RESEARCH: Openers—What we know after Season One
Jan 17 2019
Tampa Bay caused a small tremor last season by using an “Opener” a couple times a week. The theory is to have a good reliever to face the other team’s top-of-the-lineup hitters and then the “Second Starter” can then work his way through the weaker part of the lineup. The actual results were mixed but the key is to understand how they can be utilized in various league formats.
Before diving into any analysis, I need to clarify the two terms above. “Opener” refers to a pitcher, usually a decent reliever, who starts the game and just throws one inning. “Second Starter” is what we'll use to identify the pitcher is a subpar starter who will have a tough time navigating a lineup twice, let alone three times, so the team will help them by...
Almost!
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