3. Chad Green
Chad Green demonstrated some neat signs of encouragement in 2016.
In three starts between August 3 and August 21, against the New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Angels, Chad Green struck out 18 batters over 15.2 innings while only giving up four runs (2.30 ERA).
After that, however, Green gave up four home runs in his final two starts before being shut down with right elbow pain. With a healthy Green in camp and his new cutter being used more frequently, he made this way-too-early decision to keep him out of the rotation a tough one.
Against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, pitched two innings of scoreless ball while surrendering just one hit in his first taste of live action since his elbow injury. Of course, there’s time for Green to earn himself a gig with the starting five, but the next two guys have the early edge.
