Guardians Continue To Dominate MLB In 2 Key Pitching Marks

With a 39-20 record, the Cleveland Guardians have exceeded every expectation people had for them to this point in the 2024 season.

They finished the 2023 campaign 10 games below .500, at 76-86, and even though experts and fans thought they would be much better this year, virtually no one saw this coming.

They comfortably lead the AL Central and have the roster and resources to compete for a playoff spot.

The biggest strength of the team is, without a doubt, its bullpen.

Yes, they have four or five really good hitters and the rotation is good, even though it lost some floor and ceiling with Shane Bieber’s injury.

The bullpen, however, is elite.

The best in the league, you can say.

“MLB 2024 Best Bullpen ERA: 1. CLE – 2.42, 2. NYY – 2.87, 3. LAD – 3.07, 4. ATL – 3.34, 5. OAK – 3.42. Best Bullpen WHIP: 1. CLE – 0.981, 2. LAD – 1.075, 3. SEA – 1.142, 4. NYY – 1.155, 5. BAL – 1.163,” Cleveland Stats tweeted.

MLB 2024

Best Bullpen ERA:
1. CLE – 2.42
2. NYY – 2.87
3. LAD – 3.07
4. ATL – 3.34
5. OAK – 3.42

Best Bullpen WHIP:
1. CLE – 0.981
2. LAD – 1.075
3. SEA – 1.142
4. NYY – 1.155
5. BAL – 1.163pic.twitter.com/kBYJDWsMIR

— Cleveland Stats (@CLE_STATS) June 3, 2024

To this point, no other bullpen has a lower ERA and WHIP than the Guardians’.

It’s not particularly close, either, as you can see.

Of course, it helps when your closer (Emmanuel Clase) has allowed just one earned run and has 18 saves, but the rest of the unit has been magnificent, too.

Tim Herrin has a 1.08 ERA in 25 frames, Hunter Gaddis is at 1.59 in 28.1 innings, and Cade Smith’s 1.78 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 25.1 innings are amazing for a rookie.

Other arms such as Nick Sandlin, Sam Hentges, and Scott Barlow have helped a lot.

Credit to the pitchers, but also to coaches and pitching development guys in the organization for putting together the most consistently dominant bullpen in MLB.