MLB: Power Ranking the Top Ten Major League Bullpens

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 14, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Koji Uehara (19) pitches during the ninth inning against the Washington Nationals at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

The Boston Red Sox pitching staff has been criticized early this season because there is no frontline starter to serve as the ace of the staff. However, the bullpen has done a great job so far picking up the slack.

Through the first 14 games of the season, the Red Sox bullpen has been forced into action for 55 innings, which is second only to the Texas Rangers’ 58 thus far. Despite that much work, Boston’s relief corps has allowed only 16 runs (15 earned), and has held opponents to a modest .207 batting average. Though the club has just two saves to date, the unit is 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA and a 44-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Koji Uehara hasn’t been utilized much in the early going (partly because he began the season on the DL), but he’s 1-0 with both of the team’s saves in three innings of work. So far, opponents are hitting .111 against the veteran right-hander and he has a 0.33 WHIP.

Junichi Tazawa has been nearly hittable in seven appearances thus far (three hits, zero runs allowed in seven innings), as has Craig Breslow, who has surrendered just three hits (but five walks) in 9.2 innings spread across six games. Alexi Ogando, Anthony Varvaro and Edward Mujica have been solid as veteran right-handers.

From top to bottom, it’s a very good group, but it’s possible they will tire over the course of the season due to overuse.

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