Emmanuel Clase hopes to add AL Relvier of the Year to his collection of honors when the second half of the MLB season begins. It’s time to continue our MLB odds series with a 2024 AL Reliever of the Year prediction and selection.
The AL Reliever of the Year award was created for the 2014 season. Since then, a closer has won the honor each year, with only one man winning it twice in the American League. That was Liam Hendricks during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Craig Kimbrel has won the award twice, one in each league. Emmanuel Clase has the opportunity to become the second American League pitcher to win the award twice in the American League. He earned the award in 2022 after making 42 saves and posting a 1.36 ERA.
Here are the MLB odds from FanDuel.
MLB Odds for 2024 AL Reliever of the Year Odds: Emmanuel Clase (-600)
Mason Miller: +500.
Clay Holmes: +2900.
Andres Muñoz: +5000
Craig Kimbrel: +5000.
Kenley Jansen: +5000.
Griffin Jax: +14,000.
David Robertson: +20,000.
Jhoan Duran: +20,000.
Josh Hader: +20,000.
Favorites for 2024 AL Reliever of the Year
Emmanuel Clase, the Cleveland Guardians closer, is the odds-on favorite to win the title this year. He leads the American League in saves this year, with 29. Furthermore, he has a 0.81 ERA and a 0.68 WHIP. He is presently on track for 49 saves, and with that total, plus his ERA and WHIP, he will have higher marks in all three categories than when he won the award in 2022. IT would also have the second most saves, the second lowest ERA, and a tie for the second lowest WHIP among the award winners. He has only blown three saves this season, yet the Guardians are still winning every game, while he has a 4-1 record. He was also credited with the save in the All-Star Game.
Mason Miller of the Oakland Athletics is the only other player without significantly longer odds. Miller is having a productive year. He has 15 saves, an ERA of 2.27, and a WHIP of 0.86. Nonetheless, he is on track for just 25 saves this season. That would be the fewest saves by a ward winner in a non-Covid-shortened season. He would also currently have the second-highest ERA of any player to have won the award. Miller has made the most of his opportunities, however. He has only blown two saves all year and has a 1-1 record. Miller’s primary problem will be opportunity. Playing for one of the poorest clubs in the majors provides few possibilities for saves. It is also possible that Miller will be traded before the trade deadline.
Sleepers to Win the 2024 AL Reliever of the Year
Clay Holmes currently ranks third in the American League in saves this season with 21. This season, the New York Yankees closer had a 2.80 ERA and a WHIP of 0.96. While he will have plenty of save opportunities over the rest of the year, blown saves have been an issue. This year, he has blown six saves and is 1-4. Furthermore, he has missed two of his last four save opportunities. Still, a solid second half and lots of save opportunities might propel Holmes forward in the battle for the award.
Craig Kimbrel, the Baltimore Orioles’ closer, should have plenty of save opportunities. Kimbrel currently ranks second in the American League in saves, with 23. Furthermore, he has four holds for the year. Kimbrel now has a 2.80 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. Despite blowing five saves this year, he has a 6-2 record. He vacated the closer’s role after blowing three saves in April, but he returned by mid-May. The Orioles making a move would be his biggest concern in obtaining the necessary numbers for the honor. They’ve been linked to Mason Miller, and a deal for Miller might take Kimbrel out of the closer job.
Final 2024 AL Reliever of the Year: Prediction and Pick
Emmanuel Clase has been outstanding this season. Only Mason Miller among the major contenders has blown fewer saves than Emmanuel Clase. Nonetheless, Clase has had much more chances to blow saves and has a lower ERA and WHIP than everyone else on the board. He is on track for a dominant season and has been one of the league’s finest closers. If the Guardians can stay on track to make the playoffs, Clase will play a key role and should win this honor.
