Top 5: ‘Ace’ Pitchers in 2015 AL East

facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next

Sep 26, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher David Price (14) pitches against Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports

1) David Price – Toronto Blue Jays

Bio: 30 y/o, 6’6”, 220 lbs

2015 Record – 18 Wins, 5 Losses

ERA – 2.45

FIP – 2.78

WAR – 6.4

K/9 – 9.19

IP – 212.0

“It Factor” – American League Cy Young waiting to happen

David Price is the best pitcher in the American League East and has little standing in his way for the rest of the division. His move from the Detroit Tigers to the Toronto Blue Jays transformed their season at the expense of every other team he faced.

Price’s massive, hulking WAR of 6.4 is worth 3rd best for a starting pitcher in Majors, behind only Clayton Kershaw and Jake Arrieta. I’m pretty sure there isn’t a club in baseball who doesn’t want him on their roster, or couldn’t quickly make room if needed and it’s easy to see why; David Price is the ideal ace, every baseball General Manager’s daydream. He isn’t just good, but consistently and unendingly good, rarely giving the opposing batters an inch. A cursory glance at his performance in 2015 shows that on a mere 3 occasions did he give away more than 3 runs in a game, on 14 occasions he gave away 1 run or none at all. That’s pretty good.

Say what you will about his struggles in the offseason, David Price will go into free agency and will get a boatload of money in a lucrative contract reserved only for baseball’s elite. Thereafter he will take his place atop the rotation of the club lucky or rich enough to sign him and continue his dominance to their benefit for many years. Paying attention, Red Sox?

More from BoSox Injection