Betances, Miller continue torrid strikeout paces

Everyone expected the New York Yankees' bullpen to be downright nasty this season, and it hasn't disappointed early, even without the services of suspended fireballer Aroldis Chapman.

Shutdown relievers Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances combined to strike out six straight Seattle Mariners batters Sunday. Of the 33 outs recorded by the duo to this point, an incredible 27 of them have been via strikeout.

In fact, Betances and Miller have struck out 27 of the 41 batters they've faced (65.3%), and held the opposition scoreless in 11 combined innings of work.

The stud relievers' early efforts have instilled lots of confidence in their teammates, with Brett Gardner considering leaving his glove in the dugout when Miller or Betances takes the mound.

The Yankees were 73-2 last year when taking a lead into the eighth inning, while Miller and Betances were two of three relievers (Chapman being the other) to eclipse the century mark in strikeouts.

2015 STATS

With Chapman set to return from his 30-game suspension for violating the league's domestic violence policy on May 9, New York's bullpen should be even deadlier moving forward.