.27  
71 10 Grant Balfour MLB AL TB RP 32.3 27.12 4 2 56 3.78 1.31  
72 10 Josh Lindblom MLB NL LAD RP 22.8 26.94 4 0 51 4.08 1.28  
73 10 Daniel Hudson MLB AL CHW RP 23.1 26.69 4 0 71 4.52 1.39  
74 10 Jason Bulger MLB AL ANA RP 31.3 26.57 4 1 66 3.91 1.38  
75 10 Nick Masset MLB NL CIN RP 27.9 26.45 4 0 54 3.85 1.32  
76 10 Samuel Gervacio MLB NL HOU RP 25.2 25.94 3 0 65 3.90 1.33  
77 10 Jeremy Affeldt MLB NL SF RP 30.8 25.82 3