In a league where late-inning dominance can make or break a team, a few 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.
Andres Munoz, Seattle Mariners
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 5 Ks, 11.25 K/9, 3 S/H
Three saves/holds (S/H) on his week vs. the Texas teams, Munoz was locked down for the M’s. Munoz is primarily the 9th inning guy, and for good reason. Of particular highlight was Sunday against the heart of the Rangers lineup – after retiring Corey Seager, giving up a single to Josh Smith, Munoz struck out Adolis Garcia and Josh Jung to close the win for Seattle.
Jason Adam, San Diego Padres
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 5 Ks, 15.00 K/9, 3 S/H
Jason Adam has been a machine to start the year, and that’s par for his course. He’s been one of the best relievers in baseball for a few years now, and playing for a competitive Padres team has him in a position to compile holds. His secondaries do their job (in particular his sweeper this week), but Adams’ four-seam fastball is his bread and butter – 95+ MPH with elite iVB.
Cade Smith, Cleveland Guardians
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 5 Ks, 15.00 K/9, 2 S/H
What if I told you the best reliever in Cleveland’s bullpen right now was not named Emmanuel Clase? I think Clase will be just fine, but Cade Smith is insane. His fastball is stupid good (17.3” of iVB), and his splitter and sweeper hold their own as well. Aside from the two free passes he issued against Chicago, he did not allow another baserunner all week. If Clase continues to struggle, we could see Cade take over the 9th.
Tanner Scott, Los Angeles Dodgers
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, 2 Ks, 9.00 K/9, 2 S/H
The Dodgers bullpen is ridiculously good, and barring injuries is going to compile S/H all season. Scott, the first of two Dodger entries on this list, locked down 2 S/H against the Nationals and the Cubs unscathed (zero baserunners, period). Strikeouts weren’t phenomenal, but so what? Scott did his job when called upon. Against the Nationals on Wednesday, Scott was called upon for the meat of the order in the 7th (Abrams, Wood, Ruiz) and was just filthy in sitting them down – four swinging strikes in eight pitches, resulting in 2 punchouts. The four-seamer (18” iVB) and the tight slider (2,600 spin) are cooking.
Justin Martinez, Arizona Diamondbacks
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, 3 Ks, 13.50 K/9, 2 S/H
When analysts refer to a particular player’s Statcast page as “blood red”, it’s a very good thing. It means that the pitcher profile is in the 95th percentile or above in expected performance – xERA, xBA, exit velocity, whiff, and K%, and so on. Friends, Justin Martinez’s profile is bloody. And the results on the year confirm it. This past week, Martinez earned 2 S/H against some good lineups – Baltimore and Milwaukee. He was so cheesy against the Brewers, averaging 101.2 on his fastballs (sinker and four-seam) with junky movement and precision placement. Oh, and zero baserunners for the week. Chef’s kiss.
Hunter Gaddis, Cleveland Guardians
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 4 Ks, 12.00 K/9, 2 S/H
Hunter’s four-seam/changeup combination just gets the job done week in and week out. And why wouldn’t it? When you have 15 MPN of difference between two pitches that look identical in delivery? C’mon, Hunter – play nice with the other kids. It’s just not fair. The slider is no slouch either, btw. At home against the White Sox and the Royals, Hunter had them all working. And I love the no-nonsense way he just goes after hitters. Folks, Cleveland’s bullpen is stacked, too.
Tyler Ferguson, Athletics
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 8 Ks, 22.50 K/9, 1 S/H
Less heralded as the other names on this list, Ferguson certainly isn’t special. But last week he was, especially considering his opponents (San Diego and the New York Metropolitans). The pitch mix was fantastic against the Friars, garnering a 47% CSW rate. And after walking Soto, he got out of a 3/2 jam with Pete the bat en route to closing out the Mets on Saturday. He’s not the best reliever in baseball (though one of his teammates may be), but he deserves some flowers this week.
Penn Murfee, Chicago White Sox
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 0.43 WHIP, 5 Ks, 21.43 K/9, 0 S/H
No, Penn didn’t have any saves last week. Nor did he have any holds. He plays on one (if not the) worst teams in baseball and has one of the worst stat lines for any regular reliever out there. But guess what? Penn had a week – against some damn decent lineups at that. Murfee only allowed one base runner in his three appearances and had a shiny K/9. His sweeper was an insanely filthy sweeper against the Red Sox Friday night (20” iHB, 67% whiff rate) – Murf dispatched Story, Abreu, and Campbell in order all on put-away, swinging-strikes with the pitch. And who doesn’t love a sidearm slotter?
Kirby Yates, Los Angeles Dodgers
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, 4 Ks, 18.00 K/9, 1 S/H
Like his Dodger bullpen brethren, Yates is pitching at a ridiculous level. Kirby boasts one of the highest K/9 numbers in the league and has been the definition of shutdown (except that one time against the Phils). A hold against the Cubs and a win out in D.C., his four-seamer and split-finger were unhittable, and the pitch profile backs it up. Yates doesn’t throw hard, but the splitter cooks, and he commands the strike zone so well.
A.J. Puk, Arizona Diamondbacks
Week’s Line: 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 4 Ks, 18.00 K/9, 2 S/H
To close out, let’s take a look at A.J. Puk. Fantastic line for the week, bolstered by a three-strikeout effort against the Brewers on Sunday (hot take – the D-Back bullpen wasn’t nice to the Brewers on Sunday… at all). The four-seamer went 5/10 on swings and misses (50% whiff), and he finished the game with a 38% CSW%. The inning wasn’t all pretty (24 pitches, a hit batter, and another walk), but Puk closed it out in style against Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio – two of Milwaukee’s best hitters.