The beginning of a new season offers players the chance for a fresh start, and Ubaldo Jimenez has made the most of that opportunity early in 2015 after a rough campaign a year ago.
5 pitchers exceeding expectations early in the season
Ubaldo Jimenez and a number of other pitchers are off to strong starts in 2015. Can they keep that success going for the rest of the season?
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Equally capable of dazzling or disappointing throughout his career, Jimenez has been stellar for the Baltimore Orioles through six starts and shown flashes of the pitcher Baltimore thought it was signing to a four-year, $50 million contract two offseasons ago. After another strong start Monday night, Jimenez now has a 2.41 ERA and is averaging nearly a strikeout an inning through 33⅔ frames in 2015.
However, the big question surrounding Jimenez is whether he can keep this performance up throughout the rest of the season. With the rest of their rotation struggling, the Orioles need all the good pitching they can get, and Jimenez’s success has certainly given them reason to be optimistic.
Jimenez isn’t the only hurler off to a good start in 2015. Here are four other pitchers who have pitched well in the early going, including some thoughts on whether their early success will continue:
Anderson had some decent success during his rookie campaign in 2014, but he's been terrific through six starts for the Arizona Diamondbacks this season. In 36⅓ innings pitched, the 27-year-old has posted a 2.97 ERA and 3.10 FIP, striking out 29 batters to go along with nine walks.
The biggest hurdle Anderson will face in maintaining that performance is his home ballpark. Chase Field is one of the most hitter-friendly parks in baseball, and Anderson will be hard-pressed to keep his HR/FB rate at five percent, having struggled with the home run ball in 2014. Given that Anderson doesn’t strike many batters out nor garners loads of ground balls, don’t be surprised if those home run problems return.
good as new
Perhaps the most baffling performer on this list (given his age and prior track record), Harang has been one of the few bright spots for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2015. The 37-year-old has a 2.38 ERA and 2.96 FIP through seven starts this year, with 31 strikeouts and nine walks. Harang has done all this despite throwing a fastball that routinely clocks in below 90 MPH.
Given that his career ERA is 4.17, it would be surprising if Harang can continue pitching so well for the Phillies. He does have the benefit of pitching in the offensively challenged NL East, but there is little evidence his success will continue, even though he quietly put together a solid season in 2014. At the very least, Harang could serve as decent trade bait for Philadelphia once July rolls around.
Miller had a disastrous 2014 season for the St. Louis Cardinals, but the Atlanta Braves targeted him as part of their trade return for Jason Heyward this past offseason. Through seven outings, Atlanta has looked smart for taking a chance on Miller, with the righthander compiling a 1.64 ERA in 44 innings pitched, while showcasing an improved cutter to go along with his fastball and curveball.
Still, there is reason to remain cautious regarding Miller’s early success. The 24-year-old is stranding runners at an unsustainable level, and his .203 BABIP won’t last either. Miller has made some improvements, but he still hasn’t developed another good secondary offering to pair with his curveball.
Martinez’s 1.47 ERA sure looks pretty, but just a glance at his 3.40 FIP demonstrates that level of performance shouldn’t last much longer. The 24-year-old has yet to allow a home run in 2015, a trend that likely won’t continue considering that he pitches in Globe Life Park.
Even more ominous is Martinez's 1.67 strikeout-to-walk ratio, with the righty recording just 15 strikeouts and nine walks in 36⅔ innings pitched. That's a lot of balls put in play against Martinez, leaving him highly dependent on the Texas Rangers defense behind him.
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