Around this time last year, the Cleveland Indians were providing a preview of the American League postseason.

Manager Terry Francona was using newly acquired reliever Andrew Miller in all sorts of situations, and for more than one inning if necessary. It was an approach that eventually helped the Indians win the American League pennant, with Miller the MVP of the AL Championship Series.

The Indians are only the latest team to show how important a good bullpen can be in the playoffs, but not everybody has a tireless star like Miller. Here’s a look at four other teams that are almost certain to be in the postseason this year – and how they might use their relievers.

Dodgers: Kenley Jansen might be the best reliever in baseball, and he threw 51 pitches in the Division Series finale last year at Washington, so Manager Dave Roberts knows he can handle an extended outing. What’s interesting is that Los Angeles appears to have a surplus of starters, so Roberts could convert at least one of them into a multi-inning option out of the bullpen.

Astros: Houston may be the team that most resembles the 2016 Indians. The Astros will lean on ace starter Dallas Keuchel, but there’s a drop-off after him in the rotation, which means the bullpen should be crucial. Ken Giles is the closer, but Chris Devenski is the X-factor. He went four innings in each of his first two appearances in April, and he’s gone at least two innings in 12 of his 49 outings in 2017.

Nationals: Washington’s bullpen has been a mess, but the Nationals added Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson and Brandon Kintzler in recent weeks, and so far those three have combined for a 1.32 ERA for Washington. Doolittle has converted all 11 of his save chances for his new team. If that keeps up, the late innings in October may be less stressful than expected.

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Red Sox: Closer Craig Kimbrel has 99 strikeouts and only eight walks, and Boston acquired Addison Reed at the deadline. Those two are certainly capable of shutting teams down, but it’s not clear how much Manager John Farrell will push them. Kimbrel has thrown 11/3 innings or less in all but two of his appearances.

RANGERS: Texas opened a series against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night without slugger Joey Gallo and reliever Matt Bush after a hard collision Sunday in which Gallo suffered a nasal fracture and Bush sprained a knee.

Neither player was with the team on its charter flight to Anaheim, and Bush was placed on the disabled list. Gallo is still on the active roster but is in MLB’s concussion protocol.

TWINS: Minnesota placed All-Star third baseman Miguel Sano on the 10-day disabled list because of a stress reaction in his left shin bone.

First baseman Kennys Vargas was recalled from Triple-A Rochester to fill Sano’s spot.

Sano is batting .267 with 15 doubles, 28 home runs and 77 RBI.

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METS: Steven Matz has been pitching through pain most of the season, and the left-hander may need surgery to correct a recently discovered nerve issue in his elbow, sources told Newsday.

The nerve problem is similar to the one that forced Jacob deGrom to undergo a season-ending procedure last year.

Manager Terry Collins said Matz likely will be scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday and may wind up on the disabled list. But Collins declined to elaborate.

An elbow problem in spring training forced Matz onto the DL at the start of the year. He returned in June, but his performance only grew worse.

Matz has insisted that he is healthy, and he has kept pitching despite a checkered injury history that dates back to his earliest days in professional baseball.


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