Tag: A.J. Puk

Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Rankings 2023

sethroto

Updated 01/22/23

Rankings based on 15-team mixed, standard roto-scoring leagues.

Rating: 1-5, 5 is likely improvement, 1 is likely decline

Status: Sleeper (S), Deep Sleeper (DS), Bust (B)

RankPlayerLGTeamPosCommentsRatingStatus
1Edwin DiazNNYMRPHuge increase in sliders and velo increase. Even better in second half.3
2Emmanuel ClaseACLERPThrowing more sliders, control improved. Safest closer other than overuse.3
3Devin WilliamsNMILRPAdded GB which helped HR/9. Velo fell but fastball more effective. Clearly elite closer.4
4Josh HaderNSDPRPHR issues returned, other numbers the same. Velo best of career by far.3
5Kenley JansenABOSRPVelo still up and still thorwing more sinkers. Has settled in nicely.3
6Raisel IglesiasNATLRPVelo down slightly and reflected in K rate, still terrific results. Elite closer.4
7Jordan RomanoATORRPVelo down slightly, threw more sliders. Similar to 2020. Control improved in the second half.3
8Ryan PresslyAHOURPLost some velo, minor arm problems. Still elite.3
9Daniel BardNCOLRPGB% up to 52%, added velo. GB rate gives him a chance to maintain success.3
10Ryan HelsleyNSTLRPAdded 2 mph, dominant entire year.3
11Clay HolmesANYYRP76% GB, some struggles in second half after injury.3
12David BednarNPITRPMissed two months with back, returned in September. Repeat of 2021. Dominant.3
13Alexis DiazNCINRPTwo excellent pitches, control still shaky. Clear closer in last two months.3S
14Andres MunozASEARP53% GB, ridiculous K/BB. Averaged 100 mph and threw mostly sliders. Closer waiting to happen.3S
15Felix BautistaABALRPSudden velo increased fix control issues, shoulder was tired late in the season. Legit closer with slight injury and team risk.3
16Camilo DovalNSFGRP56% GB, elite velo. Control issues but cured HR issues.3
17Jose LeclercATEXRPVelo is back, throwing a lot of splitters. Finished year as closer.3S
18Jhoan DuranAMINRP61% GB, 101 mph FB, suddenly elite control. Closer upside.4DS
19Paul SewaldASEARPVelo still up from 2021, major HR issues. Most frequent closer after April.3
20Daniel HudsonNLADRPGB pitcher out of nowhere, throwing a lot more sliders. Strong closer candidate despite knee injury.4S
21Alex LangeADETRPAdded sinker and throws mostly curveballs. Good GB rate.3
22Taylor RogersNSFGRPHR issues in MIL. Velo down from 2021 but still fine. Clear rebound but unlikely to close at beginning of year after down year.4
23Pete FairbanksATBRRPHuge velo and GB increase, Clase-like upside if he can stay healthy.4S
24Kyle FinneganNWSNRPHuge velo increase, added control. Likely to close if he sticks around.3
25Trevor MayAOAKRP
26Evan PhillipsNLADRPAdded velo and added cutter. First time he's ever shown control but looks legit.3S
27Kendall GravemanACHWRPMaintained velo but more offspeed.3
28Jorge LopezAMINRP58% GB and +2.5 mph. Curveball became plus pitch. Command and velo down after trade.2
29Scott BarlowAKCRRPPrimary closer, velo was down, threw more curveballs. Obvious ERA regression.2
30Giovanny GallegosNSTLRPFour saves in 2nd half. Looked good.3
31Carlos EstevezALAARPSame pitcher as 2021, all velo.3
32Dylan FloroNMIARPNot a GB pitcher anymore, velo down after shoulder issues. Good in 2nd half but a lot of red flags.2
33Craig KimbrelNPHIRPVelo and K rate crash.2
34A.J. MinterNATLRPGot saves when Jansen was out. Added velo, threw more changeups.3DS
35Seranthony DominguezNPHIRPVelo back to rookie season. Didn't close in September but clear sleeper.3DS
36Aroldis ChapmanAKCRRPSignificant velo decline, awful control in consecutive years.3
37Brock BurkeATEXRPBig velo increase, wasn't good in 2021.3
38Luis GarciaAHOURPGB pitcher, continuing to add velo.3
39Jose AlvaradoNPHIRPVelo still up since 2021, but 43% sliders now with elite GB. Improvement looks real.4S
40Joe JimenezNATLRPVelo returned and was dominant again. ERA metrics closer to 2.3
41Tanner ScottNMIARPCloser much of the year. GB rate dropped, threw more sliders. Control still horrific, and much worse late.3
42Jimmy HergetALAARPGood since finding control, closed over last two months.3
43Hector NerisAHOURPMore fastballs, better control. Pitched much better than ERA.4
44Scott McGoughNARIRP00
45Ryan TeperaALAARPLost some velo, wasn't missing bats. Got some saves late.3
46Alex VesiaNLADRPAdding velo throwing more sliders with improved control.3
47Erik SwansonATORRPElite K/BB, improved despite less velo. Splitter was great.3
48James KarinchakACLERPGreat after returning from injury. Velo down slightly.3
49Kevin GinkelNARIRPAdded velo, finally broke out.3
50Brandon HughesNCHCRPGood milb track record, closed over last two months.3
51Chris MartinABOSRPAdded velo, more cutters. Insane control after going to LA. Closer sleeper.4S
52A.J. PukAOAKRPRare health. Saves in July. Control issues in second half.2
53Jason AdamATBRRPFound control with huge increased in sliders and changeups.3
54Robert SuarezNSDPRPMuch better control in second half, elite velo.3
55Adam OttavinoNNYMRPGB increase, fixed control. Closer potential if control continues.3
56Bryan AbreuAHOURPAdded 1.5 mph velo, dominant slider. Fixed control in second half.4S
57Brusdar GraterolNLADRPNew cutter, improved control and 63% GB. No out pitch.3
58Zach JacksonAOAKRPDecent two pitch pitcher, poor control. Closer chance.3DS
59Joe KellyACHWRPVelo and GB rates were fine. Should rebound.4
60Rafael MonteroAHOURPNow a GB pitcher and added velo, but has injury history.3
61Jalen BeeksATBRRPAdded significant velocity.3
62Garrett CleavingerATBRRPElite in TB, control fixed. Closer potential.4S
63Collin McHughNATLRPElite over two seasons, throwing all sliders and cutters.3
64Will SmithAFARPWas excellent after trade. Velo down slightly but really found control in Houston. Excellent closer potential after late surge.4S
65Joe MantiplyNARIRPDeveloped plus change, elite control.3
66Emilio PaganAMINRPVelo and GB rate increased. HR still huge problem. Good in second half.3
67Caleb ThielbarAMINRPAdded velo, terrific in second half.4
68Lou TrivinoANYYRPIntroduced slider, threw it much more in NYY. Much better in NYY, though should have been mid-3's overall. Not good enough to close.3
69Reynaldo LopezACHWRPElite control over last two seasons. Added huge velo, though HR rate a fluke.3
70Matt BushNMILRPVelo rebound, huge HR issues in Milwaukee. Curveball usage up in MIL.3
71Luis GarciaAHOURPGB pitcher, continuing to add velo.3
72Trevor StephanACLERPTransitioned from SP, great velo and two plus secondaries.3
73Colin PocheATBRRPGot save opps but had terrible HR issues.3
74Liam HendriksACHWRPHeld velo from 2021, remains elite.3
75Brad BoxbergerNCHCRPVelo down again. Overachieved.2
76Diego CastilloASEARPOne save in last two months, no longer a GB pitcher. Mostly sliders.3
77Gregory SotoNPHIRPVelo still great, control still terrible. Scary closer.2
78Michael KingANYYRPAdded two mph and sweeper, fractured elbow but no TJS.4
79Sam HentgesACLERP62% GB throwing more sinkers, good offspeed.3
80Andrew ChafinAFARPVelo in decline but still very good.3
81Aaron BummerACHWRPMissed three months with lat but finished healthy. 63% GB, velo down slightly.3
82Robert StephensonNPITRP
83Seth LugoNSDPRPAdded velo, seen as SP by some teams. HR rate concerning.3DS
84Brooks RaleyNNYMRPFound control over last two years. Almost all offspeed pitches.3
85Mychal GivensABALRPLosing velo, more sliders.2
86John SchreiberABOSRPAdded two mph, 56% GB. Save opps late in the year.3
87Mark MelanconNARIRPVelo and GB rate tanked. Looks finished, though he also looked bad in 2020.3
88Taylor ClarkeAKCRRPGood velo, more offspeed, elite control.3
89Andrew BellattiNPHIRP
90Tommy KahnleANYYRP
91Dylan ColemanAKCRRPControl issues but good velo and two plus pitches.3
92Bryan BakerABALRPGood milb track record and velo uptick.3
93Griffin JaxAMINRP3 mph velo increase and a lot more sliders. A completely different pitcher in the pen.4
94David RobertsonNNYMRPBest velo of career, throwing more sliders. Shaky control.3
95Michael FulmerAFARPVelo down, throwing mostly sliders. Not a really a closer candidate.3
96Jason FoleyADETRPGB pitcher with great control.3
97Wandy PeraltaANYYRPClosing opps. Added sinker and control.3
98Lucas LuetgeANYYRP
99Dillon TateABALRPLost velo after 2021 spike, but much better control. GB pitcher should be solid if control holds, and was clear saves fallback.3
100Tim MayzaATORRP58% GB and control control.3
101Nick VespiABALRPThrows junk but a solid RP.3
102Ron MarinaccioANYYRPControl issues but really misses bats.3
103Adam CimberATORRPLed league in appearances. More Ks but no grounders.3
104Yimi GarciaATORRPLost some velo, more fastballs.3
105Hunter HarveyNWSNRPAdded velo, trashed curveball. Closer potential if he stays healthy.4DS
106Dylan LeeNATLRPElite control, mostly sliders.3
107Josh StaumontAKCRRPControl was gone, curveball terrible.3
108Miguel CastroNARIRP
109Penn MurfeeASEARPSidearmer with great control. Mostly sliders.3
110Adrian MorejonNSDPRPGood control, could move to rotation. Lack of strikeouts concerning.3
111Hoby MilnerNMILRPDeveloped changeup, elite control.3
112Jonathan LoaisigaANYYRPMaintained GB rate, didn't miss bats with bad breaking ball.3
113Eli MorganACLERPAdded velo, HRs still an issue.3
114Lucas SimsNCINRPSurgery for herniated disc. Velo was way down.3
115Will VestADETRP
116Connor BrogdonNPHIRP43% changeups, strong K/BB.3
117Matt StrahmNPHIRPBest velo of career, control regression.3
118Cionel PerezABALRP51% GB, added velo. Control improvement. Probably not enough strikeouts to close.3
119Carl Edwards Jr.NWSNRPAdded changeup, K rate not great.3
120Rowan WickNCHCRPSome saves late in the year. Had HR issues.3
121Garrett CrochetACHWRP
122Domingo AcevedoAOAKRPCloser in September. Mediocre velo and K rates.2
123Jonathan HernandezATEXRPNo control since TJS, velo was good.3
124Tyler RogersNSFGRPGB rate still good, control regression.3
125Jake DiekmanACHWRPHorrible control and HR issues, velo still fine.3
126Jordan HicksNSTLRPStruggled but FB and GB were fine.4
127Pierce JohnsonNCOLRP
128Huascar BrazobanNMIARPGreat velo, mostly sliders. Was in Independent Ball.3
129Nabil CrismattNSDPRP50% GB, mostly changeups, added Ks.3
130Mason ThompsonNWSNRPDecent velo, not missing bats.3
131Jose QuijadaALAARPAdded velo, throws 84% FB. Still has control issues but got saves.3
132Jeremiah EstradaNCHCRPCloser potential, elite K rates in minors.3
133Richard BleierNMIARPGB down significantly.2
134Jovani MoranAMINRPImpressive strikeout numbers. Stuff isn't great.3
135Shawn ArmstrongATBRRPVelo up significantly, 4.36 K/BB with TB.4
136Phil BickfordNLADRPGreat other than HR issues.3
137Wil CroweNPITRPAdded velo and fewer fastballs, K/BB still lousy. Terrible second half.2
138Keegan AkinABALRPFirst time he's shown control since low minors. Sudden velo and GB increase.3
139Aaron LoupALAARP
140Matt MooreNFARPAdded velo and far more curveballs.3
141Enyel De Los SantosACLERPMissing bats and keeping ball down.3
142John BrebbiaNSFGRPStrong velo increase but not missing bats.3
143Jarlin GarciaNPITRPMoere offpseed, HR issues.2
144Phil MatonAHOURP
145Peter StrzeleckiNMILRPGreat K rates and success in minors, stuff is average.3
146Cole SulserNARIRP
147Trevor WilliamsNWSNRPVery good as RP, showed nice control as SP.3
148Brad HandNFARPSlider was bad, K rate still falling.2
149Matt BarnesABOSRPFinished year as closer, velo down slightly and curveball was bad. Huge ST to track.2
150JT ChargoisNMIARPFinished year healthy. 60% GB due to more fastballs, closer potential.4DS
151Eric TorresALAARP
152Chris StrattonNSTLRP
153Tejay AntoneNCINRP
154Duane Underwood Jr.NPITRP
155Steven WilsonNSDPRP
156Dany JimenezAOAKRPAdded velo and more curveballs. Lousy control, closed early in the year.2
157Yerry De Los SantosNPITRPElite milb track record, great GB, closer upside.4DS
158Nic EnrightNMIARP
159Trevor RichardsATORRP
160Brett MartinATEXRP
161Andrew KittredgeATBRRPTJS in June.3
162Jorge AlcalaAMINRPMinor elbow surgery, worthy flier based on 2021.3
163Joely RodríguezABOSRP
164Ryan ThompsonATBRRPSeason ended with elbow injury, decent GB rate and control.3
165Alex ColomeNFARPAll cutters and GBs, didn't miss bats.3
166Matthew FestaASEARP
167Andrew NardiNMIARP
168Tommy NanceNMIARP
169Chad SmithAOAKRP
170Ryan BrasierABOSRP.335 BABIP, great K/BB. Incredibly unlucky.4
171Ryne StanekAHOURPBest velo of career. Control was bad and HR is outlier.2
172Brandon WalterABOSRP
173Kirby YatesNATLRP
174Víctor AranoNWSNRP
175Steven OkertNMIARPAdded velo and lost of sliders, but HR and control still issues.2
176Erasmo RamirezNWSNRP
177Corey KnebelNFARPVelo down slightly, K rate sucked, bad shoulder injury.2
178Caleb FergusonNLADRP
179Jake CousinsNMILRP
180Joe BarlowATEXRP60% sliders, had wrist surgery. Wasn't missing bats.2
181Sean DoolittleNWSNRP
182Alex ReyesNFARP
183Victor GonzalezNLADRP
184Shelby MillerNLADRPThrowing mostly sliders, dominant.4
185Ken GilesAFARP
186Drew PomeranzNSDPRP
187Dinelson LametNCOLRPGot on track with Colorado, velo still down.3
188Andrew WantzALAARP
189Richard LoveladyAKCRRP
190Trevor GottASEARPNew cutter, showing elite control.3
191Hunter StricklandNFARPPoor control, saves out of desperation.2
192Buck FarmerNCINRPSlight velo increase and more curveballs.3
193Yency AlmonteNLADRPFound control again and threw slider more. Still overachieved.3
194Luis FríasNARIRP
195Zach PopATORRP57%, good velo. Doesn't miss bats.3
196Drew SmithNNYMRP
197Tony SantillanNCINRP
198Jesse ChavezNATLRP
199Justin MartinezNARIRP
200Josh SimpsonNMIARP
201Genesis CabreraNSTLRPVelo down, bad in second half.2
202Brent SuterNCOLRPVelo down slightly, throwing more changeups. Control has deteriorated consecutive years.2
203Luke WeaverNCINRPK/BB very good but running out of chances.3
204Amir GarrettAKCRRPVelo decline and awful control.2
205Ian GibautNCINRP
206Gavin HollowellNCOLRP
207Sam MollAOAKRP
208Lucas GilbreathNCOLRP
209Ian KennedyNFARPVelo starting to fall. Throwing all fastballs secon consecutive year.3
210Tim HillNSDPRP
211Nick AndersonNATLRP
212Jaime BarriaALAARPEffective in pen but still not missing bats, velo was down.2
213Matt WislerAFARP
214Julian MerryweatherNCHCRP
215Michael RuckerNCHCRP
216Jared ShusterNATLRP
217Sam LongNSFGRPAdded velo in pen, not missing bats.3
218Jose RuizACHWRP
219Reese OlsonADETRP
220Fernando CruzNCINRPPicked up from Mexico, good K rate and changeup.3
221Nate PearsonATORRP
222Rony GarcíaADETRP
223Mike BurrowsNPITRP
224Justin LawrenceNCOLRP
225Manuel RodríguezNCHCRP
226Archie BradleyAFARPRepeated elbow problems, has turned into GB pitcher with less velo.3
227Darius VinesNATLRP
228Nick SandlinACLERP56% GB, mostly sliders. Terrible control.3
229John KingATEXRP
230Joel PayampsNMILRP
231Andres MachadoNWSNRP
232Kyle NelsonNARIRP
233Zack BrittonAFARPReturned from TJS, immediately hurt shoulder. Velo was way down.2
234Matt FosterACHWRP
235Andrew AbbottNCINRP
236Codi HeuerNCHCRP
237Chase De JongNPITRP
238J.P. FeyereisenNLADRPShoulder issues, velo was down. Added control makes him more interesting.3
239Jake BirdNCOLRP56% GB, killed by LHP.3
240Joey CantilloACLERP
241Jimmy LambertACHWRP
242Levi StoudtNCINRP
243Bryan MataABOSRP
244Joey KrehbielABALRP
245Jake IrvinNWSNRP
246Corbin MartinNARIRP