MLB's Opening Day is nearly upon us, so instead of waiting on pins and needles, let's make some bold predictions. Here are five pitchers that could catch the baseball world by storm like Corey Kluber did in 2014, and enter the Cy Young discussion.
Masahiro Tanaka, New York Yankees
Last season Tanaka was the big get in free agency aside from Robinson Cano, and when he finally hit the mound for the Yankees he delivered. He finished the season 13-5 with a 2.77 ERA, struck out more than a batter an inning, and proved that his splitter is one of the sport's deadliest pitches.
So how exactly is Tanaka a "dark horse" you might ask?
He's off radars right now because he only threw 136.1 innings last year and missed a big chunk of his rookie campaign with a slight tear in his UCL-that means Tommy John surgery could be in his future at some point. Tanaka treated the injury with rest and rehab and made his final two starts of the year, but wasn't so electric in those two games.
When he was healthy, Tanaka was a leading candidate to win the American League Cy Young. He looks healthy so far, so if he can stay that way it stands to reason he can contend for the award.
Garrett Richards, Los Angeles Angels
Richards is going to start 2015 on the disabled list as he recovers from a torn patellar tendon, but isn't expected to be out for very long. When he was healthy last year Richards was Los Angeles' ace, going 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA. Richards' FIP was right in line with that, indicating his drastic improvement upon previous performance was no fluke.
A major factor in Richards' improvement were two miles-per-hour increases on his four-seam fastball and cutter. He also gained 1.5 miles per hour on his two-seamer, while ramping up that pitch's usage. Richards' expanding arsenal and increased velocity was very tough on hitters, and with more tools in the toolbox, Richards should be able to maintain his new level of success once he returns.
Phil Hughes, Minnesota Twins
Hughes may struggle to pile up wins in Minnesota, since they're a rebuilding club in arguably MLB's most competitive division, but Hughes made big strides as a No. 1 last year. He disappointed the Yankees during his seven-year run by showing mere flashes of his upside, but more often proving overly prone to home runs.
Last season Target Field seemed to be a tonic for his tendency to give up the long ball, but he actually gave up 11 home runs in Minnesota as opposed to five away from home. His strikeout rates remained the same, and his velocity didn't change much, so what gives?
Hughes ditched his slider and began throwing a cutter instead, which he fired off about 20 percent of the time in 2014. He drastically lowered his walk rate as a result, and finished with baseball's sixth-best FIP (2.65) among all qualified pitchers. The cutter should be here to stay, and Hughes will remain a high-end pitcher.
Jordan Zimmermann, Washington Nationals
Zimmermann can be lost in the shuffle in a rotation that featured Stephen Strasburg last year and has since added Max Scherzer. It's worth noting that Zimmermann was the Nationals' best starter in 2014 though, and his status as a low-WHIP, low-strikeout pitcher is no more.
Zimmermann struck out more than eight batters per nine last season, and still lowered his walk rate. He seemed to do that in a very simple way-trusting his fastball. Zimmermann's four-seamer came at hitters at 94 miles per hour last year; it's not Strasburg/Scherzer heat but it's plenty to keep hitters honest. With Zimmermann's pinpoint control it's downright lethal, and by throwing it more, he makes his breaking pitches that more difficult to hit. Washington's record should be glossy this year in a down NL East, so wins should be plentiful.
Julio Teheran, Atlanta Braves
Like Hughes, Teheran may struggle for wins on a team with as little offensive punch as any in baseball. Teheran has the killer stuff to potentially rise above that though. He doesn't overpower hitters, and his stuff isn't amazing in the traditional sense. He simply has a vast array of pitches in his arsenal that's uncommon for a 24-year-old. If Teheran can get to 15 wins with that offense, he'll absolutely be in consideration for the NL Cy Young, because that will mean he's not giving up runs at all.
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