MLB teams realized, a few years ago, that bullpens win games.
It’s that simple: many of the teams that have gotten far and even won the World Series have a stellar, deep and dependable relief corps.
The Cleveland Guardians might not have the best rotation, and their offense could be chalked up as inconsistent by some.
There is absolutely nothing negative to say about their bullpen, though.
Nothing.
The numbers show just how dominant the unit is.
“The @CleGuardians‘ bullpen is a force to be reckoned with,” MLB Now tweeted, with some stats that show the whole picture.
The @CleGuardians' bullpen is a force to be reckoned with ⛽️#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/fHByeZriaR
— MLB Now (@MLBNow) June 10, 2024
The unit is first in the AL in ERA (2.35), strikeouts (262), WHIP (0.97), opponent’s batting average (.193), and K/9 (strikeouts per nine innings, with 9.8).
With a 42-22 record, the Guardians are a whopping 20 wins above .500.
Even the most optimistic Guardians fans probably didn’t expect the team to be 20 wins over .500 in early June.
Yes, the calendar hasn’t been the hardest, but Cleveland has beat good and bad squads as it is supposed to.
A big reason behind the first-half success has been the stellar bullpen.
It helps when you have MLB’s most consistently dominant closer in Emmanuel Clase, who has a 0.57 ERA in 31.1 innings, with 19 saves.
But the unit is much more than Clase, though.
You have Hunter Gaddis, Tim Herrin, Nick Sandlin, Cade Smith, Eli Morgan, Sam Hentges, Scott Barlow, and many more.
Cleveland has the perfect blend of youth and experience; of outside contributors and in-house solutions.
You have to be really, really good to be in the Guardians’ bullpen.
Credit to the pitchers, but also to the organization for unearthing some true gems out of nowhere.
NEXT: Guardians Remind Fans Of An Important Summer Task
