In a league where late-inning dominance can make or break a team, these are the relief pitchers 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.
Reid Detmers, Los Angeles Angels
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 6 K, 13.50 K9, 4 S/H
Big innings for Detmers this week, who has found success in the pen. He got shelled a bit at the end of April, but has been fantastic since the transition to high-leverage work.
Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Angels
Week’s Line: 2.25 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 3 K, 6.75 K9, 3 S/H
Jansen shut the door three times this week – twice against the M’s and once in Boston (his old stomping grounds, kinda). He’s sporadic, but was locked in last week.
Carlos Estevez, Kansas City Royals
Week’s Line: 2.70 ERA, 2.10 WHIP, 4 K, 10.81 K9, 3 S/H
Seven baserunners in three innings isn’t amazing, but a big part of that damage came in a third of an inning in the Lou in the first half of a double-header. Rest of the week he did his job.
Randy Rodriguez, San Francisco Giants
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 0.27 WHIP, 7 K, 17.17 K9, 3 S/H
The best pitcher in the SF pen is starting to get some high-leverage work. And if I’m listing the top five relief pitchers in the bigs, RR is absolutely in my mix.
Jake Bird, Colorado Rockies
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 3 K, 10.11 K9, 3 S/H
Bet you didn’t expect to see me feature a Colorado Rockies pitcher in any “hottest” article. But here we are. Three holds, including Friday against the Mets, where he struck his way out of an inherited bases-loaded jam.
Josh Hader, Houston Astros
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 6 K, 18.00 K9, 2 S/H
Remember that Top 5 list I mentioned? Yeah, Hader is there. He’s locked in right now, and has only given up two hits, two walks, and one earned run in the last month.
Robert Suarez, San Diego Padres
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, 3 K, 6.75 K9, 2 S/H
The Padres flamethrower (two pitches averaging over 98.0 MPH) only allowed two baserunners in four innings of work on the road last week. His 21 saves on the season ranks among the best in the bigs.
Aroldis Chapman, Boston Red Sox
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, 3 K, 11.59 K9, 2 S/H
Speaking of flamethrowers, I give you Aroldis Chapman – who threw seven pitches OVER 100.0 MPH this week (twice over 102.0). Think he was motivated in the Bronx this weekend?
Bryan Abreu, Houston Astros
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 4 K, 12.00 K9, 2 S/H
Part of one of the best RP duos in the league, Abreu excels in the set-up. Yes, it was the Pirates, but still.
David Bednar, Pittsburgh Pirates
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 0.33 WHIP, 6 K, 18.00 K9, 2 S/H
Speaking of the Pirates, Bednar had a really good week with big boy games against the Astros and Phillies. And Friday against the Phils – looking-swinging-swinging.