10 MLB Relievers Who Must Step Up Their Game

As the 2012 MLB regular season approaches the All-Star break, several teams in the hunt have question marks in their bullpen and are looking for important pieces to improve. 

Teams will look to address needs when the trade deadline approaches. Some teams need to upgrade their bullpens through trades while others need key players to improve their play.

Pitchers throughout the year are having off seasons and have let their teams down. By the time the trade deadline approaches, teams will have to decide whether they can rely on those players or upgrade their roster with a trade.

Several teams currently in the mix for a playoff spot need current members of their bullpen to improve if they want to make the postseason. 

Tony Sipp, LHP, Cleveland Indians

After a great 2011, Tony Sipp has struggled at times this season. His 3.03 ERA last season has doubled to 6.53. It may be the result of a heavy workload after pitching in 139 games the past two seasons.

Sipp’s strikeouts per nine innings has risen this year, but batters are starting to hit for a higher average against him. His track record indicates that he should be able to hold hitters to a much lower average than he has done so far in 2012. Before allowing hitters to hit .268 against him through 25 appearances, his previous high was .218 two seasons ago.

The Indians have an underrated bullpen, and Sipp is an important part of it. Lately the Indians have been using him mainly during games in which they were losing. 

If Cleveland hopes to hang around in the American League Central, Sipp needs to turn it around quickly.           

Jose Valverde, RHP, Detroit Tigers

Nobody expected Jose Valverde to repeat his incredible 2011 season. However, not many people thought he would struggle so much in 2012.

After not blowing a save in 49 chances last season, he has already blown three save opportunities this season. He has suffered a big drop in strikeouts since last year and needs to figure out another way to get hitters out. 

His ERA has jumped by nearly two runs, which is a result of his declining strikeouts. Valverde has started pitching to contact and has not been able to put hitters away when necessary. 

The Tigers have struggled mightily this season and have to figure it out soon if they want to play in October. If Valverde is able to turn it around, that will be one less problem for Detroit. 

Addison Reed, RHP, Chicago White Sox

It's rare for a rookie to be the closer on a first-place team. However, the White Sox have struggled to find a good fit to pitch the ninth innings and have decided to copy Atlanta's strategy from a season ago, naming rookie Addison Reed as their closer. He has yet to blow a save in seven chances.

Outside of one ugly appearance against Kansas City, Reed has been a reliable relief pitcher for the White Sox. The hard thrower has the ability to overpower his American League Central competition and get the job done.

The surprising White Sox hope to stay in first place, and they need Reed to be solid in the closer role.  

Burke Badenhop, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays

In his first season in Tampa Bay, Burke Badenhop is putting together the best season of his young career. While fighting for a playoff spot in their division, the Rays need him to be even better during the second half of the season.

One big reason he may be able to improve is his great command. So far in 26 innings this season, he has only walked four batters. 

Batters are hitting .267 against him in this season. The batting average against is not a cause for concern since he does not walk many hitters, but he needs to keep the ball in the ballpark after allowing four home runs so far this year.  

The competitive AL East requires teams to have great pitching. The Rays have a good bullpen and hope Badenhop will be more consistent as the season goes on.   

Alfredo Aceves, RHP, Boston Red Sox

When Jonathan Papelbon left for Philadelphia, the Red Sox knew they needed to find a closer. They traded for Andrew Bailey, but he got injured before the season even began. The closer’s job was then handed to Alfredo Aceves.

After 29 appearances this season, Aceves has an ERA of 4.99 and three blown saves. The Red Sox have very few alternatives to use as a closer at this point in the season. Boston needs Aceves to be reliable until Bailey returns.

In fairness to Aceves, he is not the only pitcher in Boston’s bullpen who has struggled. If the entire bullpen improves, the Red Sox will continue to win more games and have a chance to make the playoffs.

Eric O'Flaherty, LHP, Atlanta Braves

After having one of the greatest seasons in baseball history by a reliever, Eric O’Flaherty has not had the same success since.

He allowed nine runs in 73.2 innings last season. In 22.2 innings so far this season, he has allowed 12 runs.

His strikeouts are down and his walks are up from last season. He needs to get better if the Braves have any hope of playing in October. The pitching in their division is about as good as it gets, and the Braves have the arms to make a run.

Last year, O’Flaherty threw almost 20 more innings than he had ever thrown in a single season. Atlanta may be seeing the effects of the increased workload, but if he can pitch better for the rest of the season, the Braves will be fine.

With O’Flaherty, Venters and Kimbrel in the bullpen, Atlanta should feel confident whenever they have a lead late in the game.     

Bobby Parnell, RHP, New York Mets

The Mets were off to a surprising start until losing six of their last seven games. Their pitching has let them down lately, and Bobby Parnell has struggled during the team’s slump.

He has been trying to overpower hitters with his hard fastball and drops the occasional curveball. He is still able to get strikeouts, but does not get enough to work himself out of jams.

After not having control issues for the first two months, Parnell has doubled the amount of walks issued this season in the first part of June. When he avoids walking hitters, he is an effective relief pitcher for the Mets.

Parnell needs to pitch better if the Mets want to continue their strong start. If he improves, the Mets will have a dominant right-handed pitcher in their bullpen to help them stay in the mix all season.

Heath Bell, RHP, Miami Marlins

One of the biggest acquisitions of the offseason has turned into a bust so far. Closer Heath Bell has been a major disappointment after signing a three-year, $27 million contract with Miami in December.

His miserable April led to him being removed from the closer’s role in early May. He pitched his way back into the job and has been more consistent since his return to the role.

Bell has had just about everything go against him so far this season. His strikeouts are down, walks are way up and batters are starting to hit him around. Opponents have an on-base percentage of over .400 against him in 27 appearances this season. 

When the Marlins signed Bell, they expected him to be the dominant closer he had been during his time in San Diego. He has yet to live up to expectations and needs to turn his season around in a hurry. Right now, Austin Kearns has been a better offseason pickup for the team.

If Bell had pitched the way the Marlins had anticipated, they may be in first place right now. Miami does not have a chance to make the playoffs unless he returns to form quickly.   

Marc Rzepczynski, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals

When St. Louis traded for Marc Rzepczynski at the trade deadline last season, they were out of the playoff picture. A few months later, he helped them win a World Series title.

The Cardinals are dealing with numerous injuries and need Rzepczynski to step up. As a left-handed specialist, he should have an earned run average under five. 

His season stats are not far off from his career numbers, but the Cardinals need him to be even better. The starting rotation has suffered injuries to Chris Carpenter and Jaime Garcia, which puts pressure on the bullpen to perform well.

Even with injuries, St. Louis has managed to hang around in the NL Central. When they face the Reds, Rzepczynski needs to be the guy who can come in and retire left-handed hitters Joey Votto and Jay Bruce.

The Cardinals’ fate does not rest on Rzepczynski’s arm. They need to get healthy first and then have him pitch well. If Rzepczynski struggles to get left-handed hitters out, the Cardinals will not be able to repeat last season’s success.

Jose Arredondo, RHP, Cincinnati Reds

If there is one person on this list whose numbers are not a good indication of how he pitches, it is Arredondo.

I have seen the other pitchers on this list many times, but I have seen Arredondo pitch the most. He used to only come in when the Reds trailed, but as he improved his game, he started pitching when the Reds had a lead. Every time he enters a close game, I cringe.

With an ERA of 2.22 and 33 strikeouts in 28.1 innings, his numbers look pretty good for a relief pitcher. However, he also has 14 walks and seems to pitch his way into trouble. 

The Reds already have a good combination of pitchers to go to when they are beating their opponents. If they can get Arredondo to pitch better when they have the lead, it will them to give their other pitchers a rest.

Cincinnati’s bullpen is one of the best in baseball despite missing a trio of key relievers. With a more consistent Arredondo, this bullpen will help the Reds win the NL Central.