MLB Teams: Previewing the new divisions, the west

MLB Teams: Previewing the New West

Budding starting pitching

The West may enter 2020 with some forgettable numbers from the pitching side last season, but that could all change very quickly given the sheer number of up-and-coming starting pitchers residing in this division (some young and some of the late-bloomer variety).

Each division features its own vital element, and in the West, it’s its potential starting pitching talent. In the next two slides, we’ll look at the West’s rising arms, which in a division already filled with star hitters, should make for an exciting 2020 season (regardless of how long it lasts).

Athletics

• Frankie Montas, RHP
• Jesus Luzardo, LHP 
• A.J. Puk, LHP

Montas perhaps shouldn’t be included, given he’s 27-years-old and has already tallied over 200 innings as a big leaguer (Luzardo has just 12 and Puk has 11.1). However, Montas — a 2017 top-5 prospect in Oakland’s system — had quite the breakout season in 2019, finishing 9-2 with a 2.63 ERA (3.00 FIP) in 96 innings (16 starts) — good for a half-season total of 3 WAR.

Luzardo (who turns 23 in September) and Puk (who just turned 25) both got their first tastes of the majors in 2019… and both held their own just fine. The former made six relief appearances and struck out nearly 35% of batters faced while maintaining a 1.50 ERA (2.63 FIP), and the latter, while not as impressive, turned in a 3.18 ERA (3.39 FIP) with 10 relief appearances of his own.

All three of these pitchers — granted Puk is returning from Tommy John surgery — has a realistic shot at making valuable contributions this coming season.

Dodgers

Dustin May, RHP

A third-round pick back in 2016, May busted onto the scene in LA last season, nearly accruing 1 WAR (0.9) in just 34.2 innings primarily out of the bullpen. Altogether, May made 14 relief appearances and four starts, striking out 8.31 batters per nine while walking just 1.30, concluding his first stint in the big leagues with a 3.63 ERA (2.90 FIP).

May’s on the outside looking in, in terms of the Dodgers’ starting rotation (and it didn’t help when the Dodgers acquired David Price), but with a much shorter season on tap in 2020 there’s no reason to deprive the 6-foot-6 flamethrower of making more starts.

Diamondbacks

• Merrill Kelly, RHP 
• Zac Gallen, RHP 

Kelly, 31-years-old, is no youngster, though the majority of his last five professional seasons have been with the KBO’s SK Wyverns, where he pitched from 2015-18 before landing a two-year, $5.5 million contract with the D’Backs in the winter leading up to the 2019 season. Kelly took that contract and posted a 2-WAR season in Year 1 in 2019, making 32 starts (183.1 innings) and posting a 4.42 ERA (4.51 FIP). According to MLB.com, Kelly is sixth on Arizona’s rotation depth chart, meaning he’s just an injury away from getting another chance to start every fifth day.

Currently seen as the D’Backs’ fifth starter, the 24-year-old Gallen is also coming off a strong 2019 season (his first in the majors) — first with the Marlins (7 starts) and then with Arizona (8 starts). Last season Gallen contributed with 1.6 WAR overall by striking out nearly 11 batters per nine (10.8), showing a strong ability to prevent runs (2.81 ERA) in 80 total innings. This could be his big year in Year 2.

Angels

Griffin Canning, RHP

The Angels’ best shot at finally developing another stud pitcher took a hit this winter when an MRI revealed damage to Canning’s right elbow. Although, as of early last week the former no. 4 Angels’ prospect (per FanGraphs) had been cleared to start throwing bullpen sessions.

The future looks promising for Canning (who will turn 24 this Monday) if his arm does, in fact, hold up, and according to their depth chart, the former second-round pick is slated to slide into the no. 4 spot in the Halos’ 2020 rotation. Canning will look to build off his 1.3-WAR season last year, in which he posted a 4.58 ERA (4.37 FIP) in 17 starts (90.1 innings).