WS Champs and bullpen

The 2025 deadline was just a couple of weeks ago. Before the trade deadline, several teams decided to acquire relievers to enhance their bullpens. Moreover, I listened to a podcast show a few days ago. In the podcast, an analyst indicated the importance of the bullpen in the postseason.

 

After listening to the podcast show, I was just thinking about the bullpen usage of those teams that won the World Series title. So, I decided to check on the MLB website to review the bullpen performance among those teams that won the Fall Classic from 2020 to 2024.

 

Firstly, let’s look back at the 2020 postseason. In 2020, the Dodgers won the first title since 1988. In the 2020 postseason, the relievers of the Dodgers threw 84 innings, posting a 3.64 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. Opponents hit .222 against the Dodgers bullpen in the 2020 playoffs. In the 2020 World Series, the Dodgers relievers tossed 28.1 innings and they owned a 4.13 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. Opponents’ batting average was .229.

 

In the 2021 postseason, the Braves relievers threw 75.1 innings, posting a 3.11 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. Opponents hit .231 against them in the 2021 playoffs. In the 2021 Fall Classic, the Braves relievers owned a 2.51 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP over 32.1 innings. Opponents’ batting average was .234 against them.

 

In addition, the Astros relief pitchers threw 54.1 innings in the 2022 postseason, posting a 0.83 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP. Opponents’ batting average was .126. In the 2022 World Series, the Astros relievers threw 21.1 innings. They owned a 0.84 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP. Opponents only hit .123 against them.

 

Furthermore, in the 2023 postseason, the Texas Rangers relievers threw 70.2 innings, posting a 4.08 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Opponents hit .233 against them. In the 2023 World Series, the Rangers relievers owned a 4.84 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP over 22.1 innings. Opponents hit .265 against them in this series.

 

Finally, last postseason, the Dodgers relievers threw 82 innings, posting a 3.95 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Opponents’ batting average was .236 against them. In the World Series, the Dodgers relievers threw 25 innings. However, they owned an ERA over 5 and their WHIP was over 1.60. At the same time, opponents hit .235 against them in the World Series.

 

Looking back at the bullpen performance among the teams that won the World Series title over the last 5 seasons, the Dodgers’ bullpen was reliable in the 2020 World Series. Additionally, the Braves’ bullpen did help the team win the World Series title. In 2022, the Astros’ bullpen was truly amazing and their performance is certainly memorable. Nonetheless, in 2023, the Rangers’ relievers didn’t pitch so well in the postseason with an ERA over 4. Well, the Dodgers’ bullpen owned an ERA below 4 in the 2024 postseason. Nevertheless, their ERA was over 5 in the 2024 World Series. Of course, there are many factors to win the World Series title. But, as we can see, you can’t win the title with a bad bullpen. A group of relievers that can pitch consistently in the postseason is certainly important. And, sometimes, we can see bullpen games in the playoffs.