Teams that have dominant bullpens typically are successful. It’s important for bullpens to keep their teams in the game once the starter is removed. A team will always have a chance to win a game if the bullpen can shut down the opposing offense.
The Philadelphia Phillies' bullpen has been a strength of the team over the last few seasons. The group has had an exceptional year in 2024.
MLB standings by bullpen WAR: Phillies relievers among the best heading into playoffs
The MLB postseason is just around the corner, and the Phillies are set to make another run toward a World Series championship. The success of a team’s bullpen is critical for making a deep run in the postseason.
The Phillies bullpen is No. 4 in baseball with a 5.5 WAR, per FanGraphs. Cleveland, Miami and Atlanta are the only teams whose bullpen has a higher WAR than the Phillies this season. In comparison to previous seasons, the Phillies’ bullpen had a 5.2 WAR in 2022 and a 6.7 WAR in 2023.
Here are the top 10 MLB teams ordered by bullpen fWAR heading into action on Sept. 20.
Top 10 MLB standings ordered by bullpen WAR
Rank | Team | Bullpen fWAR |
|---|---|---|
1 | Cleveland Guardians | 7.7 |
2 | Miami Marlins | 6.8 |
3 | Atlanta Braves | 5.7 |
4 | Philadelphia Phillies | 5.5 |
5 | San Diego Padres | 5.5 |
6 | Milwaukee Brewers | 5.4 |
7 | Minnesota Twins | 5.2 |
8 | Cincinnati Reds | 5.0 |
9 | Oakland Athletics | 4.2 |
10 | Washington Nationals | 4.1 |
The Phillies’ bullpen has been a strength all season. Matt Strahm and Jeff Hoffman were both selected to the All-Star game and have dominated hitters all year.
The success doesn’t end with the two All-Stars. Orion Kerkering has looked like an All-Star-level reliever in the backend of the bullpen. The 23-year-old has a 1.96 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 59 ⅔ innings pitched this season.
José Ruiz has also been a pleasant surprise. The right-hander has a 3.66 ERA in 48 appearances which is the second lowest of his eight-year career, not including 2017 or 2020 in which he pitched a combined five innings.
The Phillies decided to trade away Seranthony Domínguez and Gregory Soto to the Baltimore Orioles in two separate trades at the deadline, but Dave Dombrowski brought in Carlos Estévez from the Los Angeles Angels and Tanner Banks from the Chicago White Sox.
New and revamped faces adding to Phillies' bullpen success
Estévez is a powerful right-hander who has been one of the best closers in baseball this year. Despite some shaky appearances, he has fit in at the backend of the Phillies’ bullpen, posting a 2.37 ERA with six saves since being traded. Banks is a left-hander utilized more as a middle-inning relief option, but he has had success, posting a 2.70 ERA with the Phillies in 20 innings pitched since being traded.
José Alvarado has had a down year compared to his dominant performance a season ago in which he posted a 1.74 ERA. The hard-throwing lefty has a 4.25 ERA, blew three saves and has a 9.25 K/9 which is the second lowest of his career since his first season in 2017. The good news is he’s had much better results out of the bullpen over the last month. Alvarado is an important piece for the Phillies come playoff time.
The Phillies’ main contributors out of the bullpen in the postseason should be Strahm, Hoffman, Kerkering, Estévez and Alvarado. These five players are the team’s most electric and reliable arms out of the bullpen and are critical to achieving the ultimate goal of winning a World Series championship.