With Opening Day less than a month away, we’ll take a look at a member of the 2016 Orioles every day as they try to return to the playoffs for the third time in five years this season.
March 1 – Adam Jones
March 2 – Chris Tillman
March 3 – Jonathan Schoop
March 4 – Brad Brach
March 5 Nolan Reimold
SP Yovani Gallardo
Age: 30
Contract status: Under contract through the 2017 season
2015 stats (with Texas): 13-11, 3.42 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 5.9 K/IP, 3.3 BB/IP, 15 HR, 184 1/3 innings
Why to be impressed: Gallardo has made 30 or more starts in seven straight seasons and has averaged 191 innings per year over that time, the kind of reliability that prompted the Orioles to sign him. His ground-ball rate has hovered around 50 percent over the last couple seasons, making him a perfect fit to pitch in front of a strong infield at homer-friendly Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Why to be concerned: His average fastball velocity has declined more than two miles per hour since 2011 and his strikeout rate has declined rapidly since the 2012 season. Gallardo posted a 4.69 ERA and completed six innings just twice after the 2015 All-Star break, which could be indications that his diminishing stuff was catching up with him after a strong first half.
2016 outlook: The Orioles are paying Gallardo $22 million over the next two years and forfeited the 14th pick of the draft to sign him, a lofty price for a pitcher whose peripheral stats are trending in the wrong direction. Gallardo continuing his streak of seasons with 30 or more starts would help, but his inability to miss bats will make it difficult to duplicate an ERA in the mid-3.00s like he did last year.
2016 not-so-scientific projections: 12-10, 3.90 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 6.1 K/IP, 3.1 BB/IP, 19 HR, 181 innings
