Does Baltimore Orioles Bullpen Still Reigns Supreme in AL East?
By Nate Wardle
![TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 04: Mychal Givens TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 04: Mychal Givens](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/719aa0d7884e30abb185c2cc809e612575cd2e25443a7d230124e895a66220a0.jpg)
1. New York Yankees
Relief pitchers: Aroldis Chapman (CL), Dellin Betances (SU), David Robertson (SU), Tommy Kahnle, Chad Green, Adam Warren, Jonathan Holder, Chasen Shreve
Did you expect anyone else atop the AL East bullpen rankings 2018?
The New York Yankees have the most potent bullpen in baseball. They have three capable closers in Chapman, Betances, and Robertson, and Kahnle is a capable setup man as well.
For years, it used to be if you got to the seventh inning and you were losing against the Yankees, the game might as well as be over.
In 2018, that may hold true again.
Chapman, despite midseason struggles and taken out of the closer role, finished with a 3.22 ERA and 22 saves for the Yankees. His strikeout numbers were lower than they had ever been in his career, but he wasn’t exceptionally wild.
Betances was an All-Star for the fourth straight season, but even his 2.87 ERA was above his career average of 2.29. Nonetheless, he was impressive last season and hit triple digits for strikeouts for the fourth consecutive season.
While those two struggled a bit, Robertson was rejuvenated by his return to New York.
Next: Creating the Best Batteries for the Birds
In 35 innings, Robertson had a 1.03 ERA and five wins for the Yankees, and it was an excellent year for the right-hander, who was able to play the Andrew Miller role for the Yankees to perfection.
Kahnle was also very good in 2017 for the Yankees after being acquired with Robertson by posting a 2.59 ERA between the Yankees and Chicago White Sox.