MLB · 4 hours ago

Top 10 MLB Relief Pitchers for 2026: Rankings & Statistical Breakdown

SportsGrid Contributor Just Baseball

Host · Writer

1. Jhoan Duran – Philadelphia Phillies
Duran is the new gold standard for fantasy relievers. Last season, he successfully fixed his issues with the long ball, complementing his triple-digit heat with a clinical 2.06 ERA. On a powerhouse Phillies squad, Duran is still ascending and enters 2026 as the top closer off the board.

2025 MLB Stats
- Record/Appearances: 7-6, 61 G
- ERA/WHIP: 2.06 / 1.10
- Saves: 32
- K/BB: 10.29 K/9 / 2.44 BB/9
Top 10 MLB Fantasy Relief Pitchers for 2026: Closing the Door with Elite Heat
In the volatile world of fantasy relief pitching, securing a reliable anchor for saves and strikeouts is the difference between winning your league and a mid-season roster overhaul. The 2026 landscape features several marquee names in new cities, including high-profile closers for the Dodgers, Yankees, and Mets.

Whether you are hunting for pure strikeout volume or the security of a 30-save floor, these ten arms represent the most clinical options available in current draft pools. These rankings are based on 2025 performance, role security, and underlying metrics like K/BB% and FIP.

Thanks to Just Baseball for the stats, analysis, and insights for this slideshow article.
10. Jeff Hoffman – Toronto Blue Jays
Despite an alarming 4.37 ERA driven by an uncharacteristic home run rate, Hoffman remains a top-tier fantasy asset. His strikeout numbers remained elite, and closing for a high-win Blue Jays squad ensures a massive save floor for 2026.

2025 MLB Stats
- Record/Appearances: 9-7, 71 G
- ERA/WHIP: 4.37 / 1.19
- Saves: 33
- K/BB: 11.12 K/9 / 3.57 BB/9
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9. Ryan Helsley – Baltimore Orioles
After a late-season collapse in 2025, Helsley finds a fresh start in Baltimore. With Felix Bautista sidelined for 2026, Helsley is expected to have a long leash in the closer role for an Orioles team in "win-now" mode.

2025 MLB Stats
- Record/Appearances: 3-4, 58 G
- ERA/WHIP: 4.50 / 1.54
- Saves: 21
- K/BB: 10.13 K/9 / 4.02 BB/9
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8. Devin Williams – New York Mets
Williams moves to the Mets following a season where his ERA didn't quite reflect his dominant peripherals. Everything "under the hood" remains elite, including a 2.68 FIP and a 44% groundball rate, suggesting a massive ERA correction is coming in 2026.

2025 MLB Stats
- Record/Appearances: 4-6, 70 G
- ERA/WHIP: 4.79 / 1.13
- Saves: 18
- K/BB: 13.06 K/9 / 3.63 BB/9
7. David Bednar – New York Yankees
Bednar returned to form in 2025, dismissing a shaky 2024 with a clinical 2.30 ERA and a 2.18 FIP. Now in the Yankees bullpen with fewer "cooks in the kitchen," he is poised to handle the vast majority of save situations.

2025 MLB Stats
- Record/Appearances: 6-5, 64 G
- ERA/WHIP: 2.30 / 1.04
- Saves: 27
- K/BB: 12.35 K/9 / 2.73 BB/9
6. Josh Hader – Houston Astros
Hader remains the model of consistency, offering high strikeout volume and a reliable save count. Houston shows no signs of slowing down, providing Hader with plenty of opportunities to reach his usual 30-35 save ceiling.

2025 MLB Stats
- Record/Appearances: 6-2, 48 G
- ERA/WHIP: 2.05 / 0.85
- Saves: 28
- K/BB: 12.99 K/9 / 2.73 BB/9
5. Cade Smith – Cleveland Guardians
Smith emerged as the Guardians' de facto closer following the suspension of Emmanuel Clase. His 28.4% K-BB% was among the league's best, making him a worthy Top-100 pick as he retains the role for the foreseeable future.

2025 MLB Stats
- Record/Appearances: 8-5, 70 G
- ERA/WHIP: 2.93 / 1.00
- Saves: 16
- K/BB: 12.71 K/9 / 2.32 BB/9
4. Andrés Muñoz – Seattle Mariners
Coming off his best professional season, Muñoz combines a 12 K/9 with a groundball rate over 50%. Seattle’s status as a World Series contender ensures that Muñoz will once again be among the league leaders in save opportunities.

2025 MLB Stats
- Record/Appearances: 3-3, 64 G
- ERA/WHIP: 1.73 / 1.03
- Saves: 38
- K/BB: 11.98 K/9 / 4.04 BB/9
3. Mason Miller – San Diego Padres
Miller’s trade to the Padres significantly boosts his fantasy floor through pure save volume. While his walk rate is higher than ideal, his 15.18 K/9 is video-game territory, putting him on track to potentially surpass 35 saves in 2026.

2025 MLB Stats
- Record/Appearances: 1-2, 60 G
- ERA/WHIP: 2.63 / 0.91
- Saves: 22
- K/BB: 15.18 K/9 / 4.09 BB/9
2. Edwin Diaz – Los Angeles Dodgers
The marquee closer joins the back-to-back World Series champion Dodgers, a move that screams 40+ save potential. Diaz remains an elite-tier arm, now supported by the most potent offense in baseball to maximize his lead-protecting opportunities.

2025 MLB Stats
- Record/Appearances: 4-5, 61 G
- ERA/WHIP: 2.83 / 1.04
- Saves: 27
- K/BB: 8.80 K/9 / 2.69 BB/9
1. Jhoan Duran – Philadelphia Phillies
Duran is the new gold standard for fantasy relievers. Last season, he successfully fixed his issues with the long ball, complementing his triple-digit heat with a clinical 2.06 ERA. On a powerhouse Phillies squad, Duran is still ascending and enters 2026 as the top closer off the board.

2025 MLB Stats
- Record/Appearances: 7-6, 61 G
- ERA/WHIP: 2.06 / 1.10
- Saves: 32
- K/BB: 10.29 K/9 / 2.44 BB/9
Top 10 MLB Fantasy Relief Pitchers for 2026: Closing the Door with Elite Heat
In the volatile world of fantasy relief pitching, securing a reliable anchor for saves and strikeouts is the difference between winning your league and a mid-season roster overhaul. The 2026 landscape features several marquee names in new cities, including high-profile closers for the Dodgers, Yankees, and Mets.

Whether you are hunting for pure strikeout volume or the security of a 30-save floor, these ten arms represent the most clinical options available in current draft pools. These rankings are based on 2025 performance, role security, and underlying metrics like K/BB% and FIP.

Thanks to Just Baseball for the stats, analysis, and insights for this slideshow article.

Top 10 MLB Relief Pitchers for 2026: Rankings & Statistical Breakdown

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