Fansided

Each MLB team’s most surprising player from April

By Joshua Sadlock

Apr 3, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Eric Thames (7) hits a double to drive in two runs in the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Eric Thames (7) hits a double to drive in two runs in the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 22, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Kenta Maeda (18) reacts after giving up a home run to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fourth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Kenta Maeda (18) reacts after giving up a home run to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fourth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /

Los Angeles Dodgers: Kenta Maeda

In his first year in the United States, Kenta Maeda proved to be a fine number two to Clayton Kershaw, and carried the Dodgers rotation for several months while the ace of the staff was on the DL with a back injury. Maeda went 16-11 last year with a 3.48 ERA and finished third in the NL Rookie of the Year vote. His incentive-laden eight-year, $25-million deal looked like a massive bargain for the Dodgers.

Maeda’s sophomore season has gotten off to a rough start. He went 2-2 in April with a 6.58 ERA and allowed seven home runs in 26.0 innings. Opponents batted .284 against the slight right-hander with an OPS of .877. Clearly the fly-ball pitcher has been hurt by some bad luck to start the year, but opposing hitters are slugging .583 against his four-seam fastball and .750 against his sinker. Maeda does skew extremely towards the fly ball, but his air-ground splits are even wider than last year. In his most recent start, Maeda did make progress, going seven innings and allowing only two runs. He does have good strikeout numbers on the year, and has not suffered a noticeable drop in velocity. It’s not time to hit the panic button on Maeda, but he did not endure a stretch this bad in his rookie season.

Brandon McCarthy has been a positive surprise for the Dodgers, and he is 3-0 with a 3.10 ERA after five April starts. McCarthy has made only 13 starts over the past two seasons while battling injuries. If he continues to pitch well, the Dodgers will be able to give Maeda move time to work through his early woes.

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