8. Starting pitchers The pitch clock solved the pace issue, but, alas, there is no magic bullet that can fix the fractured state of starting pitching. You don’t need us to tell you that the role has changed drastically, diminished by usage patterns and the injury rate. Last year, there...
While Ohtani had a 3.14 ERA over 23 starts in 2023, the five Halos pitchers mentioned above combined for a 4.53 ERA over 111 starts. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal (subscription required) reports that the Angels are among the teams engaged in the trade market for one of the pitchers with ...
the Giants rolled with just five starting pitchers all season. Giants starters were reliable enough that they didn't need to constantly cycle through minor league call-ups and waiver wire fill-ins. So let's take a look at how a pitching corps that did its best to carry...
Justin Steele remains one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball. The ace of the Chicago Cubs rotation ranked 15th among starters in K-BB rate (19.6 percent) last season, emerging as an NL Cy Young candidate. While there is always some risk in the transition from international ball, Sh...
putting them in the same company as the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates. There’s no denying Houston has the lineup to defend its World Series title, but that 4.26 ERA in September, including an ERA of 5-plus from the starting pitchers suggests Houston could have...
The Seattle Mariners are a frustrating team because even with Luis Castillo currently on the injured list with a left hamstring strain, they have four pitchers—Bryce Miller, Logan Gilbert, George Kirby and Bryan Woo—you would feel good about taking the ball in the postseason. ...
A true throwback to the days when ace pitchers held sway in the big leagues, Verlander has combined dominance and durability in a way that harkens back to the days of Tom Seaver, Bob Gibson and Nolan Ryan. With 260 wins and 3,300-plus strikeouts under his belt and more on the way, ...
"Not really," he once said when asked if he was anticipating winning the award for his 2009 season. "I've been playing this 'World of Warcraft' game." An interesting dude, clearly. And also one of the great pitchers of his era. For a career spanning 2004 through 2023, Greinke ranks...
“Defensively, he’s definitely working in the bottom of the zone, especially glove side,” Abraham said. “It’s always difficult for catchers. It’s just a tough place to receive. … Getting to know pitchers, really focusing on their strengths and really being a support for them.” ...
Ultimately, this group added something like 10 Major League starting pitchers, depending on how you define “starter,” and a number of high-priced bats. They all want to win now. They all want to be better. They’re all going to be extremely interesting, they’re all star-studded, yet...