Axisa: Yanks' Betances, Miller are ridiculous
The Yankees have struggled a bit of late, mostly offensively. They lost four straight last week, scoring seven runs total in the four games. New York is 5-6 in the early going this season.
On Sunday, the Yankees snapped their four-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Mariners (box score). They scratched out the go-ahead run in the middle innings, then turned the game over to their end-game bullpen combination of Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller. The result:
Both Miller and Betances threw 13 pitches while striking out the side in their scoreless innings. The two also struck out the side Saturday as well. Miller did it on 10 pitches. Remember, he’s pitching with a chip fracture in his right wrist.
So far this season Miller and Betances have combined for 27 strikeouts in 11 innings, or 22.1 K/9. They’ve fanned 27 of 41 batters faced, or 65.9 percent. The league averages this season are 8.3 K/9 and 21.9 percent, respectively. Look at this silliness:
Filth. I have no idea how anyone gets a hit against either of those guys ever. They both sit 95-99 mph with their fastballs and back it up with a devastating breaking ball, Betances a power curve and Miller a slider. Here are some more tidbits:
– The two have combined for 27 strikeouts and 33 total outs.
– Betances has struck out 14 of the last 17 batters he faced.
– Miller has struck out the last seven batters he’s faced.
– Among the 117 relievers who have thrown at least five innings in 2016, Betances and Miller rank first and second in K/9, K%, FIP (-1.69 and -0.89).
Keep in mind the Yankees still don’t have Aroldis Chapman, who has led baseball in strikeout rate each of the last three seasons. He is currently serving his 30-game suspension for violating the league’s domestic violence policy. Chapman is eligible to be activated three weeks from Monday.
The Yankees are a flawed team. Their offense has sputtered in the early going and their rotation can be frustratingly inconsistent. The back of their bullpen, however, is insanely dominant, and it’s only going to get better when Chapman returns. For now, Betances and Miller are doing crazy things on their own.
Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller are doing crazy things right now. (USATSI)
