MLB Playoffs: Stats you may have missed

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 22: Joc Pederson #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is greeted in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

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CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 05: Oliver Perez #39 of the Cleveland Indians pitches against the Kansas City Royals during the seventh inning at Progressive Field on September 5, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Royals 3-1. (Photo by Ron Schwane/Getty Images) /

Cleveland will lean heavily on a lefty reliever, but not the one you think

The Indians have by far the worst bullpen of any team in the MLB playoffs. In fact, it’s not even close. Per, Fangraphs’ team rankings, The Cleveland Indians bullpen produced the 27th most fWAR of any team in baseball. That’s bad enough.

That’s 10 places worse than the next-closest playoff team. It’s 18 spots below the next-lowest bullpen from an American League representative in the MLB playoffs. To say the Indians are behind the 8-ball in the bullpen in the 2018 MLB playoffs is putting it quite lightly.

Many have penned stories discussing the importance of impending free agent Andrew Miller and how his absence has influenced the Indians. Instead, the Indians have really only had one guy on their roster all season that’s been a quality contributor out of the bullpen, and his work this postseason will be vital.

No, it’s not Brad Hand either. Hand was acquired at midseason, and he and Cody Allen have seemingly become a closer pairing. The guy I’m talking about is Oliver Perez.

You know Oliver Perez, right? The wild lefty that was once one of the most promising arms in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization has developed into a lights-out LOOGY. This season in 51 appearances and 32 1/3 innings, Perez has posted a 1.39 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, and 7/43 BB/K ratio.

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