It’s been two weeks since the Opening Day. Each team already played 10+ games so far and normally a starting pitcher already made 2 or 3 starts. This year, it was 4-week spring training and a starting pitcher usually made around 2 to 4 starts. But, some pitchers didn’t pitch well in this short spring training.
After a couple of weeks, do things change?
The 2015 AL Cy Young award winner Dallas Keuchel made 2 starts and 1 relief appearance in spring training. He gave up 10 runs (all earned) in 11.1 innings. This spring, he posted a 7.94 ERA and a 2.12 WHIP. Keuchel already made 2 starts in the regular season, giving up 13 runs (10 earned) in 6 innings.
Kyle Gibson was traded to the Phillies last July and in his first spring training with the Phillies, he made 4 starts. Gibson gave up 9 runs (8 earned) in 13.2 innings. He owned a 5.27 ERA and a 1.83 WHIP. Nonetheless, Gibson has shown that the spring training stats don’t really matter. He made 3 starts for the Phillies so far, owning a 3.57 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP over 17.2 innings.
Bryse Wilson was sent to the Pirates from the Braves last July. He made 8 starts for the Pirates last year, posting a 4.91 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. In the 2022 spring training, Wilson made 3 starts and 1 relief appearance. He allowed 9 runs (all earned) in 11.2 innings. Wilson’s ERA was 6.94 in spring training. So far, he already made 3 starts for the Pirates this season. But, he’s still looking for the first win of the season. Wilson currently has an ERA over 6.
In addition, Daulton Jefferies made 1 start and 4 relief appearances for the Oakland A’s last year, posting a 3.60 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. In the 2022 spring training, he made 3 starts and 1 relief appearance, giving up 16 runs (15 earned) in 14 innings. His ERA was 9.64 in spring training, which just doesn’t look good. His WHIP was 1.79 and it doesn’t look good, either. Nonetheless, he has a good start of the 2022 season. Jefferies already made 3 starts for the A’s this season and he posted a 1.17 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP across 15.1 innings.
Last year, Joe Musgrove tossed a career-high 181.1 innings, leading among the Padres pitchers. He posted a 3.18 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP in 2021. In the 2022 spring training, Musgrove made 3 starts and gave up 9 runs (all earned) in 11.1 innings. His ERA was 7.15 and his WHIP was 1.76. By far this season, Musgrove has been pitching well for the Padres. He already threw 21 strikeouts and only gave up 4 runs in 19 innings.
Finally, Brandon Woodruff had a great 2021 season with a 2.56 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. However, this spring training, he gave up 15 runs (14 earned) in 11.2 innings. So far, Woodruff made 3 starts for the Brewers, posting a 4.30 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. Additionally, Lucas Giolito owned a 1.59 WHIP in spring training and Cole Irvin’s WHIP was over 1.50 as well. Giolito is placed on the injured list after the first start of the season. Cole Irvin made 3 starts for the A’s so far and his ERA is over 4.
Pitchers usually use spring training to build up their pitch count or try new pitch arsenal. Bad performance in spring training doesn’t mean that a pitcher will have a bad season. It’s important to make adjustments. Kyle Gibson, Joe Musgrove and Daulton Jefferies didn’t pitch well in spring training, but they have shown that they are ready for the new season. However, Dallas Keuchel gave up 10 runs in the second start of the season. Perhaps, for some pitchers, they will need more time to “feel good” on the mound?
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