Top 10 Sleeper Relief Pitchers - Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide 2009

Get ready for your 2009 fantasy baseball draft by dominating the competition with some of the best fantasy baseball rankings, projections, and tips for free. Here is a complete listing of the Top 10 Sleeper Relief Pitchers for 2009 fantasy baseball drafts.

Top 10 Sleeper Relief Pitcher Rankings - Fantasy Baseball 2009

#1 - Matt Capps - Pittsburgh Pirates

#2 - Heath Bell - San Diego Padres

#3 - Joey Devine - Oakland Athletics

#4 - Mike Gonzalez - Atlanta Braves

#5 - Matt Lindstrom - Florida Marlins

#6 - Chris Perez - St. Louis Cardinals

#7 - Joel Hanrahan - Washington Nationals

#8 - Chad Qualls - Arizona Diamondbacks

#9 - Grant Balfour - Tampa Bay Rays

#10 - Kevin Gregg - Chicago Cubs

Player Details & 2009 Projections:

#1 Sleeper Relief Pitcher - Fantasy Baseball 2009: Matt Capps - Pittsburgh Pirates

As odd as it may seem, Capps who has been tagged as an up-and-coming fantasy baseball closer for a couple of years now, has yet to post the saves totals that fantasy baseball teams covet. And because of this fact, Capps' value entering the 2009 fantasy baseball season is extremely low among other relief pitchers and closers. Yet when you look at his peripherals, he holds a career 3.06 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 217 innings pitched! With this type of pitching performance, there is no reason why Capps can't pull a Joakim Soria and notch 30 plus saves on a bad team.

#2 Sleeper Relief Pitcher - Fantasy Baseball 2009: Heath Bell - San Diego Padres

The emergence of Bell was one of the main reasons the Padres decided to let the hall-of-famer-to-be Trevor Hoffman go in free agency this off-season. As a premiere relief pitcher over the past two seasons, Bell should easily take over the closers role in San Diego and notch 30 saves, 70-80 strikeouts, a 3.25 or lower ERA, and a WHIP around 1.10 or below.

#3 Sleeper Relief Pitcher - Fantasy Baseball 2009: Joey Devine - Oakland Athletics

Once tagged the closer of the future in Atlanta, Devine never panned out as had hoped. Yet with a second chance in Oakland, Devine definitely has not disappointed. After posting a 0.59 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in 45 innings pitched for the Athletics in 2008, expecting that type of performance would be unrealistic. However even with Brad Zeigler doing a great job as the closer last year, Devine should be the favorite to win the job in Oakland in 2009. If he does manage to steal the closers job from Zeigler, Devine could be looking at 25-35 saves, 80 strikeouts, a 2.25 ERA, and a WHIP around 1.10 or below for the 2009 season.

#4 Sleeper Relief Pitcher - Fantasy Baseball 2009: Mike Gonzalez - Atlanta Braves

Injuries limited his playing time and effectiveness in 2008, however Gonzalez is the clear favorite to be the Braves closer in 2009. On a much improved Braves teams, 30 plus saves, 70-80 strikeouts, a 3.25-3.50 ERA, and a WHIP around 1.20 seem likely for Gonzalez in 2009.

#5 Sleeper Relief Pitcher - Fantasy Baseball 2009: Matt Lindstrom - Florida Marlins

Lindstrom could have easily been the Marlins full time closer in 2008, however now that Kevin Gregg is out of town, Lindstrom should slide nicely into the closers roll in 2009. 30 saves, 60-70 strikeouts, a 3.25 or lower ERA, and a WHIP around 1.30 could be in store for Lindstrom in 2009.

#6 Sleeper Relief Pitcher - Fantasy Baseball 2009: Chris Perez - St. Louis Cardinals

Perez is clearly the closer of the future for the Cardinals, however manager Tony LaRusa likes to play his veterans over his younger players, meaning the 24 year old Perez could enter the season as a set-up man rather than the closer in 2009. However Perez's strikeout ability and good ERA and WHIP numbers, along with the potential to close later on in the season, make him a late round gamble worth taking in your fantasy baseball draft. If Perez is the closer on opening day expect 30 plus saves, 70-80 strikeouts, an ERA around 3.30, and a WHIP around 1.25.

#7 Sleeper Relief Pitcher - Fantasy Baseball 2009: Joel Hanrahan - Washington Nationals

As a fireballer who throws in the mid to upper 90's consistently, Hanrahan has the ideal pitching ability to be an elite closer in the major leagues. Now if Hanrahan could just throw strikes whenever he wanted to, he would be an all-star. However as it stands, Hanrahan could post 25 saves, 90-100 strikeouts, a 3.75 ERA, and a WHIP around 1.35. Once he improves his walk totals and his WHIP, Hanrahan will be a great fantasy baseball relief pitcher because of his high strikeout numbers.

#8 Sleeper Relief Pitcher - Fantasy Baseball 2009: Chad Qualls - Arizona Diamondbacks

The fact is that the Diamondbacks should win their share of games in 2009 with their excellent starting pitching staff, however who decides to claim the closers role is still up for grabs. Going with Qualls, Tony Pena, Jon Rauch, and maybe even resigning Brandon Lyon seems possible at this point for the Diamondbacks. However after an extremely solid 2008 season, Qualls seems like the odds on favorite to win the job. If he does, expect Qualls to post 30 plus saves, 70 strikeouts, an ERA under 3.00, and a WHIP around 1.10 in 2009.

#9 Sleeper Relief Pitcher - Fantasy Baseball 2009: Grant Balfour - Tampa Bay Rays

With Troy Percival not having much left in the tank, it doesn't seem like a question of 'if' but rather 'when' Balfour will take over the closers role for the Rays. And considering the Rays could easily win 90 plus games again in 2009, the closers roll in Tampa Bay is extremely important for fantasy baseball teams. If Balfour can claim the closers roll on opening day, he has the potential to post 35-40 saves, 90 strikeouts, an ERA around 2.00, and a WHIP under 1.00.

#10 Sleeper Relief Pitcher - Fantasy Baseball 2009: Kevin Gregg - Chicago Cubs

Depending on whether or not the Cubs want to hand the closers role over to Carlos Marmol yet, Gregg will be the backup choice. He is proven and dependable, and if the Cubs are going to win the division again, they will need a closer who can make sure they win 90 plus games again in 2009. If Gregg manages to steal the closers job from Marmol to begin the season, expect him to keep it the entire year and post 35 saves, 70-80 strikeouts, an ERA around 3.50, and a WHIP around 1.25.