Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
Evan Phillips has cemented himself as a high-leverage option out of the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen and it’s earned him a second consecutive appearance on The Shredder’s rankings of the best relief pitchers in baseball.
Phillips placed fourth on the list of MLB Top-10 Relief Pitchers Right Now for the 2024 season. He also ranked fourth when debuting on The Shredder rankings heading into 2023.
Brusdar Graterol was included among the relievers in the “just missed” category. So too was Josh Hader, who otherwise was ranked the best relief pitcher in baseball by MLB Network analysts Mike Petriello, Vince Gennaro and Sarah Langs.
Each of the analysts had Phillips in their respective “just missed” categories as well.
The Shredder is a statistical model that places emphasis on WAR, wRC+ and Statcast metrics to compile annual rankings. The model focuses on a three-year sample with performance in the previous season weighted more heavily in the calculations.
The Shredder ranked Milwaukee Brewers’ Devin Williams as the best relief pitcher in baseball right now. Williams previously won the 2023 Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year Award.
As for Phillips, his 1.59 ERA since the start of the 2022 season is the lowest among all relief pitchers with at least 80 innings during that time. Graterol is sixth-best with a 2.08 ERA.
Phillips held opponents to a combined .483 on-base plus slugging percentage over the last two seasons, good for third-best among relievers with 80 innings during that span.
The Dodgers occasionally relied on Phillips in a closer role during the 2023 season, which was a change he embraced. However, his true value comes in filling a fireman role that has been somewhat of a void since Blake Treinen required right shoulder surgery.
Phillips went 2-4 with 24 saves, a 2.05 ERA, 3.16 FIP, 0.83 WHIP and averaged 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings across 62 relief appearances last season.
MLB Top-10 Relief Pitchers Right Now for 2024
George Springer (Blue Jays)The ShredderMike PetrielloVince GennaroSarah Langs
1Devin Williams (Brewers)Josh Hader (Astros)Josh Hader (Astros)Josh Hader (Astros)
2Ryan Helsley (Cardinals)Edwin Díaz (Mets)Edwin Díaz (Mets)Devin Williams (Brewers)
3Pete Fairbanks (Rays)Devin Williams (Brewers)Ryan Helsley (Cardinals)Emmanuel Clase (Guardians)
4Evan Phillips (Dodgers)Jhoan Duran (Twins)Devin Williams (Brewers)Edwin Díaz (Mets)
5Jhoan Duran (Twins)Bryan Abreu (Astros)Andrés Muñoz (Mariners)Camilo Doval (Giants)
6Edwin Díaz (Mets)Pete Fairbanks (Rays)Robert Stephenson (Angels)David Bednar (Pirates)
7Bryan Abreu (Astros)Matthew Brash (Mariners)Tanner Scott (Marlins)Jhoan Duran (Twins)
8David Bednar (Pirates)Clay Holmes (Yankees)Ryan Pressly (Astros)Tanner Scott (Marlins)
9Chris Martin (Red Sox)Tanner Scott (Marlins)Jhoan Duran (Twins)Jeff Hoffman (Phillies)
10José Alvarado (Phillies)Camilo Doval (Giants)Pete Fairbanks (Rays)Kevin Ginkel (Diamondbacks)
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