The Cleveland Guardians have positioned themselves as a serious contender in 2024, with an 86-64 record and a four-game lead in the AL Central. A major reason for their success? The most dominant bullpen in Major League Baseball. With World Series odds sitting at +1300 and American League Pennant odds at +500 per BetMGM, Cleveland’s elite relievers make them a great pick for a deep postseason run.
Cleveland’s bullpen has been unmatched this season, leading the league with a 2.68 ERA— the only team below 3.19. Guardians’ relievers have also compiled a stellar 38-11 record, which speaks volumes about their ability to protect leads and come through in high-leverage situations. Their bullpen also boasts a league-best 1.05 WHIP and a .203 opponents' batting average, showing just how difficult it is to get runs across against these pitchers.
Additionally, the Guardians' bullpen has contributed an MLB--best 7.4 WAR, making them one of just six teams above 5.0 WAR from their relief corps. Their fielding-independent pitching (FIP) stands at 3.29, and they’ve stranded a remarkable 77.9% of baserunners, another testament to their clutch performance andalso MLB-best marks.
Cleveland’s success on the mound is also backed by elite pitch metrics. They feature the most effective fastballs, the third-best sliders, the best changeups, and the second-best curveballs in baseball, giving opposing batters little room to adjust at the plate, per Fangraphs data. This deep pitch repertoire makes their bullpen even harder to crack.
Closer Emmanuel Clase is having a season for the ages. With a 0.66 ERA and 0.66 WHIP across 68 games, he’s drawing comparisons to some of the best seasons by a reliever in MLB history. Clase has allowed just two earned runs in his last 36 innings and is on pace to rival legendary campaigns like Zack Britton’s 0.54 ERA in 2016 and Fernando Rodney’s 0.60 ERA in 2012. Clase’s ability to shut down opponents late in games gives Cleveland a huge advantage.
While Clase anchors the bullpen, he’s surrounded by other elite arms. Hunter Gaddis has been a standout setup man, appearing in 72 games with a 1.44 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, and 33 holds. Tim Herrin (1.96 ERA) and Cade Smith (2.00 ERA) have also been instrumental in keeping Cleveland in close games. With such a reliable bridge to Clase, the Guardians are built to thrive in postseason scenarios where every out counts.
While Cleveland’s starting rotation has its share of question marks, with names like Tanner Bibee, Ben Lively, and Gavin Williams, their bullpen depth gives them flexibility. Triston McKenzie, likely shifting to the bullpen for the postseason, could further solidify their early-mid game options. Meanwhile, veterans like Alex Cobb and Carlos Carrasco could be valuable pieces if needed.
As the Guardians eye October, their bullpen’s dominance gives them a unique edge in what could be a long postseason run. With Clase leading the charge, and an arsenal of elite pitches, Cleveland’s bullpen is built to succeed in the high-pressure moments that define championship runs. At +1300 for the World Series, the Guardians are a strong pick to make a deep playoff push and they’re my favorite bet on the board right now.
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