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Ryan Yarbrough 2021 Player Outlook: Quality Control with Potential for More
4 years agoTampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Ryan Yarbrough was finally utilized more as a starter than a follow-on pitcher, contrary to previous years and it suited him quite well. He didn't impress in the win column (the sole win was as a follow-on starter), but the supporting stats should cause some eyebrows to raise. Yarbrough had a 3.80 FIP, 1.19 WHIP and tied Kenta Maeda for the MLB lead (minimum 50 innings pitched) in Chase rate (40.8%). Many will frown at his 13.7% K-BB rate. However, his Chase and 13.3% Swinging Strike rate are encouraging of future improvements in strikeouts to accompany his stellar 5% walk rate. Yarbrough utilized a four-pitch mix and it is his least throw pitch, slider, that gets the most strikeouts (35%) while his changeup forces batters to expand the strike zone (44%). Yarbrough also attempted to alleviate any concern as a starter by holding batters to a .229 AVG the third time through the order (3.00 ERA), despite a .304 BABIP. Blake Snell and Charlie Morton are no longer in Tampa Bay which leaves Yarbrough a stable spot in the rotation. He is a great option near pick 255 to help stabilize the ratios, assuming you've already hedged your strikeout numbers.
