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10 struggling MLB stars poised for a second half breakout

By Connor Muldowney

Jul 5, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Seattle Mariners infielder Robinson Cano (22) reacts after flying out to deep right field against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 5, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Seattle Mariners infielder Robinson Cano (22) reacts after flying out to deep right field against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 15, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez (47) throws the ball during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 15, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez (47) throws the ball during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

90. . SP. Washington Nationals. Gio Gonzalez. 7. player

Remember when everyone said, “Imagine a staff with Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Doug Fister and Max Scherzer,” and you instantly became jealous of the Washington Nationals? Well, no need to covet them at the moment as two of those guys have gone through, or are currently going through, injury issues while only one has an ERA under 4.00.

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    • The pitcher with a sub-four ERA does not happen to be Gio Gonzalez, however, who happens to be the second-longest tenured player with the team out of the bunch. Obviously, Scherzer is having a Cy Young campaign, leaving Gonzalez as a forgotten piece to the puzzle.

    It’s easy to be forgotten when a starting pitcher’s ERA exceeds 4.15 and he has just six wins halfway through the year. Gonzalez had been a staple of consistency before 2015, but his performance thus far has been anything but.

    After 15 starts, Gonzalez is posting his highest ERA since 2009 and he is also on pace to finish with his lowest strikeout total since the very same season.

    For the past five years, Gio’s ERA had not exceeded 3.57 for an entire year, but he’s looking at breaking that positive streak this year. However, I don’t expect his second half to be nearly as poor as his first handful of starts.

    In fact, in four out of his past five starts, Gonzalez has given up two earned runs or less. Steps in the right direction.

    Next: 6. Stephen Strasburg, SP, Nationals

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