Midseason Bullpen Shifts: Who’s Poised to Close?
The National League’s relief corps is undergoing a quiet revolution, as a handful of arms are turning late‑inning appearances into routine victories. Mason Montgomery of the Pirates has been especially dominant, posting a 0.86 ERA, a 0.59 WHIP and striking out nearly two batters per inning, positioning him as a top‑five candidate for the rest of the season.
In the Diamondbacks’ bullpen, Brandyn Garcia’s 2.43 ERA and 10.5 K/9 have made him the current best reliever, but the club is watching Justin Martinez closely as he inches toward the closer role, a transition that could reshape their late‑game strategy.
The Dodgers, despite Edwin Diaz’s recent struggles, appear ready to retain Tanner Scott, whose 2.24 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 11.0 K/9 suggest he can still command the ninth inning with confidence.
Kansas City’s Royals are experimenting with a tandem approach, sharing saves between Steven Cruz and Nate Pearson. Pearson’s high‑velocity fastball, regularly hitting 97.7 mph, has emerged as a reliable late‑inning option, while Cruz continues to split opportunities.
Chicago’s Cubs may soon promote Daniel Palencia to the closer slot after Jacob Webb’s recent save failure that saw three runs score, a move that could bring fresh stability to a volatile situation.
New York’s Mets are finding a late‑game answer in Kodai Senga, who has lowered his ERA to 2.45 with a 1.23 WHIP and 11.0 K/9 across limited appearances, making him a strong candidate to finish the season in the ninth inning.
Los Angeles’ Angels have seen Ben Joyce claim three of the last four save chances, showcasing promise but still lacking the consistency needed for back‑to‑back saves.
Minnesota’s Yoendrys Gomez has struggled with a 2.72 ERA since joining the rotation, yet the team’s confidence in him as the primary closer candidate has grown as Jeff Hoffman’s performance remains inconsistent.
San Francisco’s Dylan Smith has secured two of the past three saves, though a walk rate of 4.4 BB/9 raises questions about his long‑term reliability in high‑leverage spots.
Baltimore’s bullpen remains a patchwork of arms — Andrew Kittredge, Rico Garcia, Cam Sanders and the recovering Felix Bautista — each contributing to a fragmented but potentially potent late‑inning mix as the season progresses.