10 Best Closing/Relief Pitchers In MLB The Show 23

In MLB The Show 23, pitchers who are good at closing the door on teams that are trying to come back are given high ratings.

Being an MLB shut-down pitcher The Show 23 means that the pitcher has to be the best in the park for a very short time. Relief pitchers have to deal with a lot of stress because they often have to get just one batter out or throw the last inning.

Most great teams have great “closers.” Only a few players in MLB The Show 23 can handle the constant attention that the bullpen gets. The best teams make sure to have a good closer because it makes it impossible for the other team to make a big comeback.

A.J. Minter – 85

Category	Rating
Stamina	24
Hard Contact Reduction	86
Swing & Miss Potential	82
Walk & Hit By Pitch Reduction	80
Keeping The Ball On The Ground	81
Clutch Pitching	75
Control	82
Velocity	86
Break	97
Fielding	44
Arm Strength	59
Throwing Accuracy	57
Reaction	34

4-Seam Fastball: 97 MPH
Cutter: 90 MPH
Circle Change: 88 MPH

The Braves are ranked first in pitching for a reason. Minter fills in the gaps until it’s time to bring in the closer with great openers.

Michael King – 85

Category	Rating
Stamina	32
Hard Contact Reduction	91
Swing & Miss Potential	84
Walk & Hit By Pitch Reduction	71
Keeping The Ball On The Ground	76
Clutch Pitching	94
Control	76
Velocity	99
Break	99
Fielding	38
Arm Strength	54
Throwing Accuracy	46
Reaction	42

Sinker: 95 MPH
Slider: 83 MPH
4-Seam Fastball: 96 MPH
Circle Change: 88 MPH

Michael King is a beast out of the bullpen. He steps in for the Yankees when things get tough and limits the damage in innings that could be big.

Josh Hader – 85

Category	Rating
Stamina	27
Hard Contact Reduction	97
Swing & Miss Potential	99
Walk & Hit By Pitch Reduction	50
Keeping The Ball On The Ground	67
Clutch Pitching	83
Control	83
Velocity	99
Break	77
Fielding	57
Arm Strength	67
Throwing Accuracy	52
Reaction	40

2-Seam Fastball: 97 MPH
Slider: 84 MPH
Circle Change: 88 MPH

Hader was sent to San Diego in a big trade last season, and it took him a while to get used to his new team. He seems to have figured it out, though, and could easily be at the top of this list by the end of the season.

Ryan Pressly – 85

Category	Rating
Stamina	25
Hard Contact Reduction	84
Swing & Miss Potential	84
Walk & Hit By Pitch Reduction	80
Keeping The Ball On The Ground	75
Clutch Pitching	75
Control	83
Velocity	76
Break	99
Fielding	49
Arm Strength	58
Throwing Accuracy	44
Reaction	39

Slider: 90 MPH
4-Seam Fastball: 95 MPH
Slurve: 81 MPH
Circle Change: 88 MPH

The Astros are always in the running for the championship and won the World Series last year. Many of their wins can be credited to Pressly shutting down the other team’s offense. They are one of baseball’s best teams for a reason.

Felix Bautista – 85

Category	Rating
Stamina	27
Hard Contact Reduction	98
Swing & Miss Potential	89
Walk & Hit By Pitch Reduction	62
Keeping The Ball On The Ground	66
Clutch Pitching	79
Control	82
Velocity	99
Break	92
Fielding	35
Arm Strength	87
Throwing Accuracy	41
Reaction	36

4-Seam Fastball: 98 MPH
Splitter: 88 MPH
Slider: 85 MPH

With runners on base, the Orioles are lucky to have Bautista there to get weak hits and ground balls. If the team wants to turn double plays, the second base could use some work.

Andres Munoz – 86

Category	Rating
Stamina	25
Hard Contact Reduction	89
Swing & Miss Potential	94
Walk & Hit By Pitch Reduction	74
Keeping The Ball On The Ground	75
Clutch Pitching	74
Control	75
Velocity	99
Break	79
Fielding	37
Arm Strength	99
Throwing Accuracy	42
Reaction	38

Slider: 89 MPH
4-Seam Fastball: 99 MPH
2-Seam Fastball: 97 MPH

Munoz is a relief pitcher for the Mariners. He is not a true closer, but he has the skills to do either. At shortstop, he’ll be very grateful for any defensive help the team could get.

Ryan Helsley – 86

Category	Rating
Stamina	28
Hard Contact Reduction	99
Swing & Miss Potential	91
Walk & Hit By Pitch Reduction	59
Keeping The Ball On The Ground	68
Clutch Pitching	94
Control	79
Velocity	99
Break	97
Fielding	43
Arm Strength	45
Throwing Accuracy	48
Reaction	35

4-Seam Fastball: 99 MPH
Slider: 89 MPH
12-6 Curve: 81 MPH
Circle Change: 88 MPH

The Cardinals win the game with Helsley on the mound at the end of Basket Random game. If you’re a gamer and want to help him run, you can take the job in left field.

Evan Phillips – 90

Category	Rating
Stamina	24
Hard Contact Reduction	97
Swing & Miss Potential	83
Walk & Hit By Pitch Reduction	73
Keeping The Ball On The Ground	84
Clutch Pitching	80
Control	79
Velocity	99
Break	99
Fielding	25
Arm Strength	55
Throwing Accuracy	37
Reaction	34

Slider: 85 MPH
Cutter: 93 MPH
4-Seam Fastball: 96 MPH
Sinker: 95 MPH

The Dodgers have a strong team, in part because Phillips is so good at the end of games. They could really use a new player in center field, though.

Edwin Diaz – 92

Category	Rating
Stamina	24
Hard Contact Reduction	99
Swing & Miss Potential	99
Walk & Hit By Pitch Reduction	62
Keeping The Ball On The Ground	82
Clutch Pitching	99
Control	75
Velocity	99
Break	80
Fielding	47
Arm Strength	67
Throwing Accuracy	47
Reaction	40

4-Seam Fastball: 99 MPH
Slider: 91 MPH
2-Seam Fastball: 97 MPH

Last year, Diaz’s famous “Narco” entrance spiced up the closing role. The Mets would like to get a more reliable catcher to handle Diaz in the late innings. In New York, gamers can expect to call pitches for Diaz.

Emmanuel Clase – 93

Category	Rating
Stamina	26
Hard Contact Reduction	96
Swing & Miss Potential	71
Walk & Hit By Pitch Reduction	92
Keeping The Ball On The Ground	86
Clutch Pitching	90
Control	85
Velocity	99
Break	97
Fielding	45
Arm Strength	99
Throwing Accuracy	38
Reaction	35

Cutter: 97 MPH
Slider: 92 MPH
4-Seam Fastball: 99 MPH

Last year, no one did a better job than Emmanuel Clase of shutting down the opposition. The Guardians need another starting pitcher, so players who want to be protected by Clase when they have a good start should go to Cleveland.

MLB The Show 23 is now available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.