Reliever Roundup and Bullpen Bonanza — April 2024 Awards
Welcome to the first monthly awards edition of Reliever Roundup and Bullpen Bonanza! These awards are for March and April of the 2024 season. We’ve had some expected results and some surprises. Some key injuries have thrown relief units into disarray. There have been newcomers rising to the top. Seasoned veterans have continued excellence, while some others have appeared to be long in the tooth.
Statistics are from the beginning of the season through the end of play Tuesday, April 30 and exclude position pitchers. To qualify for the leaderboards and for any awards, a pitcher must have at least eight relief appearances. Also, whenever we refer to “April” in this column, it includes March.
Context
To avoid confusion, here is some vital info for context. A Goose Egg inning is seventh inning or later, maximum two-run lead or a tie game. Holding the opponent scoreless yields a Goose Egg (GE); allowing an earned run while not closing out a win gives a Broken Egg (BE). Doing neither yields a Meh (M). When listed together, it is either in the format GE–BE–M or GE–BE. GE/BE = GE per BE.
Additionally, here are league averages for the main statistics.
AL — 1.253 WHIP, 2.8 HR%, 14.4 K–BB%, 72.9% Scoreless Outing Percentage (ScOtg%), 3.5 GE/BE.
NL — 1.302 WHIP, 2.6 HR%, 13.1 K–BB%, 70.9 ScOtg%, 3.0 GE/BE.
These scoreless outing percentages only count a run against a pitcher if it is an earned run.
K–BB% = Strikeout percentage minus walk percentage.
Now, before we get into the rankings, let’s hand out the awards!
Sport Relay Team Reliever and Bullpen Awards, March & April 2024
Relief Corps of the Month (AL), March/April
Oakland Athletics
6.0 GE/BE (24–4), 75.3 ScOtg%, 1.047 WHIP, 1.5 HR%, 18.1 K–BB%
Shakiest Relief Corps of the Month (AL), March/April
Los Angeles Angels
2.2 GE/BE (13–6), 66.7 ScOtg%, 1.393 WHIP, 3.5 HR%, 10.0 K–BB%
Relief Corps of the Month (NL), March/April
New York Mets
6.0 GE/BE (24–4), 77.1 ScOtg%, 1.111 WHIP, 1.5 HR%, 20.0 K–BB%
Shakiest Relief Corps of the Month (NL), March/April
Miami Marlins
1.3 GE/BE (10–8), 65.7 ScOtg%, 1.516 WHIP, 2.1 HR%, 11.4 K–BB%
Sport Relay Individual Reliever and Bullpen Awards, March & April 2024
AL Middle Reliever of the Month, March/April
Justin Slaten, Boston Red Sox
Slaten made 10 relief appearances in April, holding opponents scoreless in nine of them. Additionally, he had a 0.577 WHIP, a 20.0 K–BB%, and did not allow a home run.
NL Middle Reliever of the Month, March/April
Reed Garrett, New York Mets
Garrett did not allow an earned run in eight of his nine April appearances (88.9%). He added a 0.957 WHIP, a 34.4 K–BB%, and stranded all five baserunners he inherited.
AL Setup Man of the Month, March/April
Brock Stewart, Minnesota Twins
No runner crossed the plate with Brock Stewart on the mound during the entire month. He was a perfect 12-for-12 in scoreless outings and stranded all three of his inherited runners. In Goose Egg innings, he was a perfect 8–0–0. Throw in a 1.054 WHIP, no home runs allowed, and a 22.9 K–BB%? You have a lights-out setup man and the AL Setup Man of the month.
NL Setup Man of the Month, March/April
JoJo Romero, St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals struggled through March and April (14–16), but JoJo Romero did not. He was 6–0–0 in Goose Egg innings and held opponents scoreless in 12 of his 14 appearances (85.7%). In addition, he had a 26.9 K–BB% and an eye-popping 0.545 WHIP.
AL Closer of the Month, March/April
Kirby Yates, Texas Rangers
The AL had a few stellar closers in April, but Yates was the best of them all. He was a perfect 11-for-11 in scoreless outings, 11–0–0 in Goose Egg innings, and stranded all six inherited runners. Additionally, he had a 26.2 K–BB% and 0.500 WHIP.
NL Closer of the Month, March/April
Kyle Finnegan, Washington Nationals
Despite a higher-than-average home run percentage (4.3%), Kyle Finnegan was the NL Closer of the Month for April. He had a 0.973 WHIP, was 12-for-13 in scoreless outings (earned runs only, 92.3%), and — most importantly — was 9–1–1 in Goose Egg innings for a 9.0 GE/BE ratio.
Biggest Positive Surprise, March/April
Mason Miller, Oakland Athletics Closer
Initially, Craig Kimbrel of the Baltimore Orioles was in the running for this with his “Hey, what a bounceback!” start to the season. But in the last few games, he came crashing back to Earth, so this award goes to Mason Miller.
Miller was a starter when the Athletics called him up in 2023. The fireballer (100-mph guaranteed) made six starts before going on the injured list with a strained UCL. When he returned, the Athletics made him their closer, and it has worked out splendidly. Miller made 11 appearances in April, putting up a zero on the scoreboard in 10 of them. He was a perfect 8–0–0 in Goose Egg innings and had an 0.825 WHIP. Most impressive, however, were his strikeouts. In 13 1/3 innings, he has faced 51 batters. Of the 51, 28 struck out — a mind-boggling 54.9%. He has only walked four, making for a 47.1 K–BB%. That isn’t even fair.
Biggest Negative Surprise, March/April
David Bednar, Pittsburgh Pirates Closer
Bednar spent the entire 2023 season at or near the top of the NL Closer leaderboard. For the first month of 2024, however, he has been at the very bottom. He had more appearances (12) than innings pitched (10), something that is never good for a closer. Only half of his appearances were scoreless, well below average (70.9% for the NL) and miles away from a top closer. His WHIP (1.600) is 300 points higher than the league average. Goose Egg innings? 2–4–0, a ratio of 0.5 Goose Eggs to Broken Eggs. His home run percentage is also concerning: a whopping 6.0%.
Sport Relay Reliever and Bullpen Rankings, March & April 2024
Brief Rankings Explanation
Rankings are split into the following categories. These categories encompass what a relief pitcher’s jobs are and are weighted according to importance. We don’t want to get bogged down, so we’ll keep it brief. (Author’s Note: For full details, leave a comment and I’ll be glad to get back to you.)
Team Rankings, Setup Men, and Closers
Clutch (45% of score) — How well they perform in late innings either while the game is tied or while holding a narrow lead.
Run Prevention (35%) — How well they keep runs off the board, including inherited runners.
Baserunner Prevention (13%) — Who has the lowest WHIP and lowest home run percentage (HR%). WHIP is 85% of the Baserunner Prevention score, and HR% is 15%.
Command (7%) — Who has the best strikeout percentage minus walk percentage (K–BB%).
Middle Relievers
Run Prevention (60%), Baserunner Prevention (26%), Command (14%)
Totaling Up the Scores
The total score in each category is based on the league average. Zero points equals the league average. Positive scores are better than league average; negative scores are worse. The farther their score is from zero — either positive or negative — the farther they are from the league average. (Note: Due to weighting each score, adding the four categories together won’t equal the total score.)
For a full breakdown of each category’s score formula, click here. We will begin with the team rankings.
Team Reliever and Bullpen Rankings, March & April 2024
The Elites
1. New York Mets (44.7, First in NL)
72.3 Clutch, 11.5 Run Prevention, 19.2 Baserunners, 52.9 Command
2. Oakland Athletics (32.3, First in AL)
50.2 Clutch, 10.5 Run Prevention, 19.3 Baserunners, 31.9 Command
3. Detroit Tigers (30.8, Second in AL)
53.6 Clutch, 8.6 Run Prevention, 12.2 Baserunners, -4.9 Command
Better Take an Early Lead…
4. San Diego Padres (27.70109, rounded to 27.7, Second in NL)
53.3 Clutch, 1.3 Run Prevention, 4.1 Baserunners, 3.1 Command
5. Cleveland Guardians (27.66957, rounded to 27.7, Third in AL)
34.2 Clutch, 17.1 Run Prevention, 19.8 Baserunners, 52.2 Command
6. New York Yankees (25.8, Fourth in AL)
48.3 Clutch, 3.7 Run Prevention, 14.3 Baserunners, -21.8 Command
7. Milwaukee Brewers (25.6, Third in NL)
45.7 Clutch, 6.0 Run Prevention, 4.4 Baserunners, 3.7 Command
The Very Good
8. St Louis Cardinals (19.6, Fourth in NL)
33.6 Clutch, 2.2 Run Prevention, 2.6 Baserunners, 35.6 Command
9. Seattle Mariners (18.2, Fifth in AL)
21.8 Clutch, 11.2 Run Prevention, 17.3 Baserunners, 33.0 Command
10. Chicago Cubs (17.4, Fifth in NL)
39.4 Clutch, -3.3 Run Prevention, -1.3 Baserunners, -20.1 Command
11. Tampa Bay Rays (15.4, Sixth in AL)
44.2 Clutch, -8.7 Run Prevention, -20.5 Baserunners, -33.6 Command
Slightly above Average
12. Kansas City Royals (5.4, Seventh in AL)
4.8 Clutch, 15.3 Run Prevention, -3.4 Baserunners, -41.0 Command
13. Washington Nationals (2.4, Sixth in NL)
5.8 Clutch, 1.4 Run Prevention, -6.2 Baserunners, -7.7 Command
The Average
14. San Francisco Giants (1.9, Seventh in NL)
14.8 Clutch, -13.0 Run Prevention, -6.2 Baserunners, -7.6 Command
15. Atlanta Braves (1.8, Eighth in NL)
-9.7 Clutch, 12.3 Run Prevention, 8.5 Baserunners, 30.1 Command
16. Los Angeles Dodgers (–0.5, Ninth in NL)
-3.8 Clutch, 0.9 Run Prevention, 10.4 Baserunners, 1.7 Command
17. Texas Rangers (–2.1, Eighth in AL)
-3.3 Clutch, -1.7 Run Prevention, 0.6 Baserunners, 2.7 Command
Slightly Below Average
18. Philadelphia Phillies (–2.4, 10th in NL)
1.5 Clutch, -8.8 Run Prevention, -8.7 Baserunners, 15.4 Command
19. Minnesota Twins (–3.8, Ninth in AL)
-11.9 Clutch, -2.9 Run Prevention, 6.8 Baserunners, 49.8 Command
20. Boston Red Sox (–5.1, 10th in AL)
-11.9 Clutch, -1.0 Run Prevention, 3.1 Baserunners, 18.6 Command
21. Toronto Blue Jays (–5.3, 11th in AL)
0.2 Clutch, -7.3 Run Prevention, -16.8 Baserunners, -22.9 Command
Lots of Work to Do
22. Cincinnati Reds (–7.1, 11th in NL)
-23.1 Clutch, 11.6 Run Prevention, 0.7 Baserunners, 6.5 Command
23. Pittsburgh Pirates (–7.5, 12th in NL)
-18.9 Clutch, 3.3 Run Prevention, 2.6 Baserunners, 10.2 Command
Stock Up on Tums
24. Baltimore Orioles (–11.5, 12th in AL)
-28.4 Clutch, 1.3 Run Prevention, 4.1 Baserunners, 35.5 Command
25. Colorado Rockies (–12.1, 13th in NL)
-8.9 Clutch, -9.3 Run Prevention, -18.3 Baserunners, -52.1 Command
26. Arizona Diamondbacks (–18.9, 14th in NL)
-26.6 Clutch, -9.4 Run Prevention, -0.3 Baserunners, -45.2 Command
Pray for a Blowout Win
27. Houston Astros (–24.1, 13th in AL)
-41.3 Clutch, -4.6 Run Prevention, -15.0 Baserunners, -7.9 Command
28. Chicago White Sox (–27.2, 14th in AL)
-36.2 Clutch, -13.3 Run Prevention, -23.7 Baserunners, -42.4 Command
29. Los Angeles Angels (–27.5, 15th in AL)
-39.5 Clutch, -13.6 Run Prevention, -16.0 Baserunners, -26.8 Command
30. Miami Marlins (–32.2, 15th in NL)
-55.9 Clutch, -7.3 Run Prevention, -10.3 Baserunners, -13.1 Command
Category Boards
Sport Relay Individual Reliever and Bullpen Rankings, March & April 2024
Top Ten/Top Five Lists
Full Leaderboards
Full Score Explanation
For clutch, we will use both the Goose Egg total (33%) and the ratio of Goose Eggs to Broken Eggs (67%) due to the major flaws in Saves and Holds. Full details about Goose Eggs are here. Otherwise, here’s the elevator speech.
A Goose Egg is like a save, except more restrictive. Here are the main points…
- It’s done inning by inning, starting in the seventh.
- Maximum of a two-run lead, not three, but it also includes tie games. Like the save, exceptions are made if the tying run is on base or at bat. (Not on deck, however.)
- Run Breakdown:
- No run of any kind — earned, unearned, or inherited — scores, it’s a goose egg (GE).
- Earned run charged to the pitcher, it’s a broken egg (BE).
- Any other run scores, it’s neither.
- Earned run scores in an inning where he closes out the victory, it’s also neither.
- Starts the inning and gives up no runs, but doesn’t finish the inning, it’s also neither.
- He must finish the inning while recording the following number of outs:
- No one on when he starts the inning — all three;
- One on — at least two;
- Two or three on — at least one.
- Any time it’s “neither,” it’s called a “Meh,” as in “nothing special.” They’re like a stalemate in chess and count as nothing, so we don’t really talk about them.
- Most important is the ratio of GE to BE (GE/BE). The historical average, dating to 1921, is 3.0, or 3-to-1.
For run prevention, we will use a mixture of the Scoreless Outing Percentage (Earned Runs only), Inherited Runners Scored Percentage (IS%), and ERA-minus. ScOtg% is 75% of the score, IS% is 15%, and ERA-minus is 10%.
Also See:
Week 4 Individual Rankings, Week 5 Individual Rankings.
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