In light of a trading deadline that primarily had relievers as the talent moving from the sellers to buyers I started to wonder which teams in the AL and NL have the best bullpens for the stretch run? The RedSox added Eric Gagne to their quality releivers, the Braves added Octavio Dotel, the Seattle Mariners just got Mark Lowe back from injury, while the LA Angels of Anaheim stood pat and the San Diego Padres shipped Scott Linebrink onwards to Milwaukee. Now by best I’m going to say best Closer through 6th man, but with diminishing returns for great guys that are hardly used in high leverage situations. I’m not saying that these are all of the moves, I have of course missed something, but these are the difference makers and in my mind the teams that are using their Bullpen to the biggest advantage.

By BullPen ERA
Boston 2.74
San Diego 3.09

Using www.FanGraphs.com to look at team WPA by Relievers I’m only going to list the teams from the opener
Boston - 7.85
Atlanta - 2.78
LAAngels - 4.27
San Diego - 5.91
Milwaukee - 2.16
Seattle - 6.47

Also from Fangraphs, this time using their leaderboard for Reliever Win Probability Added

Putz is tops, and by far, but the Red Sox have three in the top 25 now, and the Padres, Angels, Twins and Diamondbacks all have two.

Milwaukee and Atlanta each helped themselves in areas of need, where as Boston is looking now to have probably the best top three relievers in the game with Papplebon, Okajima and Gagne. Seattle without a doubt has the best Ace Reliever in baseball right now.

Your thoughts and opinions here