to preclude using many different relievers from the bullpen. The hope is that the long reliever get the game under control, and his team's offense will rally.

Long relievers are usually players who used to be starters either in the major leagues or in the minors (and can start a game if one of the normal starters is injured or otherwise unavailable, or necessary due to workload as a "spot starter"), but whose teams believe they have better starters available.