Reliever Roundup & Bullpen Bonanza, Ep. 9

A mosaic of the winners of Sport Relay's May Bullpen / Reliever Awards

June 8, 2024

Reliever Roundup & Bullpen Bonanza — May 2024 Awards

Welcome to the second Awards Edition of Reliever Roundup and Bullpen Bonanza! In this installment, we will announce the Sport Relay Reliever Award winners for May.

Statistics are for all games in the month of May and exclude position pitchers. To qualify for the leaderboards, a pitcher must have at least seven relief appearances.

We have created a convenient glossary page. If a stat name is linked, click/tap it to see, in a new tab, the definition of that stat.

Click/tap here to see the ranking method.

League averages for May:

AL — 3.94 ERA, 1.225 WHIP, 2.8 HR%, 14.1 K–BB%, 72.2 ScOtg% (ER), 2.9 GE/BE, 1.4 GE, 35.4 IS%.
NL — 3.85 ERA, 1.260 WHIP, 2.7 HR%, 14.1 K–BB%, 72.4 ScOtg% (ER), 3.1 GE/BE, 1.5 GE, 35.9 IS%.

Sport Relay Team Reliever and Bullpen Awards, May 2024

Relief Corps of the Month (AL), May

Cleveland Guardians
22.0 GE/BE (22–1), 81.5 ScOtg%, 0.920 WHIP, 1.3 HR%, 19.7 K–BB%

Shakiest Relief Corps of the Month (AL), May

Texas Rangers
1.6 GE/BE (13–8), 58.3 ScOtg%, 1.579 WHIP, 2.7 HR%, 8.0 K–BB%

Relief Corps of the Month (NL), May

Atlanta Braves
14.0 GE/BE (14–1), 79.2 ScOtg%, 1.315 WHIP, 2.3 HR%, 13.2 K–BB%

Shakiest Relief Corps of the Month (NL), May

Colorado Rockies
1.5 GE/BE (18–12), 61.3 ScOtg%, 1.613 WHIP, 2.8 HR%, 6.0 K–BB%

Sport Relay Individual Reliever and Bullpen Awards, May 2024

AL Middle Reliever of the Month, May

Cade Smith, Cleveland Guardians

Smith held opponents scoreless in 10 of his 11 May appearances. He had a 0.618 WHIP, a 38.5 K–BB% (41.0 K%, 2.6 BB%), did not allow an inherited runner to score, and did not allow a home run.

NL Middle Reliever of the Month, May

Jeremiah Estrada, San Diego Padres

Estrada was 9-for-10 in scoreless appearances (90.0 ScOtg%) and had a 0.429 WHIP. The lone earned run he allowed came on a solo home run by Colorado Rockies left fielder Jordan Beck on May 15, giving him a 2.5 HR%. The most eye-popping stat was his 52.5 K–BB% after a 57.5 K% and 5.0 BB%, including an expansion era-record 13 consecutive strikeouts.

AL Setup Man of the Month, May

Hunter Gaddis, Cleveland Guardians

Nary a runner — earned, unearned, or inherited — crossed the plate with Hunter Gaddis on the mound for all of May. Like last month’s winner, Brock Stewart of the Minnesota Twins, Gaddis 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 6–0–0. Additionally, he had a mind-boggling 0.405 WHIP along with no home runs allowed (obviously) and a 19.0 K–BB%.

NL Setup Man of the Month, May

Hunter Harvey, Washington Nationals

Harvey had a 9.0 GE/BE ratio, 9-1 GE–BE, in his 14 appearances. He also had a 0 IS% (0-for-6), a 0.818 WHIP, a 1.9 HR%, and a 22.2 K–BB%.

AL Closer of the Month, May

Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland Guardians

Clase gave the Guardians a clean sweep of the three AL awards of the month. In his 13 appearances, he allowed no earned runs and went 8–0 in GE–BE. (Editor’s note: He did allow one run, but it was unearned.) Rounding out his stats were a 0.385 WHIP, 28.3 K–BB%, and (obviously) no home runs allowed.

NL Closer of the Month, May

Tanner Scott, Miami Marlins

Like Gaddis, no runner crossed the plate with Tanner Scott on the mound. He was a perfect 10-for-10 in scoreless appearances, a perfect 8–0 in GE–BE, stranded the only inherited runner he had in the month, and (obviously) did not allow any home runs. Despite a 12.5 BB%, he still had a 0.871 WHIP and a 15.0 K–BB%.

This was not the only award Scott earned in May, however, because…

Most Improved, NL, May

Tanner Scott, Miami Marlins closer

Scott was also the most improved NL reliever in May. He had a 1.5 GE/BE ratio in March and April (3–2 GE–BE) along with a 1.658 WHIP, 84.6 ScOtg% (ER), and 1.6 HR%. His K–BB% was –1.6%. Yes…negative 1.6%, meaning that he walked more batters than he struck out. (19.7 K%, 21.3 BB%) This gave him a total of –2.4 points on the leaderboard. His May performance gave him 155.0 points, an improvement of 157.4 points. This edged out the second-most improved player, Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar, who improved by 154.5 points (–31.0 in April, 123.5 in May).

Biggest Plunge, NL, May

Jorge Lopez, New York Mets Setup Man

Lopez, in 14 March/April appearances, had a perfect 4–0 GE–BE along with a 0.907 WHIP, 14.5 K–BB%, and no home runs allowed. He also was 11-for-14 in scoreless appearances, a 78.6 ScOtg%. This gave him 98.6 points for the month.

In 14 May appearances, Lopez had a 1.0 GE/BE (2–2 GE–BE) and kept opponents from scoring an earned run eight times, a 57.1 ScOtg% (ER). Additionally, he had a 1.917 WHIP, a 5.4 HR%, and 0.0 K–BB% (both were 12.5%). This gave him –37.0 points, a change of –135.6.

Most Improved, AL, May

Pete Fairbanks, Tampa Bay Rays Closer

April was nothing short of dreadful for Fairbanks. He had a 1.0 GE/BE (2–2 GE–BE), allowing earned runs in 4-of-8 appearances, a 50.0 ScOtg% (ER). Additionally, he had a 2.286 WHIP and a 5.6 K–BB% (27.8 K%, 22.2 BB%). This gave him an overall score of –49.0.

May yielded far better results for Fairbanks. He did not allow earned runs in any of his nine appearances and had a perfect 5–0 GE–BE. In addition, he had a 0.889 WHIP and a 20.6 K–BB%. This gave him an overall score of 128.1 points, a 177.1-point improvement.

Biggest Plunge, AL, May

Gabe Speier, Seattle Mariners Setup Man

Speier was terrific in March/April, going a perfect 6–0 in GE–BE and 11-for-12 in scoreless outings (91.7%). He also had a 0.656 WHIP, a 2.5 HR%, and a 32.5 K–BB%. This gave him an overall score of 114.4.

In May, Speier had 0.5 GE/BE (1–2 GE–BE) and was 5-for-10 in scoreless outings (50.0%). Even worse, he had a 66.7 IS% (4-for-6), a 3.000 WHIP, and a –2.9 K–BB%. His score for the month was –81.1, a difference of –195.5.

Sport Relay Team Reliever and Bullpen Rankings, May 2024

Team overall leaderboards, May 2024. Covers all games in the month. AL (red) on the left; NL (blue) on the right.

Are These Guys Human?

1. Cleveland Guardians (240.2, 1st in AL) ▲ +4 from April
456.4 Clutch, 17.3 Run Prevention, 30.8 Baserunners, 57.1 Command

The Outliers

2. Atlanta Braves (115.8, 1st in NL) ▲ +13 from April
225.4 Clutch, 10.2 Run Prevention, -0.8 Baserunners, -8.0 Command

3. New York Yankees (107.2, 2nd in AL) ▲ +3 from April
203.5 Clutch, 11.8 Run Prevention, 4.6 Baserunners, 16.8 Command

The Elite

4. Miami Marlins (80.8, 2nd in NL) ▲ +26 from April
150.4 Clutch, 12.5 Run Prevention, 17.2 Baserunners, -10.1 Command

5. Tampa Bay Rays (73.5, 3rd in AL) ▲ +6 from April
142.7 Clutch, 6.6 Run Prevention, -2.3 Baserunners, 0.6 Command

6. Philadelphia Phillies (45.7, 3rd in NL) ▲ +12 from April
71.8 Clutch, 23.0 Run Prevention, 12.9 Baserunners, 8.9 Command

Better Take an Early Lead…

7. Los Angeles Dodgers (37.9, 4th in NL) ▲ +9 from April
61.0 Clutch, 16.0 Run Prevention, 17.1 Baserunners, 1.6 Command

8. Boston Red Sox (19.2, 4th in AL) ▲ +12 from April
31.9 Clutch, 4.0 Run Prevention, 4.7 Baserunners, -11.2 Command

The Very Good

9. San Diego Padres (17.4, 5th in NL) ▼ -5 from April
25.3 Clutch, 5.7 Run Prevention, 13.4 Baserunners, 29.2 Command

10. Houston Astros (12.1, 5th in AL) ▲ +17 from April
16.3 Clutch, 4.5 Run Prevention, 13.8 Baserunners, 19.6 Command

The Good

11. Pittsburgh Pirates (8.05, rounded to 8.0, 6th in NL) ▲ +12 from April
29.0 Clutch, -12.0 Run Prevention, -15.4 Baserunners, -13.6 Command

12. San Francisco Giants (7.95, rounded to 8.0, 7th in NL) ▲ +2 from April
15.7 Clutch, -5.5 Run Prevention, 6.2 Baserunners, 28.4 Command

Slightly above Average

13. St Louis Cardinals (4.4, 8th in NL) ▼ -5 from April
14.6 Clutch, -5.6 Run Prevention, -3.3 Baserunners, -11.1 Command

14. Baltimore Orioles (4.2, 6th in AL) ▲ +10 from April
5.1 Clutch, 8.5 Run Prevention, 8.6 Baserunners, -44.0 Command

15. Washington Nationals (4.0, 9th in NL) ▼ -2 from April
3.5 Clutch, 5.5 Run Prevention, 11.4 Baserunners, -17.0 Command

Slightly below Average

16. Oakland Athletics (–1.5, 7th in AL) ▼ -14 from April
-1.2 Clutch, -2.9 Run Prevention, -0.9 Baserunners, 4.4 Command

17. Toronto Blue Jays (–3.0, 8th in AL) ▲ +4 from April
-5.4 Clutch, 2.3 Run Prevention, -6.1 Baserunners, -10.8 Command

18. Cincinnati Reds (–3.7, 10th in NL) ▲ +3 from April
-10.4 Clutch, -1.5 Run Prevention, 8.5 Baserunners, 22.9 Command

Lots of Work to Do

19. Chicago White Sox (–5.81, rounded to –5.8, [Place] in AL) ▲ +9 from April
-7.7 Clutch, -0.2 Run Prevention, -13.2 Baserunners, -11.2 Command

20. Los Angeles Angels (–5.83, rounded to –5.8, [Place] in AL) ▲ +9 from April
-15.9 Clutch, 1.7 Run Prevention, 8.6 Baserunners, 13.4 Command

21. Seattle Mariners (–7.3, 11th in AL) ▼ -12 from April
-8.0 Clutch, -13.7 Run Prevention, 2.5 Baserunners, 24.8 Command

22. Arizona Diamondbacks (–7.4, 11th in NL) ▲ +4 from April
-8.7 Clutch, -4.5 Run Prevention, -9.8 Baserunners, -10.3 Command