RELIEVERS: Speed bumps

This week, we look at some relievers anomalies and what they tell us looking forward. Take a typical reliever at this point in the season. He has around 20-25 innings pitched. Let's see what kinds of ERA changes we can generate for 25 innings:

25 IP         7ER  8ER  9ER 10ER
===========  ==== ==== ==== ==== 
pitcher ERA  2.52 2.88 3.24 3.60

Thus, a reliever with 25 straight one-inning outings allowing seven ER along the way has a 2.52 ERA. But if he then has an outing where he gives up three ER without recording an out, it generates a change in ERA from 2.52 to 3.60--overnight. Should you cut this reliever before it happens again?

For Sean Marshall (LHP, CIN), that game came on April 26 against the Giants. He allowed three ER on...

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 filters by first two weeks K%-BB% and then looks at the projections to make an early call on whether the elite start is real or not real.
Apr 19 2026 3:07am
Using projections for skills and early-season usage patterns, we look at five more bullpens.
Apr 12 2026 3:05am
We are a week into the 2026 season and can start to look for usage patterns in fluid bullpens. Griffin Jax's season so has left managers screaming.
Apr 5 2026 3:06am
Every week brings changes to bullpens. One game does not give us much, but it gives us something, like a Jordan Romano (RHP, LAA) save.
Mar 29 2026 3:06am

Tools