Reliever Rankings, May 30

Reliever Rankings, May 30

Here are the Reliever Rankings for 2021, up to and including May 30. Teams are ranked by league in the following categories: inherited runners scored percentage (IS%), ERA-minus (ERA–), WHIP, strikeouts per walk (K/BB), Goose Egg percentage (GE%), Broken Egg percentage (BE%), and GE per BE (GE/BE). These ranks are averaged to get their overall ranking. For an explanation of any of these statistics, see the glossary at the bottom. (This week, we’re looking at the National League first, American League fans.)

NL Reliever Rankings

NL Top Performers

Here are the top performers from each National League team. GR stands for “games in relief,” and the (0-0-0) stats are GE-BE-M. Stats for each pitcher are from his relief appearances only.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Caleb Smith (18 GR, 30 IP, 2.70 ERA, 68 ERA–, 2 HR, 13 BB, 36 K, 5/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.233 WHIP, 2-1-0)
Joe Mantiply (7 GR, 5 2/3 IP, 1.59 ERA, 40 ERA–, 0 HR, 2 BB, 7 K, 4/1 IR/IS (25%), 1.588 WHIP, 0-1-0)

Atlanta Braves

Tyler Matzek (21 GR, 20 IP, 2.70 ERA, 62 ERA–, 2 HR, 11 BB, 30 K, 3/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.200 WHIP, 4-2-2)
Luke Jackson (21 GR, 18 1/3 IP, 1.47 ERA, 34 ERA–, 2 HR, 10 BB, 19 K, 12/4 IR/IS (33%), 1.309 WHIP, 4-3-1)
Will Smith (21 GR, 19 IP, 4.26 ERA, 98 ERA–, 1 HR, 8 BB, 26 K, 0/0 IR/IS, 1.263 WHIP, 12-4-1)
A.J. Minter (22 GR, 18 2/3 IP, 4.34 ERA, 100 ERA–, 0 HR, 10 BB, 22 K, 9/1 IR/IS (11%), 1.286 WHIP, 9-5-2)

Chicago Cubs

Dan Winkler (21 GR, 17 2/3 IP, 0.51 ERA, 14 ERA–, 0 HR, 9 BB, 18 K, 10/1 IR/IS (10%), 1.075 WHIP, 4-0-1)
Craig Kimbrel (22 GR, 22 IP, 0.82 ERA, 22 ERA–, 1 HR, 8 BB, 36 K, 6/0 IR/IS (0%), 0.818 WHIP, 14-2-2)
Andrew Chafin (25 GR, 23 2/3 IP, 2.28 ERA, 60 ERA–, 1 HR, 9 BB, 24 K, 12/3 IR/IS (25%), 0.972 WHIP, 11-1-2)
Ryan Tepera (25 GR, 24 2/3 IP, 2.55 ERA, 68 ERA–, 2 HR, 5 BB, 29 K, 22/7 IR/IS (32%), 0.689 WHIP, 9-1-2)

Cincinnati Reds

Tejay Antone (17 GR, 28 IP, 1.61 ERA, 36 ERA–, 2 HR, 10 BB, 37 K, 16/4 IR/IS (25%), 0.714 WHIP, 13-1-1)

Colorado Rockies

Jordan Sheffield (18 GR, 18 1/3 IP, 2.45 ERA, 54 ERA–, 1 HR, 7 BB, 15 K, 7/1 IR/IS (14%), 0.927 WHIP, 2-0-1)
Carlos Estevez (13 GR, 13 1/3 IP, 2.70 ERA, 60 ERA–, 1 HR, 4 BB, 14 K, 9/1 IR/IS (11%), 1.050 WHIP, 3-0-0)
Mychal Givens (19 GR, 17 1/3 IP, 3.63 ERA, 81 ERA–, 4 HR, 10 BB, 18 K, 7/5 IR/IS (71%), 1.385 WHIP, 5-3-2)
Daniel Bard (19 GR, 20 IP, 4.50 ERA, 100 ERA–, 2 HR, 10 BB, 27 K, 3/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.700 WHIP, 5-4-3)

Los Angeles Dodgers

Kenley Jansen (21 GR, 22 1/3 IP, 2.01 ERA, 53 ERA–, 1 HR, 16 BB, 27 K, 9/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.030 WHIP, 13-4-1)
Scott Alexander (13 GR, 11 2/3 IP, 2.31 ERA, 61 ERA–, 1 HR, 1 BB, 5 K, 5/1 IR/IS (20%), 0.686 WHIP, 3-0-1)
Victor Gonzalez (22 GR, 18 1/3 IP, 2.45 ERA, 64 ERA–, 1 HR, 9 BB, 17 K, 16/4 IR/IS (25%), 1.200 WHIP, 7-3-1)
Blake Treinen (22 GR, 20 2/3 IP, 3.05 ERA, 80 ERA–, 2 HR, 6 BB, 25 K, 7/1 IR/IS (14%), 1.210 WHIP, 9-3-4)

Miami Marlins

Yimi Garcia (22 GR, 21 2/3 IP, 1.66 ERA, 43 ERA–, 3 HR, 5 BB, 23 K, 3/0 IR/IS (0%), 0.923 WHIP, 13-3-1)
Dylan Floro (24 GR, 21 1/3 IP, 2.95 ERA, 77 ERA–, 0 HR, 7 BB, 18 K, 1/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.266 WHIP, 12-2-0)

Milwaukee Brewers

Josh Hader (21 GR, 20 2/3 IP, 0.87 ERA, 22 ERA–, 0 HR, 8 BB, 36 K, 2/1 IR/IS (50%), 0.823 WHIP, 14-0-2)
Brent Suter (18 GR, 24 1/3 IP, 2.96 ERA, 75 ERA–, 3 HR, 7 BB, 22 K, 6/5 IR/IS (83%), 1.233 WHIP, 5-2-1)
J.P. Feyereisen (21 GR, 19 1/3 IP, 3.26 ERA, 82 ERA–, 2 HR, 11 BB, 20 K, 6/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.086 WHIP, 7-2-1) [Now with Tampa Bay]
Brad Boxberger (22 GR, 20 IP, 3.60 ERA, 91 ERA–, 3 HR, 5 BB, 19 K, 12/2 IR/IS (17%), 0.900 WHIP, 5-2-1)
Devin Williams (21 GR, 19 1/3 IP, 4.19 ERA, 106 ERA–, 3 HR, 12 BB, 29 K, 3/2 IR/IS (67%), 1.397 WHIP, 9-4-1)

New York Mets

Jeurys Familia (17 GR, 15 2/3 IP, 2.30 ERA, 62 ERA–, 0 HR, 8 BB, 17 K, 8/4 IR/IS (50%), 1.660 WHIP, 4-0-2)
Trevor May (19 GR, 18 IP, 2.50 ERA, 67 ERA–, 2 HR, 5 BB, 24 K, 1/1 IR/IS (100%), 1.222 WHIP, 5-1-2)
Edwin Diaz (20 GR, 20 1/3 IP, 3.10 ERA, 83 ERA–, 0 HR, 7 BB, 27 K, 1/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.082 WHIP, 13-0-1)
Miguel Castro (18 GR, 18 1/3 IP, 3.44 ERA, 92 ERA–, 2 HR, 10 BB, 29 K, 4/1 IR/IS (25%), 1.255 WHIP, 6-3-0)
Aaron Loup (17 GR, 13 IP, 2.77 ERA, 74 ERA–, 0 HR, 2 BB, 15 K, 16/7 IR/IS (44%), 1.308 WHIP, 6-2-5)

Philadelphia Phillies

Hector Neris (23 GR, 22 2/3 IP, 1.99 ERA, 52 ERA–, 3 HR, 8 BB, 27 K, 5/2 IR/IS (40%), 1.015 WHIP, 12-4-1)
Jose Alvarado (21 GR, 17 1/3 IP, 3.63 ERA, 94 ERA–, 1 HR, 17 BB, 26 K, 9/4 IR/IS (44%), 1.673 WHIP, 10-3-1)

Pittsburgh Pirates

Richard Rodriguez (21 GR, 22 1/3 IP, 1.61 ERA, 41 ERA–, 0 HR, 2 BB, 17 K, 6/2 IR/IS (33%), 0.582 WHIP, 13-1-0)
Kyle Crick (15 GR, 14 IP, 1.93 ERA, 50 ERA–, 0 HR, 8 BB, 14 K, 2/1 IR/IS (50%), 0.786 WHIP, 3-1-0)

San Diego Padres

Mark Melancon (23 GR, 24 1/3 IP, 0.74 ERA, 20 ERA–, 1 HR, 9 BB, 19 K, 3/2 IR/IS (67%), 0.945 WHIP, 15-1-4)
Craig Stammen (22 GR, 30 2/3 IP, 2.93 ERA, 81 ERA–, 5 HR, 5 BB, 37 K, 7/0 IR/IS (0%), 0.978 WHIP, 1-2-1)
Tim Hill (24 GR, 21 1/3 IP, 2.11 ERA, 58 ERA–, 3 HR, 6 BB, 25 K, 17/3 IR/IS (18%), 1.031 WHIP, 8-1-1)
Emilio Pagan (23 GR, 21 IP, 2.57 ERA, 71 ERA–, 4 HR, 8 BB, 27 K, 4/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.095 WHIP, 11-1-0)

San Francisco Giants

Tyler Rogers (27 GR, 27 2/3 IP, 1.63 ERA, 44 ERA–, 2 HR, 5 BB, 14 K, 7/3 IR/IS (43%), 0.976 WHIP, 13-1-2)
Caleb Baragar (21 GR, 17 1/3 IP, 0.52 ERA, 14 ERA–, 0 HR, 11 BB, 14 K, 4/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.385 WHIP, 2-1-2)
Zack Littell (15 GR, 13 2/3 IP, 1.98 ERA, 54 ERA–, 2 HR, 4 BB, 12 K, 5/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.024 WHIP, 2-0-0)
Jake McGee (24 GR, 22 2/3 IP, 4.37 ERA, 118 ERA–, 5 HR, 5 BB, 29 K, 3/1 IR/IS (33%), 1.059 WHIP, 11-4-0)

St. Louis Cardinals

Alex Reyes (26 GR, 28 IP, 0.64 ERA, 17 ERA–, 1 HR, 25 BB, 39 K, 7/3 IR/IS (43%), 1.357 WHIP, 11-1-1)
Genesis Cabrera (25 GR, 25 2/3 IP, 1.75 ERA, 47 ERA–, 1 HR, 12 BB, 28 K, 18/8 IR/IS (44%), 1.130 WHIP, 5-0-3)
Giovanny Gallegos (25 GR, 31 IP, 2.03 ERA, 55 ERA–, 1 HR, 7 BB, 37 K, 9/2 IR/IS (22%), 0.710 WHIP, 14-2-1)

Washington Nationals

Daniel Hudson (19 GR, 19 1/3 IP, 2.33 ERA, 62 ERA–, 2 HR, 7 BB, 25 K, 8/2 IR/IS (25%), 0.828 WHIP, 11-0-0)
Austin Voth (17 GR, 24 2/3 IP, 2.55 ERA, 68 ERA–, 4 HR, 9 BB, 24 K, 3/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.216 WHIP, 2-0-0)
Brad Hand (18 GR, 18 1/3 IP, 3.44 ERA, 91 ERA–, 3 HR, 8 BB, 19 K, 0/0 IR/IS, 1.309 WHIP, 6-3-3)

Top Three

Josh Hader (MIL), Craig Kimbrel (CHC), Richard Rodriguez (PIT)

AL Reliever Rankings

AL Top Performers

Here are the top performers from each American League team. GR stands for “games in relief,” and the (0-0-0) stats are GE-BE-M. Stats for each pitcher are from his relief appearances only.

Baltimore Orioles

Cole Sulser (17 GR, 19 2/3 IP, 1.83 ERA, 44 ERA–, 2 HR, 7 BB, 31 K, 9/3 IR/IS (33%), 0.966 WHIP, 0-1-0)
Paul Fry (20 GR, 19 IP, 2.37 ERA, 57 ERA–, 0 HR, 8 BB, 28 K, 10/2 IR/IS (20%), 1.000 WHIP, 6-2-4)

Boston Red Sox

Matt Barnes (23 GR, 24 IP, 2.63 ERA, 61 ERA–, 2 HR, 5 BB, 41 K, 8/2 IR/IS (25%), 0.667 WHIP, 15-2-0)
Garrett Whitlock (13 GR, 24 1/3 IP, 1.85 ERA, 43 ERA–, 3 HR, 5 BB, 25 K, 5/2 IR/IS (40%), 1.027 WHIP, 2-2-0)
Adam Ottavino (24 GR, 21 1/3 IP, 2.95 ERA, 69 ERA–, 0 HR, 16 BB, 28 K, 11/1 IR/IS (9%), 1.359 WHIP, 10-5-1)

Chicago White Sox

Garrett Crochet (14 GR, 13 2/3 IP, 0.66 ERA, 16 ERA–, 0 HR, 9 BB, 15 K, 7/2 IR/IS (29%), 1.610 WHIP, 3-0-2)
Michael Kopech (11 GR, 19 1/3 IP, 1.40 ERA, 34 ERA–, 1 HR, 8 BB, 26 K, 3/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.086 WHIP, 4-1-3)
Liam Hendriks (23 GR, 22 IP, 2.05 ERA, 50 ERA–, 4 HR, 3 BB, 36 K, 17/2 IR/IS (12%), 0.818 WHIP, 12-2-3)
Aaron Bummer (21 GR, 19 2/3 IP, 3.66 ERA, 89 ERA–, 2 HR, 11 BB, 27 K, 5/3 IR/IS (60%), 1.525 WHIP, 4-4-3)
Jose Ruiz (19 GR, 20 1/3 IP, 3.54 ERA, 86 ERA–, 2 HR, 7 BB, 21 K, 6/2 IR/IS (33%), 1.131 WHIP, 0-1-0)

Cleveland Indians

James Karinchak (24 GR, 22 2/3 IP, 1.59 ERA, 36 ERA–, 2 HR, 11 BB, 42 K, 10/3 IR/IS (30%), 0.750 WHIP, 12-0-1)
Emmanuel Clase (24 GR, 22 2/3 IP, 1.19 ERA, 27 ERA–, 0 HR, 12 BB, 21 K, 0/0 IR/IS, 1.456 WHIP, 10-2-2)
Bryan Shaw (21 GR, 20 IP, 1.35 ERA, 31 ERA–, 1 HR, 14 BB, 23 K, 10/1 IR/IS (10%), 1.000 WHIP, 7-0-0)
Cal Quantrill (17 GR, 26 2/3 IP, 2.03 ERA, 46 ERA–, 2 HR, 11 BB, 20 K, 5/2 IR/IS (40%), 1.313 WHIP, 3-1-0)

Detroit Tigers

Michael Fulmer (16 GR, 22 1/3 IP, 2.42 ERA, 59 ERA–, 3 HR, 5 BB, 28 K, 10/4 IR/IS (40%), 1.164 WHIP, 8-2-2)
Gregory Soto (23 GR, 20 IP, 3.15 ERA, 77 ERA–, 1 HR, 15 BB, 22 K, 8/4 IR/IS (50%), 1.700 WHIP, 6-2-2)

Houston Astros

Ryan Pressly (21 GR, 23 IP, 2.35 ERA, 56 ERA–, 1 HR, 4 BB, 24 K, 7/1 IR/IS (14%), 1.000 WHIP, 12-1-3)

Kansas City Royals

Scott Barlow (25 GR, 27 IP, 2.00 ERA, 46 ERA–, 0 HR, 12 BB, 41 K, 11/5 IR/IS (45%), 1.185 WHIP, 11-1-2)
Josh Staumont (21 GR, 22 2/3 IP, 2.78 ERA, 64 ERA–, 1 HR, 13 BB, 25 K, 4/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.191 WHIP, 7-1-0)
Jake Brentz (25 GR, 23 2/3 IP, 2.28 ERA, 53 ERA–, 2 HR, 16 BB, 26 K, 15/5 IR/IS (33%), 1.225 WHIP, 5-1-2)

Los Angeles Angels

Tony Watson (19 GR, 17 1/3 IP, 4.15 ERA, 95 ERA–, 3 HR, 6 BB, 12 K, 13/1 IR/IS (8%), 1.096 WHIP, 5-1-1)
Mike Mayers (25 GR, 24 2/3 IP, 5.11 ERA, 117 ERA–, 6 HR, 12 BB, 35 K, 13/8 IR/IS (62%), 1.622 WHIP, 9-2-4)
Raisel Iglesias (21 GR, 21 IP, 4.29 ERA, 98 ERA–, 5 HR, 3 BB, 30 K, 6/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.095 WHIP, 11-2-1)

Minnesota Twins

Taylor Rogers (19 GR, 21 1/3 IP, 2.95 ERA, 75 ERA–, 3 HR, 4 BB, 30 K, 8/5 IR/IS (63%), 1.219 WHIP, 11-2-2)
Hansel Robles (23 GR, 22 2/3 IP, 3.57 ERA, 91 ERA–, 1 HR, 14 BB, 23 K, 4/1 IR/IS (25%), 1.235 WHIP, 6-2-2)

New York Yankees

Aroldis Chapman (20 GR, 20 IP, 0.45 ERA, 11 ERA–, 1 HR, 9 BB, 38 K, 0/0 IR/IS, 0.750 WHIP, 14-1-1)
Chad Green (22 GR, 26 IP, 2.08 ERA, 51 ERA–, 4 HR, 4 BB, 23 K, 9/0 IR/IS (0%), 0.692 WHIP, 10-3-4)
Jonathan Loaisiga (21 GR, 26 1/3 IP, 2.39 ERA, 59 ERA–, 2 HR, 5 BB, 23 K, 6/1 IR/IS (17%), 0.987 WHIP, 10-2-2)

Oakland Athletics

Yusmeiro Petit (26 GR, 28 IP, 3.21 ERA, 82 ERA–, 1 HR, 5 BB, 19 K, 15/4 IR/IS (27%), 1.071 WHIP, 11-0-3)
Jake Diekman (22 GR, 21 1/3 IP, 2.95 ERA, 75 ERA–, 2 HR, 9 BB, 30 K, 6/3 IR/IS (50%), 1.219 WHIP, 9-3-0)
Lou Trivino (23 GR, 25 IP, 2.88 ERA, 74 ERA–, 2 HR, 13 BB, 24 K, 7/2 IR/IS (29%), 1.200 WHIP, 8-3-0)

Seattle Mariners

Kendall Graveman (14 GR, 16 2/3 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0 ERA–, 0 HR, 3 BB, 17 K, 5/0 IR/IS (0%), 0.540 WHIP, 10-0-0)

Tampa Bay Rays

Andrew Kittredge (16 GR, 20 2/3 IP, 0.87 ERA, 23 ERA–, 0 HR, 4 BB, 17 K, 10/5 IR/IS (50%), 0.871 WHIP, 9-1-1)
Ryan Thompson (23 GR, 23 1/3 IP, 2.31 ERA, 61 ERA–, 2 HR, 7 BB, 22 K, 16/5 IR/IS (31%), 1.029 WHIP, 11-5-3)
Diego Castillo (20 GR, 20 2/3 IP, 3.05 ERA, 81 ERA–, 4 HR, 8 BB, 28 K, 6/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.210 WHIP, 12-3-1)

Texas Rangers

Ian Kennedy (19 GR, 19 1/3 IP, 1.86 ERA, 44 ERA–, 2 HR, 4 BB, 23 K, 1/1 IR/IS (100%), 0.931 WHIP, 10-0-1)
Brett Martin (19 GR, 17 1/3 IP, 2.08 ERA, 50 ERA–, 1 HR, 4 BB, 15 K, 14/6 IR/IS (43%), 1.500 WHIP, 1-0-2)
John King (18 GR, 26 IP, 2.08 ERA, 50 ERA–, 1 HR, 4 BB, 20 K, 7/3 IR/IS (43%), 1.231 WHIP, 4-4-0)

Toronto Blue Jays

Jordan Romano (20 GR, 18 2/3 IP, 1.93 ERA, 46 ERA–, 0 HR, 9 BB, 25 K, 3/2 IR/IS (67%), 1.018 WHIP, 8-3-0)
Trent Thornton (13 GR, 20 IP, 2.25 ERA, 53 ERA–, 1 HR, 8 BB, 21 K, 4/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.200 WHIP, 1-1-0)
Joel Payamps (16 GR, 20 2/3 IP, 3.05 ERA, 72 ERA–, 3 HR, 8 BB, 12 K, 4/2 IR/IS (50%), 1.258 WHIP, 2-2-0)
Tyler Chatwood (19 GR, 20 1/3 IP, 3.10 ERA, 73 ERA–, 0 HR, 14 BB, 24 K, 11/3 IR/IS (27%), 1.230 WHIP, 7-3-0)

Top Three

Kendall Graveman (SEA), Aroldis Chapman (NYY), James Karinchak (CLE)

Glossary

An inherited runner is one who is on base when a reliever enters the game. If that runner scores, it is charged to the pitcher in the game when said runner got on base. The IS% is the percentage of inherited runners who score.

Not all ERAs are created equal. ERA-minus (ERA–) takes an earned run average, adjusts it for a player (or team)’s home ballpark, and divides it by the league (NL or AL) average. That result is multiplied by 100 to give the ERA–. The league average is 100. Anything lower is better than the league average, anything higher is worse. Each unit is one percentage point away from the league average (e.g. 80 ERA– is 20 percentage points lower than the league average).

WHIP is walks and hits per innings pitched, or baserunners per inning. Strikeouts per walk is a good indicator of a pitcher or staff’s control.

A Goose Egg is a scoreless inning of clutch relief (seventh inning or later; tie game, a lead of no more than two runs, or entering the game with the tying run on base or at bat). A Broken Egg is a failed Goose Egg situation. A Meh is a Goose Egg situation that did not result in a GE or BE. GE/BE is the ratio of GE to BE; the historical average is around 3-to-1. For a full explanation of the statistic, see this article by its inventor, Nate Silver.

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