Dominant Non-Closing Relievers — May 27, 2025

In 12-team mixed leagues and shallower, you’re generally ignoring relievers that aren’t closing games or potentially will be given the incumbent’s missteps. That’s not true in 15-team+ mixed and, especially, mono leagues. In such deeper formats, replacement level for starting pitchers is poor. You’re essentially choosing between a 4.50 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, but with perhaps 10 wins and 120 strikeouts, starting pitcher, or a middle reliever with superior ratios, but fewer wins and strikeouts. Typically, the latter is actually more valuable even if he doesn’t record a single save all season. So let’s dive into some of the most dominant non-closing middle relievers this year who might be a better option than your worst starter.

I decided to include all qualified non-closing relievers with a strikeout rate of at least 30%.

Kirby Yates may not be closing, and he also may be 38 years old, but man, he remains as dominant as ever. Both the strikeout rate and SwStk% represent the second highest of his career. Ignore the inflated 4.34 ERA, as that’s driven by a ridiculous .385 BABIP and relatively high 17.6% HR/FB rate. Focus instead on the 1.86 SIERA and 2.93 xERA for a better idea of how he has actually pitched. The only odd thing here is his Stuff+ is just 93, which is shocking given his elite strikeout rate and SwStk% mark. His Stuff+ has always been below average, and yet he has always struck out over 30% of opposing batters. I wonder what he’s doing that’s missing from the formula!

Were you able to see Randy Rodríguez’s ERA or did you need a magnifying glass? He was merely acceptable last year with averageish rates, but he’s upped his slider usage this year at a velocity a mile per hour higher. Even though he’s now a two-pitch pitcher, it has worked. I doubt the 3.6% walk rate will last, but it won’t need to if he’s striking out nearly 40% of batters.

Fernando Cruz was just placed on the IL due to shoulder inflammation, so it’s anyone’s guess when he’ll return and if the injury will affect his velocity and/or performance. Before hitting the IL, he had continued what he had been doing in Cincinnati, but with significantly improved BABIP and LOB% luck. He has also gone all in on his splitter, continuing the trend of upping its usage every season. He’s now up to a crazy 57.5%, so even when batters know there’s a good likelihood it’s the next pitch, they still can’t hit it. Unfortunately, all his non-splitters sport sub-100 Stuff+ marks, which has been the case his entire case. Luckily, he clearly realizes this which is why he has been throwing his best pitch more and more.

It’s no surprise to find Griffin Jax’s name on this list, as he has adorned top middle relief lists ever since he transitioned to the role full-time in 2022. He has thrown his change-up more than ever before, which ties his slider for a 115 Stuff+. It’s crazy to see him sitting with a 4.56 ERA, but that’s thanks to an absurd .400 BABIP, and worse than league average marks in HR/FB rate and LOB%.

I think a lot of people drafted Jeremiah Estrada thinking incumbent Robert Suarez could swiftly lose his closer job even after saving 36 games in 2024, as those saves came with mediocre peripherals and an underwhelming strikeout rate. Instead, Suarez is tied for the most saves in baseball, while Estrada continues to dominate with nary a save to his name. He’s not doing much different this year, just making hitters swing and miss and racking up the strikeouts.

Man oh man, the Dodgers always seem to have a loaded bullpen and Alex Vesia has been part of it since 2021. Except in 2023 when he just missed, he has posted mid-30% strikeouts rates every year. As an extreme flyballer, he has posted some super low BABIP marks, though home runs can be an issue, as his 21.4% HR/FB rate and 2.42 HR/9 right now attests. What’s surprising is his fastball velocity has declined for a second straight season, but it hasn’t affected his results at all. In fact, his fastball Stuff+ is at the highest ever recorded.

With Emmanuel Clase’s velocity fluctuation from being down a couple ticks to being okay, I’m not totally sure he’s right. If he isn’t, Cade Smith is here to save the day. Even if Clase is fine, Smith could be a ratio savior. With all three of his pitches boasting a Stuff+ grade of at least 101, those strikeouts will continue. Fortunately for his owners, he’s been able to offset the inflated .389 BABIP by not allowing a home run yet. Both those marks will revert toward league average, but his ERA should remain below 3.00.

Mark Leiter Jr. probably represents the first real surprise, though he did post a 33.6% strikeout rate last year. Leiter’s skills are the best they have ever been at the tender age of 34 and it’s pretty clear why. His sinker velocity, typically averaging around 91 MPH, which is well below average, has jumped a crazy 2.5 MPH this year to average 94 MPH. That’s massive and especially shocking given his age! His other pitches have increased in velocity too, but not as much. His sinker’s Stuff+ has jumped eight points as a result, though it still sits sub-100. In fact, his Stuff+ is well below average overall, and has been weak since we have calculations. So like Yates, I have no idea how he has posted strong strikeout rates with such objectively weak stuff. That said, with a groundball tilt and the improved velocity, the good times should continue.

I love velocity spikes which is why I picked up Gabe Speier (and Leiter Jr.) in AL Tout Wars early in the season. Speier has posted strong strikeout rates since 2023, but his velocity dipped two miles per hour last year. This season, he’s back up and his fastball and sinker are now averaging the second highest velocity of his career. It’s led to a strong Stuff+ grade and he’s also rebounded from last year’s inflated walk rate.

Brendon Little, where did you come from?! He has almost doubled his strikeout rate from last year, and while his GB% is down, remains elite. Those strikeouts and groundballs make this profile absolutely delicious. So it was a velocity gain, right? Nope! His sinker velocity is actually down a mile per hour, though his knuckle curve velocity is up slightly. Speaking of the latter, he has significantly upped its usage, throwing it a whopping 48.3% of the time, at the expense of his now rarely used cutter and his sinker. With a 126 Stuff+, it makes sense to keep throwing that knuckle curve as often as possible.

Ian Hamilton is the first name so far where I’m not totally recommending him. That’s because his control has been atrocious, as he’s walked 16.2% of opposing batters so far. Also, his velocity is down and Stuff+ has dipped below 100. There are better choices.

Hunter Gaddis has gained a full ten percentage points of strikeout rate this year, (to 33.7%) and this is the same guy that posted a microscopic 13.2% strikeout rate in 2023 between the rotation and bullpen. He has thrown his slider even more at the expense of his fastball, which usually results in a higher strikeout rate. Oddly, Stuff+ doesn’t even think the pitch is any good, as it grades out at just 90 and has never been over 98. Still, it has racked up a 19% SwStk%, so there must be something Stuff+ is missing.

From middling middle reliever to dominant, Bryan Baker has completely transformed. He’s showing career best velocity, but not dramatically, while he has dropped the curve he threw last year and upped his changeup usage. That made sense considering his changeup sports an elite 135 Stuff+ and it has never been below 134. It’s so simple — throw your best pitch more!

The former closer-in-waiting, Abner Uribe is finally showing the skills to flourish in the role if need be. Walks do continue to haunt him, but not nearly to the degree the had during small samples the previous two seasons. He’s also continuing to show the combination I love to see that includes tons of strikeouts and lots of groundballs.

Ryan Zeferjahn has been difficult to make contact with, but he has battled both control issues and inflated BABIP and HR/FB rate marks. But man, that stuff is good, as it’s tied for the highest on this list. If incumbent Kenley Jansen managed to lose his job, and his skills definitely don’t scream closer, though his contract might, then Zeferjahn could do a decent impression as his most thrown pitch is also a cutter.

Danny Coulombe was recently placed on the IL due to a forearm injury, so we could forget considering him to improve our ratios. A 0.00 ERA would have looked nice on a lot of teams, eh?!

I included Ronny Henriquez on this list, despite the fact he earned the Marlins last save, which could signal he’s now the current closer du jour in Miami. But it’s also possible he isn’t, so with that uncertainty, I figured I’d highlight him. Henriquez has shown significantly better skills than last year, as his strikeout rate has exploded, thanks to increased usage of his slider which has recorded an incredible 24.7% SwStk%. The alternatives to close in the Marlins pen are all underwhelming, so I see no reason why he couldn’t run with the job.

Garrett Cleavinger has posted strong skills in the past, but he’s now combining dominance with improved control again after seeing it done back in 2022. He has totally changed his pitch mix, cutting down on his four-seamer and cutter, and becoming a sinkerballer. Though it’s off that his FB% remains below league average despite throwing 40% sinkers. Every pitch of his sports a Stuff+ grade of at least 100 so the strikeouts should continue, even without grounders.

Tanner Banks is the first name I’m truly questioning the strikeout rate. With just a 25.8% CSW%, that strikeout rate just doesn’t match up. He has massively upped the usage of his slider to an absurd 59.7% of the time, which would normally explain the strikeout rate spike, but it’s barely resulted in a higher SwStk%, and the called strike rate is way down. He might remain useful, but I can’t see the strikeout rate staying over 30%.

Steven Okert is a veteran reliever who has pushed his strikeout rate above 30% for the first time. How has he done this? I have no idea! His four-seam usage has surged to a career high, while his slider usage has dropped, a pair of changes that normally results in fewer strikeouts, not more. The slider is really good though, but that makes it odder that he’s throwing it less, though maybe that’s for the health of his arm given how often he typically throws it.

Jordan Leasure has been so close to taking over the closer role for the White Sox, but he then has a blowup outing that makes me feel like he’s only for those super desperate for saves and willing to risk their ratios. He’s also fastball-slider, but Stuff+ thinks his slider is weak with just an 86 grade. At least the four-seamer has been good at 108, but a 27% CSW% is a bit low to expect a 30%+ strikeout rate to continue.

Yes, Devin Williams still has a strikeout rate over 30% despite his struggles, but it’s just barely over, and pales in comparison to his history. He has always had control issues with double digit walks, but it was never a problem when striking out around 40% of opposing batters. This year, his fastball velocity has been at a career low, though his changeup velocity has been stable. But that changeup has lost something, as its Stuff+ went from 129 last year to 108 this year. That’s still above average, but not special enough to offset the control problems. If his changeup returns, so will the dominant Williams.

Phil Maton has typically been a solid reliever and has posted strikeout rates around 30% before. The only thing that really sticks out here is the 22.5% CStr%, which is easily a career high and likely driving the strikeout rate rebound. It’s hard to bank on an outlier called strike rate from continuing, so I would probably look toward a different option whose generating strikeouts from whiffs instead.