Andrew Miller Doesn’t Have Any Saves, And He’s The Best Reliever In Baseball

The Cleveland Indians’ Andrew Miller is the sort of pitcher we had in mind when we developed the goose egg, our replacement for the save stat that rewards pitchers for throwing scoreless relief innings in clutch situations. Miller isn’t the Indians’ closer — that distinction belongs to Cody Allen — and in fact, Miller doesn’t have a single save yet this season. But no reliever has contributed more to his team’s bottom line so far.

Miller has appeared in 23 games, usually entering in the 7th or 8th inning. All but a handful of those appearances have come in high-leverage situations. He’s yielded just two runs — one of them unearned — while striking out 37 batters and allowing just 5 walks and 13 hits in 26.1 innings. He’s been as unhittable as pitchers get. But while Miller hasn’t earned any saves for his efforts, he does have 17 goose eggs, tying him for the major league lead. He also leads the majors in goose wins above replacement (GWAR), having added 2.3 wins to Cleveland’s tally so far. If his performance so far is the source of any disappointment, it’s that, unlike during last year’s postseason, Miller hasn’t been used in many multi-inning appearances — but that’s on manager Terry Francona, not Miller.

The co-leader in goose eggs is the Brewers’ Corey Knebel, who started out as a setup man but worked his way into the closer role. We’re more interested in pitchers with less conventional usage patterns, however, and a couple of them have fallen off the pace slightly. The Astros’ Chris Devenski, who we highlighted last month for often working multiple innings at a time, is up to 15 goose eggs, but he also has 5 broken eggs (the goose equivalent of a blown save). And the Reds’ Raisel Iglesias, who’s mainly used as a closer but who often enters the game in the 8th inning instead of the 9th, is stuck on 12 goose eggs, mostly because the Reds have been playing like crap and not providing him with enough clutch situations to pitch in.

You can find a complete rundown of goose stats in the table below. We’ll continue to update these numbers once a month or so.

Goose stats through Thursday, June 1

PITCHER▲▼


TEAM▲▼


GOOSE EGGS▲▼


BROKEN EGGS▲▼


MEHS▲▼


GWAR▲▼






Andrew Miller
CLE
17
1
1
+2.3


Corey Knebel
MIL
17
2
2
+1.6


Seung-hwan Oh
SLN
16
1
2
+1.8


Alex Colome
TBA
16
2
2
+1.6


Brad Brach
BAL
15
2
0
+1.5


Chris Devenski
HOU
15
5
1
+0.3


Felipe Rivero
PIT
14
1
2
+1.6


Joakim Soria
KCA
14
3
1
+1.0


Tony Watson
PIT
14
3
2
+0.8


Edwin Diaz
SEA
13
2
1
+1.2


Addison Reed
NYN
13
4
3
+0.3


Greg Holland
COL
12
0
0
+1.8


Raisel Iglesias
CIN
12
0
0
+1.7


Kenley Jansen
LAN
12
0
1
+1.6


Craig Kimbrel
BOS
12
1
0
+1.5


Brandon Kintzler
MIN
12
2
1
+1.1


Jacob Barnes
MIL
12
2
2
+0.9


Trevor Rosenthal
SLN
12
2
0
+0.9


Fernando Rodney
ARI
12
3
3
+0.6


Brad Hand
SDN
12
3
2
+0.5


Hector Neris
PHI
11
1
1
+1.2


Ryan Tepera
TOR
11
2
0
+0.9


Justin Wilson
DET
11
2
0
+0.9


Archie Bradley
ARI
11
2
1
+0.9


Adam Ottavino
COL
11
3
2
+0.6


Kelvin Herrera
KCA
11
3
1
+0.6


Wade Davis
CHN
10
0
1
+1.4


Dellin Betances
NYA
10
1
0
+1.2


Joe Smith
TOR
10
1
1
+1.2


Michael Lorenzen
CIN
10
1
0
+1.0


Cody Allen
CLE
10
2
2
+0.9


Matt Bush
TEX
10
2
0
+0.8


Mike Minor
KCA
10
2
1
+0.8


David Robertson
CHA
10
2
0
+0.7


Will Harris
HOU
10
2
0
+0.7


Matthew Bowman
SLN
10
2
3
+0.6


Derek Law
SFN
10
2
1
+0.6


Arodys Vizcaino
ATL
10
3
1
+0.3


Bryan Shaw
CLE
9
1
2
+1.1


Mike Montgomery
CHN
9
1
1
+0.9


Mychal Givens
BAL
9
2
2
+0.6


Jose Ramirez
ATL
9
2
0
+0.5


Santiago Casilla
OAK
9
3
1
+0.2


Jim Johnson
ATL
9
3
0
+0.1


Joaquin Benoit
PHI
9
3
0
+0.1


Jerry Blevins
NYN
8
0
5
+1.1


Wandy Peralta
CIN
8
1
0
+0.8


Carl Edwards
CHN
8
1
1
+0.7


Tommy Kahnle
CHA
8
2
0
+0.4


Mark Melancon
SFN
8
2
0
+0.3


Jorge De La Rosa
ARI
8
3
1
+0.0


Koji Uehara
CHN
8
3
2
-0.0


Roberto Osuna
TOR
8
4
1
-0.3


Neftali Feliz
MIL
8
4
0
-0.4


Bud Norris
ANA
8
5
0
-0.7


Brandon Maurer
SDN
8
5
0
-0.8


Erasmo Ramirez
TBA
7
0
2
+1.0


Matt Belisle
MIN
7
1
3
+0.7


Yusmeiro Petit
ANA
7
1
2
+0.7


Koda Glover
WAS
7
1
2
+0.6


Hunter Strickland
SFN
7
1
0
+0.6


Darren O’Day
BAL
7
2
2
+0.3


Deolis Guerra
ANA
7
2
0
+0.3


Ryan Madson
OAK
7
2
1
+0.3


Ken Giles
HOU
7
2
1
+0.3


Josh Smoker
NYN
7
2
2
+0.2


Hector Rondon
CHN
7
2
1
+0.2


Blake Parker
ANA
7
3
1
-0.1


Danny Farquhar
TBA
7
3
2
-0.1


Enny Romero
WAS
7
3
3
-0.2


Alex Wilson
DET
7
4
3
-0.4


Ryan Buchter
SDN
7
4
2
-0.6


Aroldis Chapman
NYA
6
0
0
+0.9


Zach Britton
BAL
6
0
0
+0.9


David Hernandez
ANA
6
0
1
+0.9


Shane Greene
DET
6
1
2
+0.5


James Pazos
SEA
6
1
3
+0.5


Nick Vincent
SEA
6
1
3
+0.5


Pat Neshek
PHI
6
1
2
+0.5


Kevin Siegrist
SLN
6
1
0
+0.4


Kyle Barraclough
MIA
6
1
1
+0.4


Taylor Rogers
MIN
6
2
2
+0.2


J. J. Hoover
ARI
6
2
1
+0.1


Luke Gregerson
HOU
6
2
0
+0.1


Shawn Kelley
WAS
6
2
0
+0.1


Brett Cecil
SLN
6
2
1
+0.1


Tony Barnette
TEX
6
3
0
-0.2


Mike Dunn
COL
5
0
1
+0.8


Matt Barnes
BOS
5
1
3
+0.4


Jose Alvarado
TBA
5
1
3
+0.4


Joely Rodriguez
PHI
5
1
4
+0.3


Alex Claudio
TEX
5
2
4
+0.0


Chase Whitley
TBA
5
2
1
-0.0


Juan Nicasio
PIT
5
2
2
-0.1


Jacob Turner
WAS
5
2
0
-0.1


Steven Okert
SFN
5
2
4
-0.1


Josh Edgin
NYN
5
2
2
-0.1


Keone Kela
TEX
5
3
0
-0.3


George Kontos
SFN
5
3
1
-0.5


Jose Alvarez
ANA
5
4
3
-0.8


Ross Stripling
LAN
5
4
1
-0.8


Jake McGee
COL
4
0
2
+0.6


Logan Verrett
BAL
4
0
0
+0.6


Anthony Swarzak
CHA
4
0
0
+0.6


T. J. McFarland
ARI
4
0
0
+0.6


Oliver Perez
WAS
4
0
2
+0.6


Joe Kelly
BOS
4
1
2
+0.3


Chris Rusin
COL
4
1
2
+0.2


Tyler Duffey
MIN
4
1
0
+0.2


Nate Jones
CHA
4
1
0
+0.2


Sean Doolittle
OAK
4
1
2
+0.2


Liam Hendriks
OAK
4
1
1
+0.2


Matt Albers
WAS
4
1
3
+0.2


Jeanmar Gomez
PHI
4
1
1
+0.2


Jeurys Familia
NYN
4
1
2
+0.2


Pedro Strop
CHN
4
1
3
+0.2


A. J. Ramos
MIA
4
1
1
+0.2


Brad Ziegler
MIA
4
1
2
+0.2


Adam Warren
NYA
4
2
1
-0.1


Ryan Pressly
MIN
4
2
0
-0.1


Ryan Dull
OAK
4
2
2
-0.2


Fernando Salas
NYN
4
2
2
-0.2


Hansel Robles
NYN
4
2
2
-0.2


Tyler Clippard
NYA
4
3
4
-0.5


Joe Biagini
TOR
4
3
2
-0.5


Carlos Torres
MIL
4
3
1
-0.6


David Phelps
MIA
4
4
0
-1.0


Fernando Abad
BOS
3
0
0
+0.5


Chasen Shreve
NYA
3
0
1
+0.5


Jonathan Holder
NYA
3
0
0
+0.5


Peter Moylan
KCA
3
0
2
+0.5


Cam Bedrosian
ANA
3
0
3
+0.4


Marc Rzepczynski
SEA
3
0
4
+0.4


Randall Delgado
ARI
3
0
0
+0.4


Austin Brice
CIN
3
0
0
+0.4


Luis Garcia
PHI
3
0
0
+0.4


Bryan Morris
SFN
3
0
0
+0.4


Brian Duensing
CHN
3
0
0
+0.4


Nick Wittgren
MIA
3
0
0
+0.4


Alex Wood
LAN
3
0
1
+0.4


Scott Oberg
COL
3
1
0
+0.1


Donnie Hart
BAL
3
1
3
+0.1


Alec Asher
BAL
3
1
1
+0.1


Tommy Hunter
TBA
3
1
0
+0.1


Ian Krol
ATL
3
1
1
+0.0


Heath Hembree
BOS
3
2
4
-0.3


Dan Altavilla
SEA
3
2
1
-0.3


Tony Zych
SEA
3
2
1
-0.3


Jhan Marinez
MIL/PIT
3
2
0
-0.3


Blake Treinen
WAS
3
2
0
-0.3


Sam Tuivailala
SLN
3
2
0
-0.3


Travis Wood
KCA
3
3
1
-0.6


Jason Grilli
TOR
3
3
1
-0.6


Daniel Hudson
PIT
3
3
2
-0.7


Sam Dyson
TEX
3
6
1
-1.7


Robby Scott
BOS
2
0
6
+0.3


Dario Alvarez
TEX
2
0
1
+0.3


Zach Putnam
CHA
2
0
0
+0.3


Austin Pruitt
TBA
2
0
0
+0.3


Jared Hughes
MIL
2
0
0
+0.3


Dustin McGowan
MIA
2
0
1
+0.3


Josh Fields
LAN
2
0
1
+0.3


Scott Alexander
KCA
2
1
0
-0.1


Richard Bleier
BAL
2
1
0
-0.1


Kyle Ryan
DET
2
1
0
-0.1


Drew Storen
CIN
2
1
2
-0.1


Cory Gearrin
SFN
2
1
0
-0.1


Robert Gsellman
NYN
2
1
0
-0.1


Luis Avilan
LAN
2
1
2
-0.1


Matt Strahm
KCA
2
2
1
-0.4


Dominic Leone
TOR
2
2
3
-0.4


Blake Wood
CIN
2
2
0
-0.5


Robert Stephenson
CIN
2
2
0
-0.5


Pedro Baez
LAN
2
2
2
-0.5


Jumbo Diaz
TBA
2
3
2
-0.8


Sergio Romo
LAN
2
3
0
-0.9


Francisco Rodriguez
DET
2
7
2
-2.3


Ben Taylor
BOS
1
0
1
+0.2


Robbie Ross
BOS
1
0
0
+0.2


Carlos Estevez
COL
1
0
0
+0.2


Chad Qualls
COL
1
0
0
+0.2


Chris Young
KCA
1
0
0
+0.2


Jake Junis
KCA
1
0
0
+0.2


Aaron Loup
TOR
1
0
4
+0.2


Brooks Pounders
ANA
1
0
0
+0.1


Jean Machi
SEA
1
0
1
+0.1


Casey Fien
SEA
1
0
0
+0.1


Keynan Middleton
ANA
1
0
0
+0.1


Frankie Montas
OAK
1
0
0
+0.1


Michael Feliz
HOU
1
0
0
+0.1


Brad Peacock
HOU
1
0
1
+0.1


Asher Wojciechowski
CIN
1
0
0
+0.1


Jason Motte
ATL
1
0
1
+0.1


Miguel Socolovich
SLN
1
0
1
+0.1


Ty Blach
SFN
1
0
1
+0.1


Paul Seward
NYN
1
0
0
+0.1


Justin Grimm
CHN
1
0
1
+0.1


Jose Leclerc
TEX
1
1
0
-0.2


Jordan Lyles
COL
1
1
0
-0.2


Tyler Wilson
BAL
1
1
1
-0.2


Justin Haley
MIN
1
1
0
-0.2


Emilio Pagan
SEA
1
1
0
-0.2


Tom Wilhelmsen
ARI
1
1
2
-0.2


Kirby Yates
ANA/SDN
1
1
1
-0.2


Tony Cingrani
CIN
1
1
0
-0.2


Oliver Drake
MIL
1
1
0
-0.2


Wade LeBlanc
PIT
1
1
2
-0.2


Eric O’Flaherty
ATL
1
1
0
-0.2


Matt Grace
WAS
1
1
0
-0.2


Sammy Solis
WAS
1
1
0
-0.2


Kevin Quackenbush
SDN
1
1
0
-0.2


Chris Hatcher
LAN
1
1
0
-0.2


Danny Barnes
TOR
1
2
0
-0.6


Blaine Hardy
DET
1
2
1
-0.6


Wily Peralta
MIL
1
2
0
-0.6


Joe Blanton
WAS
1
2
0
-0.6


Jonathan Broxton
SLN
1
2
0
-0.6


Junichi Tazawa
MIA
1
2
0
-0.6


Jeremy Jeffress
TEX
1
3
1
-0.9


Jose Torres
SDN
1
3
0
-1.0


Rafael Montero
NYN
1
3
1
-1.0


Gabriel Ynoa
BAL
0
0
1
+0.0


Boone Logan
CLE
0
0
2
+0.0


Chad Green
NYA
0
0
1
+0.0


Warwick Saupold
DET
0
0
1
+0.0


Neil Ramirez
NYN
0
0
2
+0.0


Brent Suter
MIL
0
0
1
+0.0


Bryan Mitchell
NYA
0
1
0
-0.4


Al Alburquerque
KCA
0
1
0
-0.4


J. P. Howell
TOR
0
1
0
-0.4


Jayson Aquino
BAL
0
1
0
-0.4


Vidal Nuno
BAL
0
1
0
-0.4


Casey Lawrence
TOR
0
1
0
-0.4


Stefan Chrichton
BAL
0
1
0
-0.4


Craig Breslow
MIN
0
1
0
-0.4


Hector Santiago
MIN
0
1
0
-0.4


Bruce Rondon
DET
0
1
0
-0.4


Chase De Jong
SEA
0
1
0
-0.4


Xavier Cedeno
TBA
0
1
3
-0.4


Steve Cishek
SEA
0
1
1
-0.4


Dan Jennings
CHA
0
1
2
-0.4


Diego Moreno
TBA
0
1
0
-0.4


Ryne Stanek
TBA
0
1
3
-0.4


Jesse Chavez
ANA
0
1
0
-0.4


Daniel Coulombe
OAK
0
1
1
-0.4


Jandel Gustave
HOU
0
1
0
-0.4


Johnny Barbato
PIT
0
1
0
-0.4


Antonio Bastardo
PIT
0
1
0
-0.4


Miguel Diaz
SDN
0
1
0
-0.4


Tyler Poll
NYN
0
1
0
-0.4


Josh Osich
SFN
0
1
2
-0.4


Adam Conley
MIA
0
1
0
-0.4


Grant Dayton
LAN
0
1
1
-0.4


Evan Scribner
SEA
0
2
0
-0.7


J. C. Ramirez
ANA
0
2
0
-0.7


Josh Collmenter
ATL
0
2
0
-0.8


Ryan Garton
TBA
0
3
0
-1.1


Andrew Chafin
ARI
0
3
3
-1.1


Edubray Ramos
PHI
0
6
0
-2.3

Source: Seamheads.com