The All-MLB Team, created in 2019, has provided the answers to an oft-asked question following every season: Who were the best players at each position this year?

The All-MLB Team is split into a First and Second Team, with each team featuring one selection at catcher, first base, second base, shortstop, third base and DH, as well as three outfielders (regardless of specific outfield position), five starting pitchers and two relievers.

• All-MLB favorites for '23 | Best SP | C | 1B | 2B | 3B | OF

The teams are chosen through a voting process in which 50% of the vote comes from fans and 50% comes from a panel of experts. The nominees will be announced in November, and the winners will be unveiled in December.

Throughout the rest of the regular season, we will be breaking down the top players at each position and separating them into three groups: favorites, contenders and dark horses. Today, we continue our position-by-position series by covering the reliever candidates.

Here are 12 relievers who could make the 2023 All-MLB Team presented by MGM Rewards.

All stats are updated through Saturday

FAVORITES

Félix Bautista, Orioles
Just how dominant has Bautista been this season? Baltimore's closer hasn't pitched since Aug. 25 after suffering a partial tear to the UCL in his right elbow and still leads relievers in a large swath of stats. Bautista has tossed 61 innings with a 1.48 ERA and leads all relievers with 110 strikeouts, a 2.10 expected ERA and a 1.89 FIP. He also ranks top-three in both versions of WAR -- FanGraphs (2.8) and Baseball Reference (3.0). It's possible Bautista pitches again in '23, but even if he doesn't, he'd still be one of baseball's best relievers this season.

Tanner Scott, Marlins
Scott has broken out in a major way with a 2.13 ERA in 71 2/3 innings and is one of the reasons why the Marlins are 30-12 in one-run games and find themselves in the playoff mix. Nobody ever doubted the elite stuff, but Scott took a huge step forward with his command in '23, shaving his walk rate by an MLB-best 7.4% this season. With his improvements, the 29-year-old lefty ranks in the top five in strikeouts (94), xERA (2.57), FIP (2.17) and both versions of WAR.

David Bednar, Pirates
Bednar has blossomed into an elite closer across the last three seasons in Pittsburgh thanks to his all-around excellence. In '23, the 28-year-old has missed bats (86th percentile whiff rate), limited free passes (69th percentile walk rate) and prevented quality contact against him (4.3% barrel rate). As a result, Bednar has a 1.89 ERA across 62 innings and is a top-five qualified reliever by xERA (2.70), both versions of WAR and saves (33).

Alexis Díaz, Reds
A year after Edwin Díaz took home All-MLB First Team honors for the Mets, his younger brother might join the All-MLB club. Díaz has been a revelation for the Reds, posting a 1.97 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 128 innings since debuting last year. The 26-year-old -- who has a 2.10 ERA and 37 saves in 64 1/3 innings this season -- has been an integral part of a Reds team competing for a playoff spot.

Devin Williams, Brewers
Williams has not missed a beat since transitioning into the closer's role in Milwaukee following last year's Josh Hader trade. In 55 2/3 innings this season, the right-hander has a 1.62 ERA, 82 strikeouts and 35 saves. The 28-year-old airbender specialist remains one of the toughest pitchers in the Majors to make contact against. 40.5% of swings against him have resulted in a whiff this season, with Williams running a whiff rate of over 40% on both his changeup and four-seamer.

Josh Hader, Padres
Since his tough first half of the 2022 season, Hader has once again returned as one of the best relievers in the sport. Among relievers with at least 40 innings pitched, Hader ranks second with a 1.27 ERA and third with a 38.7% strikeout rate. What might prevent Hader from making either the first or second team this year is fewer innings (49 2/3) than his counterparts and a career-high 13.7% walk rate.

CONTENDERS

Aroldis Chapman, Rangers
After steadily declining for several years, Chapman has resurrected his career with a bounce-back season -- first with the Royals and now with the Rangers. Excluding the shortened COVID season, Chapman's 2.83 ERA and 42.5% strikeout rate is the best since his 2019 season. That's mostly due to his fastball velocity coming back (99.6 mph average fastball) and his elite slider generating whiffs at nearly a 50% clip.

Camilo Doval, Giants
Doval has seamlessly transitioned into one of baseball's best relievers since debuting in 2021. This year marks the second straight season of 60-plus innings, a sub-3 ERA (2.98) and 25-plus saves. The first-time All-Star in 2023 has improved in noticeable ways, increasing his strikeout rate by 3.4% while dropping his walk rate by 0.5% this year. At just 26 years old, Doval has firmly established himself as one of the dominant closers in the sport.

Jhoan Duran, Twins
Duran hasn't quite matched his incredible 2022 season but he's still been one of the top relievers in the game. After posting a 1.86 ERA and striking out 89 batters in 57 games last season, Duran has followed up with a 2.47 ERA, 78 strikeouts and 26 saves in 58 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old is one of baseball's most overpowering pitchers with a video game-esque trio of pitches in his 101.8 mph average four-seamer, 98.4 mph splitter and 87.7 mph curveball.

DARK HORSES

Evan Phillips, Dodgers
It was going to be hard to replicate his 1.14 ERA and 2.2 fWAR from last season but Phillips has done plenty to prove that his year was no fluke. In 56 2/3 innings this season, Phillips has a 2.38 ERA and a 2.94 xERA that essentially says he's earned every bit of his success. With a strong four-pitch mix headlined by his fantastic sweeper (41.9% whiff rate this season) and good command (5.6% walk rate), Phillips has firmly established himself as the Dodgers' best reliever and one of the best in baseball.

Yennier Cano, Orioles
With Bautista on the injured list, Cano's breakout season looks even more important for the best team in the American League. Acquired in last year's Jorge López trade, Cano blossomed into a first-time All-Star in his rookie season and an integral part of the Orioles' bullpen. Across 67 1/3 innings, Cano has a 2.00 ERA thanks to impeccable control (4.2% walk rate) and one of baseball's best sinkers (+17 run value).

Chris Martin, Red Sox
Martin has steadily been one of the more reliable relievers in the last half-decade but 2023 has been a career-best season for the 37-year-old. Martin leads all relievers (min. 40 innings) with a 1.09 ERA and his 420 ERA+ is tied for the 15th-best single-season mark by a reliever in AL/NL history. While his 3.24 xERA suggests he hasn't been quite that good, this kind of run prevention in a full season will put him squarely in the conversation.