In the Golden Age of Bullpens, the Mariners have assembled a final innings rotation of comparatively pedestrian stuff. But below the surface, elite velocity and breaking pitches are lurking.
Yesterday's loss was a defined by a growing sense of dread and helplessness. Once Steve Clevenger allowed a ball to wiggle through the five-hole, allowing Brett Gardner to score from the 3rd and putting the Yankees up 4-3 in the 5th you felt the Mariners had, realistically, two innings to score before the game was over.
There was a reason for that, or rather, two reasons: Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller.