Perez is second in the AL among relievers with a 1.41 ERA. Betancourt is third at 1.48. (Seattle closer J.J. Putz leads the league with a 1.36 ERA.)
Betancourt is third in the league in allowing inherited runners to score. He's allowed fewer than 10 percent -- just three of 31. Perez has let only six of 36 score.
Opponents are hitting just .172 against Perez (third in the AL), and just .184 against Betancourt (fifth).
Right-handers are hitting just .155 against the righty Betancourt. Lefties are hitting only .107 against the lefty Perez.
Perez has allowed only four of the first batters he's faced (out of 40) to reach base. Betancourt has let eight (out of 62) of the first batters on board.
Among pitchers with at least 40 innings of work, no one -- not Putz, not Boston's Jonathan Papelbon, not the Yankees' Mariano Rivera -- has a better strikeout-to-walk ratio than Betancourt, who whiffs nearly nine hitters for every one he walks. Betancourt, by the way, pitches with a metal plate and six screws in his elbow.
Perez hasn't given up a run in his last 12 games and has an 0.82 ERA in the second half.
