RADIO
James Paxton 2020 Outlook: Could Benefit From Shortened Season
5 years agoIt wasn’t an efficient year for James Paxton in his debut season wearing pinstripes, but he managed to produce respectable numbers nonetheless. He posted a 15-6 record with a 3.82 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 186 strikeouts in 150.2 IP after missing nearly a month of action with a knee injury. Paxton still managed to set a career-high with 29 starts, but averaged just over five innings per outing which was a lifetime low. The southpaw has yet to throw more than 161 innings in any major league season, but he maintains his fantasy value with a top-20 K-rate (29.4% K%). Paxton made a small tweak in his repertoire by upping the usage on his cutter last season, which generated a 43.3% Whiff%, his highest on a single pitch since 2014. "Big Maple" Underwent back surgery in February, but the delay of the season has given him enough time to return to full health. The lefty should provide a high strikeout total, and with one of the league's best offenses supporting him, Paxton is in a position to win several games.
