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MLB best: Top 5 Bullpens in the Game on Paper Right Now

By Jake Mastroianni

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 2: A view of the Oakland Athletics bullpen during the game against the Seattle Mariners at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum on September 2, 2018 in Oakland, California. The Athletics defeated the Mariners 8-2. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 2: A view of the Oakland Athletics bullpen during the game against the Seattle Mariners at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum on September 2, 2018 in Oakland, California. The Athletics defeated the Mariners 8-2. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 3: Aroldis Chapman #54 of the New York Yankees pitches during the American League Wild Card game against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

1. New York Yankees

Not much of a surprise here as it’s pretty clear the New York Yankees wanted to go out and assemble the best bullpen in all of MLB this offseason, and on paper it looks like they’ve accomplished their goal.

They have one of the best, if not the best, closer in the game right now in Aroldis Chapman. He has started to show a chink in the armor the past two season with ERAs of 3.22 and 2.45, but he’s still one of the best.

In 2018 he struck out 93 batters in just 51.1 innings with 32 saves and a WHIP of 1.05.

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Dellin Betances has had his struggles as well, but he’s still considered one of the most dominant closers in baseball. Last year he posted a 2.70 ERA in 66.2 innings pitched with 115 strikeouts.

This offseason the Yankees added to those two by signing Zach Britton (3 years/$39 million) and Adam Ottavino (3 years/$27 million).

Before injuries set him back the past two seasons, Britton was considered one of the best closers in baseball after posting an ERA of 0.54 in 2016 with 74 strikeouts in 67 innings with 47 saves.

He’s combined to throw just 78 innings the past two seasons with 63 strikeouts and ERAs of 2.89 and 3.10. So signing Britton was a bit of a gamble, but one that could prove huge if he ever gets back to his 2016 form.

Adam Ottavino is coming off a career year in which he had an ERA of 2.43 in 77.2 innings pitched with 112 strikeouts and a WHIP of 0.99.

The year before that Ottavino had an ERA of 5.06 in 53.1 innings, but his career numbers would suggest that 2018’s totals are no fluke.

Chapman, Betances, and Ottavino all could strikeout over 100 batters each in 2019. In 2018 they combined for 320 strikeouts in 194.5 innings pitched.

This has the chance to not only be one of the best bullpens in MLB history, but they could be historically dominant.

However, I’ll remind you that we are talking about names and numbers on paper, and we all know nothing goes as scripted in baseball. Last year the Rockies thought they built the best bullpen in baseball and they finished 26th in the league in bullpen ERA.

Next. Detroit Tigers: Should team seek additional help at second base for 2019?. dark

But as things stand on paper, the Yankess are the clear number one heading into the 2019 season.

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