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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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Sep 11, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Zach Britton (53) pitches in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The Orioles won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Zach Britton (53) pitches in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The Orioles won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Zach Britton, Baltimore Orioles

Let’s get two things out of the way. First, no, Zach Britton did not throw a single pitch in the winner-take-all playoff game. No, he did not win the Cy Young despite allowing only one earned run over the final five months of the regular season. If that’s not enough for a reliever to win the award for the best pitcher in the league, then let’s call it what it is, the Cy Young is an award for pitchers only.

Britton is as close to Mariano Rivera — a relief pitcher who gets by on essentially one pitch — as we have in baseball today. Everyone in the stadium knows Britton is going to throw his 98-mph bowling ball sinker, and wish you the best of luck doing anything but beating it into the ground. Last year, he threw 950 sinkers and 82 breaking balls (although when he does spin one in, it is a high-quality pitch).

Last season, Britton faced 254 batters and allowed only 32 balls in the air. He got 74 outs via the strikeout, and 80 percent of balls in play were hit on the ground. It is almost impossible to sustain a rally against him without the ability to hit the ball in the air. Britton did not blow a save in 2016, and allowed a run in only two of his save opportunities.

The 2016 season was a special one for Zach Britton, and he may never come close to duplicating it. It’s hard to be much more perfect than he was last season, but since becoming a full-time reliever in 2014, Britton has a 1.38 ERA, the second-best mark among all relievers in the big leagues. When his time comes for free agency, Britton could very well become the first closer to to approach the $100-million mark.

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