It's no secret that a bullpen's reliability is what can separate a World Series contender from the rest of the pack. Depth following a starting pitcher has always been important since, but especially recently with starters being removed around the fifth inning mark, it is now more vital than ever.
Based off the recent reports of Dave Dombrowski searching for an extra bullpen arm with three weeks to go before the trade deadline, the Red Sox front office understands this. A key point in criticism, and possible weakness, of the Red Sox this season has been its bridge leading up to Craig Kimbrel.
Here is a rundown of each reliever, not named Kimbrel, who is currently listed on the team's active roster.
Matt Barnes | 2018 stats: 36 games, 2.45 ERA, 36 2/3 innings, 50 strikeouts, 1.09 WHIP | Career ERA: 4.00
Barnes has pitched one scoreless inning in each of his last three appearances with Wednesday being the only game in that span where he allowed no walks. But the 28-year-old still has a 1.09 WHIP and has offered respectable service in the middle reliever role so far. In his last 30 games, Barnes is 2-2 with an ERA of 2.03 in 31 innings pitched. Currently, his full season ERA (2.45), is by far the best number of his career in that category (4.05 ERA in 62 games in 2016, 3.88 in 70 games in 2017).
Heath Hembree | 2018 stats: 36 games, 3.72 ERA, 36 1/3 innings, 48 strikeouts, 1.24 WHIP | Career ERA: 3.28
The season numbers aren't as low as Barnes, but Hembree still has a near identical sample size. The 29-year-old had a good second half of June. In his last 15 games, Hembree has posted a sub-1.00 WHIP to go with a 1.88 ERA in 14 1/3 innings. The righty pitched a scoreless frame against the Yankees on Saturday and struck out four Nationals in 1 1/3 inning on Tuesday while giving up one run.
Joe Kelly | 2018 stats: 38 games, 3.47 ERA, 36 1/3 innings, 38 strikeouts, 1.10 WHIP | Career ERA: 3.79
Alex Cora has used Kelly in some high pressure, bases occupied scenarios throughout the year, but the 30-year-old hasn't been very sharp as of late. Wednesday was the first time in the last three appearances where he threw a scoreless frame, striking out two. Over his last seven appearances, Kelly has gone 5 1/3 innings while allowing eight hits, five runs and four walks to level out a WHIP of 2.25 and ERA of 8.44.
Tyler Thornburg | 2018 stats: N/A | Career ERA: 2.87
Thornburg is the bullpen's biggest mystery up to this point in the season. Injury has kept the 29-year-old from appearing in a Red Sox uniform, with his last stint in the majors being with the Brewers in 2016. Thornburg's Pawtucket rehab starts this season yielded a 4.26 ERA, and he owns a career 2.87 ERA in the big leagues. Before 2016 (2.15 ERA in 67 games with the Brewers), Thornburg posted a 2014 ERA of 4.25 and a 2015 ERA of 3.67. If his injury and/or time away from the MLB hasn't diminished the ability seen in Thornburg in 2016, his return along with a second reliever via trade, could be two major additions to the roster.
Hector Velazquez | 2018 stats: 24 games, 2.68 ERA, 43 2/3 innings, 28 strikeouts, 1.44 WHIP | Career ERA: 2.77
Velazquez was hit with two earned runs on Sunday against the Yankees. His last seven appearances has inflated the 29-year-old's stats quite a bit. In the past 11 innings, Velazquez has only walked one batter, but has surrendered 15 hits and six runs, rounding out his ERA in this span to 4.91.
Brandon Workman | 2018 stats: 12 games, 0.75 ERA, 12 innings, 14 strikeouts, 0.75 WHIP | Career ERA: 4.39
Workman has the smallest sample size out of anyone on this list but there has been no signs of struggle out of the gate. The 29-year-old has been stellar over 12 innings of work, with both his ERA and WHIP being at sub-1.00. If he can keep this rate up, it will be tough to deny Workman a spot on the postseason roster come the end of September.
