Set up for success: 10 non-closers to draft

Owning relievers in fantasy baseball is similar to filling out a tax return — few enjoy it, but the experience is much better than the alternative.

Just 16 relievers produced more than 27 saves this past season. With closer instability rampant across baseball, successful fantasy owners are often those who are adept at finding the next saves source before a ninth-inning gig becomes available. Also, the revolving door at the closer position has forced owners to sometimes prioritize dominant setup men over inconsistent stoppers.

Closer Report: Follow the ninth-inning battles around the Majors

Owners looking to make a splash with a late-round pick in 2017 should consider one of the following 10 relievers. Some can help mixed-league teams without compiling saves, and others are likely to slide into the ninth inning for parts of next season.

Dellin Betances (Yankees): Though he will open ’17 in a setup role with free-agent addition Aroldis Chapman handling ninth-inning duties, Betances has the potential to rank among the top 20 relievers without compiling more than five wins or saves. The right-hander has been an exceptional bullpen option since the outset of ’14, posting a 1.93 ERA with a 0.96 WHIP and 392 strikeouts. Notably, no other full-time reliever has compiled more than 326 whiffs in that stretch.

Andrew Miller (Indians): Indians manager Terry Francona may have permanently rewritten the book on how to maximize reliever effectiveness in big games with his unconventional usage of Miller in the ’16 postseason. No matter how Francona deploys his best bullpen arm in ’17, he will regularly use the southpaw in high-leverage situations. The only pitcher in baseball to reach double-digits in wins and saves last season, Miller should continue to rank among baseball’s elite relievers as he seeks his fourth straight campaign with a sub-2.10 ERA and at least 100 K’s. Along with former teammate Betances, the 31-year-old has the highest floor on this list.

Hector Rondon (Cubs): Rondon understandably fell off mixed-league draft lists when the Cubs acquired Wade Davis in December. After all, Davis is among the most-skilled …

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