Seeking Relief: Making the Most of Pitchers in the Modern Era of Major League Baseball

Abstract

In Major League Baseball today, relief pitchers enjoy a significant earned run average (ERA) advantage over starting pitchers, among other statistical areas. So then why do starting pitchers continue to receive lucrative, long-term contracts while pitching in only every fifth game? This thesis examines a variety of elements which influence pitching success, including fastball speeds, break lengths, and batting matchups, in order to highlight the superior performance of relievers and establish the benefit of pitching for shorter periods of time during each game. It also focuses on specific outcomes of at-bats, such as home runs and strikeouts, and analyzes their likelihood based on factors such as number of pitches thrown and pitch location in the strike zone. It then explores the financial burdens which large salaries offered to starting pitchers have and proposes the potentially advantageous alternative of signing relief pitchers, who are more affordable and tend to produce better results. Recent history has shown the increasing importance of relief pitchers, and redefining the traditional role of the pitcher could lead to the dawn of a new and improved era in Major League Baseball.