Zach Britton’s strange, evolving, and promising 2018

Zach Britton made his name by having one of the single greatest seasons by a relief pitcher in history. His 2016 saw him post an unthinkable 13 ERA-, and earned him a fourth place finish in the in Cy Young voting. Although not quite as good as the previous year, he followed it up with a strong 2017, albeit one where he suffered a forearm strain. After undergoing Achilles surgery earlier in 2018, he’s found himself working his way back to prominence, and the Yankees are betting on him finding his form down the stretch.

Is there anything we can glean from Britton’s limited 2018 action? There are some real concerns to be had, but there are also some spots for hope. The first red flag when…