MLB Relievers on the Rise: Top Setup Men in Baseball

October 6, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona (17) motions to the bullpen in the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox during game one of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball game at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

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Dellin Betances

The Yankees made a big offseason splash by signing free agent closer Aroldis Chapman after trading him to the Cubs midway through the 2016 season. Chapman is not a big fan of pitching anything other than the ninth inning. The team should have no problem only giving him the ball in the ninth, thanks to setup man Dellin Betances.

Last season, Betances stepped in for the Yankees as closer after the team traded both Chapman and Andrew Miller. He’ll look forward to moving back to the setup role now that Chapman is back.

Primarily a setup man in 2014 and 2015, Betances was lights out. In 2014, Betances’ ERA was 1.40, and in 2015 it was 1.50. With a career 14.28 K/9, opposing hitters are lucky to put the ball in play against him.

The combination of Betances in the eighth and Chapman in the ninth is enough to instill fear in opposing teams and give them very little hope of a late-game comeback.

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