Ranking the San Diego Padres relievers' reliability as the 2025 postseason nears

Entering the final day of August, the San Diego Padres are 76-60 in the standings, sitting just one game back of the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the NL West.

The Friars have what it takes to overthrow LA in the standings, and it all starts with pitching, particularly in the bullpen. San Diego's biggest luxury is having one of the top bullpens in Major League Baseball, if not the very best. With that said, it might be time to consider which bullpen arm is most reliable within the organization.

Who do fans trust the most in big-time situations? In a tie game or a one-run contest, which Padres reliever will give fans solace? There's plenty to consider, but here are the Padres reliever rankings with one month left in the regular season.

1. Jason Adam

It's difficult to not give Jason Adam the top spot. A first-time All-Star in 2025, Adam leads the Padres bullpen with a 2.5 bWAR and 29 holds, which is among the Top 2 in baseball. The 34-year-old has been top-notch all year, but as of late, he's somehow outdone himself. Across his last 16 appearances, he's allowed a run in just one of them.

When it comes down to the wire, when the Padres are facing a playoff team, Adam objectively keeps the fans nerves' at bay. We like him in any situation, that's for sure.

2. Mason Miller

Mason Miller is a star of the game. Traded to San Diego ahead of the deadline, Miller adds another layer of star power and prowess that has only cemented the Friars' bullpen as the best. He's been dominant in his first 10 outings with the Padres, fanning 18 batters and allowing just two runs.

Any guy who can throw 102 MPH will be a solid contributor, especially one with disgusting secondary pitches.

3. Adrian Morejon

This one may come to a surprise. However, the 2025 All-Star deserves a ton of credit for what he's done this season. Morejon has a 0.778 WHIP in 61 2/3 innings, which is almost unimaginable for a guy who was struggling earlier this season. He got back on track, and allowed one run combined in 26 1/3 innings between June and July, and has been almost as good this month.

Across his last 17 outings, Morejon has seen 16 of them go scoreless. He also has 11 wins, which is the most among relievers this year.

4. Robert Suarez

Suarez ranking fourth on this list isn't necessarily an insult. Every other pitcher has been near-perfect this season, which cannot be said for the team's closer. Yes, his 35 saves are tops in the league. Yes, his WHIP is under 1.000. But, his struggles in May and June unfortunately slide him down to fourth in this ranking. Outside of those two months, he has been nails.

5. Jeremiah Estrada

If Estrada did not constantly struggle against the Dodgers, he might be much higher on this list. Unfortunately, that is the one team that a Padres player cannot afford to have bad numbers against. Besides LA, Estrada is as good as they come. If he is the fifth option, though, the Padres are in good shape.

6. Wandy Peralta

Peralta is one of four Padres relievers to log 60 or more innings entering September. This obviously tells us that manager Mike Shildt and his coaching staff have the trust in the left-hander to get outs, regardless of what inning it is. Peralta isn't necessarily a star, but he is better than an average reliever. Placing him sixth stings a bit because he deserves better. But, the five guys ahead of him have been among the best in the NL.

7. David Morgan

A secret weapon coming into 2025, Padres fans love David Morgan. He had an impressive scoreless streak going, but he's struggled a bit this past week against playoff-bound teams in the Dodgers and Mariners. Morgan's biggest tool is that he can go longer than one inning. Recording four or more outs in 15 of his 34 appearances, the Padres can turn to Morgan if a starter runs into trouble early.

8. Yuki Matsui

There is still trust in Yuki Matsui, but he has definitely taken a step back in his sophomore season. His walk rate and hit rate has gone up, all while his strikeout rate has gone down from 2024 to 2025.

9. Alek Jacob

Alek Jacob is rebuilding his trust with fans. He was sent down to Triple-A El Paso for two months after allowing 10 earned runs in his final 2 1/3 innings before his demotion. San Diego brought him back in August, and he has been formidable. In 4 2/3 innings this month, Jacob has yet to allow a run, surrendering just one hit. He was optioned back to Triple-A on Sunday, so who really knows if he will even be on the playoff roster.