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MLB: Power Ranking the Top Ten Major League Bullpens

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Apr 21, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Wade Davis (17) celebrates with catcher Erik Kratz (19) after the game against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals won the game 6-5. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 21, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Wade Davis (17) celebrates with catcher Erik Kratz (19) after the game against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals won the game 6-5. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 13, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Andrew Miller (48) pitches during the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. New York Yankees defeated Baltimore Orioles 6-5. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Andrew Miller (48) pitches during the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. New York Yankees defeated Baltimore Orioles 6-5. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

AL East. New York Yankees. 7. player. 43. . 2nd

After more than a decade of Mariano Rivera holding down the ninth inning in the Bronx, the New York Yankees have had to replace their closer twice in two seasons after David Robertson left as a free agent over the winter.

No worries. Even without a designated closer, the Yankees rank fourth in the big leagues with a 2.26 ERA and fifth with a .197 batting average despite working 51.2 innings, which is the fifth most in baseball.

Andrew Miller has seen the most ninth-inning duty in New York to date and has nailed down five saves in 6.1 innings across six games. The left-hander has held opponents to a .095 batting average so far and has an incredible 13 strikeouts (half the batters he’s faced have gone down on strikes).

Dellin Betances, one of the early candidates to close this season but hasn’t yet had the opportunity, though he’s excelled as a setup man. In eight innings spread across seven games, the big right-hander has a 2-0 record, hasn’t allowed an earned run and has surrendered only five hits. The lone blemish to date is seven walks.

Lefty Chasen Shreve has looked good in two appearances (1.93 ERA, 0.86 WHIP) while Esmil Rogers has worked well in long relief (2.79 ERA in 9.2 innings). David Carpenter (4.05 ERA in six games) and Justin Wilson (7.36 ERA in six appearances) have had their rough patches so far, but both should bounce back.

Next: New York Mets

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