RELIEVERS: Usage patterns compared to skills for ATL, BOS, CHC, TAM, TEX

This week, the column incorporates Leverage Index ("LI") invented by Tom Tango. At this point, it gives us a view of usage over the first couple weeks, which can be helpful when teams are all doing very different things with their bullpens. This week's pens are Atlanta, Boston, the Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay, and TexasAt the bottom is a list of hot relievers worth monitoring.

Starting in Atlanta, lefty A.J. Minter (LHP, ATL) has returned to join Arodys Vizcaíno (RHP, ATL) as co-closer. But highest use in leverage to-date has been Wes Parsons (RHP, ATL). Here is the usage chart (all usage data is through April 11):

ATL (4/11)        Sv Hld  IP Clean/App Inh  LI   vL   vR   xERA  BPV
==============    == === === ========= === ==== ====...

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