Fake Teams 2013 Consensus Reliever Rankings: Top 20

Bret Sayre opened Reliever week here at Fake Teams with his State of the Reliever Position earlier this morning. Later today and into this week, we will bring you rankings, player profiles, and more. But today, I provide you with our Top 20 Relievers for 2013. Our #1 Reliever is a no brainer as Braves closer Craig Kimbrel is the hands down best closer in the game, especially with Aroldis Chapman headed to the starting rotation in Cincinnati.

Is it me or is the list of closers thinner than in years past. There are questions marks up and down our Top 20 Relievers ranked below, so let's take a look at the rankings, along with some player profiles to follow.

Onto our Consensus 2013 Relief Pitcher Rankings:

Here are some player profiles for the Fake Teams Top 20 Relievers for 2013:

Craig Kimbrel, ATL

There's no surprise here, as each of our writers ranked him at #1 in our rankings. What's not to like? He saved 42 games last year while striking out 162 batters in 62.2 innings, good for 16.66 K/9, and walked just 14. Here is the most amazing stat-he struck out 50.2% of the batters he faced last season. Unless he gets hurt, he should be good for another 40+ saves and 100+ strikeouts in 2013.

Jason Motte, STL

The former catcher saved 42 games last season, striking out 86 and walking 17 in his 72 innings of work. One trend to be aware of/concerned about is as his innings have gone up over the last three seasons, so have the home runs. His HR/FB% jumped from 2.9% in 2011 to 13.2% in 2012

Jonathan Papelbon, PHI

Papelbon saved 38 games in 2012, his most since 2009, with an 11.83% strikeout rate, and a low 2.31% walk rate, but, like Motte, he saw his HR/FB% jump in 2012. His HR/FB% jumped from 4.8% to 12.1% last season. Something else to note is the drop in his swinging strike rate from 16.8% in 2011 to 12.2%, his lowest since 2009.

Fernando Rodney, TB

Who saw this coming last season? Rodney's 2012 performance was incredible and just goes to show how volatile the closer job can be. He saved 37 games for the Tigers back in 2009, and heading into the 2012 season, he saved a grand total of 17 games in 2010-2011. Rodney wasn't even the Rays closer to start to season, but he put up one of the best seasons for a closer ever. The question for fantasy owners is which Rodney shows up in 2013.

Joel Hanrahan, BOS

Hanrahan was recently traded to the Red Sox in a six player deal, and will open the season as the Red Sox closer. He is coming off a 36 save season, blowing 4 saves, increasing his strikeout rate from 8.00 to 10.11, but his walk rate also rose, from 2.10 per nine to 5.43 per nine. Not a good sign. His HR/FB rate also took a dramatic leap from 1.9% to 12.5%

Rafael Betancourt, COL

Betancourt had a solid season closing for the Rockies last season, saving 31 games in 37 opportunities, with a 2.81 ERA, 3.09 FIP and 3.65 xFIP in 57.2 innings of work. But there is a disturbing trend in his strikeout rate, dropping from 12.85 per nine in 2010 to 8.90 in 2012. Over the same time period, his HR/9 is dropping and his ground ball rate has increased. He turns 38 years of age in late April, and I foresee the Rockies cashing him in and dealing him this season, especially after the offseason trade for Wilton Lopez, an elite ground ball pitcher.

Sergio Romo, SFG

Romo is one of the best set up guys in the game, but he took over the closer job from Santiago Casilla late in the year, saving 14 games in 15 chances. He doesn't throw hard like Craig Kimbrel, but he might have one of the best sliders in the game. He also has a balky elbow, and one of the best beards in the game. I question if he can remain the Giants closer all season, and as I stated in my pitcher rankings, I think there is a chance the Giants hand their closer job to Tim Lincecum should he struggle again in 2013.