5.5 man rotation

deknegt · 05-17-2026, 05:24 AM

So a general thought, some teams in the MLB are experimenting with '6 man' rotations during long week+ stretches of games without rest days. Often being a long reliever taking the mound during lesser games or just generally to give the main guys one extra day of rest to save their arms.

I was wondering how I could best emulate such a system. I was thinking of a 6 man rotation with "Always start highest rested" enabled, then setting my long reliever to be the 6th starter... But then I am afraid he'll have weeks where he's sitting on his hands rather than adding bullpen value, equally I thought about ticking "Allow SP in relief", but then I am afraid the AI will send out my 1-5's to shred their arms a little bit more as a treat.

So is there anyone out here that tried/tested something comparable, and if so, did it work, and how did you end up setting it? I know I can just move starters in and out of the rotation, but that in turn is a level of micro that I wish to avoid

Reed · 05-17-2026, 05:55 AM

In my experience, your 6th starter will sit in bullpen until needed as a starter.

Pelican · 05-17-2026, 09:16 AM

I would avoid "use SP in relief". It is indiscriminate, except that the most rested SP is the best candidate for relief. So this could be your ace SP, rested and scheduled to throw tomorrow, coming in for mop-up duty or a save, whatever, because your other RP are tired. Which then totally messes up your rotation. And potentially subjects your SP to injury.

I have used a six-man rotation (in modern sims with SP lacking in stamina) to provide an extra day of rest. This means, in order to have an adequately-manned bullpen, you need to add another RP at the expense of a bench position player. I don't like that loss of flexibility.

I normally use a five-SP rotation, and designate one long RP as my emergency starter. But I do not recall the AI ever choosing that guy to start a game.

05-17-2026, 05:24 AM	#1
deknegt Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 37	5.5 man rotation So a general thought, some teams in the MLB are experimenting with '6 man' rotations during long week+ stretches of games without rest days. Often being a long reliever taking the mound during lesser games or just generally to give the main guys one extra day of rest to save their arms. I was wondering how I could best emulate such a system. I was thinking of a 6 man rotation with "Always start highest rested" enabled, then setting my long reliever to be the 6th starter... But then I am afraid he'll have weeks where he's sitting on his hands rather than adding bullpen value, equally I thought about ticking "Allow SP in relief", but then I am afraid the AI will send out my 1-5's to shred their arms a little bit more as a treat. So is there anyone out here that tried/tested something comparable, and if so, did it work, and how did you end up setting it? I know I can just move starters in and out of the rotation, but that in turn is a level of micro that I wish to avoid

05-17-2026, 05:55 AM	#2
Reed Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 2,747	In my experience, your 6th starter will sit in bullpen until needed as a starter. __________________ I am not responsible for anything I post!!! Use at your own risk!

05-17-2026, 09:16 AM	#3
Pelican Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Wilmington, Delaware Posts: 3,283	I would avoid "use SP in relief". It is indiscriminate, except that the most rested SP is the best candidate for relief. So this could be your ace SP, rested and scheduled to throw tomorrow, coming in for mop-up duty or a save, whatever, because your other RP are tired. Which then totally messes up your rotation. And potentially subjects your SP to injury. I have used a six-man rotation (in modern sims with SP lacking in stamina) to provide an extra day of rest. This means, in order to have an adequately-manned bullpen, you need to add another RP at the expense of a bench position player. I don't like that loss of flexibility. I normally use a five-SP rotation, and designate one long RP as my emergency starter. But I do not recall the AI ever choosing that guy to start a game. __________________ Pelican OOTP 2020-? ”Hard to believe, Harry.”