Bullpen vs. Bullpen
Red Sox
Boston has a power pen. Craig Kimbrel and Joe Kelly will continuously intimidate opposing hitters with triple-digit fastballs. Kimbrel continues to threaten as MLB’s best closer year after year. He gives the Red Sox much-needed comfort in tight, late-inning situations.
The Sox are hoping a healthy Tyler Thornburg, and Carson Smith will provide bullpen depth. If the two can start where they left off (Smith from 2016), then the team may front one of the best bullpens in the league.
Yankees
New York’s bullpen matches Boston’s piece by piece. Aroldis Chapman will compete with Kimbrel as the top closer in the American League. Kimbrel is more economical than Chapman; however, it’s safe to say opposing hitters don’t have much of a preference either way.
Delin Betances is a lights-out set-up man. The Yankees will expect nothing less than sheer dominance from their 8th and 9th inning men in 2018.
New York does edge the Red Sox in bullpen depth. David Robertson may be the best 7th inning man in all of baseball, and relievers Chad Green, Tommy Kahnle, and Adam Warren provide outstanding mid-game options for the Yankees. The pen also has a valuable left-hander in Chasen Shreve…something the Boston Red Sox lack.
Better bullpen: New York Yankees