Signs point toward impending regression, as the Reds entered play on Sunday with an MLB-best bullpen ERA of 2.59, but a fifth-worst bullpen xFIP of 4.89—and promptly got tagged for five earned runs while blowing a lead against the Tigers. For the time being, though, what a ride to first place in the NL Central it has been. Cincinnati’s bullpen is 9-3 with 10 saves and 21 holds. The team is 9-0 in games decided either by one run or in extra innings. And with the exception of closer Emilio Pagán, every reliever with at least 10 innings pitched prior to Sunday had a sub-2.40 ERA.
Closer Raisel Iglesias is presently on the IL after a bad night of sleep on his shoulder—got to love baseball injuries—but Atlanta is soldiering on just fine without him so far. The Braves have racked up 11 saves and 17 holds, with their first blown save of the season coming on Saturday. The law firm of (Robert) Suarez, (Tyler) Kinley and (Dylan) Lee has been virtually untouchable, making any late-inning deficit against this team feel almost insurmountable.
By now, you’ve heard about the ridiculous season Mason Miller is having, with a year-to-date line of 13.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 27 K and 10 saves. Were it just him, though, the Padres wouldn’t rank No. 1. However, 22-year-old Bradgley Rodriguez has been lethal in his own right, Adrián Morejón has rallied from a tough start and getting set-up man Jason Adam back from the IL two weeks ago has provided a major lift, already leading the team with five holds. We shall see if the lineup and rotation can continue to keep pace with the Dodgers atop the AL West, but there’s no question which bullpen you would rather have in a hypothetical best-of-seven series.