10 pitchers who have surprised in 2015
By Jason Evans
Dallas Keuchel
Jake Arrieta leads the majors and the NL in wins, but who leads the AL? Chris Sale? No. Corey Kluber? Nope. Felix Hernandez? Yes he does and so does lefty with the awesome beard leading the Astros. Dallas Keuchel. Keuchel and Felix each have 17.
The former seventh round pick in 2009 came on last season and opened eyes last season, going 12-9 with a 2.93 ERA. The challenge for Keuchel was to do it again. He certainly has.
Keuchel ranks second in WAR among pitchers only to Zack Greinke. His 7.0 WAR finds him tied for sixth in the MAJORS with Lorenzo Cain, and Joey Votto. Only Greinke, Paul Goldschmidt, Bryce Harper, Mike Trout and Josh Donaldson rank higher. Pretty good no?
He’s second in ERA at 2.03. He’s just .1 innings behind Clayton Kershaw for the MLB lead. He’s 10th in strikeouts. Has three complete games and two shutouts this season which ties him for third and first respectively.
Keuchel is eighth in FIP and sixth in win probability added. He was also the AL starter in the All-Star Game.
He’s probably the leader in the clubhouse for the AL CY Young Award, something I don’t think anyone saw him achieving in 2015. Like his team, Keuchel is making believers out of everyone.