May Reliever Rankings

by Matthew Pouliot

May 1, 2019, 4:41 am ET

Updated On: May 1, 2019, 4:51 am ET

Up this week are the May rest-of-season position rankings and overall top 300. Remember that players are listed where they’re most valuable, so if you don’t see someone you’re looking for, check another position. Designated hitters are listed with the first basemen.

Click to see other May rankings:

Top 300 | SP | RP | OF | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | C | DH

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Relief pitcher rankings

May	RP	Team	2019
1	Edwin Diaz	Mets	1
2	Blake Treinen	Athletics	2
3	Roberto Osuna	Astros	3
4	Felipe Vazquez	Pirates	4
5	Kenley Jansen	Dodgers	5
6	Josh Hader	Brewers	8
7	Aroldis Chapman	Yankees	7
8	Kirby Yates	Padres	11
9	Brad Hand	Indians	9
10	Jordan Hicks	Cardinals	16
11	Raisel Iglesias	Reds	13
12	Wade Davis	Rockies	17
13	Craig Kimbrel		6
14	Sean Doolittle	Nationals	15
15	Alex Colome	White Sox	14
16	Ken Giles	Blue Jays	18
17	Jose Leclerc	Rangers	10
18	Jose Alvarado	Rays	22
19	Will Smith	Giants	20
20	Ryan Pressly	Astros	23
21	David Robertson	Phillies	12
22	Greg Holland	Diamondbacks	32
23	Hector Neris	Phillies	49
24	Pedro Strop	Cubs	29
25	Ryan Brasier	Red Sox	47
26	A.J. Minter	Braves	26
27	Diego Castillo	Rays	27
28	Shane Greene	Tigers	43
29	Matt Barnes	Red Sox	25
30	Cody Allen	Angels	21
31	Seranthony Dominguez	Phillies	28
32	Sergio Romo	Marlins	35
33	Reyes Moronta	Giants	44
34	Ty Buttrey	Angels	59
35	Blake Parker	Twins	41
36	Ian Kennedy	Royals	192 SP
37	Joe Jimenez	Tigers	37
38	Trevor May	Twins	24
39	Hunter Strickland	Mariners	19
40	Archie Bradley	Diamondbacks	38
41	Taylor Rogers	Twins	57
42	Lou Trivino	Athletics	46
43	Carlos Martinez	Cardinals	68 SP
44	Brandon Morrow	Cubs	36
45	Mychal Givens	Orioles	39
46	Emilio Pagan	Rays	86
47	Anthony Swarzak	Mariners	89
48	Kelvin Herrera	White Sox	48
49	Wily Peralta	Royals	42
50	Roenis Elias	Mariners	177 SP
51	Chris Devenski	Astros	51
52	Adam Ottavino	Yankees	74
53	Pedro Baez	Dodgers	60
54	Brad Boxberger	Royals	50
55	Zach Britton	Yankees	61
56	Trevor Hildenberger	Twins	69
57	Amir Garrett	Reds	58
58	Jeremy Jeffress	Brewers	72
59	Nick Anderson	Marlins	176
60	Ryne Stanek	Rays	52
61	Andrew Miller	Cardinals	30
62	Steve Cishek	Cubs	53
63	Keone Kela	Pirates	55
64	Drew Steckenrider	Marlins	67
65	Jeurys Familia	Mets	54
66	Hector Rondon	Astros	63
67	Yoshihisa Hirano	Diamondbacks	66
68	Shawn Kelley	Rangers	184
69	Brad Brach	Cubs	62
70	Jace Fry	White Sox	65
71	Tony Watson	Giants	75
72	Pat Neshek	Phillies	88
73	Trevor Rosenthal	Nationals	45
74	Adam Conley	Marlins	64
75	Will Harris	Astros	73
76	Hansel Robles	Angels	210
77	Tommy Kahnle	Yankees	84
78	Junior Guerra	Brewers	77
79	Craig Stammen	Padres	94
80	Dan Winkler	Braves	90

Dropping off: Corey Knebel (31^st), Arodys Vizcaino (33^rd), Dellin Betances (34^th), Chad Green (40^th), Joe Kelly (56^th), Juan Nicasio (68^th), Carl Edwards Jr. (70^th)

Cody Allen remains the high man in the Angels pen, in part because the team doesn’t seem to have much interest in utilizing Ty Buttrey as a traditional closer. Hansel Robles is the other Angels reliever in the top 80. I was quite high on Justin Anderson going in (I had him projected for the lowest ERA in the Angels pen) and he’s done fine thus far, but his velocity is down sharply, making him a whole lot less interesting to me.
There’s a case for moving Shane Greene up several more spots, but his big April has only increased the chances that he’ll be traded sooner than later. That’s also why Joe Jimenez hasn’t fallen at all. There is more of a chance now that Greene will be traded to a team that would use him as a closer, but it’s still probable that he’d set up for a contender.
I know it seems pretty ridiculous to have Trevor Rosenthal ranked as a top-80 reliever right now, but it remains quite likely that Sean Doolittle will get hurt at some point and maybe Rosenthal will have figured things out by the time it happens. Kyle Barraclough is the No. 2 man in the Nationals pen at the moment, but his velocity hasn’t come back and he still looks thoroughly mediocre to me.