Scheming For Relief: Monitoring Reliever Tiers

May 29, 2014

With roughly a third of the 2014 mLB season in the books, our reliever tiers deserved to be examined. In an effort to develop said tiers for those in holds or solds leagues, I looked for pitchers who appeared in about 15 or more games, accumulated a minimum of three holds, owned a worthy K-BB% and posted fine ratios. Mind you, like everything else in life, there are exceptions to this rule. For instance, Brian Matusz, Jared Burton and Brian Schlitter don’t have the greatest K-BB% or ratios, but they do have seven holds a piece. Therefore, they were included. Also, I felt obligated to write the name Schlitter a few times, which is probably the real reason I included him.

Disclaimer: The relievers appear in tiers and are listed in no particular order within the their respective tier. Additionally, these tiers in no way reflect the pecking order of a bullpen with respect to “next-in-line” for saves. You can see the Bullpen Report for that. Moreover, some prominent names have been left off the rankings due to injury, or, potentially, by accident. (If by chance I slipped, pick me up in the comments.)

At any rate, here they go:

Tier One: Double India Pale Ales

For me, the Double IPA is the cream of the crop. Elite middles like Dellin Betances (K-BB%), Will Smith (holds and ratios) and Tony Watson (holds, wins, ratios and strikeouts) can be found in the top tier due to their dominances in noted categories. And although these hurlers will carry the most value in leagues that account for holds or solds (saves + holds), these guysare going to be helpful in traditional mixers as well.

Tier Two: India Pale Ales

The IPA is elite, but it doesn’t get the job done as consistently or as quickly as the Double does. Many arguments could be made for one or more of these arms to be in the top tier, but they didn’t make the cut for one reason or another. Still, as a group, these guys post excellent strikeout rates, accumulate holds — along with some wins — and own fine ratios. Again, these relievers are mixed-league worthy, depending on league depth.

Tier Three: Saisons

Saisons tend to be refreshing, but pack a little less punch than those listed above. The Saisons are nothing to shake a stick at. Many have been in the top tiers before and they have the ability to be there again at some point. Here I’m looking for upside guys who could squeeze their way into save situations, or can grab some scab wins along with the strikeouts. This is probably the last tier of hurlers that I would consider in mixers. Streaming guys in the tiers above are always fun when a team’s closer has pitched a few consecutive days.

Tier Four: Porters

I’m not the biggest Porter fan, but there are some variations that get the job done. And I’ll always grab a Porter before reaching for the yellow fizzy stuff when the pickins’ in the cooler are slim. A few former closers and potential future closers litter this tier, so keep them in mind.

Tier Five: Yellow Fizzy Beers

Desperate times call for desperate measures. If I need a fix, I’d gladly grab the yellow fizzy stuff rather than subjecting myself to the shakes. Feel free to dip into the leftovers to do the same, especially if you need to make a late-season push in the holds category.

And again, here are my top 60+ relievers sorted by holds:

Name	Team	G	W	SV	HLD	K%	BB%	K-BB%	ERA	FIP	WHIP
Brett Cecil	Blue Jays	25		3	13	32.30%	13.10%	19.20%	3.8	1.87	1.59
Will Smith	Brewers	28		1	12	33.60%	10.30%	23.40%	0.36	1.63	1.18
Kevin Siegrist	Cardinals	23	1		12	31.80%	9.40%	22.40%	3.6	2.35	1.25
Brad Ziegler	Diamondbacks	29	1		12	20.50%	8.90%	11.60%	2.3	2.68	1.13
Carlos Martinez	Cardinals	25			12	18.40%	8.80%	9.70%	3.95	3.67	1.28
Steve Delabar	Blue Jays	24	3		12	20.20%	13.50%	6.70%	4.29	4.43	1.29
Tony Watson	Pirates	23	5		11	30.30%	7.10%	23.20%	1.16	2.19	1.24
Adam Ottavino	Rockies	26			11	26.40%	3.50%	23.00%	1.52	2.16	0.76
Tyler Clippard	Nationals	27	4		11	31.60%	13.30%	18.40%	1.48	3.17	1.15
J.P. Howell	Dodgers	26	1		11	28.20%	11.50%	16.70%	2	2.27	1.17
Joba Chamberlain	Tigers	23	1	1	10	28.40%	6.80%	21.60%	2.95	1.69	1.27
David Carpenter	Braves	24	4	2	9	28.70%	5.30%	23.40%	2.42	2.6	1.21
Casey Fien	Twins	22	3		9	16.90%	5.20%	11.70%	1.71	2.38	0.76
Aaron Loup	Blue Jays	24	2	2	9	19.20%	12.50%	6.70%	2.84	3.24	1.14
Wade Davis	Royals	20	3		8	44.90%	10.10%	34.80%	1.61	0.94	0.85
Cody Allen	Indians	26	2	1	8	28.70%	10.60%	18.10%	3.38	3.28	1.45
Adam Warren	Yankees	24	1	1	8	23.80%	6.60%	17.20%	1.76	2.36	1.08
Jeremy Affeldt	Giants	20			8	23.20%	7.30%	15.90%	1.56	2.07	1.1
Ian Krol	Tigers	24			8	14.50%	5.30%	9.20%	2.5	4.99	1.22
Yoervis Medina	Mariners	22	2		8	22.70%	13.60%	9.10%	3.6	4.45	1.4
Santiago Casilla	Giants	22	1	1	8	17.40%	9.20%	8.20%	1.37	3.27	1.03
Brian Wilson	Dodgers	22			8	23.40%	16.00%	7.50%	7.13	5.82	2.09
Rex Brothers	Rockies	25	2		8	20.40%	13.60%	6.80%	3.47	4.97	1.37
Drew Storen	Nationals	21	2		7	29.20%	3.10%	26.20%	1	2.16	0.61
Joaquin Benoit	Padres	23	1	1	7	30.00%	6.70%	23.30%	1.9	2.07	0.85
Al Alburquerque	Tigers	27	2	1	7	29.60%	6.80%	22.70%	3.38	3.28	1.17
Mike Dunn	Marlins	24	4		7	27.70%	8.50%	19.20%	4.22	3.84	1.27
Bryan Shaw	Indians	27	1	2	7	21.20%	3.00%	18.20%	1.46	1.83	0.89
Jason Frasor	Rangers	20	1		7	25.70%	10.00%	15.70%	2.12	3.11	1.18
Joel Peralta	Rays	25	2		7	22.00%	9.00%	13.00%	5.09	5.26	1.35
Manny Parra	Reds	23		1	7	24.40%	12.20%	12.20%	5.5	4.66	1.56
A.J. Ramos	Marlins	25	3		7	27.30%	16.20%	11.10%	2.35	3.48	1.35
Alexi Ogando	Rangers	25	1	1	7	18.00%	11.70%	6.30%	6.17	3.56	1.84
Brian Schlitter	Cubs	22	2		7	12.50%	6.80%	5.70%	2.42	3.58	0.9
Jared Burton	Twins	22	1		7	15.40%	11.00%	4.40%	6.43	5.62	1.48
Brian Matusz	Orioles	24	1		7	14.50%	10.80%	3.60%	3.44	4.79	1.58
Pat Neshek	Cardinals	25	1		6	29.60%	3.70%	25.90%	0.79	2.03	0.57
Jake Diekman	Phillies	24	2		6	32.10%	8.90%	23.20%	4.05	3.42	1.24
Jake McGee	Rays	25	2		6	29.90%	6.90%	23.00%	1.14	1.74	0.8
Mike Adams	Phillies	17	2		6	28.60%	6.40%	22.20%	2.35	2.33	1.11
Dale Thayer	Padres	27	2		6	23.30%	5.80%	17.50%	2.22	4.07	1.15
Ryan Webb	Orioles	23	2		6	22.50%	5.60%	16.90%	3.27	2.5	1.14
Neal Cotts	Rangers	25	1		6	24.00%	8.30%	15.60%	3.68	2.77	1.36
Justin Wilson	Pirates	21	1		6	24.10%	9.20%	14.90%	3.1	2.16	1.38
Juan Gutierrez	Giants	22	1		6	18.30%	5.40%	12.90%	3.42	3.89	0.97
Darren O’Day	Orioles	22	2	2	6	19.30%	7.20%	12.10%	0.87	4.06	1.06
Chris Withrow	Dodgers	20			6	31.10%	20.00%	11.10%	2.95	3.7	1.31
Sam LeCure	Reds	19	1		6	20.20%	10.70%	9.50%	1.29	3.95	1.14
Chris Perez	Dodgers	21		1	6	19.50%	11.00%	8.50%	5.68	4.99	1.47
Dellin Betances	Yankees	22	3		5	44.70%	7.90%	36.80%	1.47	1.02	0.78
Luke Gregerson	Athletics	26	1	3	5	21.70%	3.80%	17.90%	2.7	2.75	1.01
Jean Machi	Giants	25	5	2	5	23.70%	6.50%	17.20%	0.35	2.05	0.81
Fernando Abad	Athletics	24			5	26.30%	10.00%	16.30%	2.18	2.32	0.87
Carlos Torres	Mets	27	2	1	5	24.80%	9.30%	15.50%	2.76	2.53	1.47
Antonio Bastardo	Phillies	23	3		5	28.20%	16.50%	11.70%	3.91	4.13	1.39
Zach Putnam	White Sox	15	2		5	19.80%	8.60%	11.10%	1.64	3.14	0.95
Tyler Thornburg	Brewers	24	3		5	23.40%	13.10%	10.30%	2.45	3.24	1.29
Matt Belisle	Rockies	21			5	14.60%	6.70%	7.90%	3.86	4.05	1.24
Dan Otero	Athletics	23	4		5	11.80%	4.70%	7.10%	2.53	3.58	1.06
Zach Duke	Brewers	24	3		4	32.90%	4.90%	28.10%	1.27	1.69	0.98
Nick Vincent	Padres	24			4	28.40%	3.70%	24.70%	3.22	3.27	0.76
Junichi Tazawa	Red Sox	26	1		4	22.50%	6.10%	16.30%	2.25	3.05	1.17
Evan Reed	Tigers	19			4	19.80%	5.80%	14.00%	3.92	3.68	1.31
Fernando Salas	Angels	22	3		4	23.70%	9.70%	14.00%	2.49	3.46	1.29
Chris Capuano	Red Sox	23	1		4	21.90%	9.70%	12.30%	1.95	3.01	1.12
Tom Wilhelmsen	Mariners	22			4	20.20%	14.00%	6.10%	3.16	4.14	1.4
Aaron Crow	Royals	24	2		4	13.80%	8.10%	5.80%	2.49	4.11	1.11
Andrew Miller	Red Sox	26	1		3	38.10%	7.20%	30.90%	2.66	1.48	1.01
Anthony Varvaro	Braves	21	1		3	32.40%	4.20%	28.20%	2.95	1.74	0.98

BAL	CHW	LAA
BOS	CLE	OAK
NYY	DET	SEA
TBR	KCR	TEX
TOR	MIN	HOU

ATL	CHC*	ARI
MIA	CIN	COL
WSN	MIL	LAD
NYM*	PIT	SDP*
PHI	STL	SFG