Pat Neshek and Randy Choate have been adept at leaving runners on base this year. (USATSI)

In looking at traditional stats like ERA for relief pitchers, we sometimes don't see everything we need. For example, a reliever could enter the game with the bases loaded, allow a bases-clearing triple and then get out of the inning only to have a 0.00 ERA on the day. That's a good ERA and a terrible outing for his team, even if not entirely his fault.

Thus, I rather enjoy checking in on how many inherited runners relievers have stranded. We won't see many closers in the mix because they generally get whole, clean innings of work. We will see lots of LOOGYs (left-handed one out guys), because they often only have to get one guy out before leaving the game (see Mr. Choate below).

Still, late outs with runners on base are precious outs. Who have been the best at leaving guys on base this season? Let's take a look, including all relievers who have inherited at least 15 runners (here's the whole list on baseball-reference.com).

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[Sorted by "strand rate" in percentages, rounded to tenths. "Strand rate" is used traditionally to talk about something completely different, but for the sake of brevity, we're using it here.]

Pitcher, team
Inherited runners
Inherited runners scored
Strand rate (%)
Appearances
Innings pitched
Charlie Furbush, Mariners
16
0
100
33
21.2
Pat Neshek, Astros
20
1
95
51
43.1
James Russell, Cubs
24
2
91.67
43
28.2
Fernando Rodriguez, A's
23
2
91.3
39
38.1
Brandon Cunniff, Braves
22
2
90.9
30
27.2
Steve Geltz, Rays
21
2
90.48
56
55
Scott Oberg, Rockies
21
2
90.48
42
39.2
Arquimedes Caminero, Pirates
19
2
89.47
54
54.2
Randy Choate, Cardinals
44
5
88.6
56
23.2
Jeurys Familia, Mets
17
2
88.24
55
57.2

Rafeal Betancourt of the Rockies is tied with Familia but lost my tiebreaker for having fewer innings pitched. He's still worthy of mention, though, which is why I'm doing so here.

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So there you have it. A tip of the cap to these relievers for leaving the baserunners on the bases.