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Baseball · Level 4: Intermediate · Sub-level 4.5

Using the Bullpen

10 tests · 100 facts · updated 28 October 2026 · markdown

Bullpen roles, the three-batter minimum, leverage, warm-ups and workload, openers and bulk innings, position players pitching, building a bullpen, how closers were used, the postseason and extra innings.

Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.

Test 1Roles in a modern bullpenTake a test

  1. The set-up man usually pitches the inning before the closer.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  2. A swingman moves between starting and relieving as the team needs.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  3. Teams save their best arms for the moments that swing games.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  4. Middle relievers bridge the starter to the late-inning arms.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  5. Teams want options when strong left-handed bats come up late.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  6. In a piggyback, two pitchers plan to split the innings of one game.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  7. A 'closer by committee' picks the reliever by match-up and moment.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  8. Middle relief, then the set-up man, then the closer.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  9. A swingman covers long stints; a situational lefty faces few hitters.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  10. The set-up man holds the lead for the closer.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

Test 2The three-batter minimumTake a test

  1. A reliever must face three batters or end the inning, unless injured.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  2. Ending the inning, or an injury, lets him leave early.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  3. Fewer changes mean quicker games.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  4. Specialists who faced a single hitter lost their role.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  5. An injury or illness lets him leave before three batters.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  6. A reliever must handle the next three batters, not just one.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  7. Finishing the inning meets the rule; he need not come back.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  8. Three batters faced, then the manager can change pitchers.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  9. The DH came in 1973, the three-batter rule in 2020, the pitch clock in 2023.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  10. The rule keeps him in until his third batter or the third out.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

Test 3Leverage and the key momentsTake a test

  1. High leverage means the result of this at-bat matters a lot.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  2. The biggest threat can come before the ninth.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  3. Close score and runners on base raise the stakes.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  4. With three runs to spare, one hit rarely loses the game.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  5. 1.0 is average; above it the moment matters more than usual.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  6. Waiting for the ninth can leave the best arm unused in the decisive spot.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  7. Strikeouts stop runners advancing or scoring.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  8. Tie games with runners in scoring position matter most.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  9. Best arm for the biggest moment, then a lesser arm for an easier ninth.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  10. Teams use their best arm where the game can turn.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

Test 4Warming up and workloadTake a test

  1. Warming up without entering still tires the arm.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  2. An arm worked hard in the bullpen needs rest too.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  3. Most teams avoid three straight days to protect the arm.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  4. Most relievers need only a handful of minutes to get ready.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  5. Heavy use in a row raises the risk of injury.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  6. A dead arm feels heavy and loses speed after heavy use.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  7. Each warm-up spends part of the arm.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  8. Game innings tire most; a day off rests him.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  9. Rest first, then plan with the fresh arms.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  10. Warming up and sitting back down is an up-and-down.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

Test 5Openers and bulk inningsTake a test

  1. Tampa Bay began opening games with relievers in 2018.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  2. After the opener, the bulk pitcher covers most of the innings.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  3. A reliever handles the dangerous top hitters once.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  4. He starts against the middle and bottom of the order.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  5. With no regular starter, several relievers share the innings.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  6. Injuries and fatigue leave holes in the rotation.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  7. Using many relievers leaves fewer fresh for the next days.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  8. Opener, bulk innings, then the late relief.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  9. A complete game uses one pitcher; a bullpen game many.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  10. The second pitcher in an opener game takes the long middle stretch.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

Test 6Position players on the moundTake a test

  1. Trailing by eight or more, leading by ten or more, or extra innings.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  2. Using a fielder spares real pitchers for the next games.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  3. Most lob the ball to protect their arm and get through the inning.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  4. A designated two-way player can pitch any time, unlike other position players.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  5. Teams used it often to save arms, so the league tightened it.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  6. Teams risk a bench player rather than a starter.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  7. Every inning a fielder covers is one a pitcher does not throw.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  8. Big deficits clearly qualify; a four-run lead does not.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  9. He spares the bullpen by using a fielder.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  10. A big deficit lets a position player pitch and rest the relievers.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

Test 7Building a bullpenTake a test

  1. The roster limit caps pitchers at thirteen.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  2. Sending a tired reliever down makes room for a rested one.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  3. Since 2019 optioned pitchers stay down at least fifteen days, barring injury call-ups.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  4. A reliever with options can shuttle without being exposed to waivers.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  5. One or two strong pitches can be enough for an inning.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  6. Short outings make relievers' results swing from year to year.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  7. Following a sinker-baller with a high-fastball pitcher upsets timing.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  8. A shuttle swaps a tired arm for a rested one.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  9. Teams balance bullpen size against bench players.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  10. Optioning sends him down so a fresh arm can come up.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

Test 8How closers were usedTake a test

  1. Old-style firemen came in whenever the game was on fire.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  2. Multi-inning saves were common in the 1970s.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  3. La Russa used Dennis Eckersley mostly in the ninth in Oakland.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  4. Eckersley became the model one-inning closer.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  5. Teams built roles around the save statistic.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  6. Using top arms longer handles more high-leverage spots.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  7. The closer gets the last out of the eighth and all of the ninth.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  8. Firemen came first, the ninth-inning closer next, leverage use most recently.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  9. Four outs from the closer: one in the eighth, three in the ninth.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  10. Entering in the eighth means recording four outs.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

Test 9The bullpen in the postseasonTake a test

  1. Off-days and high stakes let a starter pitch an inning in relief.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  2. Travel days between games give relievers more rest.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  3. By a third trip through the order, hitters have timed a starter.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  4. Heavy use over many rounds can wear relievers down.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  5. Off-days shrink the rotation and free spots for relievers.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  6. Teams use their best arm against the biggest threat.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  7. With rest days, the best few arms can cover most innings.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  8. A strong finish can earn a bigger playoff role.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  9. Off-days let a starter work in relief before the closer.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  10. In October starters often pitch in relief.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

Test 10Extra innings and the bullpenTake a test

  1. An automatic runner is placed on second base.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  2. The player in the spot before the inning's leadoff batter starts on second.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  3. Starting with a runner in scoring position ends games sooner.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  4. A tie in the ninth can need several more innings.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  5. The runner did not reach against the pitcher, so his run is unearned.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  6. Bunted over, he can come home on any deep fly.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  7. Long games use up relievers needed the next day.

    Source: General baseball reference · recall

  8. Runner placed, moved over, driven in.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  9. The automatic runner came in 2020, the universal DH in 2022, the pitch clock in 2023.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

  10. In MLB extras each half-inning starts with a runner on second.

    Source: General baseball reference · applied

Sources

General baseball references, WBSC and league material, coaching manuals; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered rules belong to the Rules category.

  • General baseball reference100