RELIEVERS: Gambles 2017

Today we are looking at gambles. In this context, we define gambles as someone who has skills or other factors may reduce the current role, and where there may be significant risk for the cost. There are always an abundance of these throughout the season in bullpens. Let's start in Minnesota:

The Twins will use incumbent closer Brandon Kintzler (RHP, MIN) because what choice do they have? Let's take a peek:

MIN              Sv  IP  xERA WHIP  Dom  Cmd HR/9  G/F  BPV ADP
============     == ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ===== === === 
Kintzler         28  58  3.75 1.33  5.6  2.8  0.6 59/21  83 276
Perkins (L)       0  29  3.56 1.17  9.0  4.8  0.9 36/41 126 493
T.May             0  65  3.58 1.32 10.8  3.1  1.1 36/41 115 538

Kintzler could...

Almost!

You’re just a few clicks away from accessing this feature and hundreds more throughout the year that have a singular goal in mind: Winning your league. Subscribe to BaseballHQ.com here!

Already a subscriber? Sign in here

More From Relief Pitchers

This column gets away from closers and looks at relievers who are being used in leverage by their teams. They are divided into groups by current xERA.
Jun 21 2026 3:07am
Here are your K%-BB% leaders and what you might expect going into the rest of June.
Jun 7 2026 3:11am
Identifying the best setup men and projecting their future production.
May 31 2026 3:03am
Closer roles open for the taking as uncertainty reigns supreme in undecided bullpens. Four arms barns are in flux as they determine the best suitor for the challenge of the final frame.
May 24 2026 3:10am

Tools