Washington Nationals Editorial: How does the Nats Bullpen Stack Up in the NL East?

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Our National League East rankings for 2016 continue as we take a look at the bullpens.

After we complete our NL East 2016 Preview by ranking the top performers at each position, we will then rank the teams based on a system in which each club is awarded five points for a player ranked first place, four points for a player ranked second place, and so on. After taking a look at our third base, center field, second base, and shortstop rankings, read on to see how the Nats’ bullpen ranks among the relieving corps’ in the division.

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Last season, Washington entered 2015 coming off a year in which they led finished fourth in all of baseball with a 3.00 bullpen ERA. Former number ten overall pick Drew Storen was gearing up for his first season as the Nats’ full-time closer in four years. Behind them sat New York, who finished eighth in the MLB with a combined 3.14 ERA by their relieving corps. The Mets were in the midst of making the questionable decision of relying on the likes of 25-year old Jeurys Familia for ninth inning duties.

Atlanta Braves

Braves relievers appeared in a combined 485.2 innings in 2015, putting up an ERA of 4.69 while compiling 430 strikeouts, 217 walks, and 44 saves and holding opposing hitters to a .264 batting average against.

Atlanta did not have high expectations for its bullpen entering 2015. With the club still a few years removed from competing in the NL East once again, the Braves’ main focus going into the season was to further develop their young stars of the future. In doing so, they signed several veterans looking for bounce back seasons.

A year later, things are not much different. Jim Johnson and Jason Grilli remain on the roster, having both put together a solid yet disappointing 2015 campaign. As a result, neither player figures to be handed the keys to the ninth inning job this season. Instead, 25-year old Arodys Vizcaíno will be given the chance to prove himself after posting a 1.60 ERA in 36 appearances last season. An underrated name in the field of closers, the Dominican-native has the chance to be a bright spot in an otherwise abysmal bullpen.

Other than Vizcaíno, the Atlanta bullpen does not sport many names to boast about. Some type of combination of Andrew McKirahan, Williams Perez, Kyle Kendrick, Brandon Cunniff, Ryan Weber, and former National Ian Krol will be looking to fill the other four spots by Opening Day. McKirahan, Cunniff, and Weber are the only players of the six to be returning to Atlanta from last season, but all three posted ERA’s above 4.63 in 2015.

Next: #4 Bullpen in the NL East

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Philadelphia Phillies

Phillies relievers appeared in a combined 543.2 innings in 2015, putting up an ERA of 3.81 while compiling 518 strikeouts, 227 walks, and 35 saves and holding opposing hitters to a .262 batting average against.

The Phillies will head into Spring Training as the only team in the NL East without a clearly defined closer. While a club in full-rebuild mode does not typically need one, their bullpen numbers will most likely take a nosedive in 2016 after their trades of former closers Jonathan Papelbon to Washington last July and Ken Giles to the Houston Astros this winter

30-year old veteran David Hernandez signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia last December, and will be a front-runner in the Spring Training closer battle. His competition features the likes of Jeanmar Gomez, who recorded a 3.01 ERA in 65 appearances for Philly last season, and Vincent Velasquez, who was acquired from Houston via the Giles trade.

At only 23-years old, Velasquez provides the most upside for the future. If Hernandez is able to perform at a high level in 2016, we could see him traded to a contender in July. If he loses out on the job in Spring Training, Velasquez still might be able to get a second chance at the role midseason.

Like Atlanta, the makeup of the rest of the bullpen is still yet to be determined. According to RotoChamp’s projections, Luis Garcia, Adam Morgan, David Buchanan, and Hector Neris will round out the rest of Philadelphia’s relieving corps. Morgan and Buchanan are the two most interesting candidates after spending the entirety of their young major league careers as starters.

Next: #3 Bullpen in the NL East

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Miami Marlins

Marlins relievers appeared in a combined 516.0 innings in 2015, putting up an ERA of 3.66 while compiling 499 strikeouts, 214 walks, and 35 saves and holding opposing hitters to a .240 batting average against.

After a solid 2015 season in which the club ranked 14^th in the league in bullpen ERA and 12^th in reliever strikeouts, the Marlins have the make up of a very similar bullpen in 2016. Closer A.J. Ramos will return for his second straight season at the helm, looking to improve on his 32 save, 2.30 ERA performance. With four more years left of control on his rookie contract, Ramos is seen by Miami’s coaching staff as their closer for the foreseeable future.

The Marlins have three quietly effective relievers behind Ramos that have the potential make or break Miami’s bullpen this season. Mike Dunn, who posted a 10.8 K/9 in 54 innings last year, is currently projected to handle eighth inning duties in 2016. 28-year old Bryan Morris finished third on the team with 67 appearances last season, but will see his playing time drop if Carter Capps is able to repeat his unprecedented 2015 success.

Rounding out the rest of the crew are the likes of former starter Justin Nicolino, 26-year old Andre Rienzo, and Kyle Barraclough, who posted a 2.59 ERA in 25 appearances in 2015. While Atlanta and Philadelphia clearly project to be in the bottom ten of the league in bullpen ERA, Miami comes in at No. 3 in our rankings with high upside and a level of reliability that separates them from the bottom feeders.

Next: #2 Bullpen in the NL East

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New York Mets

Mets relievers appeared in a combined 460.0 innings in 2015, putting up an ERA of 3.48 while compiling 446 strikeouts, 170 walks, and 50 saves and holding opposing hitters to a .233 batting average against.

New York comes in at number two on these rankings less than a few days removed from watching five year veteran Jenrry Mejia receive a lifetime ban from Major League Baseball for failing a third straight PED drug test. Despite that, the Mets’ bullpen will be a pivotal key to their success in 2016.

Jeurys Familia will retain his role as closer after recording 43 saves for New York last season. Although he managed to blow three saves during the World Series, his 0.61 ERA throughout the playoffs is no small feat. Recently acquired lefty Antonio Bastardo will be looking to take over the set-up role, hoping to carry over his success in Pittsburgh from last season.

Bastardo won’t be the only man handling eighth inning duties, however. 27-year old Addison Reed had the lowest ERA on the team last year among players who made at least eight appearances. Hansel Robles is still appealing a three-game suspension he received September 30^th, and could begin the year on the shelf for the opening series. However, he too could make a push for a late inning role midseason.

After the departures of Tyler Clippard and Bobby Parnell, an interesting Spring Training battle will be held between former Nat Jerry Blevins, left-hander Sean Gilmartin, and other experienced arms including Logan Verrett, Rafael Montero, and Erik Goeddel.

Next: #1 Bullpen in the NL East

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Washington Nationals

Nats relievers appeared in a combined 468.1 innings in 2015, putting up an ERA of 3.46 while compiling 421 strikeouts, 142 walks, and 41 saves and holding opposing hitters to a .244 batting average against.

Now before you start wondering how in the world the Nats could possibly have the best bullpen in the NL East after last year’s nightmare of a season, consider these two important things to remember: there is no one dominant relieving corps in the division and the Nats’ bullpen looks almost nothing like it did a year ago.

Jonathan Papelbon will return as closer after General Manager Mike Rizzo was understandably unable to trade him this offseason. While many fans dislike his personality and would rather he be sporting a different jersey in 2016, his 349 career saves in addition to his stellar postseason repertoire bodes well for the Nats. If he can keep his emotions under check, Washington is going to be very tough to score on in the ninth inning.

While the Nats and Mets finished within 0.02 points in ERA last season, the Mets will be retaining a majority of their core relievers while Washington underwent a major overhaul this offseason. Free agents Shawn Kelley, Oliver Perez, and Yusmeiro Petit will all be bringing different skillsets to the table in 2016. Kelley, who will be the most experienced pitcher on the staff, save for Papelbon, could see himself taking over the set up role this season.

Standing in his way, however, is lefty Felipe Rivero, who impressed in his rookie season with the Nats and could be a fearsome tandem alongside the newly acquired Trevor Gott for years to come.

No bullpen stands out as a force to be reckoned with in 2016. While the Nats and Mets certainly have the potential to have very productive years, neither team will most likely see themselves competing with the likes of the Royals or Yankees for the best bullpen in baseball. Miami has a lot to like, while Atlanta and Philadelphia could see the tide turning over the next couple years. Regardless, the Nats will enter the season owners of the best projected bullpen in the NL East.

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