page_title: Zack Britton
section_title: 2016
hierarchical_section_title: Zack Britton / Professional career / Baltimore Orioles / 2016
caption_attribution_description: Orioles pitcher Zach Britton talks to reporters at 2016 All-Star Game availability.
context_page_description: Zackary Grant Britton, known professionally as Zach Britton until February 2019, is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. He previously played for the Baltimore Orioles.
  Britton graduated from Weatherford High School in Texas and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the third round of the 2006 MLB draft. Initially a starting pitcher, Britton converted to a closer and led the American League in saves in 2016 and was named to the AL All-Star team in 2015 and 2016. From September 20, 2015, to August 23, 2017, Britton converted 60 straight saves, an American League record. The Orioles traded Britton to New York during the 2018 season.
context_section_description: Britton signed a one-year, $6.75 million contract with the O's on February 5 to avoid arbitration. On June 9, Britton converted his 19th consecutive save to start the season, setting a new Orioles franchise record. Britton extended his streak to 29 games to close out the first half of the 2016 season after converting 27 consecutive saves before the All-Star break. Selected to the All-Star team for his second straight year, Britton pitched to a 2-1 record with a 0.72 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 37​²⁄₃ innings.
  Britton's 33rd consecutive save to start the season on August 3 set an MLB record for most consecutive saves to start a season by a left handed pitcher and the seventh longest of all-time to start a season. On August 11, Britton set the MLB record for most consecutive relief appearances without allowing an earned run, which was thirty-nine up to that point. In doing so, he lowered his season ERA to 0.56 and converted his 35th save in 35 attempts on the year. On August 22, Britton converted his 38th save of the season in 38 attempts, setting a career-high in saves. He also appeared in his 43rd straight game without allowing an earned run, the longest such streak since earned runs became a stat in 1913. On August 24, Britton allowed his first earned run in 44 appearances in a 10-8 win over the Washington Nationals, ending his MLB-record streak.
  Britton pitched in 69 games, throwing 67 innings while allowing only four earned runs for a 0.54 ERA. This broke the MLB record for lowest single-season ERA by a pitcher with at least 50 innings pitched. He finished with 74 strikeouts and just an 0.84 WHIP, going 2-1 and saving all 47 save opportunities he faced. From the beginning of May to the end of the regular season, Britton pitched to an 0.16 ERA, holding hitters to a .160/.222/.195 slash. Britton was not used in a tied 2-2 game in the 11th inning of the Orioles Wild Card game, which resulted in teammate Ubaldo Jiménez allowing a walk off three-run home run. The Orioles lost the game by a final of 5-2.
  Britton led the American League in saves (47), games finished (63) and WPA (6.5).
  Britton won the Mariano Rivera Award.  He placed fourth in the AL Cy Young Award balloting behind winner Rick Porcello, Justin Verlander, and Corey Kluber, receiving five first place votes, while also finishing 11th on the MVP ballot.
caption: Britton at the 2016 MLB All-Star Game
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