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Baltimore Orioles: Does Orioles’ bullpen reign supreme in 2017 AL East rankings?

By Nate Wardle

Jul 9, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Zach Britton (53) pitches during the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Baltimore Orioles defeated Los Angeles Angels 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 9, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Zach Britton (53) pitches during the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Baltimore Orioles defeated Los Angeles Angels 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 19, 2017; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Craig Kimbrel (46) pitches in the third inning of the spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2017; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Craig Kimbrel (46) pitches in the third inning of the spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Boston Red Sox

Boston Red Sox’ RPs: Craig Kimbrel, Carson Smith (injured), Tyler Thornburg, Robbie Ross Jr., Fernando Abad, Matt Barnes, Heath Hembree, Noe Ramirez, Joe Kelly, Robby Scott

Thornburg was a great addition to this bullpen, and it will take some pressure off of guys like Hembree and Barnes, who had to take on increased roles in 2016 due to the Smith injury. However, they did well at it.

Koji Uehara and Junichi Tazawa are gone, two mainstays in the Red Sox bullpen, so there is some unknown here.

The lefty Abad was not good once coming to Boston from Minnesota in 2016, and the Red Sox will need more from him in 2017.

The other question is Kimbrel. He had by far the worst year of his career in 2016, but was still an All-Star, and his ERA was still 3.40. Maybe not the time to panic yet. But, with Britton and Chapman in the division, the Red Sox would like that ERA back below 2.15, where it was for most of his Atlanta Braves’ career.

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