The last day of February brought the season debuts of several notable arms, including two pitchers should struggled mightily in the 2022 MLB season. For Patrick Corbin and Ian Anderson — the latter of whom is fighting for a spot in a deep Braves rotation — the start of Spring Training could have went a bit better. Here’s a look at some numbers from Tuesday’s action.
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Corbin Struggles
Nationals LHP Patrick Corbin had a rough 2022 campaign in D.C. Corbin’s spring left off right where his season did last year, as the lefty struggled in his first start of the year. Against the Cardinals, Corbin went 1.2 IP, and gave up four hits and two home runs. Granted, the bombs were against Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt, the 2022 NL MVP. Still, one would think the left-hander wanted to get off to a good start.
Last season with the Nationals, Corbin 6-19 with a 6.31 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, and a -2.5 bWAR. Among pitchers that threw at least 100 IP in 2022, Corbin owned the worst ERA in baseball.
Anderson Scuffles
After a rough 2022 campaign, Braves RHP Ian Anderson needs a good spring to cement a spot in the starting rotation. Anderson made his first start of Spring Training on Tuesday, and it didn’t go particularly well. Anderson gave four home runs, including a home run to prospect Edouard Julien, and three walks over an innings and two-thirds.
With Mike Soroka out, Anderson seemed to be in somewhat of a decent position to crack the starting rotation. He still has the stuff to be effective, and can still make it. But, better command will be critical.
Quintana Makes Mets Debut
Left-hander Jose Quintana‘s stuff clicked in 2022, and Mets fans will hope for much of the same this season. But in his first start of the spring, Quintana did do something that we didn’t see much from him last year — struggle on the mound.
Against an Astros lineup that included Jose Abreu and Kyle Tucker, Quintana yielded four hits and five runs in 0.2 IP. Quintana was opposed by RHP Luis Garcia, who debuted a new delivery that’s in compliance of the new rule changes in MLB. And, it went quite well for the Houston righty. Garcia struck out four over two scoreless innings.
