Pitchers who throw a lot of strikes generally complete lots of innings in MLB.
Walks can be a pitcher’s worst enemy: they put men on base and they drive up the pitch count.
Those who can avoid them most of the time put themselves in an advantageous position.
When it comes to limiting walks, there is no one better than Logan Webb, the ace of the San Francisco Giants.
“Innings Pitched leaders this season (w/walks):Â 187.0 – Logan Webb (28); 184.2 – Sandy Alcantara (48); 180.0 – Gerrit Cole (45); 178.2 – Zac Gallen (38); 175.1 – Luis Castillo (44),” MLB Network tweeted.
Innings Pitched leaders this season (w/walks) ?
187.0 – Logan Webb (28)
184.2 – Sandy Alcantara (48)
180.0 – Gerrit Cole (45)
178.2 – Zac Gallen (38)
175.1 – Luis Castillo (44) pic.twitter.com/i6jdmN37y9— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) September 8, 2023
He has given up just 28 walks, and leads the league with 187 innings pitched.
Barring any unexpected occurrences, he will surpass 200 innings and will probably stay under 40 walks, too.
Only George Kirby of the Seattle Mariners shows similar control and ability to retire hitters while living mostly in the strike zone.
That’s what makes Webb a special hurler: he can succeed knowing he has the command to attack the strike zone avoiding the “far” part.
In 2023, he has a 3.51 ERA in those 187 innings, with 28 walks and 173 strikeouts.
He is posting a career-best 1.09 WHIP to this point.
If his ERA was a bit lower (it is good, but not elite), Webb could have been a bona fide Cy Young award candidate.
San Diego Padres star Blake Snell currently leads the league with a 2.50 ERA.
Snell, for the ERA, and Spencer Strider, for the strikeouts, could be favorites for the award, but Zac Gallen, Justin Steele, and Webb himself could have a say.
Webb has pretty good numbers, though, and a solid stretch in September could strengthen his case.
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