D-backs’ Patrick Corbin in 2016: By the Numbers
Jul 20, 2016, 5:47 PM | Updated: 6:02 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks' Patrick Corbin, right, rubs up a new baseball after giving up a home run to Los Angeles Dodgers' Justin Turner, left, during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 15, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Patrick Corbin took the mound Wednesday afternoon with a 5.25 ERA and a 4-8 record. He went on to pitch 5.2 innings and allowed five earned runs in a loss against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Unfortunately for Corbin, that’s a familiar story this year.
The 2013 All Star has struggled mightily in 2016. After two straight seasons of a sub-four ERA, (’13 and ’15; missed 2014 due to Tommy John surgery), his ERA is now the worst among active D-backs starters.
“I’ve looked at video a bunch, I don’t see anything mechanically, just the results aren’t there,” Corbin said. “I’m trying to get better and work on things in between starts, hopefully I can figure something out.”
In the first inning of Wednesday’s outing, Corbin failed to throw a first-pitch strike to any of the six hitters he faced. On just the fifth pitch of the game, after Darwin Barney led off with a single, Josh Donaldson launched a two-run home run.
“These guys are just not hitters you can get behind,” D-backs manager Chip Hale said. “They can narrow their pitch selection. If you look at where the balls were on the plate, it’s just too center-cut for them.”
With injuries to Zack Greinke and Rubby De La Rosa, the demotion of Shelby Miller and the inexperience of other internal options, Corbin is left to right the ship at the major league level. His outing against Toronto was a continuation of what some might call a forgettable season for the lefty.
This is Corbin’s 2016 season, by the numbers:
5.38
Corbin’s ERA rose to 5.38 after his loss to the Blue Jays. That’s the worst on the team among Arizona’s active starting pitchers, and the third-worst among pitchers who have started for Arizona this year (Shelby Miller: 7.14, Edwin Escobar: 15.95).
7.23
Chase Field appears to have a factor in Corbin’s struggles. In his 56 innings at home, Corbin owns a 7.23 ERA and has allowed 14 homers. On the road, he has a respectable 3.54 ERA in 59.1 innings.
9
Wednesday was the ninth time in 20 starts this year that Corbin has failed to pitch through six innings.
5
His outing against Toronto was the was the fifth time he’s given up five or more earned runs.
20
Corbin has given up 20 home runs in 2016, the most on the Diamondbacks. Shelby Miller and Robbie Ray are tied for second with 13 each.
.287
Opponents are hitting .287 against him, which is the eighth-worst clip in all of baseball among qualifying starting pitchers. At home, opponents are batting .313, while that number drops to .257 on the road.
1.53
His 1.53 WHIP is the fifth-worst among qualifying pitchers across both leagues.
0
His lone scoreless outing came on May 8 in Atlanta, during which he went seven innings, allowing five hits and one walk with five strikeouts.
15.95
Despite his struggles, Corbin is averaging 15.95 pitches per innings pitched this year. Only Zack Greinke has a better pitch count-per inning rate this year among Arizona starters.
