Baseball Is Better with a Little Risk

Baseball has evolved dramatically over the past decade with the introduction of new strategies, such as openers and platoons of relievers. However, these innovations have become increasingly common and are now considered routine. In the 2026 season, the Miami Marlins even began utilizing starters in relief on certain days to avoid "wasting" pitches.

This trend reached a new level in the A.L. Wild Card Series, where both the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox played bullpen games, with no traditional rotation pitchers on the mound. The reasoning behind this approach is that seeing a pitcher multiple times increases a hitter's comfort at the plate, and certain pitchers excel against specific batters.

Teams like the Tampa Bay Rays, who pioneered the aggressive bullpen usage, have achieved success despite a limited budget. Major League Baseball responded to this shift by implementing rules requiring pitchers to face at least three batters and limiting the number of pitchers on a roster. Baseball legend Justin Verlander, who has been critical of these changes, suggested preserving the value of starting pitchers by increasing pitch counts and keeping starting pitchers in games longer.

Despite these measures, the art of starting pitching has faded significantly. Baseball veteran Justin Gray, who played in the recent Wild Card Series, exemplifies the challenge of balancing new strategies and veteran experience. Gray threw only 70 pitches and gave up one run in his start, but was pulled after two outs and runners on first and third due to the Red Sox's strong bullpen.

Gray expressed frustration with the decision and the outcome, highlighting the need for experienced players to have a voice in crucial moments. While some argue that data-driven decisions are essential, others believe that experienced, skilled players like Gray are indispensable to winning games.