Who is #1? Ranking the postseason bullpens

As the Kansas City Royals proved beyond a shadow of a doubt last season, having an elite level bullpen can be just as vital as having a strong starting staff in today’s game. Now more than ever, baseball is a matchup game, where specific hitters are targeted to be neutralized by specific pitchers, as the micromanagement game of managerial chess take place.

So it goes without saying, the value of having a potent bullpen at this juncture in the year, when missing bats and shutting down high leverage situations is more important than ever. And has this year’s American League wild card game proved, being able to call on the right guy at the right time is crucial in setting the line between fighting on for another round or heading home early. Which teams are best equipped to get stronger as the game goes on? Here is a ranking of each bullpen in this year’s MLB postseason.

8. Boston Red Sox

It has been the bane of the Red Sox for the entire year, and worsened of late when closer Craig Kimbrel allowed five runs over his last three outings of the year. Fortunately for the Red Sox, they can score runs by the truckload, and often don’t need a bullpen to do much more than maintain a lead with considerable room to breathe. But the playoffs are a different beast, and if they cannot get into gear somehow, it could be the cause of their demise.

7. San Francisco Giants

Madison Bumgarner can’t start every game (seriously, he can’t), so at some point the San Francisco bullpen is going to factor into their playoff chances, and that’s where things could go haywire. The pen enters October in a rather unpredictable position. The unit blew an MLB-worst nine saves in September, before getting their stuff back together and winning five or six to seal up the final Wild Card spot. Moving forward, the unpredictability could continue. There is no set closer, although Sergio Romo is likely the first to get the opportunity, things could change on the run. There will likely be overhauls this winter, but they have to run with what they have for now.

6. Toronto Blue Jays

The Jays pen could be higher if there was more certainty over the health of Roberto Osuna. The team’s closer left mid-inning during the Jays’ Wild Card play-in game victory, and while it is being reported that he will be available in the ALDS, it remains to be seen if the shoulder issue that popped up reoccurs. Outside of that, the Toronto pen rounded together nicely this year after some early issues. Jason Grilli has been strong since arriving mid-season, and will be joined by a core of Brett Cecil, Joe Biagini and converted starter Francisco Liriano. They will only go as far as their starters allow, but the Jays pen is capable of getting the job done.

5. Texas Rangers

The Rangers have a lot of big arms in their pen, but the results and roles have changed often throughout the year. Texas’ 4.40 bullpen ERA is the fifth worst in baseball, but conversely, they have saved an MLB-best 56 games as well. This is due to a top heavy staff, of Sam Dyson, Jake Diekman, Matt Bush and Tony Barnette all having strong seasons, while other mainstays of the pen falling off badly. Keone Kala has been unpredictable, while Jeremy Jeffress was unavailable for a stretch of time due being on the restricted list due his DWI arrest. The Ranger pen did get better later in the year, but it is hard to predict what will carry over to the ALDS.

4. Chicago Cubs

They have the singular most dangerous reliever in the postseason in Aroldis Chapman looming in the ninth inning, and have a solid core of options in front of him as well. But he is far from the only smoke tosser they have in the wings. Justin Grimm, Hector Rondon, Carl Edwards and Pedro Strop all average greater than 10 strikeouts per nine innings. Mix in volume guys in Travis Wood and Trevor Cahill, and you have a very balanced Cubs pen.

3. Cleveland Indians

With a slightly dinged up rotation, the more depth the better for the Indians pen, which has rounded into one of the biggest advantages any team possesses. Since trading for Andrew Miller, the Indians pen has gone to another level. Since August, Miller along with Cody Allen, Bryan Shaw and Dan Otero have combined for a 1.84 ERA over 100 innings pitched. Allen has not blown a save since August 17, while Miller has allowed only five runs since joining the Tribe. With injuries to Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco, manager Terry Francona has opted to deploy a three-man rotation in their ALDS matchup with the Red Sox. This will make the bullpen gang all the more important, especially against the heavy-hitting Boston club.

2. Washington Nationals

One of the more underrated acquisitions on the year was the Nats move to land Mark Melancon from Pittsburgh at the break. Melancon added a stabilizing presence at the back on the D.C. pen, converting 17 of 18 save opportunities and helping the team put to bed the infamous Jonathan Papelbon era. But Melancon is far from the only gun smoking in Dusty Baker’s pen. Blake Treinen, Shawn Kelley, Matt Belisle and Sammy Solis have all been strong for the Nats all year and will be present on the postseason roster. The possible addition of lefty Mark Rzepcyznski would also give the Nats an added bonus against a lefty heavy Dodger lineup, to help neutralize Adrian Gonzalez and Corey Seager, among others.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

There is no more versatile bullpen than the one Dave Roberts’ currently commands. Joe Blanton, Grant Dayton, Ross Stripling, Luis Avilan, Josh Fields and Pedro Baez combined to form the lowest bullpen ERA in baseball this year (3.35). None of the group posted an ERA over Avilan’s 3.20, and were the best bridge group in the game, capable of pitching in all roles throughout the game interchangeably. And of course after getting through that, Kenley Jansen stands as the final boss of the pen. Fresh off of his best season as a pro, Jansen struck out a whopping 104 batters against only 11 walks over 68.2 innings. He converted a career-best 47 saves as a result. He is the last line of defense in an often impenetrable group.