CHICAGO – As poorly as the Cincinnati Reds’ bullpen performed throughout the first half of the season, it’s been a positive for the club since the All-Star break.
In the second half of the season, the Reds’ bullpen entered Saturday with the fifth-lowest ERA in the National League (3.68) and the fifth-best WAR (wins above replacement) in the Majors, according to FanGraphs.
Alexis Díaz has been the Reds’ best reliever all year, transforming from a spring training longshot into potentially the long-term closer. In front of Díaz, reliever roles have solidified and starters are consistently pitching deeper into games, so they don’t have to cover as many innings.