Yovani Gallardo hitting right notes in contract year
By Tim Haberin
When the Texas Rangers traded for Yovani Gallardo last January, they probably weren’t too sure what kind of pitcher they were getting. He was coming off a solid season for Milwaukee in which he posted a 3.51 ERA, but previous years had been somewhat of a mixed bag for the 29-year-old. He seemed to peak in 2010 and 2011, earning an All-Star nod in the former season and finishing seventh in NL Cy Young voting in the latter. Inconsistency took hold, however, culminating in a less remarkable 4.18 ERA with the Brewers in 2013.
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A pair of major injuries in the Rangers rotation quickly elevated Gallardo’s importance to the team’s chances. Staff ace Yu Darvish underwent Tommy John surgery prior to the start of the season, and Derek Holland landed on the DL with a strained shoulder after his first start. Suddenly Gallardo was looking like Texas’ primary starting pitcher rather than a number-three rotation piece.
The righty’s tenure in the Lone Star State endured a bit of a rocky beginning, as he surrendered six runs in 9.2 combined innings across his first two starts. He completed the month of April with a 4.05 ERA. From there, Gallardo really began to settle down, spinning four quality starts out of six outings in May.
June was even better, as Gallardo posted the lowest single-month ERA (0.54) in Rangers history. He now finds himself in the midst of a very impressive streak of 29.1 consecutive scoreless innings. Gallardo has not given up a run since the fourth inning on June 10. Since the start of last month he has allowed 22 hits in 39.1 innings of work, and opponents are hitting just .164 against him during that span. His ERA has also lowered to 2.56 on the season.
Gallardo’s success has helped keep the Rangers in the American League playoff picture. They currently stand 5.5 games behind the Astros in the AL West and only 1.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. The club expects Holland to return later this month or in August, and if he pitches like he is capable of when healthy, he will give them another valuable rotation piece heading into the stretch run.
A high strikeout rate was a main ingredient of Gallardo’s game in the past, but this year he is finding ways to thrive without always having swing-and-miss stuff. He boasted a K/9 rate of at least 9.0 from 2009-2012 (peaking at 9.9 K/9 in 2009 when he fanned 204 batters). That rate has declined sharply since then, and this year Gallardo is working a modest 6.4 K/9.
Texas Rangers
Having lost a couple ticks on his fastball, Gallardo is now making good use of other elements in his arsenal. He is throwing his slider more often this year, but his curveball has arguably been his most potent weapon. Opponents are batting just .125 against it. In general, Gallardo has also discussed working both sides of the plate as a key part of his approach this year.
This rejuvenation also comes at an opportune moment for Gallardo on a personal level, as he is set to become a free agent in the upcoming offseason. If he continues performing like this, he could quietly be throwing himself into a nice contract. After the big names like David Price and Johnny Cueto, Gallardo could be a solid option for teams in need of starting pitching. To his credit, he has also been very durable throughout his career, a trait that will heighten his appeal. He has made at least 30 starts in each season since 2009.
Of course, he will need to remain strong in the second half to maximize his potential earnings. The scoreless innings steak won’t last forever (probably) and there are a few reasons to think a comedown could be in Gallardo’s future. His 3.48 FIP is nearly a full run higher than his ERA, and his 7.7% HR/FB ratio is well below his usual standard.
Regardless, Yovani Gallardo has rather unexpectedly pitched himself into a great situation, one that could possibly include an All-Star appearance and maybe even a postseason push. The Rangers would likely have been more than satisfied with that scenario when they acquired him in January.