Ranking the Top 5 Bullpens in the 2024 MLB Season
Sportsgrid Staff
Host · Writer
HM: Seattle Mariners
While the Mariners are often celebrated for having arguably the best starting rotation in baseball, their bullpen also deserves significant recognition.
Despite the shutdown of right-hander Matt Brash, Seattle boasts a deep bullpen led by closer Andrés Muñoz, who has maintained a stellar 1.88 ERA. Supporting him are seasoned relievers Ryne Stanek (3.09 ERA), Gabe Speier (2.31 ERA), and Trent Thornton (2.30 ERA), all of whom have made strong contributions in the early part of 2024.
With the Mariners ranking third in MLB with a relief ERA of 2.79, it's clear why their bullpen is a critical asset. As their offense struggles to hit its stride, Seattle's continued reliance on its pitchers will be crucial to keeping them in the playoff hunt as the season progresses.
This post by Seth Carlson appeared first on Just Baseball.
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1) New York Yankees
Season after season, the New York Yankees showcase a formidable bullpen.
So far, through 39 games, New York's American League team boasts the best relief ERA in baseball at 2.25. This level of performance is par for the course under Brian Cashman’s tenure, where prioritizing a strong bullpen has been a consistent strategy. This tradition stretches back to the era of the legendary Mariano Rivera, through to his protégé David Robertson, and includes Aroldis Chapman.
Currently, Clay Holmes is the closer for the Yankees, and he’s proving to be highly effective in the role.
However, Holmes isn’t carrying the bullpen alone. He's supported by setup man Ian Hamilton, who holds a 2.89 ERA, and Luke Weaver, the long reliever, with a 2.70 ERA. Left-handed pitchers Caleb Ferguson and Victor Gonzalez also contribute significantly, boasting ERAs of 3.95 and 2.84, respectively. This depth and talent underscore the high expectations for the Bronx bullpen, a hallmark of their strategy for many years.
This post by Seth Carlson appeared first on Just Baseball.
2) Cleveland Guardians
If the Cleveland Guardians matched their hitting prowess with their exceptional pitching, they'd be a dominant force in the American League.
Each year, Cleveland consistently ranks at the top of the MLB in key pitching metrics, largely thanks to their stellar bullpen.
Emmanuel Clase, their standout closer with a 0.47 ERA for 2024, leads a bullpen that's second in MLB with a 2.44 reliever ERA, just behind the Yankees. Since his trade from the Texas Rangers for Corey Kluber in 2020, Clase has established himself as one of baseball's premier closers, securing over 40 saves in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Cleveland's bullpen success isn't a one-man show. The team effectively transitions to Clase with solid early innings from setup men Hunter Gaddis (2.41 ERA) and Scott Barlow (2.45 ERA).
As of May 10, Cleveland leads the AL Central, outpacing a strong Minnesota Twins team and staying ahead of the competitive Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers. This leadership in the standings is largely attributable to their high-performing bullpen, which reliably secures wins late in games.
3) Detroit Tigers
While much of the excitement around the Detroit Tigers' pitching staff has focused on Tarik Skubal, a potential AL Cy Young contender, the team's bullpen deserves its share of attention.
The Tigers currently rank fourth in MLB for relief ERA at 2.81, a key factor in their strong start above .500 in the early part of 2024.
Closer Jason Foley is at the forefront with a 2.51 ERA, supported by Alex Lange with an impressive 0.64 ERA and veteran left-hander Andrew Chafin, who boasts a 1.93 ERA, ensuring reliability in the later innings.
In addition to Foley, Lange, and Chafin, Detroit has seen significant contributions from lefty Joey Wentz, a former starter who has excelled in relief with a 0.61 ERA, and Alex Faedo, another ex-starter, who has a 2.35 ERA.
While it's still early to fully gauge the reliability of this bullpen, they are currently proving to be a formidable force as the Tigers aim to contend in the AL Central in 2024.
4) Minnesota Twins
Continuing with the AL Central narrative, no team in baseball has been as hot lately as the Minnesota Twins—save perhaps the Philadelphia Phillies—who have secured 15 wins in their last 17 games.
During this impressive run, Minnesota has excelled in all aspects, including a bullpen performance that ranks in the top 10 in MLB with a 3.51 ERA. The bullpen recently welcomed back closer Jhoan Duran from an early-season injury stint.
Even without Duran, the Twins maintained strong bullpen performances through the efforts of right-handers Griffin Jax (2.70 ERA) and Cole Sands (2.76 ERA), along with Steven Okert (3.97 ERA). Brock Stewart, also recovering from an injury, had kicked off the season with a stellar 0.68 ERA in relief appearances.
Additionally, the Twins have Justin Topa, acquired from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for second baseman Jorge Polanco. Last season, Topa delivered a 2.61 ERA across 69 relief innings, promising further strength to the bullpen as he returns from a knee injury.
Overall, Minnesota's bullpen is in solid form, even considering the injuries, and the return of Duran with his exceptional abilities suggests even stronger performances ahead.
5) New York Mets
Surprised? Well, this is what David Stearns does best.
Now serving as the Mets’ president of baseball operations, Stearns was renowned for his focus on building powerful bullpens during his tenure with the Milwaukee Brewers, a strategy that propelled multiple relief pitchers to stardom. Upon his arrival at the Mets, he inherited a solid closer in Edwin Díaz, who has made a successful comeback from a severe ACL injury.
In 2024, Díaz, with a 2.45 ERA, is spearheading a Mets bullpen that ranks fifth in MLB—and first in the NL—with a collective 2.88 ERA.
The Mets also re-signed Adam Ottavino for a third season in 2024, following two strong years. His early performance this season (3.14 ERA) along with the acquisitions of Jorge López (2.04 ERA) and left-hander Jake Diekman (3.86 ERA) are proving to be strategic successes.
Additionally, the rise of journeyman Reed Garrett, who boasts a 0.47 ERA in relief, has been a significant boost to this already formidable group.
Together, these elements combine to form one of the top bullpens in baseball as the 2024 season unfolds.
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HM: Oakland Athletics
How can any discussion of bullpens omit the Athletics, especially considering their surprisingly strong performance in the early part of the season?
Much of their success is attributable to Mason Miller, the dynamic young pitcher who has thrived since transitioning to a high-leverage relief role this season. Alongside Lucas Erceg, Miller has been crucial in achieving Oakland's 3.47 bullpen ERA, which ranks ninth in MLB for 2024. Miller's own stats are particularly noteworthy, boasting a 1.10 ERA and an impressive 18.2 strikeouts per nine innings, making him a standout in any bullpen conversation.
HM: Seattle Mariners
While the Mariners are often celebrated for having arguably the best starting rotation in baseball, their bullpen also deserves significant recognition.
Despite the shutdown of right-hander Matt Brash, Seattle boasts a deep bullpen led by closer Andrés Muñoz, who has maintained a stellar 1.88 ERA. Supporting him are seasoned relievers Ryne Stanek (3.09 ERA), Gabe Speier (2.31 ERA), and Trent Thornton (2.30 ERA), all of whom have made strong contributions in the early part of 2024.
With the Mariners ranking third in MLB with a relief ERA of 2.79, it's clear why their bullpen is a critical asset. As their offense struggles to hit its stride, Seattle's continued reliance on its pitchers will be crucial to keeping them in the playoff hunt as the season progresses.
This post by Seth Carlson appeared first on Just Baseball.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
1) New York Yankees
Season after season, the New York Yankees showcase a formidable bullpen.
So far, through 39 games, New York's American League team boasts the best relief ERA in baseball at 2.25. This level of performance is par for the course under Brian Cashman’s tenure, where prioritizing a strong bullpen has been a consistent strategy. This tradition stretches back to the era of the legendary Mariano Rivera, through to his protégé David Robertson, and includes Aroldis Chapman.
Currently, Clay Holmes is the closer for the Yankees, and he’s proving to be highly effective in the role.
However, Holmes isn’t carrying the bullpen alone. He's supported by setup man Ian Hamilton, who holds a 2.89 ERA, and Luke Weaver, the long reliever, with a 2.70 ERA. Left-handed pitchers Caleb Ferguson and Victor Gonzalez also contribute significantly, boasting ERAs of 3.95 and 2.84, respectively. This depth and talent underscore the high expectations for the Bronx bullpen, a hallmark of their strategy for many years.
This post by Seth Carlson appeared first on Just Baseball.
