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Tyler Skaggs Still Looking To Make An Impact
7 years agoLos Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs dealt with an oblique strain in 2017, limiting him to only 16 starts, and finished 2-6 with a 4.55 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. Skaggs saw his strikeout rate drop from 2016 (22.8% to 20.8%), but also saw his walk rate drop from (10.5% to 7.1%) so his K-BB% actually rose from 12.3% to 13.1%. This also led to Skaggs' WHIP dropping as well, as his 2016 WHIP was 1.49 in 49 2/3 innings pitched. Because of injuries, Skaggs has never pitched more than 113 innings in a season (and he missed the 2015 season with Tommy John surgery) and he has never had an ERA under 4.17 in the majors. A former top prospect, Skaggs was very successful in the low minors with the Angels and Diamondbacks in 2011 and 2012, but has struggled since. Now 26, the top prospect shine may be off of Skaggs, but his high strikeout rate still makes him attractive to fantasy owners. He induced less swinging strikes last season (down to a career-low 8.1%), but he also allowed his lowest contact rate (66.5%). Skaggs relied on his curveball more in 2017 (31.1% was a career-high), so that might be the way that he finds more success. As is, he is a punt play in deeper leagues and should not be drafted.
