Relief Pitcher of the Year 2026 — Miller and Varland Lead by NUT
Mason Miller of the Padres (+2.4 SEASON NUT) and Louis Varland of the Blue Jays (+2.1 SEASON NUT) lead the 2026 Relief Pitcher of the Year race by NUT in the NL and AL, through the final 2026 regular season. Miller finished 0.5 ahead of the next NL reliever, Jhoan Duran. Varland finished 0.4 ahead of Cade Smith and Spencer Miles.
All numbers are final 2026 regular-season totals. Voters weigh more than one number, so read these as where each reliever finished by NUT, not as a ballot. A reliever here is a pitcher who started fewer than half his games, so Spencer Miles (8 starts in 49 games) and Grant Taylor (4 starts) are on the AL board.
What Is the Relief Pitcher of the Year Award?
The Baseball Writers' Association of America approved the award in August 2025, and 2026 is its first season. There is one winner in each league. It is the BBWAA's fifth annual award, alongside MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and Manager of the Year, and is announced in November with the others.
Relievers already had their own honors: since 2014 the Mariano Rivera (AL) and Trevor Hoffman (NL) Reliever of the Year awards, voted on by retired relievers. The BBWAA award is the first one decided by the same writers who vote on the Cy Young.
AL Relief Pitcher of the Year — Season NUT
Louis Varland is the only AL reliever with an A. His 1.27 ERA is the lowest on either board, across 78 innings.
Cade Smith and Spencer Miles both finished at +1.7; Smith is ahead by less than 0.1 before rounding. Miles made 8 starts in his 49 games and threw 95.2 innings, the most on this board.
NL Relief Pitcher of the Year — Season NUT
Mason Miller finished at +2.4, the highest of any reliever in baseball. He struck out 129 hitters in 70 innings, 22 more than anyone else on either board.
Jhoan Duran walked 10 hitters in 59.1 innings, the fewest on either board. San Diego has two of the NL top 3: Adrian Morejon is third at +1.8 in 86 innings of setup work. Tanner Scott (LAD, +1.5 NUT, B) finished sixth, just behind Lee.
Best Relievers of 2026: Why Saves Alone Don't Decide It
Cade Smith's 41 saves are the most of anyone on these boards, and he ranks second in the AL. Dylan Lee and Brent Headrick have zero saves between them and still made the top 5, on 31 and 29 holds.
A save depends on when a manager uses a pitcher. NUT rewards what a pitcher controls over the innings he throws, whatever the inning. It is one number for production against league average, built on the advanced hitting and pitching stats analysts trust, not batting average or ERA. Defense is left out. Because it accumulates, a reliever with more innings at the same quality finishes higher, which is how Morejon's 86 innings carry him past closers with lower ERAs.
Every value here is SEASON NUT and carries a letter grade on the same scale the app uses for every pitcher's season — S, A, B, C, D, F. A reliever's innings cap how high he can climb on that scale, which is why no reliever reached S. For the defense-independent idea behind judging a pitcher on what he controls, see What Is FIP.
Quick Answers
What is the BBWAA Relief Pitcher of the Year award?
A Baseball Writers’ Association of America award, approved in August 2025, that names one top reliever in each league. 2026 is its first season, and it is the BBWAA’s fifth annual award.
Who votes for Relief Pitcher of the Year?
BBWAA writers, the same group that votes on the MVP and Cy Young. Chapter chairs pick a voter in each MLB city.
When is the 2026 Relief Pitcher of the Year announced?
In November, with the BBWAA’s MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and Manager of the Year awards. MLB Network sets the exact dates.
How is it different from the Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman awards?
The Rivera (AL) and Hoffman (NL) Reliever of the Year awards, given since 2014, are voted on by retired relievers. The BBWAA award is voted on by baseball writers.
Who is the best reliever of 2026 by NUT?
Mason Miller of the Padres, at +2.4 SEASON NUT (A) with 129 strikeouts in 70 innings. Louis Varland of the Blue Jays leads the AL at +2.1 SEASON NUT (A) with a 1.27 ERA.