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MLB Team X-factors for 2017, Part I: AL East

By Jim Turvey

Mar 6, 2017; West Palm Beach, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (41) delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2017; West Palm Beach, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (41) delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-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. MLB.
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. MLB. /

Baltimore Orioles – Zach Britton

Over the last five seasons, the Baltimore Orioles have consistently out-performed their preseason projections. For some folks, that success has been due to manager Buck Showalter, for others, it’s has been thanks to the bullpen. Both have likely played a role, so let’s tackle the most important man in the Orioles bullpen (sorry, Brad Brach) – Zach Britton.

Britton was historically great in 2016, ending the season with the lowest ERA (0.54) in league history (min. 50 IP). Britton has been amazing for several seasons now, relying on his heavy sinker usage to induce mind-numbing ground ball rates (80.0% in 2016). Putting aside his lack of usage in the Orioles’ play-in game last September, there’s a bit of worry surrounding Britton to start 2017, as he has been dealing with a left oblique injury, but he should make his spring debut sooner than later.

The O’s won’t need Britton to repeat his 0.54-ERA-level season in 2017, but if he misses extended time to injury, that would be a big blow to the team’s high hopes for the season. The club certainly has a legitimate closer fill-in in Brach, but having to (potentially) move Brach out of the set-up role would maybe be the bigger domino to fall. Showalter is certainly a wizard, and the bullpen is excellent when healthy but for the O’s to exceed expectations again in 2017 (FanGraphs’ projection: 81 wins), Britton will need to be on point again this year.

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