MLB: The Top Five Worst Bullpens

Aug 8, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus signals to the bullpen to bring in reliever Joe Nathan (not pictured) during a conference at the mound during the Tigers 5-4 win over Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 8, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus signals to the bullpen to bring in reliever Joe Nathan (not pictured) during a conference at the mound during the Tigers 5-4 win over Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
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Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

1. Cincinnati Reds

Similar to Minnesota, the Cincinnati Reds can’t do anything right. For me to say that their bullpen is the cause for all their problems would be a bold-faced lie. Having said that, they have the worst pen in Major League Baseball and it isn’t even close.

More from Call to the Pen

That explosion that the San Diego Padres had on Thursday night was a microcosm of what the Reds have been doing all year. Ok, not to the extent of blowing 12-2 leads, but pretty darn close. The Cincinnati Reds bullpen ranks dead last in ERA, saves, earned runs, runs, walks, hits, home runs, blown saves, WHIP and OPS against.

The Washington Nationals bullpen has given up 43 runs this season. The Reds bullpen has given up 42 home runs. With numbers like the Reds bullpen is serving up, they may not just be the worst bullpen of this year. No, the ineffectiveness of this pen is starting to reach “worst pen in history” levels. Here are some numbers of historically bad bullpens since the first expansion in 1961:

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Screen Shot 2016-06-03 at 12.27.01 PM

There’s more:

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Screen Shot 2016-06-03 at 12.26.44 PM

Next: 50 Greatest MLB Players Ever

If the Reds keep it up, they can break all sorts of records. While they sit at 19-35 and 19 games back of first place, maybe they should try and go for this? Whichever way you slice it, the 2016 Cincinnati Reds bullpen is by far the worst in the league. Only time will tell if they can finish up as the worst to ever to do it.