New York Yankees Bullpen Formula Leading to Victory

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On Dec. 28, 2015, the New York Yankees took a gamble on Cincinnati Reds closer, Aroldis Chapman. The flame-throwing lefty was under investigation for a domestic violence incident and the Reds were eager to shop him.

The Yankees jumped all over what now looks like a bargain, sending Cincinnati third baseman Eric Jagielo, second baseman Tony Renda, right-handed starting pitcher Rookie Davis, and right-handed relief man Caleb Cotham.

The Yankees and their fans did not know what to expect, but the move was a low-risk high-reward one.

Well, five months later, following a 30-game suspension, Chapman is back on the Yankees mound, leaving an impact like no other.

When Chapman returned to the Yankees on May 9, the team was struggling. They were 11-18, playing terrible baseball and looking for a spark to build on.

Enter Chapman.

With the 6-foot-4 closer, the Yankees are 10-4 and have played much better baseball. The return of Chapman has allowed Yankees manager Joe Girardi pull his starter after just six innings regardless of the pitch count and bring in righty Dellin Betances an inning earlier.

Betances has 31 strikeouts  in his last 48 outs recorded and 37 in his last 55 outs. He has struck out 38-of-76 batters faced in 2016 which is good for 50 percent of his total batters faced.

Following Betances is Andrew Miller. Voted the American Leagues best reliever in 2015, Miller is again dominating hitters. Since May 6, Miller has recorded 16-of-22 outs via the strikeout and is pitching to a line of seven innings, seven hits, two runs, 16 strikeouts and one walk.

Betances (50%) and Miller (49.2%) also rank first and second respectively in strikeout rate among MLB relievers

The trio of Betances, Miller and Chapman have pitched in the same game four times this season, and are posting a 1-0 combined record with 4 saves and a 1.46 ERA in those contests.

Heading into Monday’s off-day, Chapman is six-for-six in save opportunities and has retired 21 of 25 batters he has faced.

Not only has Chapman allowed for the Yankees to go to the bullpen an inning earlier, Chapman is as entertaining as they come, dialing up 100-102 MPH fastballs with ease. The Yankees have won five in a row and now only a game under .500, the team that was already written off currently sits in third place in the AL East.