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Blue Jays and the 2019 Starting Reliever Paradigm

The Rays are at it again.

After pioneering the modern shift (true, they did not invent it – but Edison did not invent the light bulb) the Rays innovated again in 2019. Faced with a depleted starting rotation, they introduced the idea of having a reliever pitch the first inning or two and then bringing in the starter.

It may initially sound crazy, but there is a method to their madness.

  1. On average, hitters do significantly better against a pitcher the third time they see him in a game – the TTT (third time through) penalty.