Which pitchers have notched the most postseason saves for every MLB team?

Predictably, longtime Yankees stopper Mariano Rivera has registered more postseason saves than any pitcher in MLB history. The right-hander was simply the best closer baseball has ever had, and what made him so special was the way his performance stayed consistent against the better competition in October. In 96 career playoff games, Rivera pitched to an otherworldly 0.70 ERA with an 0.76 WHIP. Most relevant to this gallery, he converted 42 of his 46 postseason save opportunities, which played a huge role in the Yankees winning five World Series titles. 

The Red Sox postseason saves record is shared by a pair of right-handers who each won World Series rings with the team. Jonathan Papelbon was a fourth-round pick of the Sox in 2003, and went on to deliver an incredibly memorable career with the club. All 18 of Papelbon's playoff outings came in a Boston uniform, and he consistently dazzled in October, working to a 1.00 ERA across 27 innings and nailing down seven saves. Koji Uehara became the Red Sox closer after Papelbon, and his playoff exploits were even more eye-opening. He took the mound in October 15 times for the Red Sox and allowed just one run in 15.2 innings. He converted all seven of his postseason save chances for Boston and was one of the main reasons the Red Sox won the World Series in 2013. 

The Orioles certainly hope this is a record that falls in relatively short order, but for now, left-hander Randy Myers remains their all-time postseason saves leader. Myers went on postseason runs with Baltimore in 1996 and 1997, and went a perfect four for four on save chances while pitching to a 2.51 ERA in 14.1 innings. 

The Blue Jays were the premier team in baseball during the early 1990s, so it comes as no surprise that their all-time postseason saves leaders come from that era. Righty Duane Ward spent almost his entire career in Toronto, and was quietly one of the American League's best relievers. He took the ball in the playoffs for the Blue Jays 19 times, but admittedly was a bit up and down in October. His 4.74 postseason ERA is significantly up from his career mark in the regular season, but he did convert all five of his playoff save chances and earn a pair of World Series rings with the Jays. Fellow righty Tom Henke was a longtime teammate of Ward's who enjoyed better consistency in October. In 15 postseason appearances for Toronto, Henke also went a perfect five for five on save chances, but his 1.83 ERA was significantly better. 

The Tampa Bay Rays' postseason saves record is a very modest three, and it's shared by a pair of righties who helped lead the Rays to an American League pennant four years ago. Milwaukee, Wisc. native Pete Fairbanks converted all three of his save chances in October 2020, and remains an important part of Tampa Bay's relief corps to this day. Diego Castillo, meanwhile, left Tampa midway through the 2021 campaign, but for nearly four seasons was a critical part of the Rays bullpen. Like Fairbanks, all three of his October saves came in 2020, and in 16.2 total playoff innings for the Rays he allowed just two earned runs. 

The Cleveland Indians advanced all the way to the World Series in 2016 essentially on the strength of what was an absolutely elite bullpen. While lefty Andrew Miller received a lot of the credit for Cleveland's success thanks to his work in the middle of games, let's not forget the guy who then came in in the ninth inning. Right-hander Cody Allen appeared in 10 games for the Indians during that '16 postseason and did not allow a single run over 13.2 innings. He nailed down all six of his save chances and added another save in the ALDS the following October. His seven playoff saves remain a Cleveland record, but this is one the club would love to see its current closer, Emmanuel Clase, break sooner rather than later. 

The 2024 White Sox infamously set a new record for losses in a single season, but there was a time where the team was a legitimate postseason contender. The most recent October success Chicago enjoyed came in 2005, when it ran through the American League playoffs and ultimately defeated the Astros in the World Series. The White Sox's closer at the time was righty Bobby Jenks, who was excellent that postseason, pitching to a 2.25 ERA and nailing down four saves. He added a fifth playoff save three years later. 

The Tigers won the American League pennant in 2006, and a huge reason why was the dominance of Todd Jones at the end of games that October. In seven appearances, the righty did not allow a single run over 6.2 innings, while surrendering just three baserunners and converting all four of his save chances. Fellow right-hander Jose Valverde is tied with Jones for the Tigers' postseason saves lead, but the month of October was far less kind to him. In 10 playoff innings for Detroit, Valverde pitched to a 13.50 ERA and served up four long balls. 

Kansas City earned back-to-back American League pennants in 2014 and 2015, and in '15 won its first World Series title since 1985. One of the Royals' calling cards during that era was their spectacular late-inning relief. Closer Greg Holland was injured during the '15 run, but simply could not have done any more in 2014. In 11 postseason outings that October, the righty delivered a 0.82 ERA with an identical 0.82 WHIP, while holding opponents to a .105 batting average and striking out 15 hitters in 11 innings. He converted all seven of his save chances, and those seven remain the most in Royals playoff history. 

Righty Rick Aguilera earned a World Series ring early in his career with the Mets, but it was in Minnesota where he developed into a star. The BYU product was an all-star in three straight seasons with the Twins, and was one of the driving forces behind Minnesota's World Series win in 1991. That October, he appeared in seven games and allowed just one run in 8.1 innings, while nailing down all five of his save chances. 

Speaking of former Twins relievers. Righty Ryan Pressly came up with Minnesota in 2013, and while he was a good pitcher for the Twins for several years, his career really took off following a 2018 trade to Houston. With the Astros, Pressly developed into an all-star, and thanks to Houston's annual success of late, he's gotten an abundance of opportunities in October. In 46 total postseason outings for the Astros, Pressly has pitched to a 2.22 ERA with a 1.03 WHIP. He's struck out 58 hitters in 44.2 innings, allowed just one home run, and nailed down all 14 of his save chances. He earned a World Series ring with Houston in 2022. 

Only 12 pitchers in major league history recorded more saves than Troy Percival, and it's really a shame that in his 14-year career he only got a chance to pitch in the postseason once. Fortunately, he made that one October run count. In nine outings during the 2002 playoffs, Percival pitched to a 2.79 ERA with an 0.93 WHIP. He surrendered just a .216 batting average against, struck out more than a hitter/inning, and converted all seven of his save chances. Percival and the Angels would go on to win the 2002 World Series. 

Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley was named the MVP of the American League in 1992 for his work as a late-inning reliever, which I believe is incredibly indicative of just how dominant he was at his craft. The Oakland, CA native came up with his hometown A's as a starter, but once he moved to the bullpen it was essentially over for opposing hitters. Most relevant to this gallery, he was consistently excellent in October. In 20 playoff outings for the Athletics he pitched to a stellar 2.38 ERA, and converted all 11 of his save opportunities. Eckersley and the A's won the World Series in 1989. 

Seattle has long been a desired location for Japanese stars coming to the major leagues, and for right-hander Kazuhiro Sasaki, coming to the Mariners was a brilliant marriage from the start. Sasaki pitched four seasons with the M's, converting 129 regular season saves and pitching to a stellar 3.14 career ERA. Seattle made the postseason twice during his time with the club, and in October he was a perfect four for four on save chances and allowed just two earned runs in eight innings. 

The Rangers won two straight American League pennants in 2010 and 2011, and while they were not able to get over the ultimate hump and win the World Series, closer Neftali Feliz was not to blame. Feliz made 18 total appearances during Texas' back-to-back October runs, and pitched to a fantastic 1.93 ERA across 18.2 innings. Opponents managed just a .131 batting average against him, he struck out 23 hitters, and most relevant to this gallery, he notched seven saves — which remains a Rangers postseason record. 

Jeurys Familia was a starter for most of his minor league career, but in the big leagues the Mets shifted him to the bullpen and eventually to the closer's role — which he took to immediately. Between 2015 and 2016, Familia nailed down 94 saves for New York, including a club record 51 in '16. He was especially excellent during the Mets' run to a National League pennant in 2015. In 12 outings that October, the righty converted five saves and pitched to a 0.61 ERA across 14.2 frames. 

The Braves were the National League's most dominant team during the 1990s, and to this day we obviously still hear quite a bit about the Atlanta starting staff of that era. But I don't think nearly enough attention or credit is given to the guy who would come in at the end of games for those Braves teams, right-handed closer Mark Wohlers. Wohlers pitched in 38 playoff games for Atlanta between '91-'97, and worked to a 2.15 ERA in 37.2 innings. He was a perfect nine for nine on save chances, struck out well over a hitter/inning, and helped the Braves win the World Series in 1995. 

Righty Brad Lidge was coming off — by his standards — a pair of subpar seasons with the Astros when he was traded to Philadelphia in November 2007. And he'll be the first to tell you that coming to the City of Brotherly Love helped rejuvenate his career. Lidge was the Phillies' closer for four seasons, in which he reestablished himself as an all-star, won Comeback Player of the Year, and earned the DHL Delivery Man of the Year award. In the playoffs, he was generally money for Philadelphia, nailing down all 12 of his save opportunities, and playing a leading role in the Phillies' 2008 World Series championship. 

It's pretty funny that righty Ugueth Urbina shares the Marlins postseason saves record considering he only pitched in 33 regular season games for the organization. Miami acquired Urbina at the '03 trade deadline, and while he pitched well down the stretch as a setup man, a larger role awaited in October. During the Marlins' run to their second World Series title, Urbina got a chance to close, and nailed down four saves while pitching to a 3.46 ERA across 13 innings. He shares this record with fellow righty Robb Nen, who was the Miami stopper during the team's first World Series win in 1997. That October, Nen struggled a bit, working to a 4.15 ERA in eight outings, but he did convert all four of his save chances. 

Daniel Hudson is still an active reliever with the Dodgers, and he's certainly hoping more postseason success awaits over the next month. But for now, it's fair to say that the pinnacle of Hudson's career came in October 2019 when he helped lead the Nationals to the franchise's first World Series title. Washington acquired Hudson from Toronto at the trade deadline that summer, and he pitched excellently down the stretch to help lead the team to an NL Wild Card berth. He then made nine postseason appearances for the Nats, working to a 3.72 ERA in 9.2 innings, and converting all four of his save opportunities. 

The Cardinals' postseason saves record is shared by a pair of righties who each spent more than a half dozen years working in late-inning relief in St. Louis. Jason Isringhausen joined the Cardinals as a free-agent ahead of the 2002 campaign, and was consistently a dominant presence for the team at the end of games. He pitched in 19 postseason games with St. Louis, working to a 2.78 ERA and converting eight of his nine save chances. Iona product Jason Motte took a different path to the Cardinals' closer's job, as he was a 19th-round pick of the team who beat the odds to become a key contributor. Motte also pitched in 19 playoff games for the Redbirds, and turned in a 2.08 ERA with an 0.96 WHIP in 21.2 innings. He secured all eight of his save opportunities and earned a World Series ring with the Cardinals in 2011. 

The Cubs and their fans went through a well-documented, more-than-century-long World Series drought that was finally ended in 2016, and left-handed closer Aroldis Chapman had a lot to do with that. Chapman spent just a few months in the Windy City, but they were memorable, as after coming over at the trade deadline he was everything the Cubs needed him to be and more. That October, he pitched in 16 playoff games for Chicago, nailing down four saves and turning in a 3.45 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 15.2 innings. Righty Wade Davis took over as the Cubs' closer the following season, and also helped lead the team to the postseason. Like Chapman, he converted four postseason saves, but the 2017 team was not able to go on a deep October run and got bounced from the playoffs early. 

The Brewers' postseason saves record is one of the more likely ones to be broken later this fall. Righty John Axford currently holds the team's all-time mark with a modest three, all of which came in 2011. The current Milwaukee team, however, is one of the best in the National League and has already clinched the NL Central. The Brewers fully intend to embark upon a deep October run, and if they do, there is a strong likelihood that their closer, Devin Williams, will nail down more than three saves. 

Southpaw Randy Myers was on this list earlier with the Orioles and it's pretty impressive that he's the all-time saves leader for two different franchises. Myers only played two seasons in Cincinnati but left a lasting impression, and was a key component on the last Reds World Series winner. During the 1990 postseason, he appeared in seven games and did not surrender a single run in 8.2 frames. He struck out 10 hitters, held opponents to a .138 batting average against, and most relevant to this gallery, converted all four of his save chances.

The Pirates have not enjoyed nearly enough success of late, but Pittsburgh remains an incredible baseball town and this will always be one of the most storied franchises in the National League. The last sustained run of contention the Pirates went on likely came all the way back in the 1970s — the era when righty Dave Giusti was pitching in the back of the Bucs bullpen. Giusti made 16 October appearances with Pittsburgh, pitching to a 4.87 ERA and converting five saves in 20.1 innings. He helped the Pirates win the World Series in 1971. 

Right-hander Kenley Jansen is still very much an active major league closer, and at the time of writing currently has 27 saves for the Boston Red Sox on the 2024 regular season. Jansen spent the first twelve years of his career in Los Angeles with the Dodgers, however, and his reputation as one of the game's best stoppers was built in southern California. Playing with the Dodgers afforded Jansen the opportunity to pitch in October in nine straight seasons, and more often than not he rose to the occasion when the games mattered most. In 57 playoff appearances for L.A., Jansen pitched to a 2.13 ERA in 63.1 innings, while converting a team-record 19 saves and helping the Dodgers win the 2020 World Series. 

Righty Robb Nen joins the aforementioned Randy Myers as the only two pitchers to appear on this list for multiple teams. Nen spent more time in San Francisco than he did with the Marlins, and it was by the Bay where he blossomed into one of the best closers in the game. He made three all-star teams with the Giants, converted more than 37 saves in each of his five years with the team, and was able to go on a pair of postseason runs. In 12 playoff appearances for San Francisco, Nen was spectacular, allowing just a single run in 11.1 innings. He nailed down seven saves, and was one the primary reasons the Giants won the National League pennant in 2002. 

Trevor Hoffman was one of the greatest late-inning relievers our sport has ever seen, and one of the true disappointments from his career was the fact that in 18 years he was only able to pitch in October four times. Hoffman was for the most part able to take advantage of his postseason opportunities, predictably converting all four of his save chances, striking out more than a batter/inning, and helping the Padres win the National League pennant in 1998. He is tied for San Diego's all-time playoff saves record with lefty Josh Hader, who was somewhat of a hired gun. The Friars traded for him at the deadline in 2022, and in the playoffs that fall he was spectacular, throwing 5.1 scoreless innings while allowing just two baserunners and nailing down four saves. 

The Diamondbacks postseason saves mark was established last October when the team went on an unlikely run all the way to the National league pennant. Righty Paul Sewald did not pitch particularly well in the postseason, allowing six earned runs on nine hits in 10 innings — making for an unsightly 5.40 ERA — but he did convert six of his seven save chances. That moved him ahead of Byung-Hyun Kim, who had previously held the Arizona record with three. 

The Colorado Rockies have not enjoyed a ton of playoff success during their history, but they did have one incredibly memorable season in 2007. Right-hander Manny Corpas spent six of his seven major league seasons with the Rockies, and while he was relatively unremarkable for most of his career, he was a primary reason for the team's success in '07. That year, Corpas pitched to a career-best 2.08 ERA and converted 19 saves — and he was able to carry that level of performance into October. In the playoffs that fall, Corpas allowed just one run in 10.1 innings, while nailing down five saves. He helped catapult the Rockies into their first-ever World Series, which they would ultimately lose to the Red Sox.