Reliever Rankings, June 6

Reliever Rankings, June 6

Here are the Reliever Rankings for 2021, up to and including June 6. 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 American League first, National League fans.)

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 (19 GR, 21 2/3 IP, 1.66 ERA, 39 ERA–, 2 HR, 8 BB, 33 K, 9/3 IR/IS (33%), 1.015 WHIP, 0-1-0)
Paul Fry (23 GR, 22 2/3 IP, 1.99 ERA, 47 ERA–, 0 HR, 10 BB, 33 K, 11/3 IR/IS (27%), 1.059 WHIP, 8-2-4)

Boston Red Sox

Matt Barnes (26 GR, 26 1/3 IP, 2.73 ERA, 63 ERA–, 2 HR, 7 BB, 47 K, 10/2 IR/IS (20%), 0.722 WHIP, 15-3-0)
Garrett Whitlock (15 GR, 27 2/3 IP, 1.63 ERA, 37 ERA–, 3 HR, 7 BB, 29 K, 10/5 IR/IS (50%), 1.120 WHIP, 3-2-0)
Adam Ottavino (27 GR, 23 2/3 IP, 2.66 ERA, 61 ERA–, 0 HR, 17 BB, 28 K, 13/1 IR/IS (8%), 1.268 WHIP, 11-5-1)

Chicago White Sox

Garrett Crochet (16 GR, 17 1/3 IP, 0.52 ERA, 13 ERA–, 0 HR, 11 BB, 20 K, 7/2 IR/IS (29%), 1.442 WHIP, 4-0-3)
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 (26 GR, 24 1/3 IP, 1.85 ERA, 45 ERA–, 4 HR, 3 BB, 40 K, 19/2 IR/IS (11%), 0.740 WHIP, 13-2-3)

Cleveland Indians

Emmanuel Clase (26 GR, 24 2/3 IP, 1.09 ERA, 25 ERA–, 0 HR, 12 BB, 25 K, 0/0 IR/IS, 1.419 WHIP, 11-2-2)
Bryan Shaw (25 GR, 23 2/3 IP, 1.90 ERA, 44 ERA–, 2 HR, 18 BB, 29 K, 11/2 IR/IS (18%), 1.183 WHIP, 7-2-0)
Cal Quantrill (17 GR, 26 2/3 IP, 2.03 ERA, 47 ERA–, 2 HR, 11 BB, 20 K, 5/2 IR/IS (40%), 1.313 WHIP, 3-1-0)
James Karinchak (27 GR, 25 IP, 2.88 ERA, 66 ERA–, 3 HR, 13 BB, 44 K, 13/3 IR/IS (23%), 1.000 WHIP, 12-1-1)

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 (27 GR, 23 1/3 IP, 3.09 ERA, 76 ERA–, 2 HR, 17 BB, 27 K, 8/4 IR/IS (50%), 1.629 WHIP, 8-2-2)

Houston Astros

Ryan Pressly (23 GR, 25 IP, 2.16 ERA, 51 ERA–, 1 HR, 5 BB, 25 K, 7/1 IR/IS (14%), 1.040 WHIP, 13-1-3)

Kansas City Royals

Scott Barlow (27 GR, 30 IP, 1.80 ERA, 41 ERA–, 0 HR, 13 BB, 44 K, 11/5 IR/IS (45%), 1.133 WHIP, 13-1-2)
Jake Brentz (29 GR, 27 2/3 IP, 1.95 ERA, 45 ERA–, 2 HR, 17 BB, 31 K, 15/5 IR/IS (33%), 1.084 WHIP, 5-1-2)
Josh Staumont (22 GR, 23 2/3 IP, 2.66 ERA, 61 ERA–, 1 HR, 13 BB, 26 K, 4/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.183 WHIP, 7-1-0)

Los Angeles Angels

Tony Watson (22 GR, 20 IP, 3.60 ERA, 82 ERA–, 3 HR, 6 BB, 15 K, 15/1 IR/IS (7%), 1.000 WHIP, 7-1-1)
Raisel Iglesias (22 GR, 23 IP, 3.91 ERA, 89 ERA–, 5 HR, 3 BB, 34 K, 9/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.000 WHIP, 13-2-1)

Minnesota Twins

Taylor Rogers (22 GR, 24 1/3 IP, 2.59 ERA, 65 ERA–, 3 HR, 5 BB, 34 K, 10/5 IR/IS (50%), 1.110 WHIP, 14-2-2)
Hansel Robles (27 GR, 26 2/3 IP, 3.04 ERA, 77 ERA–, 1 HR, 17 BB, 28 K, 4/1 IR/IS (25%), 1.275 WHIP, 8-3-3)

New York Yankees

Aroldis Chapman (23 GR, 23 IP, 0.39 ERA, 10 ERA–, 1 HR, 11 BB, 43 K, 0/0 IR/IS, 0.783 WHIP, 16-1-1)
Chad Green (25 GR, 28 2/3 IP, 3.14 ERA, 77 ERA–, 5 HR, 7 BB, 27 K, 9/0 IR/IS (0%), 0.872 WHIP, 13-3-4)
Jonathan Loaisiga (24 GR, 30 1/3 IP, 2.08 ERA, 51 ERA–, 2 HR, 8 BB, 26 K, 11/3 IR/IS (27%), 1.088 WHIP, 12-2-3)
Lucas Luetge (21 GR, 29 2/3 IP, 3.03 ERA, 74 ERA–, 4 HR, 4 BB, 30 K, 8/1 IR/IS (13%), 0.944 WHIP, 2-1-1)

Oakland Athletics

Yusmeiro Petit (29 GR, 31 2/3 IP, 3.13 ERA, 80 ERA–, 1 HR, 5 BB, 21 K, 16/4 IR/IS (25%), 1.074 WHIP, 12-0-3)
Jake Diekman (26 GR, 25 1/3 IP, 3.20 ERA, 82 ERA–, 3 HR, 11 BB, 33 K, 6/3 IR/IS (50%), 1.224 WHIP, 10-3-0)
Lou Trivino (25 GR, 26 2/3 IP, 2.70 ERA, 69 ERA–, 2 HR, 14 BB, 25 K, 7/2 IR/IS (29%), 1.238 WHIP, 9-3-1)

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)
Casey Sadler (11 GR, 11 IP, 1.64 ERA, 42 ERA–, 0 HR, 6 BB, 10 K, 2/1 IR/IS (50%), 1.273 WHIP, 3-1-0)
JT Chargois (14 GR, 14 IP, 1.93 ERA, 50 ERA–, 1 HR, 2 BB, 14 K, 13/6 IR/IS (46%), 0.714 WHIP, 2-0-2)

Tampa Bay Rays

J.P. Feyereisen [since trade from Milwaukee] (7 GR, 8 1/3 IP, 1.08 ERA, 28 ERA–, 1 HR, 4 BB, 9 K, 1/0 IR/IS (0%), 0.960 WHIP, 6-1-0)
Andrew Kittredge (18 GR, 24 1/3 IP, 1.11 ERA, 29 ERA–, 1 HR, 7 BB, 20 K, 10/5 IR/IS (50%), 0.904 WHIP, 11-1-1)
Ryan Thompson (26 GR, 26 1/3 IP, 2.05 ERA, 54 ERA–, 2 HR, 8 BB, 26 K, 19/7 IR/IS (37%), 1.025 WHIP, 12-5-4)
Diego Castillo (21 GR, 21 2/3 IP, 2.91 ERA, 76 ERA–, 4 HR, 8 BB, 31 K, 6/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.154 WHIP, 12-3-1)

Texas Rangers

Ian Kennedy (21 GR, 21 1/3 IP, 2.53 ERA, 61 ERA–, 2 HR, 7 BB, 25 K, 1/1 IR/IS (100%), 1.078 WHIP, 11-0-1)
Brett Martin (23 GR, 21 IP, 1.71 ERA, 41 ERA–, 2 HR, 6 BB, 19 K, 15/6 IR/IS (40%), 1.476 WHIP, 2-0-3)
John King (21 GR, 30 IP, 2.40 ERA, 58 ERA–, 1 HR, 6 BB, 25 K, 10/3 IR/IS (30%), 1.300 WHIP, 4-5-0)

Toronto Blue Jays

Jordan Romano (21 GR, 19 2/3 IP, 1.83 ERA, 43 ERA–, 0 HR, 11 BB, 26 K, 3/2 IR/IS (67%), 1.119 WHIP, 8-3-0)
Trent Thornton (15 GR, 23 IP, 2.35 ERA, 55 ERA–, 2 HR, 8 BB, 26 K, 4/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.130 WHIP, 1-1-0)
Joel Payamps (18 GR, 24 1/3 IP, 2.96 ERA, 70 ERA–, 3 HR, 9 BB, 15 K, 7/2 IR/IS (29%), 1.192 WHIP, 2-2-0)

Top Three

Kendall Graveman (SEA), Aroldis Chapman (NYY), Liam Hendriks (CHW)

Goose Eggs

Broken Eggs

GE/BE Ratio (Min. 10 Goose Eggs)

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, 66 ERA–, 2 HR, 13 BB, 36 K, 5/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.233 WHIP, 2-1-0)
Taylor Clarke (27 GR, 30 IP, 3.90 ERA, 95 ERA–, 3 HR, 8 BB, 26 K, 4/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.267 WHIP, 5-2-0)

Atlanta Braves

Tyler Matzek (24 GR, 22 1/3 IP, 4.03 ERA, 91 ERA–, 2 HR, 13 BB, 33 K, 4/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.343 WHIP, 4-2-2)
Luke Jackson (24 GR, 21 2/3 IP, 1.25 ERA, 28 ERA–, 2 HR, 10 BB, 20 K, 13/4 IR/IS (31%), 1.154 WHIP, 4-3-2)
Chris Martin (11 GR, 10 2/3 IP, 1.69 ERA, 38 ERA–, 0 HR, 1 BB, 6 K, 0/0 IR/IS, 0.656 WHIP, 6-1-0)
Will Smith (25 GR, 19 IP, 4.30 ERA, 97 ERA–, 2 HR, 8 BB, 33 K, 0/0 IR/IS, 1.174 WHIP, 14-4-1)
A.J. Minter (26 GR, 22 2/3 IP, 3.97 ERA, 90 ERA–, 1 HR, 10 BB, 25 K, 11/1 IR/IS (9%), 1.147 WHIP, 11-6-2)

Chicago Cubs

Dan Winkler (24 GR, 21 2/3 IP, 0.83 ERA, 22 ERA–, 0 HR, 12 BB, 22 K, 10/1 IR/IS (10%), 1.154 WHIP, 4-0-1)
Craig Kimbrel (24 GR, 24 IP, 0.75 ERA, 20 ERA–, 1 HR, 8 BB, 41 K, 6/0 IR/IS (0%), 0.750 WHIP, 16-2-2)
Andrew Chafin (28 GR, 26 1/3 IP, 2.05 ERA, 54 ERA–, 1 HR, 9 BB, 25 K, 13/3 IR/IS (23%), 0.911 WHIP, 13-1-2)
Ryan Tepera (28 GR, 27 1/3 IP, 2.30 ERA, 60 ERA–, 2 HR, 7 BB, 31 K, 23/7 IR/IS (30%), 0.732 WHIP, 11-1-2)

Cincinnati Reds

Tejay Antone (20 GR, 32 IP, 1.41 ERA, 30 ERA–, 2 HR, 11 BB, 40 K, 19/6 IR/IS (32%), 0.719 WHIP, 14-1-1)
Lucas Sims (22 GR, 23 IP, 4.70 ERA, 102 ERA–, 2 HR, 13 BB, 35 K, 10/4 IR/IS (40%), 1.217 WHIP, 10-3-4)

Colorado Rockies

Jordan Sheffield (19 GR, 19 1/3 IP, 3.26 ERA, 71 ERA–, 2 HR, 8 BB, 16 K, 7/1 IR/IS (14%), 0.983 WHIP, 2-0-1)
Carlos Estevez (15 GR, 14 2/3 IP, 3.07 ERA, 67 ERA–, 2 HR, 4 BB, 16 K, 11/1 IR/IS (9%), 1.091 WHIP, 4-1-0)
Mychal Givens (22 GR, 20 1/3 IP, 3.10 ERA, 68 ERA–, 4 HR, 10 BB, 22 K, 7/5 IR/IS (71%), 1.279 WHIP, 7-3-2)
Daniel Bard (22 GR, 24 IP, 3.75 ERA, 82 ERA–, 2 HR, 10 BB, 34 K, 3/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.500 WHIP, 8-4-3)

Los Angeles Dodgers

Kenley Jansen (23 GR, 24 IP, 1.88 ERA, 49 ERA–, 1 HR, 18 BB, 28 K, 10/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.042 WHIP, 13-4-1)
Scott Alexander (13 GR, 11 2/3 IP, 2.31 ERA, 60 ERA–, 1 HR, 1 BB, 5 K, 5/1 IR/IS (20%), 0.686 WHIP, 3-0-1)
Victor Gonzalez (24 GR, 19 2/3 IP, 2.29 ERA, 59 ERA–, 1 HR, 9 BB, 20 K, 17/4 IR/IS (24%), 1.119 WHIP, 7-3-1)
Jimmy Nelson (16 GR, 18 IP, 2.50 ERA, 65 ERA–, 0 HR, 9 BB, 29 K, 3/1 IR/IS (33%), 1.056 WHIP, 2-1-1)
Blake Treinen (24 GR, 23 IP, 3.52 ERA, 91 ERA–, 3 HR, 8 BB, 28 K, 7/1 IR/IS (14%), 1.348 WHIP, 11-3-4)

Miami Marlins

Yimi Garcia (25 GR, 24 IP, 2.63 ERA, 67 ERA–, 3 HR, 7 BB, 23 K, 3/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.042 WHIP, 14-4-2)
Dylan Floro (27 GR, 24 IP, 3.75 ERA, 96 ERA–, 0 HR, 9 BB, 21 K, 1/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.292 WHIP, 14-3-0)
John Curtiss (21 GR, 24 IP, 3.00 ERA, 77 ERA–, 3 HR, 2 BB, 28 K, 13/7 IR/IS (54%), 1.083 WHIP, 3-1-0)
Richard Bleier (25 GR, 21 2/3 IP, 3.32 ERA, 85 ERA–, 4 HR, 0 BB, 20 K, 15/5 IR/IS (33%), 0.785 WHIP, 4-2-2)
Anthony Bender (13 GR, 12 1/3 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0 ERA–, 0 HR, 3 BB, 14 K, 4/3 IR/IS (75%), 0.730 WHIP, 0-0-1)

Milwaukee Brewers

Josh Hader (24 GR, 23 2/3 IP, 0.76 ERA, 19 ERA–, 0 HR, 8 BB, 41 K, 2/1 IR/IS (50%), 0.761 WHIP, 16-0-2)
J.P. Feyereisen (21 GR, 19 1/3 IP, 3.26 ERA, 80 ERA–, 2 HR, 11 BB, 20 K, 6/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.086 WHIP, 7-2-1) [Before trade; Now with Tampa Bay]
Brad Boxberger (26 GR, 23 2/3 IP, 3.04 ERA, 75 ERA–, 3 HR, 5 BB, 24 K, 14/3 IR/IS (21%), 0.845 WHIP, 7-2-1)
Devin Williams (24 GR, 22 1/3 IP, 4.03 ERA, 99 ERA–, 3 HR, 15 BB, 36 K, 3/2 IR/IS (67%), 1.433 WHIP, 11-4-1)

New York Mets

Edwin Diaz (23 GR, 23 1/3 IP, 3.09 ERA, 81 ERA–, 0 HR, 7 BB, 31 K, 1/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.114 WHIP, 14-1-1)
Miguel Castro (21 GR, 23 IP, 2.74 ERA, 72 ERA–, 2 HR, 12 BB, 30 K, 6/1 IR/IS (17%), 1.174 WHIP, 8-3-0)
Aaron Loup (19 GR, 15 IP, 2.40 ERA, 63 ERA–, 0 HR, 2 BB, 17 K, 16/7 IR/IS (44%), 1.133 WHIP, 7-2-5)

Philadelphia Phillies

Hector Neris (25 GR, 23 2/3 IP, 1.90 ERA, 49 ERA–, 3 HR, 8 BB, 29 K, 5/2 IR/IS (40%), 1.014 WHIP, 12-4-1)
Jose Alvarado (23 GR, 19 2/3 IP, 3.66 ERA, 94 ERA–, 2 HR, 18 BB, 27 K, 12/4 IR/IS (33%), 1.627 WHIP, 11-3-1)

Pittsburgh Pirates

Richard Rodriguez (23 GR, 24 1/3 IP, 1.85 ERA, 47 ERA–, 0 HR, 3 BB, 19 K, 6/2 IR/IS (33%), 0.699 WHIP, 14-2-0)
Kyle Crick (17 GR, 17 IP, 1.59 ERA, 40 ERA–, 0 HR, 10 BB, 15 K, 2/1 IR/IS (50%), 0.765 WHIP, 4-1-1)
Sam Howard (28 GR, 21 1/3 IP, 2.53 ERA, 64 ERA–, 3 HR, 15 BB, 30 K, 15/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.172 WHIP, 3-1-1)

San Diego Padres

Mark Melancon (25 GR, 26 1/3 IP, 0.68 ERA, 18 ERA–, 1 HR, 10 BB, 22 K, 3/2 IR/IS (67%), 1.025 WHIP, 17-1-4)
Drew Pomeranz (14 GR, 13 2/3 IP, 1.98 ERA, 54 ERA–, 1 HR, 7 BB, 20 K, 2/1 IR/IS (50%), 1.171 WHIP, 2-2-0)
Austin Adams (25 GR, 21 IP, 2.14 ERA, 58 ERA–, 0 HR, 10 BB, 33 K, 3/2 IR/IS (67%), 1.000 WHIP, 4-0-1)
Tim Hill (28 GR, 24 1/3 IP, 2.22 ERA, 60 ERA–, 4 HR, 8 BB, 28 K, 22/6 IR/IS (27%), 1.110 WHIP, 8-1-1)
Emilio Pagan (25 GR, 23 IP, 2.74 ERA, 74 ERA–, 4 HR, 9 BB, 29 K, 4/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.087 WHIP, 11-2-0)

San Francisco Giants

Tyler Rogers (29 GR, 29 2/3 IP, 1.52 ERA, 40 ERA–, 2 HR, 5 BB, 15 K, 7/3 IR/IS (43%), 0.944 WHIP, 13-1-3)
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 (18 GR, 16 1/3 IP, 1.65 ERA, 44 ERA–, 2 HR, 5 BB, 14 K, 5/0 IR/IS (0%), 0.980 WHIP, 2-0-0)
Jake McGee (26 GR, 24 2/3 IP, 4.01 ERA, 106 ERA–, 5 HR, 5 BB, 31 K, 3/1 IR/IS (33%), 0.973 WHIP, 12-4-0)

St. Louis Cardinals

Alex Reyes (28 GR, 30 IP, 0.90 ERA, 24 ERA–, 2 HR, 27 BB, 42 K, 7/3 IR/IS (43%), 1.400 WHIP, 12-2-1)
Genesis Cabrera (27 GR, 28 IP, 2.25 ERA, 60 ERA–, 1 HR, 16 BB, 32 K, 20/10 IR/IS (50%), 1.286 WHIP, 5-0-3)
Giovanny Gallegos (27 GR, 35 IP, 2.31 ERA, 62 ERA–, 2 HR, 8 BB, 41 K, 9/2 IR/IS (22%), 0.743 WHIP, 17-3-1)

Washington Nationals

Daniel Hudson (22 GR, 22 2/3 IP, 2.38 ERA, 63 ERA–, 2 HR, 7 BB, 32 K, 10/4 IR/IS (40%), 0.882 WHIP, 12-0-2)
Austin Voth (18 GR, 27 2/3 IP, 2.93 ERA, 77 ERA–, 5 HR, 10 BB, 27 K, 4/0 IR/IS (0%), 1.157 WHIP, 2-0-0)
Brad Hand (21 GR, 20 2/3 IP, 3.48 ERA, 92 ERA–, 3 HR, 9 BB, 20 K, 0/0 IR/IS, 1.258 WHIP, 7-3-3)

Top Three

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

Goose Eggs

The six players are Will Smith (ATL), Tejay Antone (CIN), Dylan Floro (MIA), Yimi Garcia (MIA), Edwin Diaz (NYM), and Richard Rodriguez (PIT).

Broken Eggs

The 11 players are Alex Young (ARI), Will Smith (ATL), Jacob Webb (ATL), Daniel Bard (COL), Kenley Jansen (LAD), Yimi Garcia (MIA), Anthony Bass (MIA), Devin Williams (MIL), Hector Neris (PHL), Sam Coonrod (PHL), and Jake McGee (SF).

GE/BE Ratio (Minimum 10 Goose Eggs)

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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