Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
13-2, 3.29 ERA, 1.21 WHIP
Coming into the 2016 season, Baltimore Orioles fans didn’t know what to expect from Chris Tillman.
He was coming off a year that saw his ERA rise 1.65 runs from the previous year (3.34 in 2014 to 4.99 in 2015), leaving fans curious on whether he could recapture his 2014 form, in which he led the O’s to an A.L. East title.
Tillman looks like his old self again.
At 13-2, he has already eclipsed his win total from last year and only trails Chris Sale in victories.
His 3.29 ERA is 9th in the A.L. and his 3.6 Wins above Replacement rank 2nd in the A.L., trailing only Danny Salazar.
He has arguably been the Most Valuable Pitcher in all of baseball.
He leads a staff that has been atrocious this year. The Bird’s ERA from their starting pitchers is third worst in all of baseball, and without their ace, it would likely be last.
Good news for Orioles fans is that Tillman could be getting even better. Over the last 3 years, his ERA has improved marginally after the All-Star Break.
If that happens this year, the righty could be receiving some hardware.
