Michael Pineda, pitcher, New York Yankees
New York Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda’s talent is not in question. He led the league in strikeouts per nine innings just last season, had an impressive 3.30 xFIP and boasts a nasty slider. However, in three seasons with the Yankees, Pineda has been the epitome of inconsistency.
Check out his monthly splits and you’ll find a 7.52 ERA in May, a 2.75 ERA in June and a 4.80 ERA in July. At the top of his game, Pineda is on par with any pitcher in the league. Take his starts on June 25 and 30 of last season, a two game stretch over which Pineda allowed just two runs in 12 innings, striking out 20.
Every one of those two-game stretches, however, seems to be compounded by one that exhibits the exact opposite performance. Right after he struck out 20 in those 12 innings, Pineda gave up 10 runs over his next 11 innings. It’s just one example of the maddening inconsistency he’s displayed over his career.
However, if Pineda is ever going to shape up, this is the year. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent next offseason and whether he’s the potential All-Star who shows up every fourth start or the player who posted a 4.82 ERA in 2016 will dictate how many millions Pineda sees this winter. It will also shape a Yankees rotation that, besides Masahiro Tanaka, is full of question marks.