1) Craig Kimbrel
2) Mariano Rivera
3) Heath Bell

He’s gone up and up and up some more, and now he finds himself at the tippy top of the rankings. Craig Kimbrel has had an amazing year, and is everything you’d want in a closer this year. He’s racked up 89 K in just 57.2 IP giving him a stellar 13.9 K/9 rate. His team is going to keep winning so there’s no worries about losing chances. He’s got lights-out Jonny Venters setting him up in the 8th to hold the lead for him. He’s got it all in Atlanta and his owners have it all with him anchoring fantasy bullpens.

4) Joel Hanrahan
5) Andrew Bailey
6) Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson continues to close successfully for the Giants with no signs of stopping but one thing about his stat line bothers me and keeps him from being ranked higher and that is his 1.40 WHIP. The 

Giants have given him many 2 and 3 run leads to close out, so allowing an occasional hit or walk doesn’t hinder his success rate. However, these hits and walks raise that WHIP to problematic levels for fantasy owners. Wilson’s track record keeps him higher in rankings but that WHIP hurts fantasy teams more than they probably realize.

7) Drew Storen
8) Huston Street
9) Kyle Farnsworth
10) Jonathan Papelbon

Jonathan Papelbon had as good of a July as any closer: 9 for 9 save attempts, 13 IP, 19 K, 2.77 ERA, 0.92 WHIP. He’s blown just 1 save this year and if it weren’t for all the blowout wins by the Red Sox, Papelbon would be closer to 35 saves than the 26 he currently has. Papelbon’s fantasy value has only been held back by the Red Sox’s explosive offense, but he has still moved into the top 10 and will be in a similar spot in the season ending rankings as well.

11) Jose Valverde
12) Carlos Marmol
13) Joakim Soria
14) Brandon League

Brandon League’s situation is similar to Jonathan Papelbon’s in that the fantasy value of both is hurt by each’s offense. In League’s case, it is very difficult for him to convert saves when his team is off on epic losing streaks. He pitched just 7 innings in July and just 9.2 in June before that, but when he has gotten on the field he has done his job well. In the last 2 months, he has just an 0.54 ERA and an 0.84 WHIP. He will continue to pitch well in save situations, but that anemic Seattle offense needs to get him some more opportunities.

15) Neftali Feliz
16) Ryan Madson
17) John Axford

John Axford’s only hit to his fantasy value has been his control and the impact it has had on his WHIP. In May, he dropped in our rankings seven spots after putting up a 1.50 WHIP for the month. However, in June and July his hit rate has come down and his WHIP has come down with it (1.02 in June and July, 1.27 for the year). In addition, he has locked down the job after converting 30 straight save attempts since April 18. Axford should continue getting meaningful chance into August and September with the Brewers in the NL Central race, and if he keeps his hit rate down he’ll continue being successful.

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