MASTER NOTES: April 13, 2019: M*L*B*RESEARCH: Openers—What we know after Season One
Tampa Bay caused a small tremor last season by using an “Opener” a couple times a week. The theory is to have a good reliever to face the other team’s top-of-the-lineup hitters and then the “Second Starter” can then work his way through the weaker part of the lineup. The actual results were mixed but the key is to understand how they can be utilized in various league formats.
For more information about the terms used in this article, see our Glossary Primer.
