Middle relief pitcher

In baseball, middle relief pitchers, or middle relievers, are relief pitchers who typically pitch during the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings.[1] In leagues with no designated hitter, such as the National League, a middle reliever often comes in after the starting pitcher has been pulled in favor of a pinch hitter. Middle relief pitchers are usually replaced in the eighth or ninth inning by a left-handed specialist, setup pitcher, or closer, but a middle reliever sometimes works these innings as well, especially during games which are not close.