For all of the metrics out there that are used to measure the overall potential and skill of a pitcher, strikeouts remain the most appealing statistic. Teams want pitchers that can strike out opposing pitchers, especially in the biggest moments of all. We broke down the numbers to identify a handful of pitchers whose strikeout totals could spike this coming season. Here is a look at the five pitchers primed for a major strikeout surge in 2017.
Kyle Hendricks, Chicago Cubs
It will be tough for Hendricks to top what he did last season when he posted a 2.13 ERA, but there is reason to believe his strikeout totals will improve. Hendricks averaged just over eight strikeouts per nine innings in each of his last two seasons and he posted the 19th-lowest contact rate among starting pitchers last season. Now the 27-year-old could be in for an even better strikeout rate with a less predictable pitch selection. Hendricks owns a sinker-heavy attack but he could filter in more curveballs, changeups and four-seam pitches in 2017. Hendricks has only begun to tap in to his immense strikeout potential and his numbers could surge in that department this coming season.
Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays
Stroman throws his fastball in the low-to-mid 90’s and he owns a deep arsenal of pitches that should make him an excellent strikeout pitcher. However, Stroman struggled last season with a 4.37 ERA with a disappointing 7.3 K/9. The fact that Stroman pitched much better in the second half of the year was a result of cutting back on his sinkers and relying more on his cutters, curveballs and sliders, which should translate to continued success in 2017. The numbers clearly show a progression throughout the season. He had a 4.89 ERA before the All-Star break with a 83/33 strikeout to walk ratio. That was in 116 innings pitched. After the All-Star break, he posted a 3.68 ERA with an 83/21 strikeout to walk ratio in 88 innings pitched. The Stro Show has to perform like he did in the latter part of the year or the Jays will lack quality at the top of their rotation.
Stroman has all of the tools to be an outstanding strikeout pitcher but he needs to capitalize on his full arsenal to put up better numbers this coming season.
Matt Moore, San Francisco Giants
Moore’s career 8.3 K/9 isn’t terrible but there is no doubt he has the potential to be that much better if he can become less predictable. The 27-year-old posted a 4.08 ERA in 12 starts last summer but his strikeout rate moved from 7.5 per nine innings to 9.1 and that trend towards more strikeouts could continue if he builds on what he did down the stretch a year ago. Moore added a cutter to go with his four-seam fastball, curveball and changeup and the more complete arsenal should translate to more strikeouts as he becomes more unpredictable in 2017. Remember that he has had a bit of a rough couple of years with all of the trade talk and changes in scenery. It’s hard to make a midseason switch but that’s exactly what he had to do last year. With a full offseason to acclimate to San Francisco, look for his numbers to improve.
Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles
Gausman can throw heat but the 27-year-old has only an 8.2 K/9 so there is definitely room for improvement from a strikeouts perspective. Gausman finished last season with an 8.5 K/9, thanks in big part to a split-change that really helped complete his arsenal. That split-change will be a regular pitch for Gausman in 2017 and as long as he continues to mix it up with his full repertoire of pitches he should improve his strikeout rate this coming season.
James Paxton, Seattle Mariners
Paxton’s average fastball has topped 95 miles per hour in his career but his major breakthrough didn’t happen until last season when he went from an overhand delivery to a sidearm delivery. A more natural arm slot helped Paxton’s fastball velocity skyrocket and his K/9 jumped to 8.7. An even bigger jump could be possible in 2017 as Paxton continues to build off of what he did a year ago. The tall lefty has an impressive arsenal of pitches and he could be in for a big season if he can put it all together once again.
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