Setup pitcher

In baseball, a setup pitcher (or set-up pitcher, sometimes called the setup man) is a relief pitcher who regularly pitches before the closer. They commonly pitch the 8th inning, with the closer pitching the 9th.

Related Topics:
Baseball - Relief pitcher - Closer

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The concept of a team having a defined setup pitcher is a relatively new one which has been aided by the addition of the statistical category of holds. The role, however, remains a flexible and sometimes ill-defined one. Setup pitchers, unlike closers, commonly appear in games where their team is tied or even behind, making the designation of setup pitcher representative of only a certain number - perhaps under half - of the pitcher's appearances within a season.

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Teams commonly have a right-handed and a left-handed setup pitcher in their bullpens.

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Notable Major League Baseball pitchers who have held the role of setup pitcher for an significant period of time include:

Related Topics:
Major League Baseball - Pitcher

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• Octavio Dotel
• Alan Embree
• Tom Gordon
• Paul Quantrill
• Arthur Rhodes
• Mariano Rivera
• Mike Timlin
• Duane Ward