Late April volatility causes an annual sorting of relievers
Apr 26 2026
April is often a rough month for relievers. Usage can be uneven, command isn't quite honed, roles are still being decided. Injuries happen. Some Aprils are complete chaos. April 2026 is no different in this regard, and now is a good time to do a bit of a whirlwind around the leagues and see what is happening.
The Athletics were always expected to be volatile and fluid in the early going, but it seems all of a sudden that Joel Kuhnel (RHP, ATH) has emerged with the closer role, as he now has four saves backed by a 2.35 ERA and 1.04 WHIP so far in April. He also has a 3.85 xERA and 10% K% to temper expectations. Here are the early results in the Athletics' pen:
| ATH | SV | HD | IP | ERA | xERA | WHIP | K% | K-BB% | HR/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuhnel, Joel | 4 | 1 | 7.2 | 2.35 | 3.85 | 1.04 | 10% | 10% | 0.0 |
| Leiter Jr.,... |
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