Shutting down a ninth inning is no easy task, but the best relievers in baseball are usually up for the challenge.
In 2024, St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley fared better than everyone else with an MLB-leading 49 saves. Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase led the American League with 47 saves.
Clase and Helsley are among the preseason MLB betting favorites to lead the league in saves in 2025, but the reliever landscape can change quickly.
MLB Saves Leader Odds 2025
| Player | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Edwin Díaz | Mets | +650 |
| Emmanuel Clase | Guardians | +700 |
| Ryan Helsley | Cardinals | +800 |
| Josh Hader | Astros | +1000 |
| Devin Williams | Yankees | +1000 |
| Raisel Iglesias | Braves | +1000 |
| Mason Miller | Athletics | +1600 |
| Félix Bautista | Orioles | +1800 |
| Trevor Megill | Brewers | +2200 |
| Alexis Díaz | Reds | +2200 |
| Robert Suarez | Padres | +2200 |
| Jhoan Duran | Twins | +2200 |
| David Bednar | Pirates | +2500 |
| Ryan Walker | Giants | +2500 |
| Andrés Muñoz | Mariners | +2800 |
Saves Leader Betting Favorite: Edwin Díaz
Based on the latest MLB odds, New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz is the preseason favorite to lead the majors in saves at +650. That gives him an implied probability of 13.33%.
Díaz notched 20 saves last year after missing the 2023 campaign. He recorded 32 saves in back-to-back seasons in 2021 and 2022. Díaz has registered 225 saves in his eight-year career.
Clase and Helsley are not far behind in this market at +700 and +800, respectively. ZiPS, a projection system at FanGraphs, currently has all three relievers at the top of the saves market:
- Díaz (36)
- Helsley (35)
- Clase (34)
MLB saves leader odds have only been tracked since 2014, but Clase is the lone preseason favorite to lead the majors in saves when he accomplished the feat in 2023. Most saves leaders over that span came from options further down the board, including Helsley, who wasn’t listed last spring.
MLB Saves Leader Predictions for 2025
This market is worth taking shots down the board, as anything can happen regarding relievers. Players get injured, they lose their role, or their team has fewer save opportunities than expected.
Starting with long shots, I like the value of Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Justin Martínez (+3500) and Kansas City Royals reliever Carlos Estévez (+4000). Both are being underrated due to questions about their role.
Estévez signed a two-year, $22 million deal with the Kansas City Royals this winter. Lucas Erceg, who emerged as Kansas City’s closer last year, has better odds at +3000, though there is a chance he’s used more to put out fires in the seventh and eighth.
This is being priced as a closer-by-committee approach, but the money suggests that Estévez, who recorded 26 saves last year, could be given control of the ninth inning.
Speaking of committees, Martínez could be in one with A.J. Puk. The former flashed more upside in his rookie season, throwing an average fastball of 100.3 miles per hour on his way to recording eight saves and a 2.48 ERA.
Martínez has the talent to claim the ninth-inning job from Puk, providing potential value at this price.
Given their situations, I like the idea of taking shots on both relievers.
However, it’s much easier to make the case for Baltimore Orioles closer Félix Bautista (+1800) in his first year back from Tommy John surgery.
Bautista won AL Reliever of the Year in 2023, posting a 1.48 ERA and 33 saves. The Orioles are putting a lot of faith in their bullpen after not replacing the loss of starter Corbin Burnes, and I expect Bautista to deliver for an underrated contender.
MLB Saves Leader Best Bets
- Félix Bautista (+1800)
- Justin Martínez (+3500)
- Carlos Estévez (+4000)
MLB Saves Leaders Year-by-Year
| Year | Player | Saves | Preseason Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Ryan Helsley | 49 | N/A |
| 2023 | Emmanuel Clase | 44 | +600 |
| 2022 | Emmanuel Clase | 42 | +900 |
| 2021 | Mark Melancon | 39 | +4000 |
| 2020 | Brad Hand | 16 | +1400 |
| 2019 | Kirby Yates | 41 | +4000 |
| 2018 | Edwin Díaz | 57 | +1800 |
| 2017 | Alex Colome | 47 | +1800 |
| 2016 | Jeurys Familia | 51 | +900 |
| 2015 | Mark Melancon | 51 | +2200 |
| 2014 | Fernando Rodney | 48 | +1800 |
Who led MLB in Saves During the 2024 Season?
St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley recorded an MLB-leading 49 saves during the 2024 season.
What is the Single-Season Record for Most Saves?
Francisco Rodríguez holds MLB’s single-season record for most saves with 62 during the 2008 season as a member of the Los Angeles Angels.
Related Articles
Live Baseball Betting at BetMGM
Live betting is available for all regular-season and postseason MLB games at BetMGM.
From the first pitch through the final outs, you can bet on baseball betting lines. While you’re watching a Pittsburgh Pirates-Milwaukee Brewers game on TV, streaming a Chicago Cubs-Houston Astros game on your phone, or in the bleachers at Yankee Stadium for a Yankees-Mets game, you can place live bets.
Check out baseball betting today to get closer to the action!
If you don’t have a sportsbook account, register today with BetMGM’s welcome bonus. And check back for the best sportsbook promotions each day of the year.
