Before the start of the new MLB season, we wanted to take a closer look at the best relief pitchers in 2024. Given how erratic relievers have been, that was difficult to do.
Even if we look closely at the record of pitchers, it is difficult to predict who will be among the best relief pitchers in 2024 and who will be a disappointment. Some of these pitchers could end up among the greatest relief pitchers in MLB history while others may quickly fade into the background.
The best relief pitchers in MLB ahead of the 2024 season
Although we realize that we may ultimately be wrong, we still want to highlight who we think will be among the best shooters in 2024.
Some of this is based on their track record and some of it is based on our intuitions about who will succeed and who will fail this year. With that in mind, here is our ranking of who we think will be the top 10 relief pitchers in 2024.
10. Yenier Kano
Last year, the Orioles' Felix Bautista was the best relief pitcher in MLB. But with Bautista needing to have Tommy John surgery, Yenier Cano will have a chance to step up to a bigger role in Baltimore's bullpen. He saved just eight games last season while posting a 2.11 ERA and 1.00 WHIP.
With Craig Kimbrel coming to Baltimore, it remains to be seen whether Cano will be the closer. But even if he wasn't the Orioles' closer, he would still be among the best players in the league.
9. Jordan Romano
With 36 saves in back-to-back seasons, Jordan Romano has certainly moved into elite company among closers.
He has had three great seasons in a row and was rewarded with an All-Star selection in each of the past two seasons. There's not much the Blue Jays could ask of the Ontario native other than to keep doing what he's been doing because the results speak for themselves.
8. Camilo Duval
After being the co-leader in saves in the National League last season and earning an All-Star invitation, there are high hopes for Camilo Duval in 2024.
The 26-year-old has made 66 saves over the past two seasons and is one of the toughest pitchers in baseball. Although his 2.93 ERA last year wasn't among the best in baseball, Duvall has room to grow and the talent to be an elite closer.
7. Alexis Diaz
The Reds have a promising young core, and Alexis Diaz is a big part of that. He made 37 saves for Cincinnati in 2023 while striking out 86 batters in 67.1 innings pitched. Less than two years after his MLB debut, he was established as the closer for a team hoping to contend.
This suggests that Diaz remains on an upward trajectory with room to improve on his already impressive resume.
6. David Bednar
Since he plays for the Buccaneers, most fans don't know how good David Bednar is. But playing for the Pirates didn't stop him from leading the National League in saves last year or from being a star in back-to-back seasons. Bednar doesn't have the flashiest stuff, and has never posted an ERA below 2.00.
But his level of consistency and reliability over the past three years has helped him stand out from the crowd.
5. Brian Abreu
Over the past two seasons, Brian Abreu has arguably been Houston's best and most important save. The team wasn't anything close to a full-time team, but he was instrumental in their success. Abreu had back-to-back seasons with an ERA under 2.00 and struck out 100 batters last year over just 72 innings.
He also hit a .177 average, which is no joke. Other than not being a closer who collects a lot of saves, there is no difference between Abreu and the best relief pitchers in baseball.
4. Edwin Diaz
The Mets would like nothing more than for Edwin Diaz to pick up where he left off at the end of 2022. He was sensational that season, earning him a five-year, $102 million contract that made him the highest-paid player in baseball history. .
Of course, that freak knee injury during the WBC ended the 2023 season before it even started. However, if he is healthy, there is no reason why Diaz can't return to being an elite closer.
3. Emmanuel class
In 2024, Emmanuel Clase will begin his fourth season with Cleveland. This alone is a tremendous accomplishment for a 26-year-old. Despite a somewhat disappointing 3.22 ERA last year, Clase has made over 40 saves in each of the past two seasons.
He also had an ERA under 1.50 and a WHIP under 1.00 in both 2021 and 2022. Clase is the real deal and is more than capable of becoming the best in baseball this season.
2. Josh Hader
Things went well for Josh Hader in 2022, but he bounced back nicely last year to remind everyone why he's elite. The lefty posted a 1.28 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 33 saves for the underachieving Padres.
It was more than enough to earn him a massive five-year, $95 million contract from the Astros. Despite already being a five-time All-Star, Hader won't turn 30 until April, and should have no problem continuing to perform like a top-tier player.
1. Devin Williams
For the past few seasons, Devin Williams has been among the best pitchers in baseball, and there's no reason to believe that will change in 2024. He's been a star in back-to-back seasons, pitching to an ERA under 2.00 both years.
Williams was also the National League's Reliever of the Year last season, just as he was in 2020. Whether he saves a lot of saves for the Brewers or not, Williams is poised to be the best reliever in the MLB this season.
