I turned on the TV and watched a game. It was in the top of the 9th inning. A relief pitcher was on the mound. On the screen, it clearly showed that opponents’ batting average against him was very low. And the play-by-play announcer said that the reliever has done a great job this season. It’s so interesting to see that stat on TV and after watching the game, I began to think about a question.
So far in the 2024 season, which relief pitchers have done the same thing? Which relievers have a low BAA as well?
To solve my doubts, I decided to check on the great Fangraphs website and the MLB website.
Last December, the Rangers and Kirby Yates agreed to a one-year deal. Now, this signing seems to be a great decision. Yates already made 32 relief appearances, posting a 0.84 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP over 32.1 innings. Furthermore, he has collected 14 saves. Opponents’ batting average against him is below .140.
Last season, Alex Vesia made 55 relief appearances and 1 start. He owned a 4.35 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP over 49.2 innings. Opponents’ batting average against him was over .260 in 2023. Nonetheless, this season, he’s been one of the most reliable pitchers in the Dodgers bullpen. Vesia made 38 relief appearances thus far, posting a 1.36 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP over 39.2 innings. It’s hard for opponents to hit against Vesia. Vesia now has a BAA below .140 as well.
In addition, Tanner Scott made 37 relief appearances for the Marlins, posting a 1.42 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP over 38 innings. Scott has collected 13 saves so far. The Marlins don’t have a good season, however, Scott has been a reliable choice to call from the bullpen. Opponents only hit .142 against him.
Moreover, it’s important to watch Mason Miller. So far this season, average velocity of Miller’s four-seam fastballs is over 100 mph. He uses his four-seamer more than 60% of the time. Opponents only hit .143 against him. His strikeout rate is over 45% thus far. At the same time, opponents’ batting average against Craig Kimbrel is below .150 thus far in 2024. He already picked up 23 saves this season. Kimbrel has collected 440 saves in his career.
Finally, Bryan Hudson has a BAA of .150 thus far in 2024.
The first half of the 2024 season will come to an end soon. Two veteran pitchers have shown how reliable they are. Yates and Kimbrel each inked a 1-year deal in the offseason and they have been pitching well thus far. For the Dodgers, it’s great to see Alex Vesia become one of the most reliable relievers in the majors. Furthermore, Mason Miller has been throwing really hard this year and his four-seamers have become opponents’ nightmares. Very soon, there will be an All-Star game. It will be interesting to see Mason Miller, Tanner Scott or Kirby Yates in the mid-summer classic. Additionally, after the All-Star break, it will be worth watching if those relief pitchers will still pitch well. In particular, will Kimbrel collect 30+ saves in a single season again?
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