Fantasy Baseball: 5 Pitchers Who Must Build Off a Strong Second Half
Kevin Gausman, SP, Baltimore Orioles
We were talking about this last offseason, but it seems like a more extreme version of the same story for Baltimore Orioles hurler Kevin Gausman.
The right-hander had two very different performances in 2016 based off his ERA. That number settled in at 4.15 in the first half, but he finished with a flourish thanks to a 3.10 mark. If we use those same splits in 2017, it's more of the same -- he produced an unsightly 5.85 ERA prior to the 2017 All-Star break before posting a 3.41 mark in the second half.
After struggling to an 18.4% strikeout rate, 9.6% walk rate, and 4.95 SIERA prior to the midsummer classic, those numbers improved to 26.2%, 7.7%, and 3.80, respectively, after a breather in the middle of July. Gausman's BABIP allowed also improved from .371 to .289 during this period of time, but he needs to figure out how to handle left-handed hitters a little better.
Here's how his strikeout rate (K%), walk rate (BB%), and xFIP differ between lefties and righties.
| 2017 | K% | BB% | xFIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| vs. LHB | 21.6% | 11.8% | 4.92 |
| vs. RHB | 22.2% | 6.4% | 3.92 |
Gausman is likely hoping for a little more consistency throughout the 2018 season. He wasn't able to build upon his solid second-half results from 2016, but maybe the second time's a charm. That's how the saying goes, right?
