Breaking Down the Playoff Relievers

Most playoff games are decided in the 6th and 7th innings, between the starter and the closer. Here are eight playoff relievers you probably haven't thought a lot about who will have major impacts in the next week.

David Robertson, Yankees:
Robertson's 1.50 WHIP isn't gaudy, but this is the guy who's coming into a close game if Pettitte or Hughes is knocked out in the 5th or 6th. He's got one of the more impressive 12-to-6 curves in the bigs and has a reverse strikeout split, so he can go multiple innings if necessary. Pretty good weapon against the lefty-heavy Twins lineup.

Jesse Crain, Twins:
Another righty with a dramatic reverse split. Crain's .OPS against is .614 for lefties and they're slugging just .333. Righties' numbers against him aren't a whole lot better, so Crain should pitch a lot to all those Yankee switch-hitters in the middle innings.

Darren O'Day, Rangers:
The new Byung-Hyung Kim, and I mean that in a good way. A sidewinding righty who's delivering his second straight season with a WHIP right around 1.00. Gets better movement that any playoff pitcher except the Phillies' Ryan Madson and maybe the Giants' Santiago Casilla. Remember this, though: O'Day and kid closer Neftali Feliz are pretty green, for what it's worth. For every K-Rod in the playoffs there are a few Jobas.

Joaquin Benoit, Rays:
Benoit was in AAA until late April. Then he struck out 75 in 60 innings for Tampa while walking 11. Eleven. That's 11.19 Ks/9. 0.68 WHIP. The numbers in this case speak volumes.

Aroldis Chapman, Reds:
Myth: Chapman can throw 104. Fact: Chapman can throw 105 with a slider not dissimilar to that of the Carlton/Randy Johnson model. And you know that Dusty The Armwrecker will be K-rodding Chapman right before your bulging eyes. A major multiple-inning weapon, though this atmosphere will be very, very new.

Ryan Madson, Phillies:
Madson is as solid as Lidge is terrifying. That sinker is a bowling ball, he doesn't give up the amount of hits sinkerballers normally do, and his K/9 this year was a career high 10.87 while only surrendering four home runs. With Contreras the only other vaguely trustworthy bullpen arm, Madson's going to pitch a lot.

Santiago Casilla, Giants:
The Giants bullpen is stacked; Atlanta's in trouble if they're losing after five innings. Sergio Romo has become the Guillermo Mota to Brian Wilson's Eric Gagne (and by the way, Mota is in SF's pen), but righty slinger Santiago Casilla is the guy in the middle who can shut down in multiple innings. Nothing he throws is remotely straight, the heat touches 97, and he's given up eight hits in the last month.

Jonny Venters, Braves:
Atlanta is going to have a tough time winning bullpen wars against San Francisco, but Venters is the best bridge they have to Billy Wagner. A robust 93 Ks in 83 innings and a very non-robust .241 SLG against. Walks are a slight weakness, though: 39 on the year.