Photo courtesy of Paul Hadsall.
Today, we will focus on a future ace for the Mets and two under the radar hurlers from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Let’s get started with the next great pitching prospect out of New York City.
There will be a Zack Wheeler sighting at Citi Field for the Mets in the next few weeks. Matt Harvey has gotten all of the hype and deservedly so but lets not forget what Zack Wheeler will be able to contribute once he arrives.
He can dial up a 96 mph fastball to go along with a plus curve. According to his current AAA manager Wally Backman “He’s plus-plus with just about all of his pitches.” He has been averaging a strikeout an inning in the minors.
Wheeler made a mechanical adjustment, which has brought his walk totals under control after posting a 4.80 ERA in April. In his first three starts after adjusting his mechanics, Wheeler posted an ERA of 1.35. In May he posted a 3.20 ERA with 17 strikeouts in twenty-two innings. He missed some time in May with inflammation in his throwing shoulder, but this is not a concern moving forward.
When everything is clicking he can be as dominant as any young pitcher currently in the majors. Last summer scouts were saying that he could be better than current Mets ace Matt Harvey. Scouts also compare him to the Washington Nationals Stephen Strasburg.
At this point, a call up to New York could happen anytime within the next month. Do yourself a favor and grab him now.
Now, let’s move to some Pittsburgh Pirates.
Francisco Liriano is actually healthy for the first time in recent memory. A few days after he signed his contract with the Pirates in December he promptly fell and broke his non-throwing arm at his home.
The Pirates have a clause in his contract that if he stays healthy and does not go on the DL because a lingering injury from the fall he suffered in December he will receive a Brinks truck worth of cash. The Pirates are offering incentives for him not to get hurt? What a novel idea Pittsburgh. That’s like offering your mascot Captain Jolly Roger cash not to maim a child in the stands during a game.
Anyway, since returning from his injury, Liriano has posted numbers that remind everyone of his 2006 season.
Through five games, he has a 3-2 record with an ERA of 2.17 and a WHIP of 1.21. Last Saturday, he struck out seven batters in a row and ended the game with 11 strikeouts, a season high.
Francisco has not made any drastic changes to his repertoire or changed his delivery. His success comes from the simple fact that he is 100% healthy. There is a lot to like about Francisco as he moves forward. Remember, he is still only 29 years old.
Another left-handed pitcher from the Pirates is being claimed off of the waiver wire after a great month of May.
Jeff Locke had an ERA of 1.78 while striking out 26 batters in 35 innings. Hitters only managed a .213 batting average against the lefty in the month of May.
The key to his success is a change in his pitching repertoire. He has abandoned a mediocre slider in favor of a knuckle curve. He is now pitching to contact and keeping the ball down, which is limiting the amount of fly balls that can hurt him. His strikeout rates have decreased but so has his HR/FB ratio, which is down to 9.3%.
His strand rate is at an unsustainable 83.5%. His current ERA of 2.45 will see a run to a run and a half increase as his strand rate begins to drop.
You have probably missed out on an opportunity to claim him off of the waiver wire. He is now being used by 85% of all teams in ESPN leagues. As his ERA rises, owners will get impatient and dump him onto the waiver wire. He will be a worthy pickup for your team.