8 MLB pitchers that need to deliver for postseason hopefuls
By Bill Felber
8 MLB pitchers that need to deliver for contenders
The guy in the spotlight
Mike Fiers is a 35-year-old veteran of nine major league seasons. If any major league pitcher can stand the pressure and scrutiny that goes along with being the whistleblower in the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal, Fiers should be that guy.
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The Oakland Athletics better hope so, because they are counting on Fiers big-time in 2020.
With Matt Chapman, Matt Olson and Marcus Semien, the A’s think they have the team that can take down the Astros. They also have a horde of pitching potential: Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, Jesus Luzardo and A.J. Puk to name four.
But all through that rotation, there be demons in waiting. Manaea is coming off shoulder surgery, and although his September return went sensationally, that was only one month. Montas is coming off a PED suspension, and Luzardo and Puk are both youngsters.
The one reliable arm belongs to Fiers. That’s the A’s hope, anyway.
Fiers was 15-4 for Oakland last season, delivering 185 innings. So the only real question concerns his ability to handle any distractions created by his first-person role in the sign-stealing scandal. We should find out early. The Athletics host the Astros at the end of March. There’s no certainty that Fiers will square off against his old team, but of course, those will be only the first three of 19 such meetings in 2020.
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It will also be interesting to see what kind of reception Fiers gets on his other road starts.