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MLB 2017: One X-factor for each team

By Brad Berreman

September 7, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) runs after he hits a solo home run in the sixth inning against Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sport
September 7, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) runs after he hits a solo home run in the sixth inning against Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sport /
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Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports /

Toronto Blue Jays: SP Marcus Stroman

After missing most of the 2015 season with a torn left ACL, Stroman was fully healthy, made 32 starts and topping 200 innings (204) for the first time in his career last year.

Stroman’s 4.37 ERA in 2016 does not inspire much confidence on the surface, but after the All-Star break he had a 3.68 ERA, a strikeout-to-walk ratio close to 4.0 and a K/9 rate of 8.5 over his 14 starts (88 innings). Stroman’s overall peripherals last year point to some bad luck, and his ground ball rate (60.1 percent) was elite. Quite simply, a 3.71 FIP (Fielder Independent Pitching), a  3.41 xFIP and two runs or less of run support in 10 of his starts last year are all begging for some positive correction in 2017 for Stroman.

The Blue Jays don’t have a proverbial ace, No.1 starter, and Stroman does not profile as that now or going forward.  But in terms of a real indicator of how the team is doing at any point, at least within the starting rotation, look no further than Stroman one way or the other this season.

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