Top 5: Good Bet, Bad Bullpen
By CHRIS BERNUCCA
Which team has the worst bullpen?
That's easy. Washington Nationals relievers are a staggering 7-28 with a 5.67 ERA and just 14 saves. All three numbers represent the worst in the major leagues.
But even if the Nationals had the relief corps of the Boston Red Sox or Los Angeles Dodgers - the top two bullpens in baseball - they would still be a terrible team.
Instead, we're going to take a look at good teams that are being dragged down by bad bullpens - and taking bettors with them. There are 18 teams playing better than .500 baseball, and about a third of them could be much better if their relievers offered real relief.
Keep in mind that bullpen ERAs across the league are nearly four-tenths of a run lower than starter ERAs, so a team's ranking in more telling than its ERA.
Texas Rangers
The Rangers were tied for the lead in the AL West until Monday's loss at Anaheim, and part of the season is a solid 4.40 ERA from their starters.
But the Texas bullpen ranks 21st in ERA at 4.11, six spots below the starters. Closer Frank Francisco has been solid, but Eddie Guardado (4.56 ERA) and spot starter Derek Holland (6.06 ERA) have found rough going.
Texas has five complete games, tied for third most in the bigs. It also is 37-1 when leading after six innings and has just six blown saves, so the bullpen ERA has yet to take its toll.
Los Angeles Angels
It looks like whichever AL West team gets its bullpen right first will have the inside track to the division title. With 14 blown saves, the Angels have more to fix than the Rangers.
In addition to a rotation that ranks just 20th with a 4.51 ERA, the Angels have a bullpen ERA of 5.02 with 14 losses. Los Angeles already has blown six seventh-inning leads, matching its total from last season.
While Brian Fuentes has filled in for Francisco Rodriguez with 24 saves, his 3.38 ERA is high for a closer. Set-up man Scot Shields was at 6.62 ERA before knee surgery ended his season, and fill-ins Jose Arredondo and Kevin Jepsen also have been injured and ineffective.
Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto's troubles are not with its injury-riddled rotation. With Roy Halladay and Ricky Romero providing stability, the Blue Jays are 13th in the bigs with a 4.39 starter ERA.
But the relievers rank just 22nd with a 4.12 ERA. Injuries to B.J. Ryan and Scott Downs have thrust Jason Frasor, Brandon League and Jesse Carlson into bigger roles they have not handled well. Toronto is one of just three teams whose pen has as many losses as saves (14), with 11 blown saves.
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers starters rank a very solid 11th with a 4.26 ERA - a primary reason they are on top in the tight AL Central. Detroit's relievers, on the other hand, have a 4.48 ERA, which ranks 23rd.
Only five teams have less saves than the Tigers. Fernando Rodney is 17-for-17 in save situations but has a 4.25 ERA - about double what you expect from your closer. The rest of Detroit's bullpen is an awful 1-for-16 in save situations.
Colorado Rockies
Rockies starters somehow rank eighth in ERA at 4.09 despite playing half their games in Coors Field. But the bullpen - supposedly fortified by the addition of Huston Street - is 29th with a 5.03 ERA.
Replacing Fuentes, Street has settled down after a rough April in which he temporarily lost his closer role to Manny Corpas. Getting to the closer has been a major problem and could derail a bid for the NL wild card.
Colorado has five relievers with at least 14 appearances and ERAs above 5.00. Injuries and inconsistency have created a juggling act that has the Rockies tied for last in bullpen wins (7) and last in opponents' batting average (.284 BA).