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MLB: Power Ranking the Top Ten Major League Bullpens

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Apr 21, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Wade Davis (17) celebrates with catcher Erik Kratz (19) after the game against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals won the game 6-5. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 21, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Wade Davis (17) celebrates with catcher Erik Kratz (19) after the game against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals won the game 6-5. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 18, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (4) visits the mound to talk with relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal (44) during the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals won the game 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (4) visits the mound to talk with relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal (44) during the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals won the game 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports /

2. player. 32. . 1st. NL Central. St. Louis Cardinals

In this day and age of Major League Baseball, a World Series contending bullpen must include a dominant closer, at least one flame-throwing setup man and a few reliable, diverse, role players in middle relief. The St. Louis Cardinals are the prototype.

Trevor Rosenthal emerged last season as one of the best young closers in the game with 87 strikeouts and 45 saves in 70.1 innings. Just 25 years old, Rosenthal is off to a strong start to 2015 with a 1.59 ERA, four saves and eight strikeouts in his first 5.2 innings.

Jordan Walden, who had 32 saves for the Angels in 2011, is a topnotch power pitcher for the eighth inning. Walden has allowed only five hits and one earned run in nine games this season and has struck out ten. Should something happen to Rosenthal, Walden could step into the closer’s role seamlessly.

Young Seth Maness may have a 5.40 ERA early this year, but had ERA’s in the twos his first two big league seasons. Veterans Matt Belisle and Carlos Villanueva fit well in the middle innings and Kevin Siegrist and Randy Choate are solid LOOGY options. And assuming the team makes the postseason, the Cardinals could add hard-throwing fifth starter and former setup man Carlos Martinez to the mix.

Overall, it’s a combination that’s tough to beat.

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