This article is part of our DFS Baseball 101 series.
Before we get started on this weeks' article, I would like to let you know we will be moving to NFL coverage next week. This will be the last MLB article of the season, and I wanted to finish it off with the final bullpen report.When doing your initial hitting research, how often do you consider the bullpens? Or are you just basing your decisions on the starting pitcher? The same goes for your starting pitching decisions. The win is still important enough so you want a pitcher from a team in where if he goes six or seven innings, the chances to nail down the W are high.
How much of an impact does the bullpen make?
Well, bullpen innings represent about 38 percent of the total innings pitched in baseball.
ANGELS
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 10 | 38 | 8 | 13 | 25 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 25 | 30 | 6 | 18 |
MAY | 11 | 36 | 8 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 6 | 11 | 29 | 29 | 7 | 24 |
JUNE | 5 | 39 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 21 | 17 | 10 | 20 |
JULY | 25 | 36 | 24 | 26 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 26 | 23 | 14 | 16 | 24 | 15 |
ASTROS
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 6 | 35 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 20 | 29 | 25 | 1 | 6 |
MAY | 12 | 37 | 11 | 17 | 24 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 16 | 27 | 1 | 26 |
JUNE | 2 | 42 | 3 | 18 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 14 | 1 | 10 |
JULY | 24 | 39 | 21 | 29 | 30 | 18 | 15 | 8 | 10 | 23 | 29 | 1 | 28 |
ATHLETICS
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 13 | 38 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 26 | 5 | 13 | 12 | 20 | 5 |
MAY | 15 | 37 | 15 | 27 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 9 | 7 | 20 | 8 |
JUNE | 19 | 39 | 19 | 24 | 29 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 5 | 20 | 22 | 18 | 28 |
JULY | 16 | 34 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 15 | 28 | 21 | 26 | 29 |
BLUE JAYS
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 21 | 39 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 21 | 14 | 17 | 21 | 17 |
MAY | 5 | 42 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 26 | 28 | 6 | 6 |
JUNE | 10 | 38 | 1 | 9 | 14 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 29 | 28 | 6 | 23 |
JULY | 22 | 45 | 18 | 28 | 24 | 15 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 11 | 20 | 22 | 21 |
BRAVES
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 17 | 33 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 10 | 12 | 24 | 11 | 23 |
MAY | 16 | 39 | 6 | 16 | 19 | 10 | 22 | 24 | 15 | 7 | 21 | 22 | 17 |
JUNE | 15 | 36 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 22 | 26 | 18 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 3 |
JULY | 29 | 37 | 28 | 30 | 25 | 30 | 26 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 10 | 25 |
BREWERS
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 16 | 41 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 24 | 21 | 20 | 29 | 5 | 8 | 23 | 14 |
MAY | 14 | 40 | 21 | 13 | 5 | 19 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 24 | 11 |
JUNE | 18 | 35 | 9 | 21 | 28 | 22 | 20 | 12 | 30 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 13 |
JULY | 21 | 37 | 27 | 25 | 21 | 28 | 8 | 6 | 22 | 18 | 4 | 8 | 27 |
CARDINALS
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 29 | 34 | 27 | 26 | 19 | 28 | 29 | 22 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 17 | 26 |
MAY | 19 | 34 | 22 | 24 | 12 | 21 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 28 | 18 | 9 | 14 |
JUNE | 6 | 38 | 10 | 6 | 16 | 3 | 10 | 18 | 1 | 8 | 18 | 13 | 2 |
JULY | 10 | 34 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 5 | 29 | 18 | 13 | 24 |
CUBS
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 9 | 36 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 27 | 21 | 19 | 4 | 15 |
MAY | 10 | 42 | 14 | 8 | 27 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 21 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 18 |
JUNE | 3 | 37 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 21 |
JULY | 9 | 39 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 22 | 12 | 30 | 16 | 19 | 2 | 5 |
DIAMONDBACKS
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 12 | 34 | 15 | 21 | 18 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 13 | 29 |
MAY | 4 | 33 | 5 | 3 | 18 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 22 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 16 |
JUNE | 1 | 34 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 4 |
JULY | 18 | 33 | 25 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 6 | 12 | 17 | 28 | 11 |
DODGERS
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 8 | 37 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 27 | 21 | 5 | 9 |
MAY | 1 | 39 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 16 | 8 | 2 |
JUNE | 13 | 37 | 4 | 5 | 21 | 7 | 18 | 5 | 12 | 30 | 30 | 4 | 11 |
JULY | 2 | 38 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 19 | 15 | 4 | 23 |
GIANTS
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 11 | 32 | 17 | 16 | 5 | 20 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 24 | 13 | 9 | 2 |
MAY | 23 | 32 | 23 | 6 | 1 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 24 | 14 | 10 | 25 | 20 |
JUNE | 29 | 36 | 29 | 30 | 20 | 29 | 28 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 26 | 23 | 22 |
JULY | 23 | 35 | 26 | 15 | 11 | 27 | 24 | 24 | 27 | 20 | 7 | 16 | 12 |
INDIANS
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 4 | 32 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 14 | 11 |
MAY | 2 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 17 | 14 | 4 | 10 |
JUNE | 7 | 40 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 22 | 8 | 16 | 14 |
JULY | 6 | 34 | 19 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 23 | 1 |
MARINERS
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 27 | 37 | 23 | 29 | 20 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 25 | 8 |
MAY | 20 | 42 | 13 | 18 | 29 | 9 | 19 | 22 | 3 | 21 | 24 | 21 | 12 |
JUNE | 24 | 37 | 11 | 7 | 27 | 10 | 26 | 20 | 21 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 16 |
JULY | 1 | 36 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 20 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 2 |
MARLINS
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 19 | 45 | 11 | 9 | 23 | 13 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 17 | 22 | 24 | 12 |
MAY | 29 | 40 | 26 | 28 | 4 | 28 | 30 | 21 | 29 | 27 | 23 | 18 | 27 |
JUNE | 9 | 42 | 22 | 13 | 3 | 17 | 8 | 13 | 8 | 15 | 6 | 14 | 7 |
JULY | 28 | 41 | 15 | 17 | 5 | 23 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 24 | 22 | 29 | 22 |
METS
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 28 | 40 | 28 | 25 | 26 | 29 | 18 | 11 | 26 | 20 | 23 | 12 | 21 |
MAY | 28 | 42 | 20 | 25 | 13 | 22 | 24 | 16 | 19 | 30 | 30 | 11 | 28 |
JUNE | 21 | 36 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 28 | 16 | 8 | 27 | 7 | 19 | 11 | 12 |
JULY | 19 | 37 | 23 | 20 | 13 | 26 | 16 | 14 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 7 | 19 |
NATIONALS
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 24 | 32 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 3 | 11 | 18 | 22 | 16 |
MAY | 26 | 29 | 29 | 19 | 23 | 27 | 16 | 17 | 8 | 18 | 17 | 29 | 22 |
JUNE | 25 | 31 | 23 | 22 | 26 | 19 | 25 | 23 | 16 | 16 | 25 | 22 | 8 |
JULY | 17 | 33 | 20 | 24 | 20 | 24 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 9 | 12 | 17 | 8 |
ORIOLES
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 20 | 39 | 24 | 11 | 14 | 25 | 22 | 17 | 25 | 10 | 15 | 27 | 3 |
MAY | 17 | 42 | 27 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 20 | 25 | 4 | 20 | 11 | 26 | 21 |
JUNE | 28 | 44 | 28 | 20 | 30 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 23 | 9 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
JULY | 3 | 40 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 15 | 17 |
PADRES
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 22 | 36 | 13 | 24 | 27 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 23 | 26 | 19 | 24 |
MAY | 18 | 42 | 10 | 22 | 10 | 20 | 21 | 13 | 30 | 15 | 19 | 13 | 15 |
JUNE | 8 | 39 | 14 | 19 | 24 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 3 | 17 |
JULY | 13 | 41 | 9 | 14 | 27 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 30 | 18 | 16 |
PHILLIES
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 23 | 36 | 20 | 22 | 30 | 18 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 28 | 29 | 16 | 19 |
MAY | 25 | 42 | 17 | 23 | 17 | 26 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 8 | 12 | 27 | 5 |
JUNE | 16 | 36 | 30 | 28 | 6 | 30 | 14 | 14 | 24 | 23 | 5 | 7 | 5 |
JULY | 12 | 35 | 17 | 11 | 8 | 16 | 21 | 17 | 8 | 21 | 27 | 3 | 4 |
PIRATES
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 25 | 37 | 29 | 18 | 17 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 8 | 22 | 16 | 26 | 4 |
MAY | 7 | 40 | 24 | 5 | 8 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 6 | 11 | 9 | 19 | 13 |
JUNE | 11 | 37 | 13 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 15 |
JULY | 7 | 36 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 19 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 25 | 10 |
RANGERS
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 14 | 35 | 26 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 11 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 20 |
MAY | 27 | 36 | 28 | 29 | 25 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 6 | 8 | 23 | 3 |
JUNE | 14 | 39 | 16 | 10 | 15 | 21 | 19 | 16 | 25 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 6 |
JULY | 15 | 33 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 17 | 10 | 28 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 20 |
RAYS
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 18 | 38 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 15 | 27 | 30 | 16 | 15 | 9 | 28 | 22 |
MAY | 22 | 36 | 12 | 26 | 9 | 16 | 23 | 23 | 26 | 12 | 20 | 10 | 23 |
JUNE | 20 | 36 | 27 | 26 | 18 | 26 | 13 | 17 | 10 | 27 | 12 | 8 | 19 |
JULY | 20 | 33 | 10 | 19 | 17 | 13 | 28 | 29 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 20 | 14 |
RED SOX
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 7 | 34 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 13 | 24 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 28 |
MAY | 13 | 33 | 18 | 14 | 26 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 24 | 22 | 3 | 29 |
JUNE | 4 | 34 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 3 | 20 | 1 |
JULY | 8 | 34 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 26 | 25 | 11 | 6 |
REDS
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 1 | 48 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
MAY | 24 | 41 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 2 | 3 | 28 | 19 |
JUNE | 23 | 46 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 27 | 19 | 5 | 7 | 25 | 18 |
JULY | 11 | 40 | 13 | 23 | 29 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 18 |
ROCKIES
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 5 | 39 | 10 | 15 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 10 |
MAY | 9 | 34 | 19 | 15 | 20 | 17 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 16 | 9 |
JUNE | 27 | 39 | 20 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 19 | 26 | 18 | 21 | 26 | 26 |
JULY | 27 | 36 | 29 | 22 | 26 | 29 | 25 | 30 | 24 | 2 | 5 | 19 | 26 |
ROYALS
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 26 | 35 | 21 | 27 | 10 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 6 | 4 | 29 | 25 |
MAY | 8 | 40 | 25 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 5 | 12 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 4 |
JUNE | 12 | 38 | 21 | 12 | 4 | 18 | 15 | 24 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 9 |
JULY | 5 | 40 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 25 | 18 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 9 |
TIGERS
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 30 | 36 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 18 | 28 | 30 | 28 | 18 | 30 |
MAY | 21 | 32 | 9 | 10 | 28 | 7 | 18 | 20 | 5 | 23 | 25 | 17 | 30 |
JUNE | 30 | 36 | 26 | 29 | 19 | 25 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 |
JULY | 30 | 35 | 16 | 27 | 19 | 20 | 30 | 28 | 26 | 22 | 23 | 30 | 30 |
TWINS
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 15 | 40 | 9 | 14 | 16 | 10 | 24 | 27 | 9 | 16 | 6 | 30 | 27 |
MAY | 30 | 38 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 19 | 13 | 30 | 25 |
JUNE | 22 | 42 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 27 | 30 | 3 | 14 | 20 | 29 | 29 |
JULY | 14 | 39 | 30 | 21 | 23 | 19 | 6 | 22 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 27 | 13 |
WHITE SOX
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 2 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 13 |
MAY | 6 | 37 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 26 | 12 | 7 |
JUNE | 26 | 43 | 18 | 17 | 10 | 20 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 15 | 28 | 27 |
JULY | 26 | 42 | 22 | 18 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 18 | 21 | 27 | 26 | 21 | 3 |
YANKEES
MONTH | RANK | %RP | AVG | ERA | HR/9 | WHIP | xFIP | K% | BB% | GB% | FB% | CONTACT% | HARD% |
APRIL | 3 | 33 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 7 |
MAY | 3 | 38 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 2 | 1 |
JUNE | 17 | 35 | 7 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 9 | 29 | 26 | 23 | 5 | 25 |
JULY | 4 | 42 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 13 | 28 | 5 | 7 |
Elite Bullpens – Astros, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Indians, Red Sox, Royals, Yankees
Bullpens to Target – Giants, Marlins, Mets, Nationals, Rockies, Tigers, Twins, White Sox
Most Improved from April to July – Cardinals, Mariners, Royals, Pirates, Phillies, Padres, Orioles
Biggest decline from April to July – Angels, Astros, Braves, Giants, Rockies, White Sox
Highest Bullpen Usage – Marlins, Orioles, Reds, Blue Jays, Padres, White Sox
Lowest Bullpen Usage – Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Giants, Nationals, Red Sox
TRADE DEADLINE IMPACT
Teams that Improved – Dodgers, Red Sox, Astros, Nationals, Cubs, Yankees
Teams that Got Weaker – White Sox, Twins, Tigers, Athletics, Mets
The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Michael Rathburn plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: burnnotice, DraftKings: burnnotice, Yahoo: burnnotice, Fantasy Aces: burnnotice, FantasyDraft: burnnotice.