When MLB teams start planning and mapping out their season, they often have expectations tied to every member of the roster.
Seeing these players underperform or struggle will often affect teams in the standings.
These three pitchers have failed to produce something remotely close to what their true talent level may suggest.
3. Jose Berrios, Toronto Blue Jays
When the Toronto Blue Jays traded for Jose Berrios last season, prior to the deadline, they were hoping to get a solid number 2-3 type.
They got it: in 70.1 innings with the Jays, pitching against tough American League foes for the most part, Berrios had a 3.58 ERA.
That performance earned him a huge extension.
However, in 2022, he has fallen short of the expectations he set last year.
Through Thursday, the talented right-hander is underachieving with a 4.75 ERA, uncharacteristically high for him.
For three consecutive seasons, from 2019 to 2021, he struck out more than nine hitters per nine innings.
This year, that number is at 6.65.
His fastball velocity is still steady, around 94 mph on average, so it’s not like he has lost some velocity.
But Berrios is missing fewer bats than ever: his swinging strike rate (SwStr%) is at 8.0, when it was 9.9 last year and is 10.2 for his career.
He is good enough to rebound at any minute, but there is no doubt he has disappointed so far.
2. Patrick Corbin, Washington Nationals
From 2017 to 2019, Patrick Corbin was one of the top southpaws in the game.
But his numbers started to decline in 2020 (4.66 ERA), kept falling in 2021 (5.82 ERA) and have hit rock-bottom in 2022, with a horrid 6.30 ERA in 50 frames.
As you can see, his struggles are not exactly new, but qualify as a disappointment because of his inability to return to being an above-average pitcher.
And he is not old, at 32.
Corbin’s debacle is not the sole reason why the Nationals have been bad since they won it all in 2019, but it certainly hasn’t helped.
His 17.9 strikeout percentage is the worst of his career, so it’s not like there is light at the end of the tunnel.
We have seen crazier things, but it’s hard to envision a career turnaround from Corbin at this point.
It took almost two full months of baseball, and Patrick Corbin recorded his first win of 2022 with a quality start.
(📸Sol Tucker | TalkNats ) pic.twitter.com/LaIGJeNFTw
— Talk Nats ⚾ (@TalkNats) May 27, 2022
1. Aaron Civale, Cleveland Guardians
Without the ace potential some of his rotation mates have, Aaron Civale was expected to be a consistent, durable member of the staff; one who could take the ball every five days, keep his ERA under four, and give the Guardians a chance to win each outing.
That hasn’t happened in 2022.
Civale has the third-worst ERA among starters with at least 30 innings in 2022, at 7.84.
It’s a horrible number, considering that, in 2021, he was that starter described in the first paragraph.
Last year, he finished with a 3.84 ERA in 124.1 innings: even though he lost time with injury, he showed he has the potential to be an above-average starter in MLB.
Right now, he was looking more like Triple-A depth, unfortunately, before getting hurt.
Civale is currently on the 15-day injured list with left glute soreness, but should return in a week or two.
He will need to perform to keep his spot in the rotation, though.
Biggest disappointment is a tie between several pitchers (Civale, Melancon, Bubic are all notable here)
Biggest surprise is 1 right answer and its Taylor Ward. Thought he would evebtually be good, but not this good. https://t.co/Ot5VZBaJbX
— Casey Hertzler (@SometimesHertz) May 16, 2022
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