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Allen allows Francona to deploy Miller in big spots
- Updated: November 1, 2016
Let’s agree on a simple fact about the 2016 Cleveland Indians: They probably don’t get to the verge of a World Series title without the presence of Andrew Miller, who helped the club overcome a run of late-season rotation injuries with his willingness to pitch in any situation and dominate in all of them. We can agree on that, right? It’s not controversial. Miller has been fantastic.
Now, let’s take that argument to its logical next step: Miller couldn’t be Miller if not for the presence of Cody Allen, long among baseball’s most underrated relievers, standing alongside him in the bullpen. Allen allows manager Terry Francona to use Miller when and where he wants, because it’s a lot easier to bring your relief ace into a game in the fifth inning when you know you still have Allen standing by. If you wanted to argue that Allen has been the most unsung hero of the postseason so far, you wouldn’t be far off.
• Game 6: Tonight, 7:30 ET air time | 8 ET game time on FOX
If that sounds like high praise, well, it ought to. Allen has pitched 11 2/3 innings in the playoffs, and he’s allowed zero earned runs. Think about it this way; Miller is about to get a statue erected in his honor outside Progressive Field for striking out a shocking 46.8 percent of hitters he’s faced in the playoffs… and yet in at least that category, he’s barely outdoing Allen, who’s running a 44.9 percent whiff rate of his own.
Game Date Time (air time/game time) Matchup TV Gm 1 Oct. 25 CLE 6, CHC 0 Gm 2 Oct. 26 CHC 5, CLE 1 Gm 3 Oct. 28 CLE 1, CHC 0 Gm 4 Oct. 29 CLE 7, CHC 2 Gm 5 Oct. 30 CHC 3, CLE 2 Gm 6 Nov. 1 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CHC @ CLE FOX *Gm 7 Nov. 2 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CHC @ CLE FOX * If necessary | All times listed ET • World Series coverageShop for postseason gear: Cubs | Indians
Allen has received perhaps a fraction of the attention of his more famous teammate, but he’s the best reliever you don’t know. Let’s get to know him.
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He’s been doing this for years, despite throwing only two pitches.
Since Allen’s first full season in 2013, there have been 222 …
