Joba Chamberlain parlayed a non-roster invite to spring camp into a roster spot and has become, statistically, the most reliable arm in the Indians’ bullpen through the first six weeks of the season.
The biggest reason for it: Chamberlain is throwing his fastball more often, and he’s throwing it with more conviction than in the past.
Chamberlain entered Monday with a 0.79 ERA and 0.55 WHIP, both team-low marks, to go with more than a strikeout (13) per inning pitched (12 2/3). He hasn’t pitched in as many high-leverage situations because he entered the season as a front-end reliever with Cody Allen, Bryan Shaw and company anchored to the later innings.