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MLB 2017: Top 10 relievers

By Joshua Sadlock

Jul 9, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Zach Britton (53) reacts after the game ending throw by second baseman Jonathan Schoop (not pictured) in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Baltimore Orioles defeated Los Angeles Angels 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 9, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Zach Britton (53) reacts after the game ending throw by second baseman Jonathan Schoop (not pictured) in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Baltimore Orioles defeated Los Angeles Angels 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 2, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Andrew Miller throws a pitch against the Chicago Cubs in the fifth inning in game seven of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Andrew Miller throws a pitch against the Chicago Cubs in the fifth inning in game seven of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Andrew Miller, Cleveland Indians

If you were to play Dr. Frankenstein and construct the perfect MLB reliever, you would come up with a creation that looked an awful lot like Andrew Miller. Miller checks every box for an elite reliever — he’s tall and lanky, and throws from an arm slot that makes picking up the baseball difficult, he’s left-handed, has impeccable command, and is incredibly durable thanks to the fact that he began his career as a starter.

To top it off, Miller is team-first at all times, not caring (at least outwardly) what inning he pitches.

It took Miller seven years in the big leagues before he really hit his stride as a reliever. Over the past four seasons, he has a 1.93 ERA in 229 innings while striking out 14.7 per nine. His control took a big step in the right direction in 2016, as he walked only 1.1 per nine, an unheard of number for a relief pitcher with a big fastball and wipeout slider.

Without Miller, the Indians do not go to the World Series, and certainly do not get within a game of winning it all. In the playoffs last year, Miller struck out 30 batters in only 19.1 innings of work while walking only five. He eventually began running out of gas in the World Series, but not after helping to redefine how a reliever should be used in the postseason.

Next: MLB 2017: Top 10 starting pitchers

Miller gets the nod as the top reliever in baseball over Chapman because he does not come with the headaches. Chapman has balked throughout his entire career when asked to pitch more than one inning. There are also the off-field concerns that come with Chapman. Miller is a special pitcher, and the rightful choice for best relief pitcher in the game.

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