2026 MLB Power Rankings: The Top 10 Relievers

Constructing a top 10 list for relievers is not easy, and somewhat subjective. After all, what should be prioritized? Strikeouts, saves, ability to perform in crunch time? Ideally, teams want relievers who can do all of the above. And last season, David Bednar, acquired midseason by the Yankees to solve their late-inning problem, did just that.

Bednar, between his time as a Yankee and Pirate, finished with 27 saves, good for a tie for 13th in the Majors. His .249 opponents’ wOBA ranked in the top-30, and his 12.4 K/9 ranked in the top-15.

It was a strong rebound campaign for Bednar, who ranked sixth in total saves (89) between 2023 and 2025. The right-hander had bouts of command problems with the Pirates, which ultimately forced him to work in the Minors.

9. Adrian Morejon

Generally speaking, we considered closers for this section — even though it’s open to all relievers. However, it’s hard to ignore what Adrian Morejon did last season to not consider him. Because, Morejon was one of MLB’s best relievers last season.

The 26-year-old finished 2025 with a sparkling 2.08 ERA and 4.0% Barrel%, 70 strikeouts over 73 innings, and a .208 opponents’ wOBA that ranked as the third-best in MLB (min. 30 GP) among relievers. He also led all relievers in wins (13).

Morejon is arguably the most interesting pitcher among the 10 listed here. A former starting pitching prospect, Morejon has a starters’ arsenal & one of the hardest sinkers (97.7 MPH average in 2025), although it’s not as hard compared to several other pitchers on the list. Additionally, he’ll use a sinker, a changeup, and even break out a cutter from time to time.

It’s the kind of diverse arsenal that’s perfect against both left-handed and right-handed hitters. Last season, opposing right-handed hitters posted a .581 OPS off Morejon. Left-handed hitters? A .325 OPS.

8. Cade Smith

Emmanuel Clase was a staple in these lists for us over the last few years. But with his MLB future in jeopardy, the closer’s role in Cleveland now belongs to Cade Smith.

Smith, despite hiccups in May and July, was a stablizing force yet again for the Guardians in 2025. The right-hander struck out 104 over 73.2 IP, the second-straight season that the Canadian hit the 100-strikeout marker. His 12.7 K/9 ranked as the seventh-best among relievers last season, while his .255 wOBA ranked among the top-35.

The 26-year-old Smith quickly developed into one of baseball’s best relievers. He possesses a popping four-seamer that touched 100 MPH last season, and one that plays up thanks to plus-plus extension. Not to mention, he has two secondary offerings, a splitter and sweeper, that help keep hitters off the fastball.

7. Robert Suarez

When it comes to the “shutdown” element, perhaps no pitcher over the last two seasons embodied that more than Robert Suarez. Suarez finished with the most saves (76) across Major League Baseball over the last two years.

The 34-year-old reliever handled the closing duties in San Diego very well. This past year, the new Brave notched 40 saves for San Diego, posted a .235 opponents’ wOBA that ranked in the top-15 in the league, and routinely pounded the zone with an overwhelming fastball. His 2.1 BB/9 also ranked in the top-20 of the league.

Suarez, despite his dominance in San Diego, will likely not be a closer in 2026. The Braves re-signed Raisel Iglesias a month before Suarez signed with Atlanta, meaning the latter will give way to the former unless an injury arises. But since Suarez signed a multi-year deal, he may very well be the long-term closer in Atlanta.

6. Andres Munoz

Since Andres Munoz took over the closer’s job in 2023, the right-hander has ranked among the game’s most effective closers.

Munoz, who ranked 13th in total saves (73) between 2023 and 2025 — remember, Paul Sewald was closer for most of 2023 — finished with third-most saves (38), a 12.0 K/9 that ranked in the top-20, as well as a .228 opponents’ wOBA that ranked among the top 10.

The Mariners closer is an explosive one, as Munoz can routinely reach top-tier velocity with his fastball. And, his .3 HR/9 from 2025 is proof that can he keep the ball in the yard. Where Munoz lacks is the walks department, as the righty posted a 4.1 BB/9 during this year’s campaign.

5. Jhoan Duran

For years, Jhoan Duran was the Twins’ closer. However, that changed last year when Minnesota traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies.

When Duran joined the Phillies, he had about as clean of a run as possible. The right-hander walked just one batter over 20.2 IP, which resulted in the second-lowest BB/9 (.45) in the league from August 1 through the end of the regular season (Gabe Speier was first (.4)). He had 16 saves in that span, tied with Raisel Iglesias for most in the Majors.

Duran can bring the velocity, as his average four-seamer sat at 100.6 MPH last season. He’ll also play that off with a splitter that sits in the mid-90s, as well as a curveball. And yes, he checked all the boxes: chases, swing-and-miss, and limitng well-hit contact.

4. Josh Hader

The 2025 campaign was yet another strong one for Josh Hader, who had the fourth-most saves between 2023 and 2025. The Astros’ closer ranked quite high in terms of wOBA (.249), walks (2.8 BB/9), and ERA (2.05. He also was yet again one of the best strikeout relievers, as Hader punched out 76 over 52.2 IP.

Hader is a (mostly) true two-pitch pitcher, relying on his slider to go along with a nasty two-seam fastball. The result is a high percentage of swing-and-miss and chase, which has kept him in the upper echelon of MLB relievers.

It’s hard to argue with the results that Hader recorded over the years. Yes, he does have a weakness: namely, prone to having his two-seamer hit hard. Over the last two years, Hader conceded 15 home runs off it. However, given that batters hit below. 200 off it and whiff at it over 30% of the time, it doesn’t happen that often.

3. Aroldis Chapman

Aroldis Chapman proved that he still has a lot left as we head into the 2026 MLB season, which will be the left-hander’s 17th career year.

Chapman, who dealt with a sharp downturn in terms of velocity and production late in his Yankees tenure, was arguably baseball’s best reliever last season. His .177 opponents’ wOBA was easily the best among relievers, as was the 1.17 ERA. The 37-year-old notched 32 saves, struck out 85 over 61.1 IP, and ranked as among one of the best pitchers in so many other metrics.

That performance helped earn Chapman the 2025 AL Reliever of the Year Award.

It’s been a rejuvanation of sorts for Chapman, who has found renewed success with the incorporation of a two-seamer. And when taking into account his BB% dropped from 14.4% to 6.6% year-to-year, the 2025 season was arguably the best year of Chapman’s career

2. Mason Miller

Speaking of near-unhittable relievers, Mason Miller is the only reliever from the top five of our list last year to make it back to the top half again in 2026.

For Miller, the right-hander was dominant regardless of where he pitched. The 27-year-old finished first among relievers in K/9 (15.2), as well as in the top-eight in wOBA (.225). It’s not hard to see why, given that Miller got a swing-and-miss over 45% of the time when batters took the wood off their shoulders. That’s thanks to a plus-plus four-seamer that routinely hit triple digits.

With Robert Suarez gone, Mason Miller will likely shift back into the closer’s role, this time with the Padres. And, the Padres made it known that past December that Miller will remain a reliever.

1. Edwin Diaz

Even though Edwin Diaz hasn’t been able to find that velocity he had before his injury at the 2023 WBC, he’s still been among baseball’s best relievers. And, he tops this list for us in 2026.

Diaz finished with the fourth-highest K/9 (13.3) in the Majors, behind only Griffin Jax (13.5), Fernando Cruz (13.5) and Miller. And like many of the other relievers on this list, he was nearly unhittable in 2025. Diaz only conceded 37 hits over 66.1 IP.

The 31-year-old won the NL Reliever of the Year Award in 2025. Now, he’ll look to win his first World Series title with the Dodgers, the team that signed him in December.