5 Struggling Starting Pitchers That Could Benefit From Moving to the Bullpen

Honorable Mentions:

Dan Straily

Andrew Cashner

Ervin Santana

Jordan Zimmermann

Reynaldo Lopez

Tyson Ross, Detroit Tigers

The thing about Tyson Ross being on this list is that he has been used as a reliever recently. He had a 2.73 ERA (although with worse peripherals) in a 9 game stint with the Cardinals late last season, although it was not nearly long enough that anyone can say for sure how he will perform in that role long-term, should the Tigers plan to put him in the bullpen. Ross fell a long way since his all-star appearance with the Padres, eventually undergoing surgery for TOS and being non-tendered. After being put on waivers and signing minor-league contracts, it was actually a surprise to see him get an MLB contract with the Tigers, especially considering Steamer projects him to have a 5.27 ERA in 2019.

It could pay dividends for the Tigers if they were to move Ross to the bullpen as the Cardinals did, however. For one, taking a smaller workload should help his body stay away from injuries that have plagued him before. In the final month of the season when he was in the bullpen, Ross did see the benefits of his fastball velocity improving, as it went up to 93 mph on average. The whiff percentage on his fastball also had its best month in September. His pitch usages also point to him being a reliever, as he had always been more of a 2 pitch pitcher who struggled to find a third throughout his entire career. His slider has been worth a positive 1.5 runs per 100 pitches in his career, pointing to it being one of the better sliders in the game. On the contrary, both his cutter and changeup (both not used often) have been worth under -1.5 runs per 100 pitches. Ross could also see more platoon advantages when he has struggled against left-handers throughout his entire career.

Throughout his entire career, Ross has had a wOBA against of .290 the first time through the order. Although a small sample size, it was at .267 in 2018. As a reliever, he saw that number at .285 and had a 3.90 FIP. I’d expect a team to try and trade for him mid-season and convert him, as his profile suggests he could have been a reliever his entire career.