One pitcher who intrigued me entering this season was Mike Maroth of the Tigers. Maroth was successful in the minors, showed great control last season as a rookie (1.61 BB/9 IP) and kept the ball in the park (just 7 HR in 128.2 IP). But his K rate was very low: just 4.06 K/9. Historically, the second season is big for that kind of pitcher: either he’ll pull up the K rate or it will pull him down. But the Tigers moved in the fences at Comerica, which puts Maroth in a double bind.
Although he’s 0-3 and was hit hard last night, the early indications are pretty good: Maroth has 11K to 3 BB and 2 HR through 18.1 IP. He could yet go on to a nice career.