As the 2024 MLB playoffs unfold, an unexpected narrative is taking shape centered around relief pitchers, generally the bastions of reliability at the game's most crucial junctures. Several top-tier closers and bullpen aces are faltering at the worst possible times, surrendering big hits and home runs that are altering the course of games and series.
Atlanta Braves and New York Mets Showdown
This postseason, Raisel Iglesias of the Atlanta Braves found himself at the heart of such a predicament. On September 30, the usually dominant closer, who boasted a 1.72 ERA over 68 innings with a mere trio of home runs allowed throughout the regular season, was tagged for a critical home run by the New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo. This blast dramatically shifted the momentum in that matchup.
Meanwhile, the Mets’ Edwin Díaz, another stalwart in their bullpen, faced his own demons on the same date. Díaz relinquished a three-RBI double to Ozzie Albies, further highlighting the struggles that have run rampant through the ranks of the game's top relievers. The Atlanta Braves bullpen continued to unravel as Francisco Lindor sent a two-run homer into the stands during a decisive ninth inning.
American League Championship Series Drama
Similarly, the American League Championship Series bore witness to its share of bullpen collapses. The New York Yankees launched a power surge against Cleveland Guardians' relief pitchers, with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton delivering back-to-back home runs off Emmanuel Clase in Game 3. Clase, who was nearly unhittable during the regular season with just two homers conceded, was uncharacteristically vulnerable.
The Yankees' fortunes were not without their own setbacks, however. Luke Weaver allowed a ninth-inning, two-out homer to Jhonkensy Noel, and in another shocking moment, their closer Clay Holmes was undone by a walk-off home run from David Fry in the tenth inning.
Wild Card Series Woes
The Milwaukee Brewers encountered similar troubles in their Wild Card Series. Devin Williams, a key figure in their bullpen, surrendered a three-run homer to the Mets’ Pete Alonso during Game 3, a blow that severely dented their postseason aspirations.
Elsewhere, the Philadelphia Phillies bullpen faltered under playoff pressure as well. Relievers like Phil Maton were vulnerable, capitulating to power hitters such as Jackson Chourio and Garrett Mitchell. Fellow relievers Jeff Hoffman and Matt Strahm also found themselves on the receiving end of significant hits, undermining their team’s playoff push.
Home Run Fever in the Postseason
The postseason home run binge has been extraordinary, even setting records. A staggering 10 game-tying or go-ahead home runs have been launched in the eighth inning or later, matching a historical postseason record. This surge in late-game heroics has brought both exhilaration and heartbreak, depending on which side of the box score you sit.
The Los Angeles Angels were not spared from bullpen heartbreaks, as Carlos Estévez yielded a dramatic grand slam to Francisco Lindor in Game 4 of the National League Division Series, further underlining the precarious nature of relying on relievers in high-stakes scenarios.
As the season edges towards its climax, these unexpected bullpen failures have added layers of complexity to the playoff narrative. The usually reliable closers and setup men are finding themselves in an unfamiliar territory, grappling with the razor-thin margins that define major league postseason baseball.
In a sport that thrives on the unpredictability of October, this year’s playoffs have indubitably delivered on drama while offering a stark warning of how the best-laid plans can swiftly unravel under the intense lights of playoff baseball. The vulnerability of these top-tier relievers, at a time when they are counted on the most, is a stark reminder of baseball's capricity, where past performances offer no guarantees of future outcomes.