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 20, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Wade Miley throws against the Cincinnati Reds during the second inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 20, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Wade Miley throws against the Cincinnati Reds during the second inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /

Baltimore Orioles: Wade Miley

Wade Miley has been wiggling on and off the hook in each of his five starts to open the 2017 season, but the results have been much better than his time with the Orioles after the deadline last season. After coming over from Seattle, Miley went 2-5 with a 6.17 ERA in 11 starts. Chalk some of that up to bad luck. Miley had a 3.79 FIP for the Orioles last year and struck out 9.2 per nine.

Miley has been getting good results so far this season. He has not allowed more than three runs in a start, and has now allowed only five runs over his past 20.0 innings over three starts. But it’s been weird. Miley walked seven in his first start of the year, and has walked 11 over his last two starts. Sandwiched between those wild outings, Miley went 14 innings with only one walk and 19 strikeouts.

Overall, Miley has a 2.32 ERA and has allowed a .187 batting average. There are still some very real questions about how sustainable this strong start is, however, and Miley must find some way to curtail his walks.

Evan Davis of FanRag Sports tried to make some sense of what Miley has been doing so far this season.

"If you’re getting whiplash, I can’t blame you. It’s a strange profile. Miley has appeared to make a concerted effort to change that profile, too. He’s throwing his two-seamer a lot more, and he’s generating a lot more arm-side whiffs with the pitch. That said, he’s missing low and glove-side constantly. In fact, he can’t seem to locate at the knees at all."

Miley has seemed to be nibbling at the edges of the strike zone, especially against right-handed batters. Sixteen of the 19 walks he has issued have been to righties. Miley has been striking out more hitters than ever before in his career thanks to his two-seamer and cureball, but he would be better off attacking hitters early in the count and trying to pitch to contact when the situation calls for it. He will eventually get burned if his walks continue to pile up at this pace.

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