With the trade deadline looming and the playoff race tightening, relief pitching has become one of the clearest separators in the league. Teams have under 60 games left to make their move, and the arms finishing games are carrying more weight than ever. Entering the week, these are the 10 best relief pitchers in MLB right now.
Mason Miller sits at No. 1 for San Diego, and the numbers are as sharp as they come. He ranks third in saves and is the only MLB relief pitcher with at least 20 saves and an ERA and WHIP below 0.90.
Louis Varland comes in at No. 2 for Toronto and has put together one of the cleanest closing runs in the sport. He owns the lowest ERA of any relief pitcher with at least 20 saves and has not blown a save chance.
Jacob Latz has been just as important for Texas, landing at No. 3. He is one of six MLB relief pitchers with at least 20 saves and a WHIP below 1.00, and among that group he is one of five with an ERA below 2.00.
Jhoan Duran follows at No. 4 for Philadelphia. He ranks fifth in saves and is one of six MLB relief pitchers with at least 20 saves and a WHIP below 1.00.
Cade Smith checks in at No. 5 for Cleveland after navigating a season with plenty of adversity. He has bounced back through difficult stretches and enters the week leading MLB in saves. He is also one of the highest-ranked closers in strikeouts.
Josh Hader lands at No. 6 for Houston after waiting months to make his season debut. Since getting going, he has been excellent and is perfect in save opportunities. His ERA and WHIP place him among the best closers in the game.
Aroldis Chapman is still bringing the heat for Boston at No. 7. The veteran ranks fifth in saves, and the Red Sox will count on him as they push for a playoff berth.
Bryan Baker sits at No. 8 for Tampa Bay and has been a steady force at the back end. He ranks second in saves entering the week and could finish the season leading the league in saves.
Tanner Scott is No. 9 for the Dodgers, where he has been as reliable as they come in closing out games. He owns one of the best WHIPs among MLB closers and has become one of the premier finishers in the sport.
Dylan Lee rounds out the list at No. 10 for Atlanta. He has been excellent as the Braves’ primary setup man, entering the week with the second-most holds in MLB and one of the best WHIPs among relief pitchers.
In Other News...
Dodgers Could Be Eyeing A Deadline Target Nobody Saw Coming
The deadline chatter around the Dodgers has a way of widening quickly, and this latest twist points in a direction few would have expected. ESPNs Jeff Passan reported that Los Angeles could have interest in Angels shortstop Zach Neto, a player with strong offensive production and team control through 2030, even if his defense at shortstop has been below average. For a club that is always willing to explore impact moves, the appeal is obvious enough to at least keep the idea alive.
Andrew Friedman has already noted that deadline business can come together in ways nobody sees coming, and this would qualify as one of the more surprising possibilities on the board. Any pursuit of Neto still feels uncertain, but the mere fact that the Dodgers are being linked to a rivals young shortstop adds another layer to what could become a very active market for one of the most sought-after players available. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Fans Just Learned A Troubling Secret About Mark Walter
Mark Walters health has become a fresh point of scrutiny around the Dodgers owner, after it emerged that he suffered a stroke during the 2024 World Series. The episode was not disclosed publicly at the time, and it has since added a new layer of uncertainty around a figure whose reach extends well beyond Chavez Ravine. Walter has made several public appearances since then, but the revelation has naturally prompted questions about how much the incident may have affected him behind the scenes.
For Dodgers fans, the bigger unease is that the health issue is not the only cloud hanging over Walter and TWG Global. His holding company is also under investigation by the U.S. Attorneys Office and the SEC, part of a broader look at potentially undisclosed related-party loans involving Delaware life insurers he owns. It is the kind of off-field development that rarely stays off-field for long, especially when it involves the person at the top of one of baseballs most visible franchises. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Deadline Buzz Puts One Beloved Piece Of This Run At Risk
The Dodgers are again in the familiar position of trying to balance the present with the future as the trade deadline approaches, and the conversation around roster construction has started to spill beyond the usual fringe pieces. With a deep crop of outfield prospects pushing up the ladder and the front office still weighing ways to strengthen the farm system, the club has at least opened the door to the kind of move that can test how much it values short-term comfort versus long-term flexibility.
Teoscar Hernndez sits at the center of that tension because he has become one of the more recognizable and well-liked players in this run, even as his contract and the organizations depth make him a logical name to surface in deadline chatter. Nothing official has materialized, but the idea alone is enough to underline the stakes for a team that expects to play deep into October and has to decide whether preserving playoff momentum matters more than the kind of asset management that can shape the next few seasons. [Read more 🡒]