Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in
Arizona Diamondbacks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.There’s no doubt that pitching has been the Achilles’ heel of the Diamondbacks for a number of years now. The last time Arizona posted an ERA+ of even 100 over a full season, was back in the BC era (that’s “Before COVID” of course), when the 2019 D-backs were at a modest
105 ERA+. Since them it has been six consecutive years of below average pitching. This season might end the streak: going into play today, the D-backs had an ERA+ of 103, and the raw ERA figure of 4.20 is the lowest for a year since 2018. If there’s one man responsible for this, it’s Eduardo Rodriguez. who finished the first half with a 2.29 ERA, one of the lowest all-time at the break by a D-back.
It’s therefore no great surprise that he dominated voting for our first half MVP award. Here’s how the numbers came out in the poll.
It’s going to be interesting to see if Rodriguez can keep it up over the full season. The last D-back to win the end of year SnakePit award for MVP was Zac Gallen in 2022 – I think it’s fairly safe to say he will not be repeating that victory this year. For E-Rod, there is some cause for concern, due to his peripherals all being significantly higher. His first-half FIP (based on K, BB and HR rate) was 4.11, His xFIP (K and BB, with a “normal” HR rate) was 4.54. And his xERA (Statcast data like launch angle, exit velocity) was a whopping 5.09. While none of that changes what’s already in the books, you do have to wonder if it’s sustainable.
Certainly, E-Rod’s first start of the second half was a rough reality check. He couldn’t even get through three innings, being tagged for seven hits, two walks and five earned runs. His second outing was better, back to the quality start we expected, although a K:BB ratio of 4:3 won’t have helped his peripherals. The gap has closed a little bit though: Rodriguez’s ERA is up a decent chunk to 2.64, while the peripherals mentioned above are now sitting at 4.16, 4.58 and 4.99 respectively. But there’s still definitely the potential for further regression. If it happens in games the D-backs still win, like the comeback against St. Louis, that would likely be optimal!
