D-backs ace Zack Greinke falls in ESPN’s 2017 version of #MLBRank
Jun 29, 2017, 6:58 PM
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Greinke throws against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Tuesday, June 13, 2017. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Zack Greinke might be declining. At least, the panelists for ESPN’s 2017 #MLBRank project seem to think so.
The Arizona Diamondbacks ace came in sixth for last year’s rankings but fell to 28th this season. That, despite his ERA dipping from 4.37 in 2016 to 3.08 this year.
Of course, there’s wacky context here. Greinke’s status as an elite arm lingered in his first year with the D-backs due to his 2015 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers in which he fell short of a Cy Young Award even though he posted a ridiculous 1.66 ERA.
Health issues played a part a year ago, but he has recovered nicely for Arizona this season after the first-year front office brought in catcher Jeff Mathis, who has caught Greinke in every game this season.
Through 16 games, Greinke sports a 9-4 record is 18 strikeouts shy of matching his 2016 total of 134 that he earned in 26 starts.
A.J. Pollock (52nd) and Jake Lamb (88th) have already appeared on the #MLBRank list this week, and Paul Goldschmidt, who ranks third overall in WAR this year, is likely to make an appearance in the top-20, which will roll out on Friday.
