ESPN: Has the D-backs’ Zack Greinke recovered from a disappointing 2016?
May 22, 2017, 1:00 PM | Updated: 4:42 pm
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Zack Greinke’s 2017 campaign has been a resurgence after a disappointing 2016, as he has turned into the ace the D-backs thought they were getting when they signed him to a massive contract.
Greinke struggled in his first season with the D-backs after receiving his mega $206.5 million contract, posting a 13-7 record with a 4.37 ERA and just 134 strikeouts.
Forty-five games into this season, ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick looked at how the D-backs answered their most intriguing question, which was if Greinke could recover from a down debut season in the desert.
Greinke’s pokey, upper-80s radar gun readings were a source of concern in the Cactus League. But he’s throwing his fastball at a more serviceable 90.6 mph during the regular season, and his slider has been so sharp that he’s using it a career-high 26 percent of the time. Colorado’s Nolan Arenado recently said Arizona’s ace looks like the “Greinke of old.”
So far this season Greinke has erased the doubt that many had last year and in spring training, going 5-2 in his nine starts and posting a much lower 3.09 ERA. He has also recorded 66 strikeouts while only walking 11.
Greinke has been the one stable piece in the D-backs starting rotation that has seen moving pieces and inconsistent performances alike.
In his piece, Crasnick adds:
The rest of Arizona’s rotation has been a mixed bag. While Taijuan Walker continues to make positive strides, Patrick Corbin and Robbie Ray have been up and down, and Shelby Miller is done for the year after Tommy John surgery.
Even though a few of the D-backs seven starters have been up and down, they have still turned into one of the best statistical rotations in the league.
Led by Greinke, D-backs starters have a 18-16 record with a 3.65 ERA, which ranks fourth in MLB, along with 261 strikeouts and a .238 batting average against, both good for third in the majors.