There is always underappreciated first-half pitching every season. The team values the players that make these efforts, but the world may not. Names like Shohei Ohtani, Gerrit Cole, and Shane McClanahan are as synonymous in the American League for pitching notoriety as Spencer Strider and Zac Gallen are in the National League this year. What if there are pitchers in both leagues that had an underappreciated first half and deserve to be in the same conversation as these previously mentioned players?
First-Half Pitching That Deserves Recognition
Plenty of Reasons Why
The first-half of the season is always a warm-up to the mad dash that is the second half. Teams put themselves in a position to finish strong for a postseason run before the All-Star break, or they start planning for next year. More emphasis is always put on the season’s second part, which is why many outstanding pitching performances seem underappreciated in the first half. Typically, the root cause for overlooking phenomenal pitchers is they play for a team that is not performing well. The other reason is attention is drawn elsewhere within the same team, be it another teammate performing at a high level or the offense receiving more credit than pitching. Regardless of the cause, credit should be given where credit is due.
Inconspicuous in the National League Central
Mitch Keller, 94mph Two Seamer (17 inches of Run) and 83mph Sweeper (17 inches of Break), Individual Pitches + Overlay pic.twitter.com/LA5T2M5jjo
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 4, 2023
So far, one of the best pitching performances has been from the first-time All-Star Mitch Keller of the Pittsburgh Pirates. His 2023 performance has been in stark contrast to the struggles he had on the mound in 2022. Keller sits at 9-4 with a 3.31 ERA. His 129 strikeouts tie him for third in the National League to go along with 117 IP, which ranks fourth. Keller has been a bright spot on an otherwise subpar season for the Buccos.
Another great performer similar to Keller is the Chicago Cubs‘ Justin Steele. His first two years in the majors were lackluster at best, but he has figured out how to get batters out much more efficiently this season. Steele sits at 9-2 on the year with a 2.56 ERA, ranking second in the National League. He leads the league in HR/9 at .4 and ranks third in WHIP at 1.062. Steele joins Keller in making his first All-Star Team in 2023.
The common thread between these two pitchers, besides a shared division, is the sub-.500 record their respective teams possess. Every other National League Central team and their fans know about Steele and Keller. However, these two hurlers are relatively unknown and unnoticed outside the Midwest. Even though they each made the All-Star team, it seems no one realizes how good of a season both Keller and Steele are having.
Unnoticed in Tampa Bay
Think I found the Zach Eflin changeup tweak I’ve been looking for… and it’s VERY subtle. Interesting they’ve pulled him off the seam.
Dropping 4″ more, running 2″ more, velo down <1 mph, whiff rate 10% to 36%.#Rays tweaking CH orientations, a tale old as time. pic.twitter.com/MXJN7mZcU2
— Lance Brozdowski (@LanceBroz) July 5, 2023
Tampa Bay Rays starter Zach Eflin is quietly putting together a high-caliber season. In his first campaign with the Rays, he is 10-4 with a 3.25 ERA. The 10 wins make him second in the American League, and his .987 WHIP ranks third. He has 105 SO and has pitched 102.1 innings. Both Eflin and McClanahan’s first-half performance has overshadowed Eflin’s effort. McClanahan has drawn all of the attention, and rightfully so, but Eflin seems to be receiving little credit. The worst part is Eflin’s All-Star snub makes his pitching the most underappreciated in the first half of 2023.
Pitching With Little Fanfare
The Texas Rangers continued their off-season spending spree by signing Jacob deGrom this winter. Most agreed deGrom could anchor the rotation if he could stay healthy. Texas also signed Nathan Eovaldi, albeit with little fanfare. Everyone knows deGrom is out for the foreseeable future, but few are paying attention to the season Eovaldi is having. He is 10-3, which ties him for second in wins in the American League. He leads the league with 117.2 IP and ranks fifth in WHIP at 1.020. The Rangers are leading the West division, and Eovaldi is a big reason why. The offense has received much of the credit, and Eovaldi’s lightning performance in the first half has gone relatively unnoticed despite making the All-Star Team.
Another Chance For Respect
Underappreciated first-half pitching performances are not uncommon. All four of these pitchers find themselves amid a great individual season. Eovaldi, Keller, and Steele received some notoriety being All-Stars, but for Eflin, his chance for respect will have to come in the second half. Realistically, all four men should be in the Cy Young Award conversation right now. Due to attention elsewhere, team records, or some unknown reason, these pitchers find themselves underappreciated. The second half is the silver lining for Keller, Steele, Eflin, and Eovaldi. Should these players continue to perform in the next half as they did in the first, a little more appreciation might come their way.
Photo Credit: © David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Players mentioned:
Shohei Ohtani, Gerrit Cole, Shane McClanahan, Spencer Strider, Zac Gallen, Mitch Keller, Zach Eflin, Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi
