Overview
The American League Reliever of the Year honors the most dominant bullpen arm in the AL across the entire MLB regular season. Formerly known as the Mariano Rivera Award, this accolade recognizes consistent excellence in high-leverage situations—from closing tight games to shutting down rallies.
As we head through the 2025 season, elite closers and versatile late-inning weapons are making their case. With bullpens more important than ever in modern baseball strategy, this award is a key marker of team success and personal dominance.
Top Contenders (Projected)
Emmanuel Clase (Cleveland Guardians)
A former winner and still one of the game’s most efficient closers. Heavy cutter, elite control, and high save total potential.
Jhoan Duran (Minnesota Twins)
Possesses one of the nastiest pitch arsenals in MLB. Triple-digit heat and swing-and-miss stuff put him in the spotlight.
Carlos Estévez (Los Angeles Angels)
Reliable in late innings with a high strikeout rate. If the Angels stay competitive, Estévez could be a key contributor.
Craig Kimbrel (Baltimore Orioles)
Veteran with a resume that includes multiple All-Star nods. If he racks up saves and anchors the AL’s top bullpen, he’ll be in the conversation.
Kenley Jansen (Boston Red Sox)
Still effective and durable. If Boston overperforms, Jansen’s leadership and save totals could elevate him.
Yennier Cano (Baltimore Orioles)
Quietly dominating with ground ball efficiency and strikeouts. May share duties but is making a major impression in setup and close roles.
Key Metrics That Matter
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Saves & Save Opportunities
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ERA (Earned Run Average)
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WHIP (Walks + Hits per Inning Pitched)
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Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio (K/BB)
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Win Probability Added (WPA)
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Performance in High-Leverage Situations
Bullpen Trends to Watch
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Teams with elite records often have top-tier closers
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Multi-inning relievers gaining more value in modern analytics
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ERA and save count don’t always tell the full story—usage and context matter
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Late-season performance has significant voting influence
Sources of Information
Hashtags to Track
#MLB2025
#ALRelieverOfTheYear
#MLBRelievers
#BullpenDomination
#CloserWatch
#MLBAwards
Where to Keep Up with News
Conclusion
The 2025 race for the AL Reliever of the Year is one of power, precision, and pressure. With the increasing value placed on bullpen arms in postseason success, this award shines a light on pitchers who thrive when every pitch counts. Whether it’s an established name like Clase or a surging arm like Duran or Cano, this season’s elite relievers are redefining what late-inning dominance looks like.
This projection chart for BetMod 434 shows the Top 5 wagering options for "Sport" at 2025-06-18 09:23:16. The current order displaying on the Chart above is "Mason Miller" as the projected winner, " Andres Muñoz" is in second place, "Jeff Hoffman" is in 3rd place right now, " Josh Hader" is showing up at 4th from the top, " Jhoan Duran" is showing up at 5th from the top.