In a league where late-inning dominance can make or break a team, these are the relief pitchers who stood out last week with electric performances that left hitters baffled and fans buzzing. Whether it’s a closer slamming the door shut or a setup man bridging the gap and holding the line, these arms delivered when it mattered. We’re spotlighting the hottest relief pitchers in Major League Baseball over the past seven days — the guys who turned pressure into performance and owned the mound.
Jordan Romano, Philadelphia Phillies
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 0.33 WHIP, 6 K, 18.00 K9, 3 S/H
Romano’s season-long numbers don’t dazzle, but they’re really only inflated by two terrible outings. Jordan sizzled last week against the Cardinals and Pirates, allowing only one baserunner in 3.0 innings. Both his slider and four-seam were cooking, as evidenced by his 73% CSW rate (8/11) as he pounded the zone against Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Luke Weaver, New York Yankees
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, 6 K, 16.22 K9, 2 S/H
Big boy games for Weaver this week, and he didn’t allow a single baserunner while doing it. The fastball/changeup overlay is sick, and the elite movement profile of each pitch seems to have hitters guessing (41% whiff on the change).
Kevin Ginkel, Arizona Diamondbacks
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 0.30 WHIP, 4 K, 10.81 K9, 2 S/H
On the season, Ginkel has been brutal. Or maybe better stated, had been brutal. Maybe something clicked last week, because it was his best seven days all year. Two holds, and only one baserunner in 3.1 innings. Granted, it was the Rockies for three of those appearances. But still.
Matt Brash, Seattle Mariners
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, 3 K, 13.50 K9, 2 S/H
Filthy. Matt Brash is filthy. And while the velocity isn’t quite back (although he touched 96 MPH this week), the drop and run stuff is. The slider was on full display Tuesday against the Yankees, going 80% CSW and generating whiffs on 4/5 swings. Just ask Aaron Judge, who sat down swinging at all three sliders Brash served him.
Anthony Bender, Miami Marlins
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 0.33 WHIP, 1 K, 3.00 K9, 2 S/H
Bender has been a bright spot in one of the most dumpster fire bullpens in baseball. The strikeout stuff is lacking, but he’s rarely barreled and induces a ton of groundballs. This week, he earned two holds against the Cubbies, one of – if not the – hottest offense in the bigs, allowing only one baserunner total in his two appearances against them.
Nick Mears, Milwaukee Brewers
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 0.38 WHIP, 0 K, 0.00 K9, 2 S/H
Nick Mears is a versatile arm for the Brewers, and he’s got closer-level stuff. But he’s mostly called upon as the set-up, and he has seven holds to show for it. This week he earned two against to AL Central teams playing damn good baseball – the Twins and the Guardians.
Cade Smith, Cleveland Guardians
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 5 K, 22.50 K9, 0 S/H
Cade is one of my favs, so it’s nice to be able to feature him again. I’ve waxed poetic before about his delivery and pitch shape, so I’ll spare you here. And he’s gotten knocked around a bit here lately, with hits allowed in five straight. And the walk rate is higher than you’d like to see from a high-leverage reliever. But the strikeout stuff remains intact, he’s rarely barreled, and his extension is absolutely dreamy.
Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland Guardians
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 4 K, 22.50 K9, 1 S/H
Staying in Cleveland, Clase seems to have put his rough start behind him. He hasn’t given up a run in six straight, including his two appearances last week. The cutter looks divine and is still absolutely one of the best pitches in baseball. He was a little shaky against Cincinnati on Saturday (with a hit allowed, a walk, and a wild pitch), but he still came through unscathed.
Brock Stewart, Minnesota Twins
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 7 K, 21.00 K9, 1 S/H
Save for a couple outings in late April/early March, Brock Stewart has been exceptional this season. He’s a key contributor in one of – if not the – best bullpens in baseball, along with Louis Varland, Griffin Jax, and Jhoan Duran. He mainly lives on his four-seamer, but the sweeper and sinker are money pitches (85.7% and 71.4% whiffs, respectively). He even earned a win this week to go along with his hold.
Justin Slaten, Boston Red Sox
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, 4 K, 18.00 K9, 0 S/H
I don’t think Justin Slaten gets enough credit. Same as Stewart, if you took just two outings off his register, we’d be looking at him as one of the best in the business. Peep this – if you took out the three bad (disastrous, actually) games, Slaten has surrendered only two hits in 16 appearances. Two. Oh, and zero walks in those 16 also. That’s incredible to me. Oh, and he did it this week against true contenders – the Tigers and the Mets.
