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Baltimore Orioles’ Bullpen Tops Great Staffs in AL East

By Nate Wardle

Sep 11, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Zach Britton (53) pitches in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The Orioles won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Zach Britton (53) pitches in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The Orioles won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 19, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA;New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54), relief pitcher Andrew Miller (48), relief pitcher Dellin Betances (68) and teammates stretch during workouts at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA;New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54), relief pitcher Andrew Miller (48), relief pitcher Dellin Betances (68) and teammates stretch during workouts at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

2. New York Yankees

Relief pitchers – Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller, Kirby Yates, Chasen Shreve, Aroldis Chapman, Tyler Clippard, Tommy Layne, Adam Warren, Nick Goody, Anthony Swarzak, Richard Bleier, Blake Parker, Johnny Barbato, Luis Severino, Ben Heller

Preseason prediction – 1st, Chapman, Miller, Betances, Shreve, Brandon Pinder, Bryan Mitchell, Ivan Nova, Kirby Yates, Jacob Lindgren, Goody

How many teams can boost a back end of the bullpen as good as the Yankees did? Well, they traded Miller and Chapman, making Betances the closer (and also overworked, but that is a yearly theme.) Chapman’s ERA was 2.01, Miller’s 1.39. Betances 3.08. When the Yankees had all three, their bullpen was great. When they didn’t, it was tough, as the rest of the bullpen was not very good. In fact, only Clippard and Warren, who both were traded for, had ERAs below 4 for guys who threw major innings.

The Yankees won 36 games in relief and lost 19. The wins are second to only Texas, losses tied for second with Houston, second to Baltimore. The Yankees saved 75 percent of games, fourth-best in the American League.

What will be interesting is to see what the Yankees do to upgrade their bullpen in 2017, as right now it is Betances and some question marks. Don’t expect it to stay that way.

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