The Cincinnati Reds bullpen is one of the best in the National League

The Cincinnati Reds’ bullpen has been lights out. With Amir Garrett, Raisel Iglesias, and Jared Hughes, among others, the Reds have one of the best bullpens in the National League.

The Cincinnati Reds have been on a hot streak of late, and it’s due in no small part the bullpen. Relievers like Amir Garrett, Jared Hughes, and David Hernandez have been dominant this season for the Redlegs. So the question has to be asked, do the Reds have one of the best bullpens in the National League?

Okay, that may a bit of a stretch, as teams like Arizona and Milwaukee boast really, really good relief pitching. But, even the most pessimistic Reds fan has to admit that the Reds’ bullpen has done its job this season.

With the offseason signings of Hughes (2 yrs./ $4.5 million) and Hernandez (2 yrs./ $5 million), the Reds really bolstered their bullpen and did so without breaking the bank. Hughes also has a team option for 2020.

Jared Hughes is having a phenomenal season. The right-hander has a 1.36 ERA in 39.2 innings. Hughes has struck out 30 batters on the season and has recorded 5 saves thus far. Hughes has been called upon often this season. In fact, Hughes’ 34 appearances are second only to Amir Garrett’s 36.

Speaking of Amir Garrett, he seems to have found a home in the Cincinnati bullpen. There had been a desire to have Garrett be part of the starting the rotation, but he’s fit in quite well in the Reds’ bullpen.

Garrett, the fiery left-hander in the Reds’ bullpen, has been nothing short of amazing this season. While his ERA is a bit high for a reliever at 2.40, in his last 10 starts Garrett has 11 strikeouts, 5 holds and more importantly, the Reds are 9-1 in those games.

Hernandez, who’s pitched in considerably fewer games (20) than Hughes and Garrett, is flat out dealing on the mound this season. The former Arizona Diamondback is enjoying, perhaps, the best season of his career.

In 25.1 innings, Hernandez has 26 strikeouts and 1.78 ERA. His lowest ERA in a season was 2.50 during his 2012 season in Arizona.

The Reds also have Dylan Floro, Michael Lorenzen, and their closer Raisel Iglesias pitching well out of the Cincinnati pen.  Even newcomer Kylee Crockett has been effective in his 2 appearances so far.

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If the Cincinnati starters can do what they’ve done lately, and get to the sixth inning or further, the bullpen is more than capable of closing out games. Let’s hope they continue to get several chances to do so with the lead.