Colorado Rockies: the importance of a good bullpen in the postseason

2014

In 2014, the MLB average bullpen ERA dropped again to 3.58. The Detroit Tigers had the highest bullpen ERA of the ten playoff qualifying teams at 4.29, or 26th in baseball.

The San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals faced each other in the World Series and they were 5th and 10th. The Giants bullpen ERA was 3.01 and the Royals ERA was 3.30, respectively.

2015

The average MLB bullpen ERA rose a little bit in 2015 to 3.71. Seven of the ten playoff teams ranked in the top 12 of bullpen ERA. The worst of the ten playoff teams was the Texas Rangers at 4.12, or 24th.

The Kansas City Royals and the New York Mets faced each other in the 2015 World Series. The Royals were 2nd in baseball with a 2.72 ERA and the Mets were 11th with a 3.48.

2016

The average bullpen ERA was 3.93 in 2016 and only two playoff teams (the Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers) were higher than this average. Six of the ten playoff teams were in the top nine teams in bullpen ERA.

The Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians, the two representatives in the World Series, had bullpens that ranked 8th and 4th in ERA, respectively. They were 3.56 and 3.45.

2017

Of the 10 teams slated to make the playoffs as of Monday mornings standings, they were ranging between 1st and 22nd in bullpen ERA. However, the top four teams are all have or will probably have a playoff spot (Cleveland, Boston, the Dodgers, and Yankees). The top 12 teams all are, or up until last week were, in the playoff hunt.

The Rockies are 17th in bullpen ERA. Of teams who would have a playoff spot as of now, they would be seventh of the ten playoff teams.