Relief Pitcher Pitch Rankings

To follow the starting pitchers, we have the relief pitcher pitch rankings.

1. Top Ten Four-Seam Fastball (Min 300):

Player	Sw+Whf%	Sw+Whf% Z	xwOBA	xwOBA Z	Z Total
Craig Kimbrel	94.74	2.34	0.23	1.80	4.15
Sean Doolittle	90.81	1.91	0.22	2.02	3.93
Chad Green	85.35	1.30	0.20	2.57	3.87
Anthony Swarzak	78.77	0.58	0.20	2.37	2.95
Josh Fields	89.12	1.72	0.27	0.89	2.61
Pedro Baez	90.00	1.82	0.28	0.78	2.60
Tommy Kahnle	84.53	1.21	0.25	1.34	2.56
Drew Steckenrider	84.55	1.21	0.26	1.13	2.34
Seung Hwan Oh	80.80	0.80	0.24	1.50	2.30
Josh Hader	87.30	1.52	0.28	0.67	2.19

The Stars: Craig Kimbrel, Sean Doolittle, Pedro Baez

Young and Coming: Chad Green, Drew Steckenrider, Josh Hader

Surprises: Anthony Swarzak, Josh Fields, Tommy Kahnle

No surprise that Kimbrel, probably the most dominant reliever of the past few years, is at the top. Jeff Sullivan discussed Green’s immense success overall and of his fastball recently in his second year for the Yankees. Steckenrider is an unknown rookie for the Marlins, but he has been exceptional for them. Hader is a top prospect for the Brewers and future starter, but his stint in the bullpen has gone perfectly. Swarzak is having a career year, so much so that the Brewers traded for him in an attempt to contend. Kahnle has broken out with the White Sox and Yankees.

2. Top Five Two-Seam Fastball (Min 250):

Player	Sw+Whf%	Sw+Whf% Z	xwOBA	xwOBA Z	Z Total
Craig Stammen	67.73	0.49	0.25	1.95	2.44
Kelvin Herrera	81.71	2.71	0.36	-0.52	2.18
Edwin Diaz	75.76	1.76	0.32	0.42	2.18
Joe Kelly	72.95	1.32	0.30	0.79	2.11
Ryan Madson	68.80	0.66	0.28	1.23	1.89

The Stars: Kelvin Herrera, Ryan Madson

Young and Coming: Edwin Diaz

Surprises: Craig Stammen, Joe Kelly

Herrera has been mostly terrible this year, but his track record says he is still a star. And he clearly hasn’t lost anything from his two-seam fastball. Diaz dominated as a rookie, but has slowed down a lot this season. He’s still 23 — no reason to worry. Stammen didn’t even pitch in the MLB in 2016, but he is performing solidly for the Padres. Kelly is having a career year in Boston behind his high-heat fastball.

3. Top Five Cutter Fastball (Min 200):

Player	Sw+Whf%	Sw+Whf% Z	xwOBA	xwOBA Z	Z Total
Jacob Barnes	104.09	1.99	0.22	1.21	3.20
Dominic Leone	99.80	1.62	0.24	0.81	2.43
Kenley Jansen	90.61	0.84	0.22	1.38	2.21
Alex Colome	85.15	0.37	0.20	1.80	2.17
Tommy Hunter	88.07	0.62	0.22	1.32	1.94

The Stars: Kenley Jansen, Alex Colome

Young and Coming: None

Surprises: Dominic Leone, Jacob Barnes, Tommy Hunter

The most infamous cutter in the game makes the top five, coming from Dodgers closer Jansen. Colome has continued a breakout from 2016 as the Rays closer. Leone had a great rookie season for the Mariners in 2014, but was knocked around in 2015/2016. He has come back nicely in 2017.

4. Top Five Sinker Fastball (Min 200):

Player	Sw+Whf%	Sw+Whf% Z	xwOBA	xwOBA Z	Z Total
Pat Neshek	70.87	1.06	0.25	1.66	2.72
Matt Albers	66.94	0.58	0.24	1.96	2.54
Tony Watson	73.58	1.40	0.28	1.10	2.50
Scott Alexander	76.57	1.77	0.30	0.47	2.24
Richard Bleier	65.97	0.46	0.25	1.68	2.14

The Stars: Pat Neshek

Young and Coming: None

Surprises: Richard Bleier

Neshek, a two-time All-Star, has been spectacular for the Phillies. Bleier, a 30-year-old second-year player, has been unexpectedly good in the majors the past two years.

5. Top Two Splitter Fastball (Min 200):

Player	Sw+Whf%	Sw+Whf% Z	xwOBA	xwOBA Z	Z Total
Blake Parker	101.30	1.30	0.18	1.48	2.78
Chasen Shreve	97.50	0.79	0.18	1.48	2.27

Only nine relievers heavily used the splitter, so this is a small leaderboard. Parker has broken out for the Angels in 2017. Shreve is the third Yankee to appear.

6. Top Five Curveball (Min 200):

Player	Sw+Whf%	Sw+Whf% Z	xwOBA	xwOBA Z	Z Total
David Robertson	102.86	1.89	0.16	0.73	2.62
Jerry Blevins	95.85	1.28	0.16	0.71	1.99
Ryan Pressly	89.25	0.70	0.12	1.28	1.98
Cody Allen	90.94	0.85	0.15	0.85	1.70
Keone Kela	85.24	0.35	0.13	1.12	1.47

The Stars: David Robertson, Cody Allen

Young and Coming: Keone Kela

Surprises: None

Our fourth Yankee to appear on a leaderboard is Robertson. And none of those four have been Dellin Betances or Aroldis Chapman. Scary. Kela has been one of the only relievers holding the Rangers bullpen afloat.

7. Top Ten Slider (Min 250):

Player	Sw+Whf%	Sw+Whf% Z	xwOBA	xwOBA Z	Z Total
Roberto Osuna	108.02	1.97	0.16	1.52	3.49
Arodys Vizcaino	105.81	1.78	0.16	1.54	3.32
Raisel Iglesias	98.47	1.13	0.14	1.93	3.06
Blake Treinen	105.37	1.74	0.17	1.23	2.97
Pedro Strop	107.08	1.89	0.19	0.97	2.86
Ken Giles	97.17	1.01	0.16	1.57	2.59
James Hoyt	110.74	2.22	0.23	0.19	2.41
Edwin Diaz	99.11	1.18	0.18	1.12	2.31
Adam Morgan	108.19	1.99	0.23	0.16	2.15
Kyle Barraclough	88.13	0.21	0.15	1.67	1.88

The Stars: Roberto Osuna, Pedro Strop, Ken Giles

Young and Coming: Raisel Iglesias, Edwin Diaz

Surprises: James Hoyt

Osuna has been nothing short of excellent for the Blue Jays, manning the closer job for all three of his professional seasons. Still just 22 years old, the best is yet to come. Strop is widely under-appreciated, but he has been a consistent force out of the Cubs bullpen for years. Mariners young stud Edwin Diaz makes his second leaderboard appearance. Hoyt has been terrible for the Astros, so his inclusion is unexpected.

8. Top Three Changeup (Min 200):

Player	Sw+Whf%	Sw+Whf% Z	xwOBA	xwOBA Z	Z Total
Tommy Kahnle	99.96	1.16	0.18	1.59	2.75
Felipe Rivero	105.68	1.86	0.22	0.47	2.33
Chris Devenski	100.35	1.21	0.20	0.89	2.10

(the changeup is not much of a reliever pitch, so this leaderboard is small)

The Stars: Chris Devenski

Young and Coming: Felipe Rivero

Surprises: None

Kahnle appears again. With much-improved stuff, he has been striking out everybody en route to a big breakout season. Devenksi is only in his second year, but also in his second year of excellence. The unheralded minor-league starter turned long reliever turned dynamic/versatile setup man has been a star in Houston’s bullpen. His changeup is nicknamed the “Circle of Death,” so no surprise seeing him here. Rivero has been dominant for the Pirates in his third year in the bigs.

Top Fifteen Overall:

Pitch	Player	Sw+Whf%	Sw+Whf% Z	xwOBA	xwOBA Z	Z Total
4-Seam	Craig Kimbrel	94.74	2.34	0.23	1.80	4.15
4-Seam	Sean Doolittle	90.81	1.91	0.22	2.02	3.93
4-Seam	Chad Green	85.35	1.30	0.20	2.57	3.87
Slider	Roberto Osuna	108.02	1.97	0.16	1.52	3.49
Slider	Arodys Vizcaino	105.81	1.78	0.16	1.54	3.32
Cutter	Jacob Barnes	104.09	1.99	0.22	1.21	3.20
Slider	Raisel Iglesias	98.47	1.13	0.14	1.93	3.06
Slider	Blake Treinen	105.37	1.74	0.17	1.23	2.97
4-Seam	Anthony Swarzak	78.77	0.58	0.20	2.37	2.95
Slider	Pedro Strop	107.08	1.89	0.19	0.97	2.86
Splitter	Blake Parker	101.30	1.30	0.18	1.48	2.78
Changeup	Tommy Kahnle	99.96	1.16	0.18	1.59	2.75
Sinker	Pat Neshek	70.87	1.06	0.25	1.66	2.72
Curveball	David Robertson	102.86	1.89	0.16	0.73	2.62
4-Seam	Josh Fields	89.12	1.72	0.27	0.89	2.61

Best Pitch: Craig Kimbrel, Boston Red Sox, four-Seam

Biggest Surprise: Jacob Barnes, Milwaukee Brewers, Cutter

The leaderboard is run by four-seam fastballs and sliders at the top, which is unsurprising considering those are the favorite pitches of relievers. I’ve said this before, but three Yankees in the top 15. And neither of their alleged best two! That’s absurd. Seeing Kimbrel at the top is the exact opposite. Jacob Barnes, however, is crazy too. The unheralded second-year man hasn’t shown much yet, with a 4.00 FIP in 2017. But that cutter is doing something to hitters.

I will add one more, combining relievers and starters, and with some interesting tidbits.