Continuing with MMO’s preseason ranking of positional groups around the NL East, next up is the bullpen. The division holds some of the best arms in the games, from elite closers to pitchers with devastating pitches. As the game changes, the bullpen has become one of the most crucial roles in the sport. Without a stable pen, you can’t win games.

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

No. 5: Washington Nationals

The Nationals ended the 2023 season with the worst bullpen ERA in baseball, finishing the year with a 5.02 ERA in 599 innings of relief work. The bullpen mustered 42 saves and a combined 0.6 fWAR while producing the worst K/9 rate in the league at 7.86 and HR/9 rate at 1.41. Suffice it to say, the Nats’ bullpen leaves much to be desired. However, the backend of the bullpen is their secret weapon. Hunter Harvey by far, has been their most reliable arm, posting a 2.82 ERA in 60 innings. Harvey’s fastball velocity ranked in the 97th percentile, averaging at around 98.3 mph, and his walk rate was one of the best in the game at 5.5%.

Kyle Finnegan appeared in 67 games for the Nationals in 2023, the most of any member. Washington is in the midst of a rebuild, and the process will continue in 2024.

Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

No. 4: Miami Marlins

If there were one word to describe the Marlins’ 2023 bullpen, it would probably be forgettable. Of course, while forgettable is suitable in some places, the last place you want to be forgettable is on a baseball diamond. The Marlins fell in the middle of the pack in nearly all stat categories, but disaster struck when they traded for David Robertson. The ace they thought they scored to be their new closer floundered in the south, and the bullpen struggled in the back half.

While they earned their first full-season playoff ticket in twenty years, the 2024 outlook looks average at best. Their backend, however, is solid, anchored by Tanner Scott, A.J. Puk and Andrew Nardi. The 5.9 fWAR the 2023 bullpen generated in 2023 is due to this trio of hard throwers, but the rest of the bullpen is murky at best. However, ZiPS does project the bullpen to be in the top third in the league.

Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3: New York Mets

The bullpen might be one of the most glaring question marks for the 2024 Mets. With the return of Edwin Díaz and the additions of Jake Diekman, Shintaro Fujinami and Jorge López among others, the Mets are at a fork in the road. With plenty of potential and upside in their signings and acquisitions, there’s also room to be cautious. López and Fujinami have had successes before but struggled with their control in recent years.

However, David Stearns made sure depth was the name of the game this offseason. The Mets often found themselves thin on pitching, unsure where to turn, and Stearns now constructed a roster where the “next man up mentality” can prove effective. The 2023 bullpen had a slightly worse fWAR than the Nationals’ bullpen at 0.5 but still fell fourth in the division in K/9 with 9.20.

New York’s bullpen may very well be better than they look on paper right now. One thing for certain is their pen will certainly give Atlanta and Philadelphia’s bullpens a run for their money.

Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

No. 2: Atlanta Braves

In 2023, the Braves led NL East relievers in K/9 (9.83), games saved (52) and BB/9 (3.23). Anchored by closer Raisel Iglesias, who led the NL East with 33 saves, the Braves bolstered their bullpen in the offseason when they signed Reynaldo López to a three-year deal. López bounced around in 2023 but pitched to an impressive 3.27 ERA and a career-high 83 strikeouts (as a relief pitcher). Pierce Johnson returns to the Braves bullpen after posting a 0.76 ERA in 23 2/3 innings for them last year. A.J. Minter (31.5 K%) and Joe Jiménez (30.7 K%) give them two big strikeout pitchers as well. 

The Braves’ bullpen remains otherwise the same entering the new season. Two notable losses include Kirby Yates, who signed with the Rangers, and Michael Tonkin, who inked a deal with the division rival Mets.

Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1: Philadelphia Phillies

What was once a sore spot for the Phillies has become one of their strengths. Even with closer José Alvarado sidelined for a good chunk of the year (don’t worry, when he did pitch, batters only hit .195 off him), the team led NL East relievers in ERA (3.58), FIP (3.88) and fWAR (6.8). Jeff Hoffman, Matt Strahm and Seranthony Dominguez have become mainstays, and the bullpen is deep from top to bottom.

Orion Kerkering debuted and became somewhat of an unsung hero, unfortunately against the Mets, but is sure to have a bright future. Lefty Gregory Soto struggled in his first year in the National League, but even with his high walk rate, he landed in the 93rd percentile in Whiff% (34%).

All in all, the Phillies don’t seem poised for a setback barring injury. If anything, the pen is only going to get better and surely will be a nuisance for all batters across the league.

Previous NL East Positional Rankings: