Cleveland Indians: The long-awaited return of the Bullpen Mafia

Who is the ‘Rafael Perez’ of 2020? Answer: Oliver Perez

Believe it or not, Rafael Perez was the oldest member of the 2011 Bullpen Mafia at 29-years old. Obviously, Oliver Perez at 38 is the oldest in 2020, but that isn’t the only similarity between the two.

During the 2011 season, Rafael Perez played the role of the reliable left-handed reliever that complimented Joe Smith, depending on the situation. This year, we’ve seen a similar combination of Oliver Perez and Adam Cimber.

Over 12 innings this season, Oliver Perez has maintained a 1.50 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP having allowed just two runs and no home runs. This is a vast improvement over his 2011 counterpart and one that is being highly valued by the Indians.

Perez has settled into the role of the sixth or seventh inning, depending on the matchup at hand. He’s been reliable and also a veteran leader, being one of the players to speak up against Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac.

The difference between these two Perez’s is just that. Rafael Perez was a solid reliever that filled a role well, whereas Oliver Perez is better on the mound and just as valuable to the team off of it. Being in the top five for oldest players in the majors right now, Oliver Perez is still showing that he plays a vital role in the Indians success as a member of the 2020 Bullpen Mafia.