Zach Meisel had a good analysis in the Plain Dealer the other day about how badly the Cleveland Indians various fifth starters have hindered them this season. Even though it has been an obvious problem all year, it was striking how bad it has been. If the fifth starters were excluded, the Indians would have the second best rotation by ERA in the American League. The fifth starters knock them down to sixth.
Cleveland Indians
Now, obviously, every team’s fifth starters hurt the team’s stats – that’s why they’re the fifth starter, after all.