MLB Reliever of the Year Odds 2025: Favorites & Predictions

The 2024 MLB Reliever of the Year awards were given to the top closers in both leagues.

Emmanuel Clase of the Cleveland Guardians led the American League with 47 saves to claim the honor. At the same time, St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley won the award in the National League after pacing the majors with 49 saves.

Since MLB’s Reliever of the Year awards were introduced in 2014, 17 of the 22 winners have ranked in the top three in their respective leagues in saves. Nine different winners have led the AL or NL in saves.

A Reliever of the Year winner hasn’t recorded an ERA worse than 2.62, with 20 of the previous recipients posting a 2.43 ERA or better.

In addition, Helsley became just the third Reliever of the Year to play on a team that didn’t make the playoffs.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the latest MLB odds and my predictions for this year’s Reliever of the Year market:

AL Reliever of the Year Odds 2025: Favorites

Clase begins as the betting favorite (+300) to win AL Reliever of the Year after doing so in 2024 and 2022. But his struggles last postseason (eight earned runs in 14 innings) might be a sign that the workload is starting to add up.

Clase has pitched in 226 games over the past three seasons, leading the AL in saves all three times. Maintaining that level of dominance as a reliever is difficult, which is why I think this year’s race is wide open.

Devin Williams will be in the mix after being traded from the Milwaukee Brewers to the New York Yankees in the offseason. He won NL Reliever of the Year with the Brewers in 2023 and 2020.

However, I prefer the odds on a different former winner in the same division.

Baltimore Orioles closer Félix Bautista has returned after missing last year due to Tommy John surgery. He won the AL Reliever of the Year in 2023, finishing with 33 saves and a 1.48 ERA for a Baltimore team that won 101 games.

As my Orioles betting preview highlighted, their lineup can lead them to a division title. Their rotation might take a step back, but the bullpen can pick up the slack with Bautista’s return.

Bautista is 18/1 to lead MLB in saves this year, but the 10/1 odds on him winning AL Reliever of the Year might be the better pick. He could become the third two-time winner in the AL since 2020.

Prediction: Félix Bautista (+1000)

NL Reliever of the Year Odds 2025: Favorites

Expectations are as high as ever for the New York Mets after they signed Juan Soto. Edwin Díaz will get plenty of opportunities to shut things down in the ninth inning this year.

Díaz won NL Reliever of the Year in 2022, ranking fourth in the league in saves (32) and third in ERA (1.31) for a Mets team that won 101 games that season.

After missing 2023 due to injury, Díaz posted a 3.52 ERA and 20 saves last season. He’s a worthy favorite in this market, but I’d rather target a potential first-time winner.

Right-hander Justin Martinez recorded eight saves and a 2.48 ERA during his rookie campaign for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He enters his second year as a co-closer with A.J. Puk, but has the chance to run away with the job after what he demonstrated last season.

Martinez threw an average fastball of 100.3 miles per hour, which ranked in the 100th percentile. His whiff rate (34.5%) was in the 96th percentile, while limiting hard contact (31.8% hard-hit rate, 94th percentile) and inducing a ground-ball rate of 60.3% (97th percentile).

My Diamondbacks betting preview projects them to be a playoff team this year. If given the job in the ninth inning, Martinez can pile up the saves.

Prediction: Justin Martinez (+1800)

List of AL & NL Reliever of the Year Winners

Which Player has Won the Most Reliever of the Year Awards?

Josh Hader has won the most Reliever of the Year awards with three, claiming the honor in 2018, 2019, and 2021.

Which Team has Won the Most Reliever of the Year Awards?

The Milwaukee Brewers lead all MLB teams with five Reliever of the Year awards, with four straight between 2018-2021 and one in 2023.

When was the Reliever of the Year Award Introduced in MLB?

Major League Baseball introduced the Reliever of the Year award for both leagues in 2014. Kansas City Royals closer Greg Holland won the award in the AL, while Craig Kimbrel claimed the honor for the Atlanta Braves in the NL.

Who is the AL Reliever of the Year Award Named After?

The American League Reliever of the Year award is named after Mariano Rivera, who is MLB’s all-time saves leader with 652. He spent all 19 years of his career with the New York Yankees.

Who is the NL Reliever of the Year Award Named After?

The National League Reliever of the Year award is named after Trevor Hoffman, who is the NL’s all-time saves leader with 601. He played 18 seasons, including 16 with the San Diego Padres.