Brett Myers has agreed in principle, pending a physical, to a deal with the Cleveland Indians as he plans to return to the starting rotation. Myers' situation was a little odd, as he had always been a starter except for the season he was injured with the Phillies. He returned later that season and relieved, but the following season, he was back in the rotation. He remained a starter until this past season, when Houston used him as their closer and traded him to the White Sox more than half way through the season. Among recent pitchers who have both started and relieved, Derek Lowe, John Smoltz and HOF Dennis Eckersley have had the most success doing both. Of course, there has been plenty of example of other pitchers who have had stretches of both starting and relieving. In earlier times, pitchers used to relieve when they were not scheduled to start.
Of course, the best example of success doing both was Eckersley. Eckersley had a good career as a starting pitcher with the Indians, Red Sox and Cubs before joining the Athletics in 1987. Prior to joining the Athletics, he was a starting pitcher for 12 seasons, going 151-128 with 3 saves, in 376 games, 359 starts. His ERA during that time was 3.74. During the next 12 seasons, he was one of the greatest relievers in the history of the game. He was 46-43 with 387 saves and a 2.96 ERA in 695 games, 2 starts. He struck out 774 batters in 789 2/3 IP as a reliever as opposed to 2784 in 3187 2/3 IP as a starter. He made a start in the 1984 NLCS for the Cubs, but the rest of the time was spent relieving as he made 27 relief appearances in the postseason, all after he went to Oakland.
John Smoltz would more than likely go in the Hall of Fame if he just started for the time he did. His 4 seasons as a reliever make his accumulated numbers even better. Smoltz had 17 seasons as a starter, going 207-147, 3.39 in 477 games, 476 starts. He had 2784 Ks in 3187 2/3 IP. As a reliever though, he was dominant for the 4 seasons he was in the pen. He was 6-8, 2.65 with 154 saves in 246 games, 5 starts. The 5 starts came in the first season before he was made the closer. He also had 300 Ks in 285 1/3 IP and had a season where his ERA was 1.12. He also had seasons of 45 and 55 saves and him and Eckersley are the only pitchers in the history of the game with a 20 win and a 50 save season.
Derek Lowe was the only other pitcher in recent memory that had sustained success as both a starter and a reliever. Out of his 16 MLB seasons, he has started for 11 1/2 of them. In 377 games, 364 starts, he is 156-130, 4.15 and has 1382 Ks in 2219 1/3 IP. As a reliever, which covers 4 1/2 seasons, he is 19-27, 86 saves in 295 games, 13 starts. His ERA is better at 3.21, but his strikeout rate is about the same.
Among others worth mentioning is Rick Aguilera, who in 11 1/2 seasons as a reliever was 44-53, 318 saves and a 3.31 ERA in 635 games, 3 starts. He had 635 Ks in 725 1/3 IP. As a starter (4 1/2 seasons), he was 42-28. 3.90 ERA in 97 games, 86 starts. He had 395 Ks in 566 IP.
CJ Wilson pitched his first 5 seasons out of the pen. In 258 games, 6 starts, he was 12-20, 4.30 and 52 saves in 280 2/3IP and 261 Ks. He has become a top of the rotation starting pitcher, going 44-25, 3.35 in 101 games, 101 starts over the past 3 seasons. He has struck out 549 in 629 2/3 IP over that time.
Braden Looper was clearly a better reliever than a starter. He had a full seasons out of the pen, going 34-32, 3.57 with 103 saves for the Marlins, Mets and Cardinals in 572 games, 0 starts. Never a strikeout pitcher, his K rate was higher as a reliever (374 in 607 1/3 IP- 295 in 568 2/3 IP). His final 3 seasons saw him go 38-33, 4.76 in 98 games, 97 starts.
Adam Wainwright had a big impact on the Cardinals in his first season. It was his only year as a reliever, but he went 2-1, 3 saves and 3.12 ERA in 61 games, 0 starts. He had 72 Ks in 75 IP. More importantly, he was lights out in the postseason, going 1-0, 4 saves in 9 games out of the pen. He added 15 strikeouts in 9 2/3 IP. Myers only has the two seasons as a reliever, going 8-15, 4.97 and 40 games in 121 games, 3 starts. Of course, the 3 starts were with the Phillies in 2007 prior to his injury and subsequent move to the back of the bullpen upon his return.
I will conclude this piece with a chart of the before mentioned and games started and relieved, both in the regular season and postseason. Guys like Aroldis Chapman and Neftali Feliz, both getting a chance to dominate as closers, are likely to be starters next season. Feliz started last year, before injuries ruined his season.
Pitcher RSGS RSGR PSGS PSGR
Eckersley 361 710 1 27
Smoltz 482 242 27 14
Lowe 377 295 12 14
Wilson 107 252 9 1
Aguilera 89 643 0 15
Myers 249 128 3 4
Wainwright 151 63 4 9
Looper 97 577 0 15
John Smoltz would more than likely go in the Hall of Fame if he just started for the time he did. His 4 seasons as a reliever make his accumulated numbers even better. Smoltz had 17 seasons as a starter, going 207-147, 3.39 in 477 games, 476 starts. He had 2784 Ks in 3187 2/3 IP. As a reliever though, he was dominant for the 4 seasons he was in the pen. He was 6-8, 2.65 with 154 saves in 246 games, 5 starts. The 5 starts came in the first season before he was made the closer. He also had 300 Ks in 285 1/3 IP and had a season where his ERA was 1.12. He also had seasons of 45 and 55 saves and him and Eckersley are the only pitchers in the history of the game with a 20 win and a 50 save season.
Derek Lowe was the only other pitcher in recent memory that had sustained success as both a starter and a reliever. Out of his 16 MLB seasons, he has started for 11 1/2 of them. In 377 games, 364 starts, he is 156-130, 4.15 and has 1382 Ks in 2219 1/3 IP. As a reliever, which covers 4 1/2 seasons, he is 19-27, 86 saves in 295 games, 13 starts. His ERA is better at 3.21, but his strikeout rate is about the same.
Among others worth mentioning is Rick Aguilera, who in 11 1/2 seasons as a reliever was 44-53, 318 saves and a 3.31 ERA in 635 games, 3 starts. He had 635 Ks in 725 1/3 IP. As a starter (4 1/2 seasons), he was 42-28. 3.90 ERA in 97 games, 86 starts. He had 395 Ks in 566 IP.
CJ Wilson pitched his first 5 seasons out of the pen. In 258 games, 6 starts, he was 12-20, 4.30 and 52 saves in 280 2/3IP and 261 Ks. He has become a top of the rotation starting pitcher, going 44-25, 3.35 in 101 games, 101 starts over the past 3 seasons. He has struck out 549 in 629 2/3 IP over that time.
Braden Looper was clearly a better reliever than a starter. He had a full seasons out of the pen, going 34-32, 3.57 with 103 saves for the Marlins, Mets and Cardinals in 572 games, 0 starts. Never a strikeout pitcher, his K rate was higher as a reliever (374 in 607 1/3 IP- 295 in 568 2/3 IP). His final 3 seasons saw him go 38-33, 4.76 in 98 games, 97 starts.
Adam Wainwright had a big impact on the Cardinals in his first season. It was his only year as a reliever, but he went 2-1, 3 saves and 3.12 ERA in 61 games, 0 starts. He had 72 Ks in 75 IP. More importantly, he was lights out in the postseason, going 1-0, 4 saves in 9 games out of the pen. He added 15 strikeouts in 9 2/3 IP. Myers only has the two seasons as a reliever, going 8-15, 4.97 and 40 games in 121 games, 3 starts. Of course, the 3 starts were with the Phillies in 2007 prior to his injury and subsequent move to the back of the bullpen upon his return.
I will conclude this piece with a chart of the before mentioned and games started and relieved, both in the regular season and postseason. Guys like Aroldis Chapman and Neftali Feliz, both getting a chance to dominate as closers, are likely to be starters next season. Feliz started last year, before injuries ruined his season.
Pitcher RSGS RSGR PSGS PSGR
Eckersley 361 710 1 27
Smoltz 482 242 27 14
Lowe 377 295 12 14
Wilson 107 252 9 1
Aguilera 89 643 0 15
Myers 249 128 3 4
Wainwright 151 63 4 9
Looper 97 577 0 15
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