(*) STARTERS: Early Surprises
Apr 29 2012
Many starting pitchers have fared better than expected in the early going.
Some of these surprises come with strong skill support. Others are flukes.
Identifying the flukes before their results regress can help you avoid bad stats.
Likewise, holding on to guys whose quick starts come with skill support can help you build your starting rotation for the long-haul.
Let's take a look at both groups.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Bruce Chen (LHP, KC) has a 2.52 ERA and 0.92 WHIP after 25 IP. It'd be easy to dismiss this as a small sample size fluke. But he has been a legit command artist so far: 6.1 Dom, 1.4 Ctl, 34% GB%, 83 BPV. We can't expect any more Dom than what he is showing now, given his 86.1 mph average fastball velocity. He's also...
Almost!
You’re just a few clicks away from accessing this feature and hundreds more throughout the year that have a singular goal in mind: Winning your league. Subscribe to BaseballHQ.com here!
Already a subscriber? Sign in here
More From Starting Pitchers
Ian Seymour's intriguing command pillars make him an excellent LIMA Plan target heading into 2026.
Feb 21 2026 3:07am
Feb 21 2026 3:07am
Ben Brown's disappointing 2025 season hid a collection of intriguing skills, making him a young starter to watch this spring.
Feb 14 2026 3:05am
Feb 14 2026 3:05am
Former ace Sandy Alcantara finally looked healthy late in 2025, giving hope that he can recapture his ace-like form in 2026.
Jan 30 2026 3:05am
Jan 30 2026 3:05am
Nick Lodolo's return to health in September reinforced his rotation-anchor upside.
Jan 9 2026 3:05am
Jan 9 2026 3:05am
The underlying command gains of Cade Povich in the second half bode well for his ability to take a step forward in 2026.
Sep 6 2025 3:10am
Sep 6 2025 3:10am
