You're Not Using Your Bullpen Enough

Many MLB the Show players leave their starters in too long during Ranked Seasons.

The other day I wrote about the ongoing John Donaldson problem where players bring him in relief every game thanks to a glitch that immediately restores his energy. While I’m against that strategy for the reasons I mentioned, it did get me thinking about normal bullpen usage.

One of the biggest mistakes most Diamond Dynasty players make is not using the bullpen enough. Most players leave their starting pitcher in the game too long, only removing them after a disaster happens. I blame this on how starting pitchers historically were used in real baseball, often staying in the game for about 100 pitches.

A lot of players in Ranked Seasons follow the same model. I’ve often kept my starters on a short leash, pulling them at the first sign of trouble especially as we get deeper into the game.

As a pitcher’s energy wanes, they become easier to hit. A few hits in a row can drop their confidence. Low energy and low confidence mean a lot of rockets from your opponent. We’ve all had that moment where we leave in a starter to get one more batter or get through the end of the inning only to give up a three-run tank.

The inclusion of the DH in this year’s game makes it more practical to go to the bullpen when needed. You now have an additional bullpen slot and do not need to worry about the pitcher batting. You can switch pitchers at any time without much consequence, so use the bullpen liberally.

When to Pull the Starter

If the game is relatively close, I’ll let my starter keep going until they start to show cracks. My antenna goes up around 60 pitches when I get worried about fatigue. Depending on your opponent that could be as early as the fourth inning but is often later.

I may give my starter a little longer leash if I have a sizable lead, but I don’t want to let the linger for too longer. The pitching change typically comes after my pitcher gives up consecutive hits or hard-hit balls. I want to defuse any chance my opponent has of putting together a rally earlier rather than later. Typically, I’ll follow handedness matchups or look at the ratings of the hitter to find an advantage.

The other time I’ll switch pitchers is if my starter is getting hammered. Even if they’ve not given up a lot of runs, I’ll watch how my opponent is timing the ball. Do they seem on top of every pitch? Are they hitting a lot of balls hard or regularly getting perfect-perfects? If that’s the case, I’ll often go to my bullpen for a different look to try to stay in the game. There’s no reason to keep in a starter who is not effective.

What Relievers to Use

Pitchers with unique deliveries (Aaron Loup, Adam Ottavino, etc.) are always good to bring in tough situations. I also like relievers with diverse pitch mixes. Avoid guys like Jordan Romano who only throw two pitches (fastball and slider) or have pitches that only move one way like Emmanuel Clase (fastball, cutter, slider). The only exception to this rule is Rob Dibble whose awkward throwing motion makes him difficult to pick up.

Here are some guys I’m using now:

·         Goose Gossage

·         POTM Evan Phillips

·         Billy Wagner

·         The Wolf

·         POTM Felix Bautista

·         The Missile

While this video includes starters also, it provides a good look at the best relievers in the game.

No Need to Protect the Bullpen

Major league managers often leave in starting pitchers to limit the stress on their bullpen. That’s not an issue in a video game. Yes, relievers in MLB the Show lose energy and may not be available the next game but that’s rarely an issue.

First, you have eight relievers so even if you use three or four in the previous game, you still have a handful to call on. Second, most Ranked Seasons games do not go the full nine innings. People regularly quit before the game finishes and often before you need to go to your bullpen, allowing your team to fully recharge. There will also be games where your starter goes the distance or deep into the game, giving the bullpen another chance to regain energy.

The only time the bullpen really gets worn out is if you play three or four full Ranked Seasons games in a row where you need to rely on your relievers.

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