Call it a market correction. Teams have devalued starting pitching so much—by putting artificial governors on pitch counts, worshipping the “Third Time Around” rubric, adding a fifth day to what is “normal” rest, embracing openers and relying on more and more power relievers with a fastball/slider combo—that suddenly contenders are waking up to the idea that they need starting pitchers to get into the postseason, no less run through it.
From Blake Snell to Justin Verlander to Dylan Cease to Eduardo Rodriguez, the push to the Aug. 1 trade deadline includes a heavy emphasis on starting pitching. The Angels jumped the market late Wednesday night by grabbing Lucas Giolito from the White Sox, along with reliever Reynaldo López.
How bad is starting pitching? Since expansion began in 1961, the five worst winning percentages for starting pitchers all have happened in the past five seasons, including this one (.479). Starters have become game managers, tasked with a low bar: Don’t lose the game.
